I’m sitting in a room on the ground-level of a brownstone in Brooklyn. It is night and I’m wondering how I got here. The room is filled with books manuscripts, and galley proofs that are staked on every horizontal surface. It is the home of my long-time friend and literary agent. My body is surrounded by perhaps the greatest city in the world. But my heart is on the Great Plains.
Jill and I left the Black Hills early this morning on an airplane heading east. Wild Idea Buffalo Company’s mobile harvest crew left even earlier than we did – they met at our office in Rapid City, SD at 2:00 am and headed toward the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, in western Montana. Everyone involved with Wild Idea – the office people, the meat processors, the shipping team, the mobile harvest crew, and Jill and I – are working as hard as we can to make a difference in the ecology of the Great Plains and in the eating habits of America. How the hell did we get here?
30 years ago, I barely knew where Brooklyn was, but I knew where the Bob Marshall Wilderness area was because I’d worked there as a young man. As New York might be the greatest city the world, the Bob Marshall might be the greatest landscape in the world. It is odd that the arch between these two American extremes runs right through the Black Hills and, for more and more people, right through the office of Wild Idea Buffalo Company.
Since I arrived in New York I’ve been staying in touch with the harvest crew via text messages. They made it to Choteau, Montana about the same time we made it to New York. Jill and I are surrounded by many, many miles of concrete, bustling noise, and city lights. In contrast, miles of silence, beauty, and a glowing sunset surround the mobile harvest crew. They will be ready to harvest buffalo early in the morning. I’ll be talking in public forums, about Wild Idea Buffalo’s mission, in New York and Washington, DC. Wild Idea links those venues in a uniquely American way.
This connectivity is another example of what makes America great. How does a middle class American kid, running on nothing but passion, get to a basement room in Brooklyn with a crew of six super-capable guys, texting him from the base of the Rocky Mountains? The only way that can happen is if a whole bunch of other Americans – from investors to folks that just like to eat - pitch in and support the cause of saving the Great Plains ecosystem and demanding better food.
It amazes me that I have been invited to present our ideas at Patagonia clothing stores, led by Yvone Chouinard, while the harvest crew is out harvesting buffalo in Montana. Having the support of these influential people and thought-leaders is tremendously important but it is the support of the thousands of Wild Idea Customers that makes the dream come true.
37 comments
Sincere appreciation for all of the support. Jeannie – To answer your questions: 1) Why harvest in Montana? We work with like minded ranchers that meet Wild Idea’s criteria: * !00% grass-fed/grass-finished, * 100% Antibiotic & Hormone Free, *100% Ability to Roam Naturally, and we insist on 100% Humanely Field Harvested. Ranchers that meet this criteria, and share our mission of an improved environment and healthy eco-systems are limited. We try to support and work closely with those that do. 2) Why use the term Buffalo instead of Bison? Both words are used interchangeably, and accepted throughout the industry. Also when the Europeans first came over the translation was understood as Buffalo by the Native people. Due to our proximity to many reservations buffalo is more commonly used. 3) Why don’t we work with Wind Cave? If given the chance to work with Wind Cave, we would take it. Thank you for your support.
Hi,
As always, I so enjoy your writings and am mesmerized by your photos. My husband so loves your products, especially the petite tenderloins, that we make sure we are never without them.
However, I do have a request. Several of the above comments posed some interesting questions that do not seem to have been answered. They are great questions, and I would appreciate it if you would address them. There were basically 3 that I would love clarified.
First, why do you get you bison in Montana instead of SD. Secondly, with you dedication to preserving the prairie, and promoting good eating habits, have you not promoted the correct terminology by using BISON instead of BUFFALO. I think that an important distinction. And lastly, is it possible to help Wind Cave with their need to cut back their herd by purchasing from them, and/or can you at least help them with humane decreases.
Would love to know the answers to these questions.
Appreciate all that you do, and wish you much continued success.
Thank you for doing the conservation work you do as well as providing my family with healthy meat. We have been using your buffalo since we moved to South Dakota in 2009. We were looking for local food, and though the ranch was 3 hours away from us, we soon learned that is still local in South Dakota. We have never been disappointed in any of our orders, and neither have any of the people we sent gifts to. Now we live in South Carolina and are thrilled to be able to fill our freezer every 6 months with delicious, healthy food at a reasonable price and free shipping. I agree, it is amazing the way we can be connected now. You make us feel like we are apart of making a better food system!
Dan, I am so proud of (and thankful for) the work you, Jill, and your team do. I wish there was more I could do to help here in Seattle. Patagonia is a leader and they have merely recognized a partner in what they believe in. Please don’t ever stop on your mission.
Mr. O’Brien,You might like to hear that our book club chose your book,Wild Idea, to read as our last book. We all really enjoyed your story as well as some ground buffalo sliders after our discussion Because of the experience I am on your email list and have incorporated buffalo into our diet at home. I bought some ribeyes from Whole Foods, but they were not your brand. Our local Pasadena Whole Foods gets their buffalo from Colorado. My husband grilled them and they were delicious. I plan on purchasing some from you. I really love what you are doing and wish you continued success. Also, I met Yvonne Chouinard years ago when I was a student in Santa Barbara and he we giving talks about his climbs.. he has come a long was too!!
Safe travels, Dan and Jill, and thank you for making a difference.
Dan and Jill, the creator is smiling upon your crew for sure. Now NYC not so sure.
Thanks for the great article. Travel home safe.
Wonderful news, Dan! I’m happy to be among your SD support crew.
Such a marriage between macro and micro; Wild Idea creates and supports prairies while producing the healthiest of foods and at the same time supplies me, and all your loyal customers, with honest and sustainable nutrition.
Our world is healed and enriched by your efforts.
Oh, and let’s not forget gorgeous and delicious cuts of meat.
Dan and Jill, I too am wishing that I could be in two places at once. Pressing family matters have brought me to the Northeast Kingdom. Thank you both for being such capable and stellar advocates for making positive change. Amy
Why can’t you collaborate with the BLM and Park service to manage the buffalo they want to move off land in and around Yellowstone? At least to send your mobile harvest crew in to see it done humanely?
Enjoy the ride and follow your hearts home! You are blessed with the verbal and written ability to eloquently express the beauty and value of the land, magnificence of bison and how they fit with the land as well as why eating “right” is vital for the health of the planet. I remember a great interview about 10 years ago with you and Beau Turner for public TV on the synergy of prairies and bison…near the beginning of your dreams. Keep dreaming! Best wishes.
I recently read mark Kurlansky’s “The Big Oyster”. Kinda makes me wish NYC never arrived to destroy the nature of the area before the mid 1600’s. It must have been immensely beautiful and nurturing then when one could walk to the water’s edge and feast on abundant perfect oysters.
Keep up the good work preserving what you can of the great grasslands, another fabulous work of nature that could be forever lost.
I love the Dan O’Brien books.
Good for you! I have been telling anyone who will listen about your story. Now the word will be spread far and wide. Pleas post a video of your presentation if possible. Thank you for everything you do.