Recently, my wife and I traveled to northern Indiana to visit Terry and Courtney Engstrand at White Oaks Bison Farm. The Buffalo Ranch, located at 8343 East 400 North in Rochester, is about 100 miles north of Indianapolis, and takes about an hour and forty-five minutes to drive. The drive is an easy one on US Highway 31 past historic Grissom Air Force base, the Circus City of Peru, apple orchards, and farm fields. Pick a sunny day to travel and you can experience the perfect Hoosier getaway on a tankful. Before I tell the story of our visit, do yourself a favor, take a moment to check out their webpage at whiteoaksbisonfarm.com/.
The Engstrands graciously welcomed us into their little slice of heaven early on a Sunday morning. The four of us sat at a long table straight out of the Ponderosa ranch. We were quickly joined by the newest member of their family, a four-month-old puppy named Cinch. Cinch is n Austrian Shepherd/Rottendoodle mix and WOW what a great little dog he is. His crystal-clear blue eyes could’ve given Paul Newman a run for his money. Cinch took a shine to Rhonda immediately. I could not help but think that this carefree rambunctious little puppy had no idea that he has won the doggy lottery by landing on a Bison ranch.
To say that Terry Engstrand is passionate about his farm is like saying water is wet. When I asked how the idea came about, he stated that the seed of the ranch germinated during the COVID-19 Pandemic. “Like everyone else, we had time to think about our lives and our health,” Terry stated. “Food was a problem. The choices were not very healthy and at the time health was everyone’s concern. We decided to offer a healthier choice of meat. Bison has fewer calories than chicken and salmon, but more protein than beef. Bison meat provides a great source of omega 3, zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium, and B-12.” Terry classes himself among a new breed of “Eco Engineers” whose mission is to help jumpstart the return of natural processes to the soil and create and build habitat for many species mainly by the wallows of their Bison. The Web site noted, “We are enjoying meeting new people in our journey from here in Indiana and other US states. We have welcomed visitors from 6 other countries. The advantage of raising these majestical and keystone species on a family farm is knowing they facilitate a deep-root grass system that revitalizes topsoil and supports the growth of regenerative plants and microorganisms ‘replanting the prairies’ while providing several needs of an abundance of wildlife.”
Terry knows his subject well. He is a former 15-year law enforcement officer fluent in holistic medicine who is determined to change things for the better in every way. He has studied Bison religiously and speaks on the subject of the health benefits of Bison meat in terms that could challenge any college professor. Terry is well aware of the Bison’s place in the history of this country and the importance of perpetuating this once-endangered North American standard into the lives of our Generation Alpha/Beta Hoosiers.
“We started our farm operation in January of 2021 and our first animals arrived in October of that year. We built it during the Pandemic with the idea that we were doing our part to fight COVID-19.” Terry stated. “Our slogan is ‘The Healthier Choice’ and we live by that ideal. Our mission statement is ‘all grass fed and finished.’ Our meat products are processed and packaged in a USDA and BOAH-inspected offsite facility to reassure you of the importance of safe handling. The use of growth hormones, steroids, and non-therapeutic antibiotics is strictly prohibited by industry standards. Our farming methods are environmentally friendly. Our operation is free of artificial reproduction practices and uses proper land management to minimize any exposure risk the herd may have to disease. After all, Bison are wild animals whose natural instincts are very much still intact. Because of this they are hardy and disease resistant and need minimal intervention from ranchers to stay healthy.”
Terry admitted that Bison are not traditionally affiliated with Indiana “although the herds routinely traveled the northern and southern regions of the state on the ‘Old Buffalo Trace’ (considered by many historians to be this country’s first highways) for hundreds of miles every year.” These great herds of bison, estimated at 60 million, once roamed the prairies of our nation and were an integral part of the Hoosier state’s grassland landscape. According to the Indiana DNR, the last free-range bison in the state of Indiana was shot in Orange County in 1830. Terry continued, “People visiting the farm are amazed to see these giant beasts grazing and roaming these fields in northern Indiana. The best time to see them is at sunset or sunrise. The silhouette can bring tears to your eyes. We’ve had people run their vehicles off the road and into the ditch a few times because they were so busy watching them.” Terry pointed to a telephone pole some 30 yards away and recalled that it was recently taken out by one of those rubber-neckers. “Nobody has gotten hurt though, thankfully.”
