Ho-Chunk, Inc.

Thank you for 30 years! 🎉

🔥 Sneak peek at our WarHorse Gaming Omaha expansion! 🏆 Ribbon cutting Tuesday, April 22 🤩 Grand opening Thursday, May 8

🚜 🌽 Ho-Chunk Farms Boosts Tribal Economy with Record Land Lease Payouts Ho-Chunk Farms, the tribally-owned farming enterprise of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, has reached a milestone in 2025 by distributing a record-breaking $2.1 million in land lease payments to the Tribe and its members — the largest payout in the company’s history. Aaron LaPointe, who helps oversee Ho-Chunk Farms, said the company’s continued growth is directly tied to its commitment to strengthening the local economy. "This year, we expanded from 6,500 to 7,500 farmable acres, with the majority of those new leases coming from tribal land," LaPointe explained. "That growth led to a significant increase in payments — both to the Tribe and to individual landowners." Cory Cleveland, who manages Ho-Chunk Farms, said they paid about $1.4 million to the Winnebago Tribe and about $570,000 to tribal members. These funds were disbursed on March 1st. Ho-Chunk Farms, a division of Ho-Chunk, Inc., attributes much of this success to the Winnebago Tribe’s own laws and land policies, which have helped shield the Tribe’s landowners from broader economic volatility. "While the farm economy is under stress and commodity prices are falling, we’ve managed not only to hold value but increase average lease rates," LaPointe said. The company’s presence has provided stability during turbulent times, serving as a buffer between landowners and the market’s unpredictability. "Without a strong tribally owned farm business, lease rates could have taken a hit — but we’ve helped preserve that value for our people," LaPointe said. Ho-Chunk Farms currently manages most the reservation’s farmable land and continues to play a key role in both economic development and land stewardship within the Winnebago community.

🛝 Šgāc Hakikižu (All Playing Together) Parks Project   The parks project team recently hosted site blessings for three upcoming park locations coming to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.   Wā'inįginąp šąną (thank you) to Rohahehs Aldrich for leading the beautiful site blessings! He prayed over the ground where our Winnebago youth will soon be playing and creating their own memories.   🌳 These new spaces are set to begin construction this spring!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Winnebago Community Night at the Tyson Event Center! 🏈 A special thank you to the Greywolf Singers, dancers from the Winnebago Tribe, the New Breed youth basketball players, and the Sioux City Bandits! 👏 Shout out to Caden Cleveland for coordinating this family-fun event for our community! 

🎉 Please join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone for Erin Morgan, our Vice President of Strategic Development and Operations. She is marking 30 years with Ho-Chunk, Inc. Her journey has helped shape Ho-Chunk, Inc. into what it is today, and her influence is woven into every chapter of our story. Her vision and dedication have helped drive meaningful change across Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the Winnebago community.

🌟 Congratulations to Willy Bass and Terri Lee Medina for their incredible session, “From Learning to Leadership: Cultivating the Next Generation,” at the 2025 Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas!    They shared powerful strategies for building and growing internship programs, empowering over 150 attendees with insights on leadership, education, scholarships, and career prep.   They also offered one-on-one coaching to help attendees apply these strategies to their own communities. 🚀

📰 The New York Times visited our homebuilding company Dynamic Homes, LLC. for today's economic outlook reporting. 🔗 Story in the comments. 📷 Neel Kashkari, right, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, with Paul Okeson, chief executive of Dynamic Homes in Detroit Lakes. (Jenn Ackerman / NYT)

The Winnebago Indian Reservation is beautiful all year round! 🌳❄️🌸☀️ Enjoy a glimpse into our community. 📸 📍Winnebago, Nebraska

🎉 Congratulations to Allyson Von Seggern, our head of legal. The Nebraska State Bar Foundation has recognized her as a 2024 Fellow. 🔗 Read more below