DRF Executive Director Josie Hedderman, White Stallion Ranch, Tucson, AZ
As our great nation celebrates 250 years of Independence, we are reminded that dude ranching represents a uniquely American story: one rooted in freedom, open spaces, and our enduring Western values. Together, we share both the privilege and responsibility to ensure this story continues for the next century, and beyond. I am inspired by the strength, generosity, and unbridled spirit of our ranching community.
The past several months have marked some significant milestones for your Foundation. We celebrated the release of Call of the West, the Wyoming PBS documentary honoring the people, places, and traditions that embody our industry. To date, the YouTube video featuring the director’s cut has more than 290k views, and that’s in addition to the broadcast reach. We look forward to bringing the film to audiences in Sheridan and Cody this fall, with additional screenings in Tucson and Colorado anticipated this winter.
Inspired by the vision of Jaye Wells of the Ranch Preservation Foundation, 100 Years of Dude Ranching was released in time for the centennial convention in Billings. Earlier in June, we were honored to celebrate the opening of The Wrangle here in Cody, a companion exhibition that brings Scott T. Baxter’s extraordinary photography to life and allows visitors to experience the remarkable stories beyond the pages of the book. We hope you have the opportunity to see it in person.
Our core programs continue to strengthen the future of dude ranching. The latest edition of Lariat Legacy is now in your hands, scholarship recipients have been selected to receive $32,000 in support for the upcoming academic year, our Horse Safety Program has delivered twelve wrangler trainings across five states to advance safer ranch operations. We invite you to explore their impact in the stories below.
Looking ahead, we are focused on building for the next century. This spring, we were honored to receive a legacy-building $50,000 gift from the Joy to the World Foundation. With 60 percent directed to our endowment and 40 percent supporting operations, this donor advised investment strengthens our work today while helping preserve and fortify the authentic dude ranch experience for the future.
We are actively exploring new charitable giving opportunities, endowment growth strategies, and legacy giving resources designed to strengthen the Dude Ranch Foundation’s long-term sustainability.
Most immediately, we invite you to join us for WyoGives on July 15, the Dude Ranch Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. While hosted through a Wyoming-based giving platform, this is designed to extend to ALL our member states and Canadian provinces. Supporters from anywhere in the world can participate securely online. We hope you’ll make this opportunity available to your guests through a simple mention or a flyer we can provide. No pressure; no hard ask, just an opportunity for those who cherish the ranching lifestyle to help preserve it for our grandkids’ children.
Ride with Us!
Josie Hedderman
Executive Director
Dude Ranch Foundation
“The Wrangle” Opens in Cody
Celebrating 100 years of dude ranching through the lens of Scott T. Baxter
The Grand Opening Reception of “The Wrangle” Exhibit at the Dude Ranch Museum in Cody, Wyoming
On a picture-perfect June afternoon in Cody, Wyoming, more than 100 guests gathered at the Dude Ranch Museum to celebrate the opening of The Wrangle: 100 Years of Dude Ranching. Golden sunlight streamed through the museum windows, illuminating Scott T. Baxter’s striking photography and setting the stage for an evening of Western heritage, storytelling, and community.
The special exhibition commemorates the centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, whose roots trace back to Cody and the vision of Larry Larom of Valley Ranch. In 1926, Larom helped found the association and served as its first president, establishing an organization that has spent the last century promoting authentic Western hospitality and preserving the traditions of dude ranching.
Guests included local leaders, ranching families, museum supporters, and visitors from across the country, all gathered to celebrate this historic milestone. Thanks to the generous support of Western Rivers Financial Group of Thrivent and the many friends of dude ranching, the opening reception was a fitting tribute to the people, places, and traditions that have shaped the past century.
The Wrangle remains on exhibit at the Dude Ranch Museum through September 27, 2026, inviting visitors to explore the history, culture, and spirit of an industry that continues to define the American West.
