Agenda
Serving buffalo in school meals provides students with healthy, nourishing food and connects students with our buffalo relatives. At the Regional Buffalo to School Training, you'll be able to learn and share with experts, elders, and community leaders who work in school food and nutrition, buffalo production, and school administration.
Plus, you'll get to eat some amazing Indigenous food! All training activities are designed to help everyone add buffalo to their local school-meal programs, share resources and best practices, and develop actionable plans to make healthy changes for our next generations.
Pre-Training Cultural Harvest - Saturday Night, June 21, 2025
If you're joining the pre-training Cultural Buffalo Harvest at the Dakota Partnership Ranch on Sunday, June 22, 2025, you'll want to travel to the Baymont by Wyndham in Hot Springs, SD, to stay on Saturday night, June 21st, since the Harvest starts early! Call the Baymont at (605) 745-7378 and mention you're with the Regional Buffalo to School group to receive your discount rate of $119 plus tax. The Baymont by Wyndam is located at 737 S. 6th Street in Hot Springs.
Pre-Training Cultural Harvest - Sunday, June 22, 2025
Early Morning
Check out of your room. Breakfast on your own.
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6:50 a.m.
Load van and carpool to Dakota Partnership Ranch
7:30 a.m.
Cultural Buffalo Harvest at Dakota Partnership Ranch
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11:30 a.m.
Lunch with the Hangry Buffalos
5:30 p.m.
This is an estimated departure time. We'll return you to your vehicle to journey to Rapid City, where your room at the Double Tree awaits you. Call the Double Tree at (605) 348-4000 by May 19, 2025, for the best conference rates. Let them know you'd like a room in the Regional Buffalo to School Room Block.
Buffalo to School Training - Monday, June 23, 2025
It's time to swing into full training and learning mode!
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Registration and Complementary Breakfast at the Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) in Rapid City, SD
8:30 a.m.
Welcoming Smudge & Prayer
Five Reasons for Indigenizing School Meals with Buffalo
9:00 a.m.
Keynote Address with Irona Howe followed by a unique Get Up & Going event
10:30 a.m.
“Lightning Talks” featuring real-life, on-the-ground Buffalo to School success stories from around the region
11:15 a.m.
Buffalo to School: How Can You Make It Work?
Explore models from around the region.
12:00 p.m.
Catered Lunch Provided by The Hangry Buffalo
1:00 p.m.
Buffalo to Schools--Understanding and Following the Rules and Regulations that impact your school meal program
2:00 p.m.
Let's Get to Work!
Breakout Tracks for School Administrators, Producers, and School Meal Professionals
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​​​​Administrators
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Administrator Facilitated Discussion: Getting to Know Your Track
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What's Your Role As An Administrator When It Comes to Adding Buffalo to School Meals?
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How Do You Align Buffalo to School with Your School Goals?
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Your Role As A Leader In Your Buffalo to School Program
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​Producers
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3 Producers Share Their Experiences with Buffalo to School
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Why and How They Got Involved​
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How They Overcame Hurdles
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Their Best Advice for Others
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School Meals 101: What Producers Need to Know to Work With School Food Service Professionals ​
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​​School Food Service Professionals, with Mariah Gladstone, Casey Cavanaugh, and Guest Appearance by Chef Sean Sherman of Owamni and North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems​
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Introduction to Adding Buffalo to Your School Meals
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Crediting
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Menu Ideas and Cooking Techniques
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4:30 p.m.
Dianne Amiotte-Siedel & Chef Sean Sherman: Transition to a Tasty Evening
5:00 - 7:30 p.m.
A Taste of Indian Country - A Celebratory Indigenous Food Tasting Event (Separate Event Ticket Required. See Registration Page)
7:30 p.m.
Dinner on Your Own
Buffalo to School Training - Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Day 2 of the Regional Bison to School Training brings you another great day of resources and interactive learning! All Day 2 events take place at Western Dakota Technical College
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Complementary Breakfast at the Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) in Rapid City, SD
8:30 a.m.
Welcome - Fanny Brewer, Intertribal Agriculture Council
8:45 a.m.
Keynote Panel - Moderated by Heather Dawn Thompson, World Wildlife Fund
10:15 a.m.
Join Your Tracks!
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Administrators & Producers Meet Together Today
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​Production & Procurement Models for Buffalo to School​
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Buffalo to School In Action In The Kitchen
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School Food Service Professionals - Let's Get Cooking!
12:30 p.m.
Lunch From The Pros - School Meals from Attending School Meal Professionals
1:30 p.m.
Tying It All Together Interactive Session
Richard Elm-Hill from First Nations Development Institute shares insights on ways Buffalo to Schools fits into broader Tribal Food Sovereignty and Farm to School goals and includes cross-sector team challenges and plan development for serving buffalo at your school during Native American Heritage Month in November
2:30 p.m.
Regional Buffalo to School Training Wrap-Up
3:00 p.m.
Safe Travels Until We Meet Again!