I don’t know exactly what to write today, because I am leaving my position at the ranch. It is not without some regret that I do so, but several things have converged so the timing is most appropriate. The convergence includes my age, an upcoming surgical procedure on May 3rd that will require a month to a month and a half for recovery, and I am now involved with a very wonderful woman who lives in Hill City.
My duties at the ranch will be covered by others with whom I have worked to familiarize them with the job. There are a couple of other things, but these are by far the most important; so this essay will be my last “monthly” River Ranch Diary.
Dan and Erney and I have been friends, co-workers, and companions since the summer of 1971 when I returned to SD from a Danforth Foundation, post-doctoral grant to Stanford University; so please know that the friendship is still intact and that there is no animosity in my leaving. This ranch and Dan’s previously owned ranches have always been a significant part of my life. As falconers, prairie restorationists, wildlife specialists, academicians, writers, and ranchers of both cattle and buffalo, we have worked to produce effects and have seen many of our efforts take hold and prosper. The philosophy here has always been the same thing: the land and its native inhabitants first, which means that very frequently profits from the agricultural enterprise return to the land to enhance native grasses, abundant fresh water, and restored riparian vegetation.
Profits are calculated in environmental health of the ranch rather than in the increased possessions of the owners—-the land and its health over new machinery and expensive pickup trucks.
I believe that our reintroduction of the bison to lands from which they had been excluded for more than a century has been a major accomplishment. We have demonstrated that cattle and bison can share the same grasslands, albeit at different times, to the benefit of the land, the animals, and the ranchers who share these grasslands. That would hardly have happened had it not been for the philosophy and vision of this, the Cheyenne River Ranch. Had this ranch been a more traditional ranch, I would not have been on it very long. As it is, I am proud to have worked here for Wild Idea Buffalo Company, and the Sustainable Harvest Alliance for we have done what no others before us have accomplished with regards to the American Bison, the several Indian reservations we have worked with, and the private owners who share our beliefs in the production of buffalo meat, which includes free range, grass-fed animals, and a humane, stress-free slaughter, which may to some sound ridiculous, but to those who have actually witnessed the event are completely astounded in the accuracy of that description.
I began this column prior to my entering the hospital for surgery. I complete it now, post-op. I am recovering well, and having no difficulties. I will from time to time return to the ranch for a little work and a little R&R, and will continue to contribute occasionally to the WIB newsletter.
Stay well everyone. I have enjoyed the many comments I have received from my readers. Thank you.
Comments 34
Am glad you are doing well. Will miss your regular writing, but look forward to future contributions. Be well.
Best of luck and good wishes in your new endeavors! Also, a humble thank-you for all you’ve achieved on those beautiful rolling hills of Western South Dakota.
Gervase:
You will be missed on the ranch, but how wonderful that you have found someone to share the twilight years. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
We’ve enjoyed our times with you and wish you all the best. Maybe our paths will cross in the future…hope so.
Fee & Jerry
“…the best is yet to be. The last of life, for which the first was made.” I love that quote, from Browning, and hope it holds true for all of us. I will look forward to your “occasional” columns, as I have always enjoyed your writings. Hill City is a great little community and I am sure you will fit right in. Bon chance, Gervase.
Georgene
Best wishes for a peaceful path as you enter this new stage of life. Have loved your writing and you have made it possible for me to treasure my native SD grasslands even more! Hill City is a town that hold great memories for me as a dear dear old friend was the town barber for many many of it’s younger days. I have the most wonderful memories of summers in their back yard that backed up to the highway, but you had to look up ‘high’ to see it! Fred Ross, a kind, sweet gentleman and his equally adorable wife, Babe. Their daughter was my Aunt. Hope to see your pen back here soon!
Many thanks for your fine writings since I have been “connected” to the SD ranch site the last couple years. Will miss your slant and wish you the best!
Gervase: Best wishes in your new adventures! Life for you goes on and no reason to stop writing about that,right? Cheers!
I’ve always followed your writings and upon reading this I just wanted to wish you the best – so glad when I got to the part that your surgery was successful. What great memories you have given me. I wish you the best with your “special Lady.” You deserve such a special person. Lynn
Bonjour Gervase
I will miss you with your so deep every months writings that I always loved to read but for now stay quiet, hope you’ll be in a good shape for a next travel in France where you are always welcomed. Wish you all the happiness that I can send to you.
Gervase,
I just realized that I’ve known you as long as Dan has – since summer of ’71 when I reported to USD to begin work on a master’s, almost 40 years. Not sure what your surgery was but a month and more recovery suggests something major – maybe like the heart bypass I had. I recovered well, resumed long-distance running and farm work, and expect that you’ll do the same. I wish you well in your new endeavors.
Bill
Greetings from the tundra of South
Dakota. You and your wife used to
cook me dinner in Vermillion, ages
ago, and we were in Fred Manfred’s
writing class together.
