By Sofia Jaramillo

I am swaying back and forth in a hammock on the deck of my family’s ranch in Colombia. The hustle and bustle of the city is long gone. We are a few hours outside of Manizales in the western region of the Andes. I close my eyes to slow down and soak in the sounds of the forest.

As thoughts fade away, I start to hear a symphony of birds. There are at least five distinct calls. This isn’t many, considering Colombia has the highest diversity of bird species in the world. Nonetheless, the melody is magical. Bugs hum in the background providing a steady baseline. Parrots, Baranquillos and Honeycreepers fly among the bamboo and gigantic umbrella-shaped Saman trees. Palm tree leaves flutter in the soft wind, mimicking the pitter patter of rain. As I look to the west, a sea of green lush rolling hills extends as far as the eye can see.

This is one of my favorite places in the whole world. I love it not only for the spectacular scenery but for the family history that resides here. This is the land where my father grew up and the ranch that my great grandparents started. When I visit I always feel a strong presence of family, from the current day and the past. I feel connected to my roots and I am at home at Maracaibo.

My great grandparents, Emigdio Jaramillo Ruiz y Lucía Jaramillo Rivera, purchased the property in 1946. The ranch was already built when they bought the land and now the structure is over 100 years old.

Over the years it has been inspiring to see my Tio Andres improve and modernize the ranch. Hundreds of dairy cows roam the pastures, while pigs grow fat in their stables. Most recently, he planted a beautiful citrus orchard. I admire my uncle’s passion for the land and ranching. It is a pleasure to learn about his work and interesting to see the differences between the ranch in Colombia and those where I grew up in Idaho. My father moved to the states as a young adult to study economics and agriculture. After his academic career, he ended up in the mountain town of Ketchum, Idaho. I was born and raised in Idaho, but I’ve been lucky to visit Colombia many times as an adult.

In the West, I’m used to seeing lots of sagebrush and some pine trees on ranches. But here in Colombia, we ride through bamboo forests with long vines hanging from the trees and if we are walking, we often have to protect our faces as we navigate through towering, sharp grass. The volcanic materials in the ground around Maracaibo make the area extremely fertile.

Fruit and plants grow everywhere. At the entrance to the ranch, my uncle stops his truck and gets out. He walks toward a patch of small green squishy fruits on the ground. They are my Abuela’s favorite fruit, acidic guava (guava acida)! They fall from the tree and we collect them for her to make juice. Acidic guava is very strong and has a similar taste to Sour Patch kids candy. It’s nearly impossible to eat without puckering your face.

My uncle also puts some elegant light green striped plants in the back of the truck. He takes them to use as decoration at Abuela’s home. I can’t help but estimate how expensive a similar plant would be at a gardening store in the United States! Here they are free and grow abundantly.

On the ranch, some of the workers wear traditional Colombian hats from the region. They have black and white rings around them. They are made of straw and their huge, floppy brims extend far past the browline. But, my uncle and cousin are elated upon seeing the straw Stetson hats I bring and they instantly appreciate their Texano (Texan) look. They note how well made they are and how useful they will be at the ranch. The straw material is perfect for the humid, warm weather in this region. My cousin Tomas wears his new Stetson hat with pride and later adds it to his hat collection at home.

Tomas will be the next to take over the ranch. He’s soft-spoken, but a funny character with a big heart. Some of my favorite memories at the ranch have been with him and my other cousins. Whether it is the memories of running around chasing ducks as young ones, racing horses so fast we could barely hold on, or collapsing after big family meals and taking siestas, these moments are meaningful to me. I am so grateful that, although I was born many countries away from them and into a different culture, they have shared this space, history and love with me. We are, after all, family.

Jessica Ilalaole is a born and raised Hawaiian native shaped by the love of nature, art, and exploring. After relocating to a rural mountain setting, Jessica continued to explore art, inevitably falling in love with metalsmithing. Working out of a cottage studio and spending her free time backpacking in the wilderness, Jessica is most inspired by mountains, folk art, mysticism, traveling, natural beauty and the mysteries of old. CobraCult jewelry is owned and operated solely by Jessica with occasional help from friends and loved ones.

Photography by Nicole Morgenthau

“I moved out of a city environment and into a rural mountain setting, which has allowed a deeper connection to the world around me. I’m able to notice the movement of animals and the shifts in the weather through the large windows in my workshop. I’m also able to watch the subtle changes in season.”

“My workshop is located on our rustic property at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. I’ve recently been watching the snow recede from the mountain tops. I believe the seasons have a big impact on my creative process and resulting work. During spring, the animal activity is abundant and I may be more focused on animal shapes and vibrant colored stones. The fall and winter bring a new color scheme and more silence. With the snow insulating the world around my home and workshop, I feel the most creative and tend to dig deeper. In the summer I do a lot of hiking and backpacking. New Mexico has such a rich history and the warm months allow for more exploration. I don’t see how an artist couldn’t be affected by the seasons because it changes how we look inward as well as outward.”

