Lariat Legacy is Here!
Share the West—Just $4 a Copy, No Minimums
Lariat Legacy, The Magazine, Volume 4
Hot off the press! Straight from the heart of the American West, Lariat Legacy is now available. This publication is more than just a magazine, it’s a storytelling piece that captures the spirit, scenery, and soul of dude ranching. At just $4 per copy plus shipping, it’s a hassle-free way to enhance the guest experience. Stock them in cabins, guest rooms, reading nooks, or lodge common areas, and let the legacy of dude ranching speak for itself. Whether your guests grew up in the saddle or are first-time visitors, Lariat Legacy invites them to slow down, connect, and appreciate the heritage we’re all working to preserve.
Share the legacy. Spark conversations. Ride with Us!
Email info@duderanchfoundation.org to order your copies today
Step Into the West
Summer hours now in full swing at the Dude Ranch Western Museum
Visit the Dude Ranch Western Museum Today!
We’re thrilled to welcome visitors to our Dude Ranch Headquarters & Western Museum, now open Tuesday–Saturday from 9am to 5pm, June through August. As Cody’s tourism season heats up, there’s no better time to dive into the vibrant history and present-day culture of dude ranching. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering us for the first time, our extended summer hours make it easier than ever to explore the stories, artifacts, and spirit that define the American West.
Western Heritage Host Mary Lappan
We’re delighted to welcome Mary Lappan to the Dude Ranch Foundation team. Recently relocating to the Cody area from Michigan, Mary brings a rich blend of creativity and experience as a longtime architectural design business owner and seasoned events and art gallery exhibit coordinator. A lifelong horse lover with more than 60 years in the saddle, she also has a deep appreciation for the rich heritage of the American West. This summer, Mary will be serving as our seasonal Western Heritage Host on Saturdays.
Come see why Cody is the gateway to adventure this season!
Call of the West to Premiere in 2026
Honoring 100 Years of the Enduring Dude Ranch Legacy
Behind the scenes with Russell True
Produced by Alpheus Media for Wyoming PBS and directed by Mat Hames—a multi–Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for his work on Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, and SundanceTV—Call of the West is a documentary that explores the legacy and resilience of dude ranching in the modern era.
Scheduled to premiere during the Dude Ranchers’ Association Centennial Convention in January 2026, the film is a cinematic tribute to a living tradition, capturing the grit, grace, and enduring spirit of the American West for generations to come.
As anticipation builds for its debut, Call of the West promises to be more than a film—it’s a powerful reflection of a heritage that continues to shape the identity of the West.
2025 Wrangler Trainings
Horse Safety Program
Participants at the May 20 Triangle X Wrangler Training with Instructor Ane Mommsen
The season is off to a strong start as we approach the final Horse Safety Wrangler Trainings across Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. These trainings are a powerful testament to our collective commitment to safety and professionalism in the dude ranching industry, ensuring every wrangler on the trail is well-prepared, confident, and certified. Receiving a Wrangler Certificate through the Dude Ranch Foundation’s Horse Safety Program sets a consistent, industry-wide standard that protects guests, horses, and wranglers alike.
New DRF Instructor Garrett Olister with Barn Manager Carson Averill at the May 17 Flathead Lake Lodge Wrangler Training
As the summer season unfolds, we’re proud of the growing number of certified wranglers and the ranches investing in top-tier training. This is how we keep tradition strong and safety at the forefront.
**A special shout out to our lead instructor, Will Ferguson, who will have traveled over 2,600 miles by the end of the season to make these trainings possible. We’re also deeply grateful to all our instructors whose time, knowledge, and passion help keep this vital program thriving.
Learn more about the Horse Safety Program and 2025 trainings HERE.
For additional information, contact the DRF office at 307-586-1831 or email info@duderanchfoundation.org.
Thank you to NFP, Outdoor Insurance, and Glencar Insurance Company for your essential sponsorship!
WyoGives 2025
Save the Date: July 16
Mark your calendars! The Dude Ranch Foundation is proud to participate in WyoGives 2025—a 24-hour day of giving to support Wyoming nonprofits.
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
💻 Where: Online at our WyoGives page
As we look ahead to the 100th anniversary of the Dude Ranchers’ Association in 2026, we have exciting projects planned to celebrate and preserve the legacy of dude ranching.
We need your help to bring these plans to life!
Stay tuned for details on how your gift can be matched through a $1,000,000 incentive pool, making your impact go even further.
Thank you for being part of our community. Together, we’re keeping the spirit of the American West alive.
Ranching and Forestry
Partners in Stewardship of the Western Landscape
Foresters working in the field
From the shimmering stands of aspen in the Rockies to the ponderosa-covered plateaus of the Southwest, the Western landscape is both rugged and resilient – and so are the people who work on the land. Dude ranchers and consulting foresters share a deep commitment to stewarding the land not just for today, but for generations to come.
Consulting foresters are independent professionals who help landowners manage forests and woodlands for a range of goals including but not limited to habitat improvement, wildfire risk reduction, income from timber harvests, recreational access, and more. Moreover these professionals don’t just manage trees, they assist with comprehensive land management, from grazing plans and invasive species control to water resource protection and habitat enhancement. For dude ranchers, partnering with a consulting forester means unlocking new possibilities for your land, whatever your goals.
