Forever, Period.

Last weekend, before the boys’ pee‑wee football games kicked off, we had the privilege of hosting The Nature Conservancy’s Board of Trustees at the Cheyenne River Buffalo Ranch. Their visit wasn’t about presentations or policy — it was about letting decision‑makers meet the people who steward the land, and seeing conservation work where it actually happens: on the ground, in real time, shaped by buffalo and prairie.

Today, 90% of the private acres associated with the ranch are protected under a conservation easement, with roughly another 1,000 acres pending. That level of commitment sometimes raises eyebrows among neighbors. Years ago, I asked Dan why people were so skeptical. He told me it comes down to one thing: money.

A conservation easement is perpetual — it limits certain types of development forever. Some folks see that as a barrier to “cashing out” at the highest possible price. And often, the highest bidder isn’t someone who wants to protect the prairie; it’s someone who wants to build a golf course or carve the land into housing lots.

Dan’s response has stayed with me: “This easement doesn’t require us to do anything differently than what we already believe in. We don’t want to till the land, segment it, or develop it. We want contiguous, uninterrupted ecosystems functioning with as many symbiotic relationships as possible. Forever. Period.”

So the real question becomes: Why wouldn’t we?

Our partnership with The Nature Conservancy reflects that same long‑view commitment. Conservation and restoration aren’t short‑term projects — they take decades, even lifetimes. These partnerships help secure a destiny for the land, ensuring that future generations can experience what we are fortunate to enjoy during our time here.

We’re grateful for the chance to share the ranch, the herd, and the work with TNC’s trustees — and grateful for everyone who supports this mission by choosing Wild Idea Buffalo.