In May 2025, the Flying Bison were named New Business of the Year by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. This prestigious award honors the impact small businesses in Abilene have made to the community.
In order to be considered, nominees must be chamber members and need to have been operating for more than 1 year and less than 3 years. Other finalists for New Business of the Year include Crane’s Craft BBQ at the Wagon Wheel, and Seven and One Books. “…Finalists and winners were selected by an anonymous committee and based on the story shared and provided in the submission, not quantity of nominations,” according to the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.
The Flying Bison, founded in December 2023, played their inaugural season in May 2024. 30,000 attendees walked through the gates of Walt Driggers Field across the 12-week season. The team’s goal is to create the most family-friendly environment in all of baseball, while providing an elite experience for players and fans alike.
In addition to drawing tens of thousands of fans during their first season, the Flying Bison focused on community outreach and engagement leading up to and during the season. Donations, hospital visits, and community events are just a few of the ways they connected (and continue to connect) with Abilenians.
George Lessmeister, team owner, had this to say about the Flying Bison being named 2025 New Business of the Year:
“It’s a huge honor that the community has supported the franchise so well from the very beginning. This is an award that people can take pride in; not just in the front office, but the fans as well. Baseball belongs in Abilene and we think this award helps prove that. We’re excited for the future of the Flying Bison and the ways we can continue to support our home in Abilene. We’re very thankful for the community’s support.”
Other categories include Small Business Community Investment Award, Small Business Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and Family-Owned Business of the Year Award. You can read more about the 2025 Small Business Awards here.