On June 26, 2001 the Nation’s legislators decided to keep the bison grazing, voting to keep the Nation’s Bison Project alive. Following at vote to shut down the project on June 19, 2001 some legislators admitted to being confused on the vote and the matter was reopened. President Pro Tempore Clarence Pettibone along with representatives Robert Mudd and Ike Greyhair were vocal supporters of keeping the project and persuaded others to reconsider the closing.

The 640-acre Muscoda Farm owned by the Ho-Chunk Nation represents the Nation’s effort to bring alive its past, provide a healthy food alternative to its members and develop a non-gaming commercial venture for the future. As the Nation strives to keep alive its tradition and culture, the bison roaming the grounds provide a daily reminder of the role the animal played in the proud history of Native Americans. Project Manager Cecil Garvin explained that since introducing the bison to the area in 1997 he understood that while the long term goal was to commercialize the herd, the short term goals included stabilizing the herd and providing some food for tribal members. He added the project was important in "keeping alive the tradition of Indian people" and was not yet ready to become a source of revenue to the tribe.

In an effort to help solve the Nation’s current budget deficit, due in part to the increased per-cap payment approved by tribal members at last October’s General Council, the legislature had considered disbanding the herd. District IV Legislator Gerald Cleveland, an advocate of disbanding the herd, stated that because of the mandated cuts it wasn’t right to eliminate staff and reduce programs in other departments while continuing to feed the herd. He stated that for him, the decision came down to "feed our people or feed the buffalo". Aware that in the past two years the Bison Project has donated nearly 2400 pounds of meat to various youth, church, elder and official tribal gatherings, Cleveland added "we can buy buffalo meat a lot cheaper" than the cost associated with raising the herd.

While the Legislature noted the Bison Project was not producing any revenue, Ann McCarthy, an administrator for the project, stated the program was in its early stages and not ready to be a commercial venture. Garvin added though the hope is to introduce bison meat to the menus at the Nation’s three casinos in the near future, he planned to expand the current 150 head herd to at least 1000 head before going commercial outside the Nation. He stated the larger herd was needed to prevent exhausting the supply. He is proud that thus far the herd has served as a "cultural connection" and that no hay, hides or meat have been sold.

McCarthy feels that the Legislature’s comparison of the Bison Project to a commercial venture is "unfair". She stated that the herd at Muscoda is fed naturally, utilizing a nutritional grazing system not used by commercial growers. Those associated with the Nation’s Health Department agree that the meat supplied by bison provides a healthy alternative to those suffering from diabetes, a growing problem with Native people. Garvin stated that he was hopeful that newly acquired property at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve and perhaps Badger Ammunition could be used to increase the grazing acreage, allowing the herd to grow. He added that he fears disbanding the herd could jeopardize agreements made regarding those two sites.

McCarthy and Garvin noted that while the property does have 640 acres, only 300 acres are allotted to the Bison Project and much of the costs associated with upgrading the property was taken from that budget. The Youth Department has made the farm its permanent home for the Summer Youth Conference and money has been spent clearing roads and trails, recognizing the mounds and making the site safer and more attractive. Former Youth Director Russell Girard stated that while members of his department and others have provided manpower working at the ranch, to his knowledge his department made no financial contribution to the improvements. Noting that prior to making Muscoda its home the Youth Department spent nearly $ 30,000 for the Summer Conference, Girard stressed that work at the site has been very cost beneficial to the Youth Department.

While the Legislature considered shutting down the Buffalo Project for economic reasons, for some the bison is more than money. Fred DuBray, who currently heads the Inter Tribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC) headquartered in Rapid City, SD. stated that for the 51 member tribes in the organization, united in a common goal "of restoring the American Buffalo to its rightful range", the herds provide a spiritual base, giving the tribes a "spirit and mind of self-esteem". He estimated that every dollar made is exceeded 8-10 times by non-economic values. DuBray manages a 2000 head herd for the Cheyenne River Sioux and he believes the herd provides a balance between culture and business while providing needed food to tribal members. He stated that health experts agree that naturally cultivated bison meat is a healthy nutritional alternative to the commercially processed, chemically altered products found in supermarkets. He added that "we recognize that the bison is symbolic of our strength and unity and that as we bring our herds back to health, we will also bring our people back to health."

In the vote taken on June 26th, though the legislators voted to keep the Bison Project, they recognized the need to lower the operating expense at the farm and ordered budget cuts that will reduce the current staff of four laborers and two administrators. Cleveland reported that an Area IV meeting held on June 19th, sixteen people unanimously voted to maintain the bison but to suspend all other activities with a reduction in salaries and staff, favoring the hiring of local laborers at lower wages. That was the direction the legislators took on June 26th.

Garvin was thankful that the Bison Project was saved but was disappointed that the staff was reduced. He explained that the operation requires someone be present 24-hours-a day and feels the reduction will cause future plans regarding improvements on the farm to be put on hold.