Special thanks to Jaye Wells, Scott & Barbara Baxter, Bridget Brussels & Brook Judy, Ted Harvey, Cory Inouye, John Nolan with Western Rivers Financial Group of Thrivent, Mary Lappan, the DRA Ladies, Catering by Rosie, the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce, Cody Nite Rodeo, Legends Bookstore, and the businesses who contributed to the grand prize giveaway. Also, special thanks to UXU Ranch and Shoshone Lodge & Guest Ranch for sending mounted riders to attend the opening event, adding an authentic touch of Western heritage to our celebration.
Lariat Legacy Returns for a Landmark Year
Celebrate Our First Hundred Years with Guests Across the West
Lariat Legacy, The Magazine, Volume 5
Guests arrive seeking an authentic Western experience. Lariat Legacy helps them carry that experience home. Filled with compelling stories, breathtaking photography, and the enduring heritage of dude ranching, the magazine transforms a guest’s stay into a deeper connection with the West.
Place copies where guests naturally gather, relax, and reflect. Each ranch has received 10 complimentary copies. Consider stocking additional copies in your main lodge and guest cabins, giving guests a meaningful keepsake that celebrates the people, places, and traditions they experienced during their stay.
At just $4 per copy plus shipping, Lariat Legacy is an affordable way to enrich the guest experience, share the story of dude ranching, and keep the spirit of the West alive.
Share the stories. Celebrate the legacy. Honor our first hundred years.
Text Josie at 970-485-0555 or email info@duderanchfoundation.org to order Lariat Legacy today!
WyoGives Returns July 15
Cowboys & Indians Magazine Spotlights a Century of Dude Ranching
WyoGives 2026
This year, WyoGives takes on special meaning as the Dude Ranchers’ Association celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since 1926, the Association has championed the dude ranch experience and helped preserve a uniquely American tradition. Through the Dude Ranch Foundation, that legacy continues through scholarships, horse safety programs, educational outreach, along with heritage and ranchland preservation efforts.
To honor this milestone, the Foundation has set a special WyoGives goal of $26,000, a tribute to the century of leadership that began in 1926 and continues today.
On July 15, Wyoming’s statewide day of giving will bring together donors from across the West and beyond for 24 hours of generosity. Every gift helps support the Foundation’s mission and ensures that the values, traditions, and landscapes that define dude ranching remain strong for generations to come.
How You Can Help
As a member ranch, your voice is one of our most powerful tools. We encourage you to share the Foundation’s WyoGives campaign with your guests, alumni, staff, friends, and followers.
We’ve created ready-to-use social media messages and graphics to make participation easy. Whether you post once or share throughout the day, your support helps amplify our reach and strengthens the impact of the campaign.
1926–2026
One Hundred Years of Legacy
Investing in the Next One Hundred
Visit our WyoGives campaign page for shareable content, updates, and ways to participate.
Thank you for helping preserve the spirit of the American West and the future of dude ranching.
Dude Ranching Takes Center Stage
Cowboys & Indians Magazine Spotlights a Century of Dude Ranching
Cowboys & Indians, The Outdoor Issue
The Dude Ranchers’ Association’s centennial celebration continues to garner national attention, with Cowboys & Indians magazine featuring the organization’s 100th anniversary in its June/July 2026 issue.
The article highlights the DRA’s commemorative book project, 100 Years of Dude Ranching: Celebrating the Centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, showcasing the people, places, and traditions that have shaped the industry over the past century. The book features the extraordinary photography of acclaimed Western photographer Scott T. Baxter, whose images capture the landscapes, hospitality, horsemanship, and authentic experiences that define dude ranching today.
Over several years, Baxter and his team traveled thousands of miles across the American West, documenting ranches, families, staff, and guests to create a visual record of an industry that has welcomed generations of visitors while preserving Western heritage.
Visitors to the Dude Ranch Museum can further explore Baxter’s work through The Wrangle exhibit, on display from June 4 through September 27. The exhibit offers a remarkable glimpse into the beauty, character, and enduring appeal of the dude ranch experience through a collection of striking photographs featured in the centennial project.
