Dear Friends,
As we wrap up another year in this incredible industry, I want to take a moment to thank you for everything you do—for your guests, for your communities, and for the legacy of dude ranching. What makes this industry special is you: the ranchers, owners, and families who carry forward a way of life that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
The Dude Ranch Foundation is here to support that legacy, and I’m excited to share some meaningful news:
A generous ranching family has stepped forward to match every donation made to the Foundation through December 31. Your gift will be doubled.
This match comes at a time when our programs are growing and making a real impact across the industry. Your support helps us:
• Provide scholarships for the next generation of ranch leaders
• Strengthen horse and guest safety across all ranches
• Preserve historic documents, photographs, and artifacts
• Expand educational outreach through our museum and archives
These programs aren’t just part of our mission—they are part of the fabric of dude ranching, past and future.
I invite you to ride with us into the new year.
If you are able, please consider making a year-end gift. With the match in place, every dollar you give works twice as hard to protect and strengthen our industry.
If you prefer to give by mail, we are still mighty fond of receiving a classic check at PO Box 2307 in Cody, WY 82414.
Thank you for your partnership, your generosity, and your dedication to keeping dude ranching strong. It is an honor to serve you and this community.
With gratitude,
Josie Hedderman
Executive Director
Dude Ranch Foundation
Ride with Us!
Call of the West
Worldwide Premiere
A film by Mat Hames
The Dude Ranchers’ Association and the Dude Ranch Foundation are proud to welcome Billings Livestock Horse Sales as the Presenting Sponsor for the worldwide premiere of Call of the West, a Wyoming PBS documentary produced by Alpheus Media and directed by Mat Hames.
Billing Livestock Horse Sales
Call of the West is an epic film chronicling the rise of the dude ranch—an enduring symbol of the American West. Against breathtaking landscapes, ranch families face modernization, economic pressures, and generational change as they work to protect their legacy. Through powerful storytelling and stunning cinematography, the documentary captures a way of life that continues to shape the spirit of the West.
Join us at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, during the DRA Centennial Convention, for a free screening and panel discussion in the Billings Livestock Horse Sales Ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Billings.
100 Years of Dude Ranching – Available Now!
Proceeds Benefit the Dude Ranch Foundation
In celebration of the upcoming centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, the DRA, Ranch Preservation Foundation, and the Dude Ranch Foundation have collaborated on a coffee table book titled 100 Years of Dude Ranching: Celebrating the Centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association. With photographs by award-winning photographer Scott T. Baxter, this book explores modern dude ranching at 26 DRA member ranches captured over the course of a year, paired with historic information to see how each ranch has changed over a century.
A history of the DRA and dude ranching written by historian Lynn Downey chronicles the story of dude ranches — the West’s first destination vacation.
Don’t miss your chance to own this extraordinary keepsake — purchase your copy online here!
Reminder: National Day of the Cowgirl $30,000 Scholarship
Applications Open Through December 31
Apply Today!
Durango® Boots is proud to continue its tradition of honoring hardworking women in the Western industry with the third annual National Day of the Cowgirl $30,000 Scholarship.
In partnership with the Dude Ranch Foundation, this scholarship celebrates passion, grit, and the next generation of trailblazers. It will be awarded to a young woman in her first year of college pursuing a degree connected to the Western lifestyle or industry.
Applications are open now through December 31, 2025 — and we’d love your help spreading the word. Please share this opportunity within your community or on social media to help us reach more deserving young women.
Learn more at www.nationaldayofthecowgirl.com
Join the Legacy!
Call for Articles
Lariat Legacy, The Magazine, Volume 4
As we celebrate 100 years of dude ranching, we’re inviting you to help shape the next issue of Lariat Legacy with the stories only you can tell.
Lariat Legacy is built on the voices and experiences that define the West, and we’re seeking article proposals that highlight the richness of our community. Whether your perspective comes from life on the ranch, guest memories, craftsmanship, conservation, industry partnerships, or a vision for the next century of dude ranching, we welcome your ideas.
Your stories help preserve the traditions we cherish, honor the people who shaped this way of life, and inspire the generations to come.
📬 Submit your article ideas or proposals: info@duderanchfoundation.org
Want to get a feel for the magazine’s style, storytelling, and scope? Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of Lariat Legacy are available to read online. Dive into the photography, history, and firsthand accounts that shape each edition—and find inspiration for your own submission.
📖 Start reading past issues on our website.
Keep the stories alive. Preserve the legacy. Share the West.
Cozy Up This Winter at the Dude Ranch Foundation’s Western Heritage Museum
Winter Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–5 PM
The DRF Western Heritage Museum
❄️ Winter at the Dude Ranch Foundation & Western Heritage Museum
As winter settles in, the museum remains a bright spot for visitors eager to explore the history, artifacts, and stories that define the legacy of dude ranching. After a strong summer and a vibrant fall, we’re grateful for the continued support of guests who help keep this heritage alive.
Throughout the winter season, the museum will maintain its current hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Whether you’re looking for a cozy indoor outing or planning a visit with family and friends, we welcome you to stop by and enjoy the warmth of the West within our walls.
Thank you for being part of the Dude Ranch Foundation’s mission to preserve and share the traditions of dude ranching. We look forward to welcoming you this winter!
Where the Old West Still Teaches Us How to Lead
Leadership lessons only a horse can teach
Equine Facilitated Coaching
What if the most powerful guidance you could receive didn’t come from a book or a mentor, but from a horse standing right in front of you? Across the West, horses are helping people regulate stress, build confidence, and rediscover their inner steadiness — all without saying a word. Click to read more about why this ancient wisdom matters now more than ever.
Alliance Partners
Thank you to the Alliance Partners that support the Dude Ranch Foundation mission.
