Bison Stories, Art, and a New Book

The latest news from Ron & T of The Buffalo Wool Co. at RATH Ranch. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

From ExoComics, check out the new book "Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery"

and bison fiber is pretty much magic...

Happy Saturday Friends!

Hope all is well in your part of the country.. life here is good, have Dad in town, and we spent the day with Ts parents doing fun stuff out west of here Thursday. Left me Friday for chores etc... just need another 30-90 days or a couple years and I will be caught up.

If you have been following along for any length of time, you know we like to share good stories about bison and the people involved.. and I am gonna ask two favors of you friends here.

#1. If you have any bison stories or makers/farmers or just something you think should be shared with a wider audience... Forward them on please. Had someone ask if we took advertisements here ...we don't, we just love promoting good people, and sharing fun things.

#2 If you know anyone who might enjoy these, please forward these emails, maybe with a personal note... It definitely helps us find new friends and that is always good.

If you can do either or both, it would truly be appreciated.

so with that out of the way... Let's see what we can get into today. Have a couple fun things.

Hope you have a wonderful day.

Ron &T and the crew here at the Buffalo Wool Co .

and since the mail didn't run yesterday, I am going to pack the overnight orders now, and anything that comes in before 10am today.

Buffalo Soldier Story: This happened about 9 years ago. Thought it was worth writing and sharing.

A few years back, T and I met up with Cathy Williams’ Great-Granddaughter, Cynthia Williams at the Caprock Canyons Bison Meetup. T and I spent a beautiful day at Caprock Canyons State Park for the Bison Meetup. The Texas State Bison Herd was out in force, grazing peacefully against the striking red canyons and wide prairies. It felt like a perfect blend of nature and history.

While we were there, we had the special privilege of meeting Cathy Williams’ great granddaughter. She was warm, engaging, and happy to share family stories with us. Her grandmother, Cathy (also known as Cathay) Williams, is a true American pioneer — the only documented woman to serve as a Buffalo Soldier.

Born into slavery in Missouri in 1844, Cathy endured the hardships of enslavement and the chaos of the Civil War. After emancipation, opportunities were limited for newly freed people, especially women. In November 1866, she made a daring choice: she disguised herself as a man named William Cathay and enlisted in the U.S. Army. She served nearly two years as a private in the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment, one of the famed Buffalo Soldier units. She marched, drilled, and performed all the duties of a soldier on the Western frontier.

Her secret was only discovered when she became ill, likely with smallpox, leading to her honorable discharge in 1868.Years later, in 1876, a St. Louis newspaper published her story after interviewing her, bringing her remarkable courage and resilience to public attention. She lived the rest of her life working as a cook and seamstress, facing further challenges but always carrying the quiet strength of someone who had broken barriers no one expected her to.

Standing there with Cynthia, watching the bison — powerful symbols of endurance and the American West, just like the Buffalo Soldiers themselves — the connection felt profound. T and I left the meetup inspired. It wasn’t just about seeing the herd; it was about meeting living history and feeling how one woman’s bravery still echoes through generations.

A good book on the story here.

From a Friend: Tim Burkhalter; Bison Photographer

I have been photographing nature and wildlife for over 40 years, but have recently focused on capturing the plains bison using black and white film. I use an old German camera with manual settings and capture most of my images in the Black Hills or Yellowstone National Park. Once shot, I develop the film and then scan it to clean up the files and apply some photoshop magic to the final images. My goal is to create a visceral reaction to those who view the prints. I print images using pigment-based inks and the highest quality cotton rag papers for the final product. More images can be viewed at

http://www.tburkhalterphotography.net/

and I can be reached directly via email at: burkhaltertim@hotmail.com

From the Herdwear Store: Dad's Collection

This is the just received June 2026 Charles Sinclair painted bison robe. It is most likely his last ... and one of his most ambitious. He calls it "Wandering through Ancient Art Galleries". 20 depictions of ancient rock art from 10 different historic native pictograph sites.