Who wants to be a cowboy? I did when I was little. I wore my brother’s sheepskin chaps, gun belt, and vest that fit his six-year-old body. I had a cap gun that made little snapping noises. Or I just wore my usual shirt and jeans with the gun belt and gun. And as sheriff, I arrested the bad guys, or shot at them the same as my hero, Roy Rogers.

I had an old mare I rode bareback that was pretty tolerant and lazy. No chance of her running away with me unless it was to get in the barn. She did that once, and the barn door was open just big enough for her to squeeze in with me, hastily lying flat on her back, head on her mane, feet on her rump, so I wouldn’t lose my legs or knock my head off on the low ceiling. A terrifying moment burned into my memory.

When my boy cousin played cowboy with me, we were outlaws and pushed cattle across the “Rio Grande” (a small meandering creek in our summer pasture).

But now I’ve written articles for the Wyoming Rural Electric Magazine about real cowboys who get their names in the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. And one I wrote about chased cattle 60-70 miles up the Green River Drift. I had never heard of this area, not having grown up in my chosen state of Wyoming.

It’s America’s longest-running cattle drive. You can watch it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqoy2t-L9fY Accessed 6/15/2022 This is a special by 60 Minutes.

It took about two weeks and involved quite a number of ranchers pooling their cattle years ago, but the number has dwindled to eleven ranchers recently. Protected species such as wolves and bears now kill and eat quite a number of baby calves each year, which must cause a lot of angst among their mamas. They do have a range rider to help keep track of things, but other than trying to scare a predator off when you can’t shoot it and knowing it will sneak back when you aren’t there, it has to be frustrating.

But the cowboys taking the herd up apparently loved it: the fresh air, the cows and babies, the beautiful scenery, and just riding their horses all day. As well as the camaraderie with other ranchers and range riders. I would have loved it too.