Courtney Engstrand, who said, “I don’t like to talk much. I leave that to Terry”, is soft-peddling her skills. Courtney is every bit as knowledgeable as Terry and equally dedicated. With Cinch the dog resting on her lap and chewing at the drawstrings of her wind-breaker, Rhonda asked Courtney, “Do you get attached to the animals?” Courtney responds, “We try not to, but sometimes you can’t help it. They all have their own personalities and they are very good judges of character. They are fun to watch. They get the zoomies and run in circles like puppies. They bounce on all four feet when they are happy or excited and they like to run. They are playful and they grunt to communicate.” I asked about the calving process and Courtney responded, “It is pretty carefree. We have a couple of in-calf cows out there now. We were hoping that we would have a new calf to show you this morning but that didn’t happen. Bison, like humans, have a gestation period of nine months, and most calves are born in April or May. Most of the time, we just wake up and they are here. Just minutes after they’re born, calves stand on the ground and within a few hours they’re running.”
Courtney’s family (The Eaton family) has farmed the adjacent property for decades and they were the genesis of the location for White Oaks Bison Farm. Engstrands have 3 children. They have two girls in college, Macy, 23, studying business at Indiana University South Bend, and Hannah, 21, studying nursing at I.U. Bloomington. Their son, Ryker, aged 13, is still at home with his parents. One of Terry’s favorite memories is that of Ryker farming the property, making him a fifth-generation farmer on that land. Terry recalle, “I don’t think he realizes that yet, but someday it will mean a lot to him.” The farm will be expanding soon by turning several adjacent acres of farm fields into pasture for the herd.
At this point, Terry got philosophical. “The Indigenous people called them Tatonka. Most people remember that term from Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves movie. We have a few new Bison from that very western region out there right now. They could easily be descendants of those Bison from the movie. Females typically give birth to one calf per year. What I am amazed by in the calving process is that the calves are reddish brown when they emerge, which is the same color as the dirt out west. It is almost like God planned it that way so those little calves could hide from predators during those early vulnerable hours.” Those baby calves are “about the size of a Labrador Retriever” and are affectionately called “cinnamons” or “red dogs.” Courtney added, “It takes them about 8 months to a year to turn brown.”
We visited the shed building near the Engstrand ranch house where the tours of the property start. White Oaks Bison Farm routinely welcomes families, school classes, clubs, youth groups, Boy & Girl Scouts, sports teams, workplace retreats, colleges & universities, 4-H Clubs, FFA Teams, church groups, and other organizations to their farm for tours of the property. Personally, I can think of no better corporate team building exercise than a trip to White Oaks Bison Farm. And at $6 per person, it is a bargain. And believe me, when a city-slicker like me first lays eyes on a Bison, North America’s largest land mammal, one is immediately struck by just how massive they are. Terry said, “They move on their own but they are not obstinate. The males, or bulls, can be six feet at the shoulder and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Our herd bull’s name is Denali. Natives relate this name to “the great or tall one.” Females, or cows, are roughly five feet at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,200 pounds. Despite their size, they can run 35 miles per hour. On average, bison live 15 to 20 years.”
Terry lead us over to a display featuring a massive, tightly stretched buffalo hide. He welcomed us to “give it a rub” to properly gauge the coarseness of the fur. Nearby is the skull of a Bison, bleached white by nature but with the black horns still attached. The horns rest like caps over the pointed horns. Terry lifted one off and explained, “The Natives used these to carry spices and foodstuffs (like jerky) with them on their travels and hunting journeys. Unfortunately, it backfired on them when the European settlers started to carry their gunpowder in them.” Terry deftly lifted a white Bison scapula bone from the table and uses it as an example of how the Indigenous people used every part of the Bison. “It looks like the business end of a canoe paddle doesn’t it?” Terry stated, “That is exactly what they used it for. It was equally used as a hoe for planting. The edge was used to cut the trench for seeds and the flat spade was used to cover the seeds with soil. Very efficient.”
