The Art of Ranching
by Elizabeth King
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2024 issue of Art with Altitude.
Ranching isn’t typically what comes to mind when you hear the word art, but the participants in the Art of Ranching (AoR) program are unraveling the artistry behind traditional agriculture in Routt county, and now, across the state, through storytelling. The program records the stories, traditions, culture and history by pairing youth in 4-H programs with ranchers in their area.
“There is something magical that happens when youth interview their elders in a community,” said Tami Eggers, Program Director for the Art of Ranching. AoR was originally conceived during a leadership development program Tami participated in, then blossomed when she partnered with Historian and Colorado State University (CSU) History Professor Leisl Carr Childers, Ph.D.
Throughout human history, storytelling—both oral and written—has been a vital way we connect, share and express ourselves. It has evolved over time from paintings on cave walls to legends told around shared meals to printed works read in a cozy chair with a cup of coffee. Like most of the art we enjoy today, it has ancient roots, but what sets this art form apart is how storytelling bridges many genres, blending elements of creative expression including written word, performance and visual artistry.
The Art of Ranching project has served as a way to record and amplify the origins of the Routt County agricultural community. It focuses on preserving the history of the Centennial Farms and ranches to share the agricultural beginnings of the area. The interviews with community elders and historic local families translate stories that might fade to memory into a written record for the whole community to enjoy. “The project is unique and community based,” says Tami. “It shares our stories and history through the lens of our youth!”
To date the following histories have been recorded:
Jacie Rex, Researcher, Tim Bedell, Christopher Stone—Monger Ranch, Alley Kvols—Fetcher Ranch, Olivia Rossi—Heart Mountain Ranch, Bowden Tumminello, Emmitt Meyring—Soash Ranch, Dale Mize, Researcher, Tim Bedell—Brown Ranch, Trevor Hagenbuch—Kuntz Ranch, Alley Kvols—Hitchens Overlook Ranch, Justin Stanko—Stanko Ranch, Bowden Tumminello—Summers Ranch, Sean Nelson, researcher Douglas County, Leona Thurston, researcher Routt County, Jessica Bedell—Semotan Ranch, Tim Bedell—Perry Ranch, Alyvia Cox—Zehner Ranch, Trevor Hagenbuch—Gay Ranch, Alley Kvols—Green/Crags Ranch, Kenzie Summervill—Bell Ranch.
This summer a few of the participants participated in a Q&A session about their projects during an Opera Steamboat event as a way to share the history of the area for the world premiere opera, Welcome to the Madness. Their enthusiasm about what they learned was palpable. One student was so excited to know more about his friend’s ranch than his friend did. The program leads to pride in the community as well as lasting friendships with those they interview.
The ranch records are currently available through the project newsletter, on their website, and in the local paper, the Steamboat Pilot. To provide broader reach as the program expands, they are working with CSU Archivist, Linda Meyers, to add their interviews, photos and materials to the CSU archives for future generations
to enjoy.
The Art of Ranching team and participating students have been rewarded for their hard work with several state and regional 4-H awards, including an Excellence in Communication and Expressive Arts recognition at the state level. But the bigger reward is the lasting impact the project has had, even in the few years since it started. Tami shared that she’s seen first hand how the project benefits the students, the ranchers and the community at large. “Several of the youth have learned more about their own family history and connection to the community through the interview process,” she said.
Elevate the Arts: Record your own family or community history. Sit down with a friend or family member to talk about a few meaningful moments in their lives. Then, write down your own story! Sign your child up for 4-H or visit the Art of Ranching project’s new website artofranching.colostate.edu to read more and watch for the stories to be published on the Encyclopedia Colorado website. EK
