Tribal spokesman Francis Wakeman initially thought it was a prank.
A phone call had informed him that 500 turkeys were being donated to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe — to be delivered within 24 hours.
Wakeman, reassured it wasn’t a joke, quickly arranged for the donation and orchestrated a rapid distribution to ensure tribal members received a turkey in time for the holidays.
By 5 p.m. the next day, just one pallet of turkeys — along with one lone bird — remained after most had been generously distributed to local families.

The donation, made last Wednesday, came courtesy of Team Buche Cares and G.F. Buche Co. It was part of the new initiative, which distributed 100,000 pounds of turkey — 10,000 birds in total — to 121 communities, including all nine South Dakota tribes.
Flandreau was the first stop.
“So many of us have fond memories of holiday meals or traditions developed around a special food,” R.F. Buche shared in a press release.
“We are honored to be able to spread joy this holiday season by contributing to the holiday meal of families across our state.”
Buche, a fourth-generation grocer, oversees G.F. Buche Co., which operates grocery, convenience, fast-food, hardware, and auto parts stores in nearly two dozen South Dakota communities. Many of these locations are situated on or near tribal lands.
In July, Buche Foods partnered with the Oglala Sioux Tribe to launch a Summer Food Program that provided 28,000 meals to children across Pine Ridge Reservation’s nine districts. Twice a week, meals and snacks were assembled and delivered to remote areas where summer food insecurity is most severe.
Increasing access to healthy food in rural areas has become a mission for Team Buche Cares and G.F. Buche Co. The proceeds from the latest initiative will benefit families in 121 communities across South Dakota.