As the Dude Ranchers’ Association reflects on its first hundred years, recognition from Cowboys & Indians serves as a reminder of the many individuals whose dedication has helped preserve and share this unique part of American history. From ranch owners and wranglers to historians, photographers, and storytellers, their collective efforts continue to ensure that the legacy of dude ranching endures for generations to come.
Read the full story at Cowboys & Indians.
A Centennial Keepsake for Your Guests
There’s Still Time to Stock Your Gift Shop
The centennial celebration of the Dude Ranchers’ Association may be well underway, but there is still time to bring one of its most remarkable projects to your guests.
100 Years of Dude Ranching: Celebrating the Centennial of the Dude Ranchers’ Association is a beautifully crafted coffee table book that captures the history, heritage, and enduring appeal of dude ranching across the American West. Through the lens of acclaimed Western photographer Scott T. Baxter, readers are taken on a visual journey through many of the ranches that helped shape the industry over the past century.
Featuring stunning contemporary photography paired with historical context, the book highlights ranches that welcomed guests as early as 1926 and continue to carry forward the traditions of Western hospitality today. The history of the Dude Ranchers’ Association and the evolution of dude ranching are chronicled by noted historian Lynn Downey, with a foreword by Bob Boze Bell.
More than a book, this centennial publication is a tribute to the people, places, and stories that have preserved the dude ranch experience for generations. It serves as both a beautiful keepsake and an enduring record of a century of adventure, stewardship, and hospitality.
Bring a century of dude ranching history home with your guests. Purchase your copy online here!
EXCLUSIVE DEAL
Centennial books are available to all member ranches at wholesale pricing.
Wholesale pricing remains available to all DRA member ranches, making this an excellent addition to gift shops and retail spaces. Guests continue to seek out meaningful souvenirs that connect them to their ranch experience, and 100 Years of Dude Ranching offers a lasting reminder of the history and traditions they encountered during their stay.
If you haven’t stocked your shelves yet, there is still time to order.
Contact the Ranch Preservation Foundation through the form at RanchPreservationFoundation.org to learn more about bulk orders and wholesale pricing.
Bring a century of dude ranching history home with your guests.
Investing in the Next Generation
The Dude Ranch Foundation awards $32,000 in scholarships to students carrying forward the values, traditions, and future of the American West
We’re excited to introduce the recipients of our 2026–2027 scholarships! With $32,000 awarded, the Dude Ranch Foundation is proud to support these dedicated students as they pursue their educational goals while carrying forward the values, traditions, and spirit of the American West.
Laci Christensen
Hastings College, NE
Raised at Colorado’s 4UR Ranch; a freshman exploring hospitality, business, or sports medicine while planning to remain connected to the dude ranch industry long term.
Ruth Ann Cypert
Samford University, AL
Returning recipient; a sophomore architecture student inspired by her experience at Tumbling River Ranch, interested in ranch-focused design.
Savannah Finnegan
University of New Hampshire
Aspiring equine veterinarian with a 4.7 high-school GPA, whose visit to Hunewill Ranch sparked an appreciation for dude ranching and equine care.
Skye Forgan
Colorado Mesa University
Returning recipient with lifelong ties to Rainbow Trout Ranch; graduating in Spring 2027 with a degree in Counseling Psychology with a continuing commitment to dude ranching.
Isaac Heilman
Des Moines University
Magna Cum Laude graduate in Biomedical Science from Arizona State; Postgraduate medical student and Lost Creek Ranch staff member pursuing a career in wilderness and rural medicine.
Devyn Jones
University of Findlay, OH
Returning recipient; a sophomore studying Equine Sciences with a focus on Western training and business management, plans to work in the dude ranch industry.
Aubrey Matthew
Abilene Christian University
Returning recipient with lifelong ties to Rich’s Montana Guest Ranch; a sophomore pursuing a career in speech pathology while remaining committed to her ranching legacy.
Lena McIntyre
University of the Cumberlands, KY
Raised at Colorado’s Wind River Christian Guest Ranch; a freshman pursuing dental hygiene with a minor in hospitality, while planning to remain connected to the dude ranch industry long term.
