Lariat Legacy is Here!
Place your Order Today!
Lariat Legacy, The Magazine, Volume 4
Lariat Legacy isn’t just a magazine, it’s a storytelling piece that captures the spirit and scenery of the dude ranch way of life. Whether your guests are lifelong riders or first-time visitors, Lariat Legacy invites them to slow down, connect, and appreciate the traditions we are all striving to preserve. At just $4 per copy, plus shipping, it’s a simple, high-impact way to elevate your guest experience. Place magazines in cabins, reading nooks, and anywhere folks gather to rest, reflect, and soak in the essence of the West.
Share the legacy. Spark conversations. Ride with Us!
Email info@duderanchfoundation.org to order your copies today.
WyoGives SUCCESS!
Your generosity helped us surpass our goals—thank you!
Thank you, everyone!
Because of you, WyoGives 2025 was a remarkable success!
We’re thrilled to share that in just one day, we raised $28,835 for the Dude Ranch Foundation. And thanks to the Hughes Charitable Foundation, an organization devoted to strengthening rural communities and preserving the spirit of the West, every donation made on July 16 was amplified through their $1,000,000 Incentive Pool. That boost brought our total to an incredible $37,432, making your impact stretch even further.
Your generosity helps us protect the land, legacy, and traditions that define the Western way of life. Thank you for riding with us!
Your generosity allows us to:
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Fund scholarships for future ranch leaders
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Provide horse safety and wrangler training programs
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Preserve artifacts, stories, and archives through our free Western Heritage Museum
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Protect historic ranchlands and the Western way of life
From all of us at the Dude Ranch Foundation—thank you for riding with us and believing in our mission. We couldn’t do this without you.
Questions?
📧 info@duderanchfoundation.org
📞 307-586-1831
Step into the Story of the American West
Explore the heritage, heart, and history of dude ranching this summer in Cody
Visit the Dude Ranch Western Museum Today!
We’re thrilled to welcome guests to the Dude Ranch Headquarters & Western Museum, now open Tuesday–Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, June through August!
As Cody’s tourism season hits full stride, there’s no better time to explore the rich history and living legacy of dude ranching. Whether you’re a longtime enthusiast or a curious newcomer, our extended summer hours make it easier than ever to experience the artifacts, stories, and traditions that continue to shape the West.
🌟 Summer Attendance is Surging!
We’re excited to report that this July brought a record-breaking Saturday—our busiest in years! A big thank you to everyone who visited and helped make this season one to remember. Your interest and support are what keep our mission alive.
Make plans to stop by, and discover why Cody is the gateway to adventure this season!
Free Summer Admission for Military Families
Through Labor Day at the Dude Ranch Foundation Museum
Proud to be a Blue Star Museum
Support for Military Families: Blue Star Museum Program at the Dude Ranch Foundation
As part of our continued efforts to share the legacy of the American West, the Dude Ranch Foundation is proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program, a nationwide initiative that offers free museum admission to active-duty military personnel and their families throughout the summer months.
Although the Dude Ranch Heritage Museum is always free to all visitors, you may have guests or know military families who could benefit from the Blue Star Museums program during their summer travels. This nationwide initiative offers free admission to thousands of museums across the U.S., giving active-duty military personnel and their families access to a wide range of cultural experiences. It’s a meaningful way to say thank you to those currently serving, while encouraging exploration of our nation’s diverse heritage.
There’s still time to take part—the program runs through Labor Day, September 1, 2025. If you know a military family traveling in the region, we invite you to encourage them to visit and explore our museum’s exhibits celebrating the heritage, people, and landscapes of the dude ranch world.
Launched in 2009, the Blue Star Museums program is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the U.S. Department of Defense, and museums across the country. It includes not only the Foundation’s museum but thousands of other cultural institutions nationwide.
We’re honored to participate and hope you’ll help spread the word. For more information, visit www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.
Riding High This Summer: Catching Up with Katelyn Collins
2024 National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship Recipient
2024 National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship recipient Katelyn Collins (left) pictured with a friend
We’re thrilled to share that 2024 National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship winner Katelyn Collins spent her Fourth of July week at the beautiful Blackwater Ranch! From rodeo queen to ranch life, Katelyn continues to embody the spirit of the modern cowgirl.
Katelyn, an equine science student at Texas Tech University and a proud member of the university’s rodeo team, also holds the title of Miss Rodeo Texas Teen 2024. Her passion for the Western way of life and her leadership in the industry made her the perfect choice for the inaugural $30,000 scholarship, made possible through our partnership with Durango® Boots.
As fall approaches, keep an eye out—we’ll be announcing the 2025 scholarship recipient soon! And for aspiring young women in the Western industry, the 2026 National Day of the Cowgirl Scholarship application opens this September.
Learn more at www.nationaldayofthecowgirl.com
Horse Safety Tip
Rhythm Builds Trust
Horse Safety Tip
Tip for Helping a Horse Relax: Rhythm is reassurance.
Horses find comfort in consistency – especially in your seat, hands, and breath. A steady rhythm in your riding cues, like soft, even rein contact and a balanced seat, tells your horse all is well. Jerky movements, sudden pressure, or mixed signals create confusion and tension. Try This: On a nervous horse, hum a low, steady tune. That rhythmic sound encourages relaxation and signals that you’re calm, which helps your horse follow suit. It’s not magic; it’s feel, timing, and trust.
A Visit to Double Dee Ranch
Exploring dude ranching roots and Amelia Earhart’s Wyoming connection
Dude Ranch Foundation Executive Director Josie Hedderman at Double Dee Ranch Tour with Meeteetse Museums
Earlier this July, our Executive Director, Josie Hedderman, had the privilege of joining the Meeteetse Museum for a tour of the historic Double Dee Ranch near Kirwin, Wyoming. Tucked in the remote Absaroka Mountains and accessible only by four-wheel drive, the area, once known as Sunshine, Wyoming, offered a unique glimpse into the past.
Josie was invited to give a presentation on the enduring legacy of dude ranching, a fitting topic given the Double Dee’s history as a working dude ranch for many years. Built in the 1930s by Carl Dunrud, many of the ranch’s original structures remain standing today.
One of the most remarkable stories tied to the Double Dee Ranch is that of Amelia Earhart, who stayed there for three weeks in 1934. So taken by the landscape, she commissioned Dunrud to build her a cabin nearby—a project left unfinished after her tragic disappearance.
As a longtime admirer of Earhart, Josie found it especially meaningful to stand in front of the very cabin where the famed aviator once stayed. We’re grateful to the Meeteetse Museum for the opportunity to connect with this extraordinary place and share in its rich dude ranching history.
Celebrating our Dude Ranch Foundation Scholarship Recipients!
The DRF Scholarship Program
As you all know, the DRF is dedicated to nurturing the future leaders of the dude ranch industry. Through our scholarship program, we offer financial support and motivation to students aiming to pursue degrees that will sustain and promote our industry and our Western heritage.
For the 2025/2026 school year, we awarded $30,000 in scholarship money. Since its inception, the DRF has awarded over $500,000 to deserving students!
The only reason this program is successful is because of supporters like you!
Scholarship Recipient Taylor Peck
I am beyond thankful for this opportunity from the Dude Ranch Foundation to help fund my college education. I am going into my junior year at University of Montana Western and it has been everything I could imagine and more.
Sincerely,
Taylor Peck
Alliance Partners
Thank you to the Alliance Partners that support the Dude Ranch Foundation mission.