Photographer Heath Herring sets out on yet another road trip to Texas to introduce Patrick Archer, Christopher Jones, and the Texas Poitou Donkeys.

“Poitou. You say it like Pwah-too,” said Patrick as we looked out across a field of giant, dreadlocked, four-legged creatures that looked like some beautiful cross between a donkey and a wooly mammoth. A few gnawed at the grass while others stood still as statues, like some wise, ancient beasts that drifted straight out of the middle ages onto a green Texas pasture.

Fewer than 80 Poitou Donkeys existed in 1980. Tractors came along, and the demand for mules collapsed. The breed’s limited geographic area in France also increased its vulnerability.

Patrick and Chris devote their lives every day to the Poitou herd and other animals, but it’s not for the money. In fact, everything they make from farming goes right back into the farm and the animals they’re working so hard to raise and protect. Technically, their day job is operating a yearly event called the Winter Park Ski-Music festival. They manage the entire operation from Texas and trek out to the Rockies every Spring to put it on. Officing from home makes it possible to manage the festival and the farm together.

Patrick: Chris and I are not farmers by trade but by choice. Before all this, I was a big box retail manager and Chris was a banker. Both careers were stressful so we purchased a small tract of land so we could escape and breathe. We both love the outdoors. It didn’t take long for me to want to populate the farm with livestock.

Patrick: We started out small – literally. This all started with miniature donkeys. And of course ducks, geese, and other barn animals. Now we have a small herd of cattle, fallow deer, goats, assorted barnyard animals, and we raise Poitou Donkeys.

Chris: Operating a farm as a secondary source of income is extremely rewarding, but still full of surprises.  Whether it’s animal health, mechanical breakdowns, or whether you never know what each day brings.  I enjoy being outside, doing whatever needs to be done and improving the overall operation. Self-accomplishment is my fuel, and operating a farm fills my tank, even during more trying periods.  I just wish the yields of farming/ranching were more financially rewarding.

One of Patrick’s go-to hats is the Gus Crushable Outdoor. He stole it from Heath a couple of winters ago on his second visit to the farm.

Patrick: Since moving to the farm full time, we have amassed a collection of hats for just about every situation and season. We definitely have our favorites. I’m always going to reach for the well-worn felt and Chris is definitely a straw hat guy.  We have been collecting vintage cowboy hats for years. There’s something about a well worn/beat up cowboy hat that speaks to me…much like a great pair of broken in boots or leather gloves. From our work on this farm, I can appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears that go into managing land and livestock. When I have one of these old hats on, I try to do it justice.

Patrick: The Poitou donkey is an ancient French breed. They look like wild, prehistoric animals. They’re huge! At least 14–15 hands (56–60″) high at the withers and weigh 750–950 pounds. Long hair is their most striking feature. It hangs in cords from their entire body. Essentially Poitou donkeys are big, shaggy, lovable, social creatures who also happen to be very smart and very affectionate. They’re also extremely gentle and love attention.

To learn more about the Texas Poitou Donkeys visit: https://facebook.com/TexasPoitouDonkeys/a

Joekenneth Museau is a Brooklyn-bred artist who seeks to connect with the world around him through his ability to create a mosaic of words formed by personal experiences and astute observations. Throughout his creative career, Joekenneth has sought to express himself in various mediums beyond writing; which includes photography, modeling, and filmmaking. His memoir, “Days After Your Departure” has been adapted to film and viewable on HBO streaming services as well as partner channels Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Stetson goes on a journey with Joekenneth beyond the NYC skyline to the swamps of East Texas with photography by Rambo.

The Stetson Temple Fedora is constructed of quality fur felt and features a center pinch front crown, interior roan leather sweatband, satin lining with Stetson mark and grosgrain ribbon hatband with feather accent. Fur Felt. Made In USA.

No one knows me more intimately than the city. From my first steps to my first scraped knee to my first kiss. Its pavements have always encouraged me to live unabridged. But sometimes home is heavy. And its quotidian weight, like a barbell fastened to my chest, was suffocating my spirit.

No one knows the yearning of my lungs better than a New York City skyline. So, with its blessings, I fly. And watch the clouds inhale my city whole until the grounds of an unknown land welcome my worries with warm winds and desert air.

I do nothing while I’m here. This is my first time in Texas, I hear that it’s huge, a map easily confirms this but Timothy and Rambo are homebodies just like myself. Their place is decorated in relics and tangible anecdotes of their lives. We read about one another when silence sets the stage or while feasting on Timothy’s culinary feats. My heart is weightless in these moments. Time actually feels like an ally. And the present is a forever that doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

We are adventurers. Therefore, movement is innate. And for me, nature isn’t a muse easily accessed amid the towers of the city’s labyrinthine streets. We journey for more quiet. To a place where the echo of our voices ruffle the Spanish moss hanging from the trees. I remain in awe; stunned by the expanse of green and sky’s vastness holding it all in place.