Josie Meyring
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Returning recipient; junior-year collegiate rodeo leader, and fifth-generation Colorado cattle rancher studying Agricultural Communications and Psychology.
Taylor Peck
University of Montana Western
Returning recipient; a junior majoring in Natural Horsemanship with a long-term connection to Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, building a reputation and business centered on quality horse training.
Elizabeth Schoeneberg
Iowa State University
Agricultural policy freshman with a background in agritourism and a passion for supporting rural communities through education and advocacy.
Victoria Sefrino
Centenary University, NJ
Equine Science freshman pursuing a career in equine-assisted therapy, eager to expand her experience within the dude ranch industry.
Betti Travers
University of Idaho
Returning recipient; a Dean’s List sophomore pursuing elementary education while sharing her passion for horsemanship and youth development.
Horse Safety Training
Every Safe Ride Starts Before the Boot Meets the Stirrup
Horse Safety Training at Western Pleasure Ranch
Horses are the heart and soul of the dude ranch experience, carrying generations of guests into the landscapes that define the American West. This year, the Dude Ranch Foundation Horse Safety Program continued its commitment to that legacy by delivering twelve seminars across five states, bringing ranch owners, managers, and wranglers together to strengthen the culture of safety that supports our industry.
Horse Safety Training at Western Pleasure Ranch
Through a combination of classroom discussion and hands-on learning, participants review key elements of site and equipment evaluation, guest orientation, first aid, and ride management. At its core, the program recognizes a reality every rancher understands: risk can never be eliminated from outdoor adventure. What can be improved, however, is our ability to anticipate challenges, prepare for the unexpected, and respond with confidence when situations arise.
Horse Safety Training at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch
By promoting continuous learning and the adoption of current equine safety best practices, the program helps wranglers deliver safe, authentic, and memorable experiences that guests have come to expect from DRA member ranches.
Every safe ride begins long before a guest puts a boot in the stirrup. It begins with preparation, professionalism, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Thank you to NFP, Outdoor Insurance Group, and Glencar Insurance Company for their generous sponsorship of the Horse Safety Program.
Step Into the Story of the West
Visit the Dude Ranch Headquarters & Western Museum This Summer
Visit the Dude Ranch Western Museum Today!
Summer is here, and the Dude Ranch Museum is once again welcoming visitors Tuesday–Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout June, July, and August.
Located in the heart of Cody, Wyoming, the museum brings a century of dude ranching to life through historic artifacts, family stories, and the stunning photography featured in The Wrangle: 100 Years of Dude Ranching exhibition.
We are also proud to recognize Mary Lappan, a cherished member of the Foundation family who has contributed countless hours of volunteer service. Since relocating to Cody from Michigan, Mary has generously shared her time, talents, and passion in support of our mission.
Today, visitors know and appreciate Mary as our Western Heritage Host on Saturdays, and we are deeply grateful for all she does to help preserve, share, and celebrate the legacy of dude ranching.
Thank You for Supporting the Dude Ranch Foundation!
The Dude-Halloo Ranch Edition is a bi-monthly publication of the Dude Ranch Foundation. The Dude Ranch Foundation is a duly incorporated nonprofit corporation under the Internal Revenue Service code 501(c)(3). The Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN) is 74-2519170.
For more information, contact the Foundation at 307-586-1831 or info@duderanchfoundation.org. The Foundation Office and Museum are located at 1122 12th Street, P.O. Box 2307, Cody, WY 82414.
Thank You for Supporting the Dude Ranch Foundation and Western Museum!
The Dude-Halloo Ranch Edition is a bi-monthly publication of the Dude Ranch Foundation. The Dude Ranch Foundation is a duly incorporated nonprofit corporation under the Internal Revenue Service code 501(c)(3). The Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN) is 74-2519170.
For more information, contact the Foundation at 307-586-1831 or info@duderanchfoundation.org. The Foundation Office and Museum are located at 1122 12th Street, P.O. Box 2307, Cody, WY 82414.