Cowboy Stories

Jim Brinkman is a third generation rancher on the Pitzer Ranch (located in Ericson, NE). Throughout this episode we talk about how the Pitzer Ranch got its start, how Jim became involved, the great Two Eyed Jack, and their horse program. If you want more info on the Pitzer Ranch, click the following link. https://pitzerranch.net/

Ira Wines lives in Elko county Nevada and is currently the president of the Ellison Ranching Company. His family has been in Elko county since 1860 and his dad worked for the Ellisons when he was born. Throughout this episode he talks about his personal history and some of the day-to-day things on the ranch. If you want more information on the Ellison Ranching Company and it’s history, they just p...

Jimmy Riggs is 78 years old. He and his wife Janna live on their ranch near Wilcox, AZ. In Part 2, he talks about a Ranch tour that he and his wife do every year. They joined an organization called “Wings over Wilcox” as a service to the beef industry to help educate others on where their food comes from and what their operation is like. They had 250 people tour this year over a 3 day weekend. If...

Jimmy and his wife Janna live near Wilcox, AZ. They have a pretty neat family history that he shares at the beginning of this episode. He also talks about how the railroad changed the way investors thought about ranching, and the incredible way they were able to help eradicate screwworms.

In Part 2 of my interview with Wes O’Neal, he talks about the horse program he helped run, the coolest place he’s ever been on a horse, and his advice to the next generation.

Wes O’Neal is 89 years old and started his life off with very humble beginnings. He’s spent the majority of his life in Texas but has managed/worked cattle in multiple states across the U.S. When asked what a cowboy is, he responded, “A man who has spent his life riding other peoples horses, working other peoples cattle, living in other peoples houses, until he gets to where he can’t do it anymore...

Luke was born in South Dakota where he grew up breaking horses with his dad. When he was 17 he rode a greyhound bus to California with his saddle and went to work on a ranch. He’s worked in South Dakota, California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Arizona. His secret to success is the people he’s been able to work around and learn from.

Boots O’Neal is 90 years old and still works as a full-time cowboy. He’s spent the majority of his life on large ranches in Texas. Ranches such as the JAS Ranch, the Matador Ranch, the Waggoner Ranch (25 years), and the 6666 Ranch (34 years).

In part 2 of our conversation, Stan talks about a race horse he had named Distant Wind. He also talks about his sobriety and how God helped and continues to help him stay sober. If you haven't had a chance to listen to part 1, head over and give that one a listen first.

Stan Mecham is from Tropic, UT and he is 85 years old. Throughout this episode, he talks to us about some of his best bronc rides, some wrecks he's been in and a lot about hunting lions. Enjoy part 1 of our conversation.

In part 2 of my interview with Mike McLaughlin, he talks about the O R O Ranch and their horses. He also gives his definition of a cowboy, “A guy who is willing to get on any horse they hand him and go out and do his job the best he knows how to do it and if it needs to be roped then you rope it and if it needs to be put through a gate, you put it through the gate. But you don’t back off because y...

Part 1 of my interview with Mike McLaughlin. Speaking of his time at the Lida Ranch he talked about two of the best guys he’s ever rode with, “The biggest thing I learned from those guys is how to read cattle….If I was going to say one place educated me to the point of understanding cattle, it would have been that place. How to handle cattle, how to trail cattle someplace when they don’t want to g...

When asked about some of the best cowboys Ed Ashurst has ever been around, he mentioned Bill Howell. When talking about Bill he said, "...the best cowboy I ever knew, all things considered.... He was an artist at working cattle. Big bunches of cattle.... And I worked for him for 15 years. And if I'm a cow man, it's because of him." Throughout this episode, we talk about working cattle in the tradi...

Joe Dahl lives in Fallon, NV. He said he never had a desire to be a rancher per say. His interest was always towards being a horseman. Demar (his brother) would say, “You gotta remember why we have cows. It’s so we can make good horses.” Throughout this episode, we talk about his life with cattle and his life in the polo world. He’s lived a unique blend of two different cultures and I’m excited fo...

Jim and his wife Kerri live in Safford, AZ. Jim will be 81 years old in August and has lived a life that many won't ever get the chance to. As a child, he ran away from home the first day his family moved to the Grand Canyon. He ended up at the mule barns and the rest is history. He has worked on several different ranches in a couple different states. Later on in his life, he suffered an injury fr...

Boyd is 81 years old and currently lives in Lima, MT. His family ran 4,200 head of mother cows and they put up their hay using a team and a beaver slide. When he was 9 years old, he would drive the team of horses while his dad would feed the cows in -20 degree weather. He said, "The only way to handle cattle is horseback." Every year, they would brand around 3,200 head of their own calves and then...

Don Lindsay and his wife Denise live in Venice, UT. Don is a well-known horse trainer and has a lot of expertise in this area. He has day worked for a few different outfits throughout his life. One of which was A.C. Ekker in Hanksville, UT. Don shares a little bit about his history and how he came to be involved in the western industry. You can find out more about him by visiting his website dlhor...

Todays episode is going to be a little bit different from what we typically share. Lydia is trying to spread the word about the devastation the Hermit's Peak and Calf Canyon fires have had on the state of New Mexico. What started out as a prescribed burn has now turned into a wildfire covering over 310,000 acres. In this episode she gives us a little bit of info on her background, and the effects...

Everett Ashurst lives and works on the Babbitt Ranch. He and his family are almost as deeply rooted in this ranch as the Babbitt family themselves. Everett shares a lot of quotes throughout this podcast episode that I want to remember. One of them is, “When I say cowboy, I am thinking about a person who can get on basically any kind of a horse and do what they want to with any kind of a cow.”

Clay Rodgers - Part 2. In this episode, Clay tells us about some of the pretty places he's been, the kind of horses they prefer to use on the ranch, and he shares his definition of a cowboy; to name a few things. He shares some great stories in this episode that you don't want to miss out on. For more information about the ranch and about their annual colt sale, check out their website babbittranc...

Clay Rodgers, his wife Danielle, and their kids live on the Babbit Ranch. Meeting and visiting with this family was something I really enjoyed. In part 1 of my interview with Clay, he talks about a few different places he's worked, a little bit about their operation, and some history of the ranch. The Babbitt Ranch has been in operation since 1886 and they still run horned Hereford cattle. The his...

For this episode, I wanted to get the perspective of ranch life from a ranch wife. Jamie Howell was kind enough to agree to visit with me and I really admire her story. In this episode, Jamie talks about how she got introduced to this way of life and how her and her late husband, Vic Howell, were able to raise their children on the Babbitt Ranch. I also wanted to let you know about the annual colt...

In part 2, Tabor talks about how fun it is to sort cattle when you’re both on the same page. He says, “It feels good when you can silently go through a herd of cattle like that and you don’t have to have any discussion. I’d watch his eye. I’d see what he had his eye on or what he was bringing out. And it just feels like you’re doing something right when you’re like that with your crew. I’ve been b...

Tabor and Katie Dahl are close family friends and I've been looking forward to interviewing him for a while. In part 1 of my interview with Tabor, he talks about how beneficial and important his relationship with his grandpa was.  When talking about helping his grandpa move cattle Tabor said, "He made you feel like you could do anything and it really empowered me. He'd always make you feel li...

Part two of my interview with Jacob Carter. If you haven't had a chance to listen to Part 1, you can go back to our episodes and check it out. One of my favorite quotes from this episode is, "...I'm not teaching you how to build fence. I'm teaching you how to do a job right and get it done...." In this episode, he goes in depth into how he realized roping is an important skill and tradition, and h...