 In 1978 , when Ralphie I became ill , Steve Bosley organized a search for a new buffalo headed by Buddy Hays . Hays discovered a calf named Moon , short for Moonshine , owned by Gregg C. Mackenzie . Bosley , The Bank of Boulder , and bank Director Robert Confer bought Moonshine from Mackenzie and donated her to Colorado . Since “ Ralphie ” had become the well @-@ known name of the buffalo , Athletic Director Eddie Crowder made it permanent . Mackenzie continued to train Ralphie II . Ralphie II lived at Hidden Valley Ranch until 1981 , when she moved to the McKenzie Ranch located in North Boulder . In 1985 Johnnie and Shaaron Parker took over the program and the training of Ralphie II as well as housed her at the Parker Ranch in Hudson , Colorado . 
