Integrity and The Life of a Rancher
Last week I returned to writing my book: America Found.
The week before I had finally finished the chapter on Rodeo, which turned out to be a monumental undertaking! It was one of the first chapters I began writing over two years ago, and I struggled with it endlessly. Even after choosing to begin writing the book anew - a few months ago, this chapter still eluded the words to tell its story fully.
Now I am struggling with the other chapter that has eluded my efforts to write it fully and authentically. ‘Ranching’.
Ranching, like rodeo, are subjects that have always been foreign to me. Rodeo is a sport that I never had a desire to photograph, or even to watch, because I believed it to be inhumane. And then I met Bud Longbreak - a world champion bronc rider who is still revered as one of the best ever. It was Bud who introduced me to a rancher’s life as well.
The two: ranching and rodeo, are intertwined in every way. Ranching afterall is what gave birth to rodeo. Every event in rodeo is an aspect of ranching - with the exception, possibly, of bull riding. This is not to say that ranchers never attempted to ride bulls before rodeo became a sport, it just wasn’t a necessity like bronc riding, calf roping, etc.
To look at the life of a rancher, on the surface, is to miss the depth of the culture it represents - the culture of the cowboy, and yes.. the cowgirl. These are people who live their lives by codes of honor and integrity. Their way of life depends on it. They are there for one another, one rancher to another; and the family ties are strong - as are their traditions that forge their way of life - including the somewhat ritualistically traditions of passing on knowledge and experience from one generation to another.
When I first met Bud it was through the suggestion of a mutual acquaintance that thought he and I should know one another. Our initial meeting was arranged that we would meet in the parking lot of the post office in Faith, South Dakota. I arrived several minutes early to make sure I was there on time. Not long after, a pickup pulled into the parking lot and parked. A man got out and, with a bit of a crooked walk, he walked towards me. (The “crooked walk” was due to so many healed broken bones from a life of bronc riding).
“Are you David,” he asked?
“I am”, I responded. “And you are Mr. Longbreak?” I asked.
Bud nodded in response.
We stood there talking for quite some time, then he brought up the subject of rodeo. I told him that I had no interest in it because I believed it to be inhumane. Instead of reacting defensively, or simply blowing me off, Bud paused and dipped his head slightly in thought, Then he raised his head, looked me in the eye, and invited me to visit his ranch the following morning - to inspect his horses for any signs of abuse, or neglect. I accepted.
It was the following morning, after I stepped alone into the corral with just over a dozen broncs, to inspect them without any intervention from Bud. It was at that point - I realize in hindsight, that was the beginning of our deep, and long lasting friendship.
From that day forward Bud opened his world up to me; the rodeo, as well as the life of a rancher. I rode with Bud as he tagged newborn calves. I helped him to drive cattle from one grazing ground to another. And I was invited to photograph the branding of calves, with Bud and his extended family.
When I accompanied Bud while he tagged newborn calves, it was during an early morning - just after sunup, when the temperatures were cold, with a mixture of rain and sleet. Even the initial early morning fog vacillated between a mist and ice.
We rode together in a covered four-wheeler but the side windows had been unzipped for visibility. I witnessed, as I had done countless times with Bud and his horses, the loving care that he engaged each calf with. These were not simply a commodity.
When I attended the branding I was able to witness the ‘community’ of the ranchers - all coming together to help each other.
That morning, and part of the afternoon, everyone was there to brand the calves of one rancher family. After they had finished everyone went to another rancher’s ranch to cut the tails from the sheep.
It was during the branding that I was also able to witness the traditions of rites of passage to the younger ones.
One young boy - perhaps ten years old, was being taught how to brand - by allowing him to experience each aspect of the process; from roping the calf, to securing it and holding it, to actual branding it.
There was no “machismo” on the part of any of the people gathered around. It wasn’t about that. It was about a way of life - a way of living in their world. In any of the people I met, whether with rodeo, or with ranchers, I never encountered arrogance. Nor did I ever experience any condescension toward me, or anyone else.
I also came to understand that a rancher’s life is not one chosen because it provides a financially secure life. Most ranchers barely make it each year. Cattle prices continue to drop, while feed, and fuel prices continue to rise. Ranchers choose this life because it is who they are. It is in their DNA. They are a community in and of themselves - in many ways a society in and of themselves. Within this is a security, as well as an understanding. And as I mentioned previously, ranchers live by a code of ethics - based on integrity, which they can trust to exist within their somewhat insular society.
To have been shown this world humbled me to my core. The honor I had been given, to have been trusted for my own integrity, is an honor that I hold to this day with such reverence and gratitude. And to be able to call Bud Longbreak my friend, is an honor all unto itself…
! For my paid subscribers I have included a video below, with a few delightful ‘behind-the-scenes stories about Bud, and my experiences with ranching.
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