Cowboy Life

Mark Gardiner and his family raise Black Angus bulls near Ashland, Kansas. Their operation began as a dugout built in 1885 on a 160-acre homestead, and it has grown to a 48,000-acre ranch on the remote plains of Clark County. As a leading seedstock producer, the operation depends on technology, scientific innovation and marketing strategy. However, the Gardiners keep things cowboy, gathering and checking cattle horseback, long-trotting through vast pastures, and sorting bulls from the saddle. Like many ranches, Gardiner Angus is no stranger to natural disasters such as hailstorms, tornados, drought and wildfires. Mark recounts a devastating wildfire that burned most of the ranch in 2017. This conversation was recorded shortly before another massive fire consumed their land in February 2026. Through it all, Mark leans on family, his faith, a love for the land, and gratitude to work daily with cattle and horses.

Joe Glascock manages the historic Winecup Gamble Ranch, a 1.2-million-acre buckaroo outfit in northeast Nevada. Established in the Thousand Springs Valley shortly after the Central Pacific Railroad arrived in the area, the ranch features a combination of deeded land and government allotments that includes meadow pastures at 5,000 feet elevation, mountain ranges that climb to 8,700 feet and plenty of expansive, high desert ranges. Glascock, who hired on in 2020, shares the colorful history of the Winecup Gamble , which has been owned by the likes of Utah Construction Company, actor Jimmy Stewart, Paul Fireman of Reebok, and now Stan Kroenke, who also owns the Waggoner Ranch in Texas, the Gang and Douglas Lake in Canada, Singletons in New Mexico, and several other ranches throughout the West. Glascock also recounts his own background, which includes working for the Bureau of Land Management, studying at the King Ranch Institute in South Texas, and buckarooing on several Great Basin outfits. A special thanks to our episode sponsor, the R A Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Texas. A Rancher's Rendezvous 3.0 March 9-11, 2026 Throckmorton TX rabrownranch.com winecupgambleranch.com

Martin Black discusses ranching, horsemanship and making a living in the southwestern corner of Idaho. The lifelong horseman has deep roots in the region, as both sides of his family settled in Owyhee County more than 150 years ago and raised and sold thousands of horses to ranchers and buckaroo outfits throughout the Great Basin. Black himself ran cattle and trained horses for many years before he began conducting horsemanship clinics, a livelihood pioneered by his former father-in-law, Ray Hunt. Black's reputation as a teacher of practical horsemanship skills has taken him throughout the United States and into Australia, Brazil and Europe. In addition to working as a rancher and clinician, he has competed successfully in colt starting competitions, won major ranch horse events, claimed a Ranch Horse Association of American National Championship, and started multiple performance horses that went on to win titles in cutting and reined cow horse. He has also released several DVDs, written numerous articles and co-authored the book, Evidence Based Horsemanship with Dr. Stephen Peters. Today, Black continues to ranch in Idaho and conduct private and public clinics.

Red Steagall has sung the praises of cowboys and the ranching way of life for decades. As a musician, songwriter, cowboy poet and radio and television personality, his pursuits as an entertainer consistently shine the spotlight on America's Western heritage. He is the official Cowboy Poet of Texas, hosts the TV show "Somewhere West of Wall Street," and continues to perform his Western music across the country. His passion for preserving the Western lifestyle can be seen in the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, his new book, Texas Red, and the soon-to-be-built Red Steagall Institute for Traditional Western Arts. For many years he joined the cowboy crews of the Four Sixes Ranch and the JA Ranch during spring works, which continued to inspire his poetry and songwriting. Here, he shares his story, which reveals the same type of perseverance, determination and work ethic that have shaped the American West. Thanks to our sponsors, the RA Brown Ranch October Sale, the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, and Farm & Ranch Candle Co.

Jeff Williams has been starting colts for big ranches for four decades. Some of those outfits have included the Beggs, Haythorn, King, Muleshoe and Spades. Williams started out as a cowboy on various West Texas ranches, but it didn't take long for him to discover that starting colts was his passion. He has continued to day-work on cow-calf operations, and he has competed in roping and ranch horse events. However, starting colts under saddle is his focus, and many ranches trust him to put a solid foundation on their youngsters and train select prospects for elite ranch production sales. The Post, Texas, horseman has also influenced countless young men and women who have worked for him, and he has judged at numerous ranch horse shows, ranch rodeos, and colt starting competitions such as Road to the Horse.

The devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire in 2024 scorched many family ranches in the Texas Panhandle, including an operation run by Jason Pelham. Despite dealing with many natural disasters, the longtime cowboy and rancher has remained devoted to the cowboy life for four decades. Pelham wasn't raised on a ranch, but he stepped into the cattle business as a young man. He worked on the famous Spade Ranches for many years, but now he runs cows with his daughter and son-in-law. Here, he discusses wildfires, freezing weather, great horses, and impressive people who have shaped his life. Special thanks to our sponsor, RA Brown Ranch and its Rancher's Rendezvous event in March. https://www.rabrownranch.com/upcoming-sale

Donnell Brown mixes modern technology with deep-rooted ranching history on his family's cattle operation in Throckmorton, Texas. The RA Brown Ranch is widely respected for its leading Angus genetics, world-class bull sales, champion Quarter Horses and close family ties. Donnell explains how his family's rich history, innovative business endeavors and traditional values guide the Browns into the 21st century. Sponsor Ag-Gear "Outerwear For The Toughest Days". 15% Discount code COWBOYLIFE www.aggear.com Along For The Ride Symboisim January 16, 17, 18 SouthPoint Hotel Las Vegas www.alongfortheride.pro

Wild cow catcher Travis Ericsson describes the thrill of roping feral cattle in rugged country. It's a skill and a passion he inherited from his father, legendary Arizona cowpuncher Dave Ericsson. Travis' cowboy career also includes training rope horses, competing in rodeo and raising cattle in desert country. Broken Arrow Crop Insurance Perryton TX Jason Schickedanz (979) 229-1481

John Welch says ranching is every bit as risky as snow-skiing down a steep, forest hillside. Nevertheless, he and his family have built a cattle operation from scratch, something few people can claim in this modern era. He shares his insights and experiences from his ranch headquarters in southeastern Colorado.

Shannon Hall and Johnny Hill both learned the ropes of cowboying on the RO Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. Their baptism into the Western way of life included plenty of bronc rides and sticky predicaments. They shared those stories on stage in Amarillo, Texas, during the 2023 World Championship Ranch Rodeo, hosted by the Working Ranch Cowboys Association.

Tim Cox is a renowned Western artist and an Arizona cowboy. He draws inspiration from his firsthand experience of the cowboy life, and his art primarily focuses on depicting authentic scenes of modern ranchers, horsemen, cowgirls, cattle, and horses. Over the years, Tim Cox has become one of the most recognizable Western artists in contemporary art. His early career was characterized by the rugged and demanding lifestyle of remote cow camps. Tim spent long days in the saddle, working on ranches, and his dedication to capturing the essence of the West led to late nights spent in front of his easel, translating his experiences onto canvas. Tim Cox's art is celebrated for its vivid portrayal of the Western way of life, showcasing the beauty of the land, the people, and the animals that inhabit it. His work resonates with those who appreciate the rich heritage and traditions of the American West. To explore Tim Cox's artwork and learn more about his contributions to Western art, you can visit his official website at Tim Cox Fine Art. Additionally, you can find his art available for sale at Gallery4Collectors.com and ElegantHorsePictures.com. Tim Cox also maintains a presence on social media, including Facebook, where you can stay updated on his latest creations and insights into the Western art world.

Kevin Meyer's Wyoming ranch roots trace to his upbringing on a remote cow-calf operation in the southeastern part of the state. His horseback skills stem from a wide range of experiences, from wrangling on dude ranches to running yearlings in the Laramie Mountains, day-working on local cattle outfits, and managing Wagonhound Land & Livestock's horse program for several years. These days, his cowboy background guides his approach to training cow horses and teaching horsemanship clinics at his facility near Douglas, Wyoming.

Singleton Ranches encompasses 1.2 million acres, with the majority of its rangeland spread throughout New Mexico and other divisions situated in California. The operation is respected for its modern beef program and award-winning cow horses. Three of Singleton's managers, Alex Carone, Grant Mitchell and Greg Gudgell, sit down to discuss how the ranching lifestyle perpetuates family values and sound work ethic. Sponsor Farm & Ranch Candle Co. Discount Code Cowboy 25% off https://farmandranchcandleco.com/