McGinley
79,292 Acres | Nebraska & South Dakota Sandhills
A living laboratory where native grasslands, bison, wetlands, and regenerative land management come together across one of North America’s most unique prairie ecosystems.
THE LANDSCAPE
Healthy grasslands begin with healthy ecological processes
McGinley spans nearly 80,000 acres of native prairie in the Northern Sandhills ecoregion, where the grasslands of Nebraska and South Dakota meet. Donated to the Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture in 2021, the property reflects Ted Turner’s long-standing belief that healthy ecosystems and productive agriculture can, and must, work together.
The Sandhills are one of the most ecologically unique landscapes in North America – the largest grass-stabilized dune system in the Western Hemisphere. Rolling dunes, wet meadows, shallow lakes, and native grasslands create a dynamic mosaic shaped for centuries by grazing, fire, and climate. McGinley protects and studies this living system at scale.
McGinley spans nearly 80,000 acres of native prairie in the Northern Sandhills ecoregion, where the grasslands of Nebraska and South Dakota meet. Donated to the Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture in 2021, the property reflects Ted Turner’s long-standing belief that healthy ecosystems and productive agriculture can, and must, work together.
The Sandhills are one of the most ecologically unique landscapes in North America – the largest grass-stabilized dune system in the Western Hemisphere. Rolling dunes, wet meadows, shallow lakes, and native grasslands create a dynamic mosaic shaped for centuries by grazing, fire, and climate. McGinley protects and studies this living system at scale.
Did you know?
The Sandhills sit above the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the most important groundwater systems in North America.
WATER & WILDLIFE
Wetlands that support life across the flyway
More than 60 natural lakes and ponds, headwater streams, and expansive wet meadow complexes are woven throughout the land. Beneath the surface lies the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the most important groundwater systems in the United States. These wetlands and riparian habitats support an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, including migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, birds of prey, songbirds, elk, deer, pronghorn, reptiles, and small mammals.
BISON & GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT
Restoring the role of native grazers
At the heart of McGinley is a large herd of American plains bison – the native grazers that once shaped North America’s grasslands. The property manages approximately 4,000 bison using adaptive grazing practices designed to improve soil health, strengthen native plant communities, and increase ecological resilience across the landscape.
Management practices include:
- Adaptive multi-paddock grazing
- Rest and rotational grazing systems
- Strategic reintroduction of fire
- Low-stress animal handling
- Limited supplemental feeding
- Native grass and pollinator restoration
- Reduced reliance on synthetic inputs and fossil fuels
These practices help promote biodiversity, discourage invasive species, improve water infiltration, build healthier soils, and create more resilient grassland ecosystems.
Our bison managers prioritize animal welfare and natural herd behavior. Calves remain with their mothers through natural weaning, reducing stress and supporting stronger herd dynamics. Bison are managed in ways that encourage diverse grazing patterns and adaptation to the environments in which they evolved.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
A Living Laboratory for Ecoagriculture
Because of its size, intact ecosystems, and long-term stewardship approach, McGinley serves as an ideal living laboratory for ecoagriculture research. Scientists, land managers, universities, industry partners, and conservation organizations collaborate here to explore some of the most pressing questions facing working lands today, including:
- Soil health and carbon dynamics
- Grazing and grassland resilience
- Water systems and wetland health
- Native species conservation
- Pollinator habitat
- Animal nutrition and welfare
- Climate adaptation
- Sustainable food production
Research at McGinley Ranch is grounded in real-world application – advancing practical solutions that support both ecological health and agricultural productivity.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Conservation That Works in the Real World
At McGinley, productive agriculture, thriving wildlife, healthy soils, and long-term stewardship are not competing goals. They are interconnected outcomes of a healthier landscape.
For Ted Turner, conservation was never about locking landscapes away. It was about learning how people, wildlife, and working lands could thrive together for generations to come. McGinley continues that work today.