DTBA 2026 Summer Ranch Tour Recap🦬🌾
Rocking P Ranch & Heritage Bison Ranches
Rocking P Ranch is a family-run bison operation spanning approximately 2,000 acres of native prairie. Bruce Prins is a first generation bison rancher & began raising bison in 1989 with just seven head while still operating a 200-head cattle herd. His passion for bison quickly grew, and over the years, Bruce and his wife, Corrine, transitioned the ranch entirely from cattle to bison.
Today, Rocking P Ranch is known for quality bison genetics, native prairie grazing, and a management philosophy that allows bison to thrive naturally on the landscape. Bruce’s careful eye for selection and culling has produced an exceptionally consistent, uniform herd. Seeing those animals spread across the prairie was striking and a highlight of the tour.
Through adaption to the bison market in the 2000s, the family added ‘Heritage Bison Ranches’ giving them the ability to sell bison meat directly to customers. Heritage Bison Ranches is run by their daughter Rachel and son in law Lance Bollmeyer.
After the tour of Rocking P’s North and South herds, we gathered at their barn and working facilities. Their son John prepared the family’s own bison rib eyes over a charcoal grill – and dang – they were delicious!! They had a huge spread of sides and desserts – It felt like a bison themed Thanksgiving =)
Throughout the visit, the Prins family were incredibly generous with their time and knowledge, welcoming questions and openly sharing the experiences that have shaped their operation.
We are beyond fortunate to have the Prins family as longtime DTBA members and to have these memories become part of our association’s history.
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (SWO) Tribal Herd Tour
Our second official ranch-tour stop brought us to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (SWO) for a behind-the-scenes look at their tribal bison herd. Herd manager Karena and field manager Matt shared the history of the herd and their vision for its future.
The tribe established its herd in the late 1990s with animals originating from the Wind Cave National Park Herd.
What began with approximately 100 cow-calf pairs quickly grew to around 450 animals. Today, the herd is managed across approximately 2,600 acres using rotational grazing practices. SWO began DNA testing in the 2000s with the goal of developing a herd with 100% bison alleles. They achieved that goal within four years and remain diligent about continued testing. They were also open about challenges, including a copper deficiency roughly a decade ago that led to development of a custom mineral program. And man, this diligence shows – the herd is beautiful.
SWO consign animals annually to the Fischer Sale – and with the addition of their newly operational processing facility – will process animals to sell to their tribal members.
After the herd tour, we gathered at their beautiful community center, a remarkable facility filled with architecture, artwork and elements of SWO history.
Tribal member Chef Nick treated us to a fine dining experience. He prepared an incredible bison meal.
As we enjoyed the meal, students and teachers from the tribe’s language school shared a presentation featuring their language, songs and a Buffalo Dance. It connected the bison we had just seen on the landscape with food, language, tradition and community.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate welcomed us with tremendous generosity and openness. They shared their successes, challenges, knowledge and culture in a way that left us feeling that we truly are all in this together. We are especially happy to welcome SWO as new DTBA members!
🤝 Making the Most of Our Time Together..
During our Rocking P Ranch Tour, we were able to hear from National Buffalo Foundation Executive Director Chad Bloom. The NBF is doing great work to continue to raise funding to support bison research & education. Additionally, they are working to better get that information to bison stakeholders.
We also were able to get our hands on DTBA’s 2027 Scholarship Gun that is up for raffle and hear from our Scholarship Sponsor, Josh & Kelly Lutter with Buffalo County Buffalo Ranch & Buff Stuff Custom Tripods & Arca Plates. One of 2026 TC DTBA Scholarship recipient was also there, Michael Brennan – who is very grateful to DTBA for supporting him.
🦬 Along the journey we were able to make a couple of stops..
And just like that, time to head home…
We know how incredibly busy this time of year is, and we are so grateful to everyone who was able to step away and join us. Between the miles traveled, ranches visited, bison seen, meals shared and conversations along the way, this year’s Summer Ranch Tour truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A huge thank you to every family, ranch, tribal member, host and DTBA member who opened their doors, shared their knowledge and made this journey possible.
Until next time – thank you for the memories!