Forested landscapes are a treasured feature of many Western ranches. Iconic western trees support diverse wildlife and thrive when properly managed. Foresters can design and oversee treatments that stimulate regeneration and keep groves healthy, and have the expertise to find and utilize available cost-share programs that reduce out-of-pocket expenses for landowners.
Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF)
Consulting foresters also act as trusted liaisons with federal and state agencies. Whether it’s navigating funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, understanding stewardship contracts with the Forest Service, or participating in collaborative fire planning, foresters help ranchers cut through red tape and align with programs that benefit both the land and the bottom line.
They also play a critical role in wildfire mitigation, helping landowners reduce fuel loads and create defensible space. These are steps that can not only protect life, property, and livelihood but, in some cases, even lower insurance premiums.
At the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), we know that land stewardship isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why our members work closely with each landowner to understand their values, goals, and constraints, delivering science-based, customized solutions. So whether your forested acres are a small patch of shade near the barn or thousands of acres stretching into the mountains, a consulting forester can help you take a holistic approach to managing your land for the long term.
To learn more or find a consulting forester near you, visit www.acf-foresters.org.
Shannon M. McCabe, CAE
Executive Director
Celebrating our Dude Ranch Foundation Scholarship Recipients!
DRF 2025/2026 Scholarship Recipients
We’re excited to introduce the recipients of our 2025–2026 scholarships! With $30,000 awarded, the Dude Ranch Foundation is proud to support these dedicated students as they carry forward the spirit of the American West.
Jymie Adamson
Weatherford College, TX
Breakaway roper from Buffalo, Wyoming; pursuing a rodeo business career.
Hannah Crosby
Penn Foster, Online
Wrangler at Nine Quarter Circle; aiming to support dude ranches and nonprofits as a vet tech.
Ruth Ann Cypert
Samford University, AL
Worked in children’s program at Tumbling River Ranch; interested in ranch-focused architecture.
Skye Forgan
Colorado Mesa University
Worked multiple positions as part of the Rainbow Trout Ranch family; committed to self-funding her education and is passionate about horses.
Felicity Halmay
University of Wyoming
Grew up on the Lazy L&B Ranch; multi-year recipient now pursuing an MBA with ongoing commitment to dude ranching.
Christine Howe
Colorado College
Grew up on the A Bar A Ranch; passionate about preserving ranch traditions and studying regenerative grazing practices.
Devyn Jones
University of Findlay, OH
Lifelong equestrian focused on reining/cutting horses; pursuing degree in Equine Sciences – Western Training and Business Management.
Gunnar Lund
Bellarmine University, KY
From guest to intern to wrangler at the Lazy L&B Ranch; inspired to pursue nursing through a dude ranch guest interaction.
Aubrey Matthew
Abilene Christian University
Valedictorian with lifelong family connection to Rich Ranch in Montana; plans to study speech pathology.
Josie Meyring
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Fifth-generation cattle rancher and standout student; keeps three horses with her at college to participate on the rodeo team, committed to ranch life and horsemanship.
Taylor Peck
University of Montana Western
Natural Horsemanship major with Ag Management minor; known for embodying the cowgirl spirit and western lifestyle.
Betti Travers
University of Idaho
Active in ag through ten years in 4-H; pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with a passion for teaching riding and preserving western traditions.
Laurel Wilfert
Total Transformation Institute, TX
Therapy riding coach for a nonprofit serving veterans and children with special needs; pursuing a degree in Cosmetology and eventually a career in Ag Business
100,000 Miles in the Saddle
Meet the Man Behind the Mountains: Clarence Barron “C.B.” Rich
A Father’s Saddle: Remembering C.B. Rich
From a log cabin at the base of Montana’s Beartooths to the rugged trails of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, C.B. Rich lived the kind of life most only read about. Cowboy, trapper, WWII hero, poet, and outfitter, he spent over five decades sharing Montana’s wild beauty with others—on horseback, around campfires, and through his unforgettable words.
Jack Rich of Rich Ranch near Seeley Lake now stands with his father’s saddle—a testament to a life spent in the wild. C.B. Rich, a fourth-generation Montanan, rode over 100,000 miles in this very saddle during his remarkable career.
Discover the legacy of this 2015 Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee whose life was as big and bold as the country he loved.
Observe to Conserve Week
Wyoming Ranches Unite to Support Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Projects Driven, People Focused: Uniting people to advance Wyoming wildlife habitat, research, and education.
Dude ranches have long played a role in connecting people to the land, wildlife, and wide-open spaces that define the spirit of the West. This year, ranches across Wyoming are invited to join in the first annual Observe to Conserve Week, a new campaign aimed at raising awareness and support for wildlife and habitat conservation. Coinciding with National Wildlife Day on September 4, the initiative encourages tourism operators to pledge a small donation per guest during the week of August 31. Those who join in will be featured on a dedicated campaign page and recognized through promotional efforts aimed at increasing visibility and celebrating a shared commitment to conservation. Participating businesses will also receive swag-bag gifts for guests as a thank-you for supporting wildlife.
About WYldlife for Tomorrow:
The WYldlife Fund, the partner foundation to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, established WYldlife for Tomorrow to engage tourism and recreation businesses in wildlife conservation. This initiative connects these industries with impactful projects, broadening support beyond traditional funding sources to ensure the sustainability of Wyoming’s wildlife and habitats. For more information, contact WYldlife for Tomorrow Program Director Breanna Ball at breanna@thewyldlifefund.org.
Alliance Partners
Thank you to the Alliance Partners that support the Dude Ranch Foundation mission.