Now, on the days when home feels heavy, I close my eyes to recall what the swamp waters taught me about stillness. In that moment life is once again simple. And worry is just another thing waiting to be remedied by perspective and prayer.

Introducing Edgar Ramirez of Barba Norteña, his brand established in 2011, embraces his Mexican roots, love of northern music, ranching, Stetson and the fruits of honest work.

Edgar’s abuelo wearing his Stetson in the 1960’s.

Edgar’s family immigrated to the United States from Durango, Mexico when he was 4 years old. Their roots stem from agriculture and ranching beginning from his grandfather’s land and cattle. Once in Dos Palos, California, Edgar’s father started work in farming and ranching as well. He’s been at the same ranch now for 35 years. This meant childhood for young Edgar and his brothers meant playing in the irrigation ditches, the cotton, the melons, and tomato fields. A limitless childhood full of adventures. As the brothers grew up they formed a family band called, Arrendadores and the tour life began from ages 21-28.

“My career as a traveling musician came to an end at age 28. As a creative, I needed an outlet to share all of the thoughts that live in my mind. This led to the beginning of Barba Norteña. When I started the brand I had no idea where to begin all I knew was that I wanted to create a brand that showcased my beliefs and passions. Having grown up in the United States while also having the privilege of visiting my hometown in Mexico, I realized I wanted to honor both cultures. I started designing t-shirts, then baseball caps, then cut and sew, then before I knew it, Barba Norteña was full blown clothing brand! I learned how to source materials, how to run payroll, create an e-commerce website all the while I changed diapers and fed our firstborn, Isabel Arlette.”

“I was still working from our living room when our daughter Isabel was born, during her naps I would run the business and package online orders. She’s almost 5 now and is starting kindergarten in August. Now with a small office and warehouse where we print and package our online orders, I have a new helper, our son Emiliano, he was born in September and gets to come to work with dad. During his naps, I run the business, as usual, emails, designing, meetings, photo shoots, etc. When he’s up I feed him, change his diaper and we get to play and crawl around the office. It’s not easy but I enjoy it. My wife is very supportive, she has her career and fulltime job and together we make it work. I’m a hands-on dad and step up no matter what the situation to take care of my family.”

“I learned my love of family and hard work ethic from my grandfather. He was the sweetest man I have ever known. He passed away in May 2010. He loved ranching with all of his heart and his dream was to retire after 40+ years, move back to Mexico and continue to work with land and cattle. He was not able to fulfill his biggest dream and so I honor his legacy every day within the brand and our designs. The Ganadero x Stetson Collection is in his honor and memory. Although he did not have the opportunity to meet his great-grandchildren or see the success of the brand, I know he would be so proud.”

“De mi abuelo aprendí amar a mi familia, trabajar duro y de manera honesta. Fue el hombre más tierno que he conocido. Falleció el mes de mayo del año 2010 en un accidente mientras trabajaba. Le apasionaba la vida de rancho y su sueño era regresar a México para cuidar de sus tierras y animales. No tuvo la oportunidad de realizarlo y es por eso que me llena de orgullo honrar su legado en cada uno de nuestros diseños.”

“La Colección Ganadero X Stetson es en memoria y honor a él. Estoy seguro que aunque no tuvo la oportunidad de conocer a sus bisnietos o ver el éxito de la marca, sé que desde el cielo está sumamente orgulloso.”

Photography by April Valencia featuring Lisa Przystup and Jonathon Linaberry.

Americana blues musician The Bones of J.R. Jones nee Jonathon Linaberry and his wife Lisa Przystup split their time between Brooklyn and the Catskills but find the desert to be their most satisfying reset button. The couple has a soft spot for the saguaro’s of Tucson but also have a history with Joshua Tree—married for three years, they spent their honeymoon there and those nighttime drives in the desert were the inspiration behind J.R.’s forthcoming EP of desert songs. This summer they set aside time to enjoy a stretch of days there with the intent of sitting in the vast quiet of the desert and filling in the blanks of a handful of songs.

Przystup, a writer currently working on a project of her own was also hankering for the creative space the desert affords.

This carved out space is exactly where Jonathon was able to test the mettle of his songs and see if they fit in the landscape and feel of the place they were inspired by.

So much of the trip was about tapping into inspiration—something Jon and Lisa find in each other on a daily basis—and something that their good friend and photographer April Valencia’s work provides them with as well. The couple took a break to run around the desert with their pal and snap some shots in and around Joshua Tree park.