I am still in South Dakota.
I hope you are well. I saw your note
to Gervase and had to respond.
I hope you get this and I hope it
finds you in good health. Yes, I am still
playing the guitar and singing;
in fact have a performance with
a big band on March 27 here in Sioux Falls.
Comet Haraldson
USD ’71, ’78, ’79
I wish you the best for your new coming life. Moi aussi I always enjoyed your writings full of poetry and specific references.
Roselyne from France
It is good to hear that you are well and finding happiness and love. I surely wish all the best things in life for you and your love. I will, however, miss your reflective writing. I hope that you continue to write and share your insight whereever you are. I will miss it.
I have enjoyed you writings, good health, happiness and peace be with you.
Please do continue to contribute to this site and perhaps you might want to start up another of your own. If so, just provide a link….I’ll be a reader.
Peace and best regards,
Ken
I am so glad that you have found someone to share your life with and that you are happy. Glad also to know that your surgery was successful and you are on the road to recovery. No doubt you will miss the ranch as they will miss you, but you always manage to have a fulfilling life wherever you are. I will miss your writings, though, and hope that you will write to me sometimes.
Love,
Randi
Best of luck with your recovery! I’m sad to hear that you are leaving, but glad to hear that you have a “wonderful woman” to devote more time too.
All the best,
Andrew
Good luck to you !
Bonne chance pour votre convalescence !
I will miss seeing the plains through your kind and thoughtful eyes.
Sounds like all the goodness that you have sent out over the years is returning home to you, as it should.
Happy Trails.
Sad to see you go. I have always enjoyed your musings. Best wishes for a happy future!
Gervase,
I have greatly enjoyed your insightful writings the past few years, and I will certainly miss them. Best of luck with your “new life” and relationship!
Sorry to hear you are leaving …but Speedy recovery and much happiness with the new woman in your life!!!God watches over us all, and we be with in all your trials and pleasures…..
I hope this response arrives on everyon’s desk.
I have enjoyed writing for you and for the ranch and its accoutements. I dearly appreciate your responses to all of my writings and to this most recent one. My surgery was not life threatening, no heart valve replacement or onything like that. It was an anterior fusion of #5 cervical vertebrae. that’s why the recovery is so long. I anticipate writing an occasional column for the newsletter, and I will be back at the ranch periodically, but in the meantime I will take care of myself, recover, and return to full but mostly different duties. I accept your well wishes and hope to be worthy of them. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Gervase
I take full responsibility for all misspelled words in my last comment.
Hi, Gervase!
We hope you’ll be fine early, and perhaps come again in our country to visit the french bisons…
Like those, wich are grown by fine people, in the south of France :
http://www.randals-bison.com/
And please keep writing!
Sincerely,
Claude & Dom.
Dear Gervase, my best to you as you turn the next page in the book of life. Thank you for all you do for us, the land, and the birds. Please keep writing. I will miss your thoughts until you post again.
Greeting, Gervase and good-bye. I have so enjoyed your writings and thoughts about the fabulouse endeavor that is Wild Idea. I wish you well in your new life. I will look forward to seeing writing from you from time to time.
Will miss the Diary! Will keep you in thoughts & prayers. Remember if you return to Oklahoma to look us up. We still have a spare bedroom!!
Carol & Dennis Stayer
Carpe diem! Love finds a way! and Gods Speed Gervase! I am sure Dan, Curly Bill , all the others the “characters” at WIB ,,, and I know I ,will especially miss you & your insightful writings….tell Dan to finish and include here the rest of that kids book he used to put segments here! Dont be a stranger!!
I’m glad you are doing well Gervase.I’m glad you, dan and the rest of the crew at wild idea started this little adventure and things worked the way nature intended.We all need to strive to achieve to a more natural world and forget about monitary gains and strive to achieve a more holistic achievement in the way we view the world.
Gervase, thank you for the many letter from the diary. It has always been the first thing that I would read when I received the monthly news letter. You once said that you had a past in southwest Oklahoma which is the same as I. I felt the connection with your writings and will miss them. Good health to you and your future.
Gervase,
Best of luck to you! I have personally really appreciated your devotion to the bison, this ranch and your being such a proponent of sustainability and humane treatment in raising animals for food.
Gervase,
Bon vent ! as we say in French
Hope to be able to read you again once in a while on here.
Best
Hey Gervase (aka Pasco Smith),
Glad to hear you are recovering from the “pain in the neck”. Remember, the good hearted doctors lie about the recovery time. It always takes longer, but by next year hopefully it won’t be the first or second thing you think about when you get up in the morning. I miss you and the ranch and the creatures and plants.
I guess this means that you are now an official ranch visitor with a lifetime invitation like the rest of us.
All is well here. Hope to see you collecting peaches in Lafayette, CO again sometime.
Pat