Buffalo For The Broken Heart

Tell me the landscape in which you live, and I will tell you who you are.
~José Ortega y Gassett

A man is much more than what he does, but to begin to give you a sense of Dan O'Brien —the maverick— you might be interested in knowing that he is, or has been, a rancher (cattle and bison), an award-winning writer, an English teacher, a falconer, an endangered species biologist, and the founder of Wild Idea Buffalo Company, among other things.

It is obvious from his words and actions that Dan O'Brien cares deeply about healthy relationships, ecologically sound practices, being a part of solutions, and caring for the earth.

How does this relate to Buffalo for the Broken Heart? Read on to see how the web of life plays out at the Broken Heart Ranch.

Out here on the prairie everything is dependent on everything else — each part affecting and nurturing the other. Right here, right now, life in its most powerful, beautiful, and natural state is happening, and it always has been.
We're all part of it. ~Dan O'Brien

Dan O'Brien wasn't asking for a great deal. His desire was to make a living as a cattle rancher. Sometimes, though, the best laid plans get diverted by the winds of change. In this case, an economy that bottomed out, along with market fluctuations, made it nearly impossible for cattle ranchers to survive. Add to that the regular cycle of droughts that plague those who live on the Great Plains, and you can understand why O'Brien was struggling to make it on the Broken Heart Ranch.

In order to meet financial obligations, Dan O'Brien was forced to travel out of state to find work that sustained his cattle operation during lean times. As it became apparent that cattle ranching was going to be a constant battle, O'Brien was urged by some of his ranching friends to consider reintroducing bison to his land. This wasn't a decision that was made easily or overnight. In this book, the author shares how he wrestled with the kinds of doubts and fears that accompany every major life and work transition.

Though it may not have seemed apparent for some time, bison ranching actually made perfect sense in terms of addressing the priorities of Dan O'Brien's ranching operation and his value system. Bison, properly managed, would be much healthier for grasslands that were damaged by previous overgrazing of cattle. Additionally, the market for bison was expanding. There were no guarantees, but it was likely that making the move from a cattle to a bison operation was a risk worth taking.

When Dan O'Brien is asked by a friend to assist with their annual buffalo roundup, little does he know that it will be a pivotal experience. At the end of the day, when a ragtag group of orphaned buffalo calves need to have their fate determined,
O'Brien surprises himself by agreeing to care for the calves over the winter. It is this moment of truth— this leap of faith— that becomes the new heart in a story that has, up to now, mainly known heartbreak.

1. Norris, Kathleen (1993) Dakota: A Spiritual Geography. New York: Houghton Mifflin. Page 1 (source of the introductory quotation).

I am so appreciative of my professional colleagues who continually support my writing and publishing ventures. Words are hardly enough to express my gratitude for your tremendous support and encouragement.

You are amazing, darciefrench.
Thank you, AnthonyAltorenna.