The financial realities of the dream
With annual release season approaching, our rancher partners are preparing their land and infrastructure to welcome new Buffalo. This work takes not only great effort but also faces rising costs. One of the biggest needs is fencing. Buffalo can jump over six feet, and strong fencing averages $39 per foot. Corrals, chutes, paddocks, and grasses all add to the list of essentials.
“It’s a chess game — we have to start thinking ahead in the springtime,” says Skylar Pogue, a member of the Tanka team and part of GP Ranch. Water is another critical need. Our range ecologist, Janét Moore, reminds us that an adult Buffalo drinks 10-15 gallons per day, and water quality can mean the difference between health and harm.
That’s where you come in. With your support, Tanka Fund provides both funding and technical assistance from fencing and corrals to water testing and grass monitoring. Together, we help Native ranchers prepare their land so they can fulfill a dream that is spiritual, cultural, and economic: bringing Buffalo home.
Our Rancher Partners: Wayne Frederick
For Wayne Frederick (Sicangu Lakota), bringing Buffalo back to his land is deeply personal. “Buffalo saved my life,” he says, reflecting on how they carried him through his late teens and early twenties. Now, as his own son comes of age, Wayne hopes the herd will guide him in the same way. Together with his wife Alex, Wayne runs Rez Raised on the Rosebud Reservation where their growing herd of 40 Buffalo marks the first time in more than 125 years that these
From New Zealand to Texas
This month we had the opportunity to attend special events at a few of our rancher partners’ locations. Theda and Chris Pogue of GP Ranch in Sulphur Springs, TX, invited us to visit with Piripi Kaiwaru Takurua and his family, who traveled from the East Coast of Aotearoa (New Zealand). The family creates an ongoing online series documenting Piripi’s adventures around the world as he learns different trades, with his mother narrating his journey.
GP Ranch: STORY, VIDEO, AND PHOTOS
In Sawyer, MN, on the Fond du Lac Reservation, David and Patra Wise hosted a producer meeting where representatives from MN State Grants, NRCS, and the Fond du Lac Reservation met with local ranchers and farmers.
Dancing Crane Ranch: STORY, VIDEOS, AND PHOTOS
Both gatherings were powerful reminders of what happens when people come together to share knowledge, build relationships, and strengthen the future of Buffalo ranching on Native lands.
Funder Spotlight: RAF & RCP
We’re excited to announce that Tanka Fund has been awarded a grant from the SHOT Fund, a joint initiative of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation (RAF) and the Rural Climate Partnership (RCP).
The SHOT Fund supports nonprofits that are uplifting farmers and ranchers leading the way in regenerative and equitable agriculture.
Tanka Fund was selected for this grant because of our ongoing work to restore Buffalo to their rightful place on Native lands, in Native lives, and within Native economies. Our mission not only supports ecological balance, but also strengthens food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and economic resilience for Native communities.
This support helps us continue building partnerships with Native ranchers and producers, while expanding efforts to reconnect Buffalo and people — ensuring a thriving future for generations to come.
Technical Service Spotlight: Water quality
Our rancher partners not only have to consider proper infrastructure to caretake a successful Buffalo herd – essentials such as quality water are imperative to the health of the animal as well. Key factors for safe water include pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrates, sulfates, and harmful microorganisms. Considering that an adult Buffalo can drink upwards to 15 gallons per day, ranchers have to be aware of misconceptions such as “clear water is good” or “spring-fed means safe” as these are not always surefire ways to know if the water is quality.
Simple tools like EC/TDS meters or pH and sulfate strips offer quick insights, while lab testing provides more complete results. High levels of TDS or sulfates, especially during drought or low runoff, can cause health problems. Stagnant ponds or tanks may also harbor toxic microbes like blue-green algae. Regular testing is recommended to ensure your animals have access to safe, quality water.
You can contact our range ecologist team below:
janet.moore@tankafund.org
zintkala.eiring@tankafund.org
Do you know why Buffalo look ragged in summer?
Buffalo often appear rough around the edges when rutting season rolls in, and there is a natural reason for their tattered look. As summer heat sets in, they begin shedding their dense winter coat. This process leaves patchy areas with wisps of old fur, particularly around the shoulders and rump.
But shedding is not the whole story. Rutting bulls spend their energy sparring, wallowing, and pursuing mates, rather than grazing or grooming. Wallowing, which means rolling in dust and dirt, serves multiple purposes: it helps them shed fur, wards off biting insects, and even masks their scent.
So, when you spot a Buffalo looking particularly unkempt, remember that the ragged appearance showcases the wild rigor of nature. It is not neglect, it is a powerful display of survival, adaptation, and preparation for the next season.
Tanka Trivia
Last Month’s Trivia Question:
Buffalo go by many names, but what is the technical scientific name for Buffalo?
Answer: Bison Bison - We had “2” correct answers! Congrats to Kate and Carol!
This Month’s Question:
Buffalo are known as protectors of the prairie, shaping the land as they roam. Which much smaller relative on the Plains helps keep that same land alive by building underground communities that nurture soil, water, and countless other beings?
Think you know?
Email your answer to info@tankafund.org for a chance to win exclusive Tanka Fund merch!
