The idea to raise buffalo started on the radio. Rick Knobe works at KSOO radio, 1140 on the AM dial, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is the “founder and chancellor” of “Viewpoint University”, a local radio talk show. His radio partner was Randy McDaniel, “professor of liberal arts, and faculty advisor to sorority row.”

During a March 2000, on-air interview with Greg Smeenk, of Thunder Canyon Ranch, in Newell, South Dakota, Randy suggested that since buffalo ranching is so “easy”, that we could do it.  What followed were several days of on-air fun. Finding land, fencing, creating several “jobs” to be done, including ranch artist, official dually driver, and of course, a scuba diver for the stock dam.

The name “Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch” came from suggestions of Viewpoint University students (listeners).
It is a twist on Shakespeare, since Randy and Rick are not known to be hard workers, the “Lazy” part came easy. The RRse is a combination of our initials, Rick and Randy, and Shakespeare’s reference to a person’s backside.

Randy is not involved in the ranch. He really is lazy. For the rest of the story about the Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch, keep reading.

Rick Knobe, and his son, Brian, own the Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch, LLC, along with Rick’s brothers, Larry, in Barrington, Illinois, and Chet, in Jackson, Wyoming.

Our ranch is west of Sioux Falls, in McCook County. The new pasture consists of rolling hills with a stream bed that feeds the E. Fork Vermillion River.

Our first day of ownership, December 31st, 2000, started with the delivery of the animals. All went well for about two hours, when “The Great Escape” happened. The buffalo found the weakest link in the fence and were heading “home.” After another two hours of herding animals that didn’t want to be herded, and us wondering if we were going to have to shoot them before the ink dried on the check, they were pushed back into the pasture. New Year’s Eve plans were cancelled to dig a trench in the hard-packed snowdrift that allowed the animals to escape. It was a long night. The next several days were sleepless as we worried about receiving a call from the sheriff telling us the animals were out again. Fortunately, that did not happen.

We have been buffalo ranching ever since, and it has been fun. We have learned to love and respect the American Buffalo. Another benefit has been to meet wonderful people who are also involved with buffalo.