Lest you think that White Oaks Bison Farm is just about the animals, Terry and Courtney offer interactive wagon or walking tours including planting flowers, vegetables, candling eggs, how to raise chicks, and building bird houses. The farm also sells some of the most unique souvenirs you’re likely to find in the Hoosier state: Bison hides for robes, rugs and upholstery, Bison skulls, and Bison dog bones. T-shirts, hoodies, and hats emblazoned with the image of a Hoosier Bison/Buffalo. How cool is that? Most importantly, the farm wants to introduce you and your family to the benefits of Bison meat. Their Web site states, “It has a full and robust taste without the ‘gamey’ flavor that sometimes comes with other lean red meats. Yet the available cuts, preparation methods, and taste are similar enough to beef that it is easy to substitute into the recipes you already know and love. Think chili, lasagna, fajitas, and pot roast, as well as burgers and steaks.” Terry stated, “It cooks low and slow because there is no fat. That marbling you see on beefsteaks? That’s fat.” And if you don’t have the free time to travel up to Rochester, they deliver! Terry and Courtney are so devoted to getting the word out, they proudly proclaim. “Give us a call (574-371-5949) or e-mail us (WhiteOaksBisonFarm@gmail.com) and we’ll meet you somewhere in Indianapolis. We deliver to the city all the time.”
The highlight of our visit was the trip out to see the Bison in the wild. The herd numbers 25 to 30 now but they expect that number to grow by 10 calves this spring. That number to expected to grow to 60-75 with the addition of 20-30s cows in the next year or so. The herd sees us coming from a hundred yards away and slowly saunters up to our little group at their own pace. One look at these massive beasts and the slogan “Please don’t pet the fluffy cows” becomes readily apparent. Terry facilitated the encounter with the enticement of a special treat he calls “range cubes,” a compressed mixture of corn, molasses, and alfalfa about the size of a roll of lifesavers or a lipstick that draw the Bison near. Of course, they eat right out of Terry and Courtney’s hands, and we are invited to try it ourselves. As Rhonda reached into the bucket for a handful, Denali grunted and bulled his way through the crowd for his share. Denali ignored my outstretched hand and immediately accepted Rhonda’s offer. (Courtney is right after all, they are good judges of character.) Denali took every treat Rhonda offered by extending his jet-black tongue (about the size of an adult foot) to gobble up the treats. Rhonda said, “It feels like sandpaper.” Along with Denali, the herd includes a Jr. herd bull in training named Canuuk and several female Bison (called cows) named Barbie, Big Mama, Princess, and Magnolia. The star of the pasture is a big, beautiful female that Terry named Crazy Beautiful (after the Luke Combs song) whose big eyelashes bat teasingly whenever range cubes are in play. While all Bison have eyelashes ostensibly to thwart ice buildup in the winter, Crazy Beautiful’s long eyelashes could put Lady Gaga’s to shame.
At the time of our visit, the Bison were shedding their thick winter coats. Courtney said, “Yes, we find those tufts of fur all over the property this time of year.” Terry noted, “We are excited to be raising these American bison on some of the richest grass pastures in Indiana following strict agriculture rotational grazing methods. Our bison are moving from pasture to pasture, just like they do in the wild. Our main focus is to keep the bison in as much of their natural habitat as possible by following regenerative farming practices. We practice good land stewardship to avoid pesticides in our pastures to control weeds. The herd grazes on the rich native grasses as nature provides just as they have done for centuries.”
As I gazed on in wonder at these ancient American beasts from inches away, I wonder how many of these pellets it would take to fill Denali up. Terry made sure that Denali’s subservient herd gets their fair share by reaching into the bucket as we speak and throwing fistfuls of range cubes on the ground which were quickly gobbled up like candy. Terry shook his head, smiled, and reflected, “I am amazed how much the Bison love the dirt. They roll around in it and whenever we dig a trench for natural irrigation, they immediately converge on it. They will spend days, or weeks, rubbing their noses in the dirt. It is almost like they are connected to the earth.” I asked if they had any natural predators out here. Terry responded, “They don’t like Coyotes. They are not afraid of them but if a coyote appears, they gather around in a circle and protect the calves. It takes them a while to get used to people and dogs.” Our thoughts immediately went back to Cinch the puppy, seated obediently next to Courtney on the front seat of the quad runner that delivered us to this spot. If it is true that all dogs go to heaven, then Cinch is destined to be doubly blessed.
Al Hunter is the author of the “Haunted Indianapolis” and co-author of the “Haunted Irvington” and “Indiana National Road” book series. His newest books are “Bumps in the Night. Stories from the Weekly View,” “Irvington Haunts. The Tour Guide,” and “The Mystery of the H.H. Holmes Collection.” Contact Al directly at Huntvault@aol.com or become a friend on Facebook.
