Hometown Farmer: Raising Bison in Siouxland - Siouxland News - KMEG 14 and FOX 44

However, there's a unique pair of farmers in Yankton, South Dakota raise bison.

Frank Kralicek and his son Frank Kralicek Jr. have a special bond farming a few thousand acres of land and raising several hundred bison. It's a family business that stretches across four generations.

"It's very specialized meat. It's a very good meat and it's really a good product," said Frank Kralicek Jr. 

The Kralicek boys tend to their buffalo herd every day. It's an uncommon sight around Siouxland.

"There used to be a lot of herds, I mean for the buffalo and now, it's more the larger herds. Most of the smaller guys have gotten out," said Frank Kralicek Sr. 

This family duo bought a few smaller herds from other farmers.

"We're calving and we've got new baby calves and new buffalo and get 'em out in the field and planting," said Frank Jr. 

Frank Jr.'s grandpa started the buffalo business in 1983 trying to make some money from his original cow–calf farm.

"And then basically we went through the '80s and raised some calves and we decided to start feeding some more calves and went out and bought more buffalo calves and started feeding buffalo," said Frank Jr. 

He came back from college 12 years ago and decided to join his dad again to expand the farm. They have about 500 bison in total and farm 3,000 acres of land.

"There's been up and down market crash few years back and now it's come back very good," said Frank Sr.

The younger of the twosome said he wouldn't trade the family farm for the world.

"It's rewarding. He teaches me new things everyday and I teach him new things with technology and everything. It works hand to hand," said Frank Jr.

His little guy, Patrick, knows all about the farm just like when he was a youngster.

"When he goes to school, he talks about it. And everybody else always wants to know what we're doing on the farm and what's going on. It's a really good lifestyle for our families," Frank Jr. described.

"We keep busy out here. That's for sure," laughed Frank Sr.

 

Frank Sr. admitted technology on the farm is changing faster than he likes but as he put it - "the younger generation's absorbing it faster." Luckily, he's got his son to help him.