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Santa Fe with Bianca Shannon

Santa Fe with Bianca Shannon

Story and photography by Jenny McClary and Allie Leepson. See their work here.

“I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO WAS ALWAYS OBSESSED WITH HORSES. IT’S HARD TO EXPLAIN WHY I LOVE IT SO MUCH. HAVING A CONNECTION, AND PARTNERSHIP, WITH A 1200LB ANIMAL SEEMS LIKE THE MOST MAGICAL THING ONE CAN EXPERIENCE.”

BIANCA SHANNON

Bianca in her Tom Mix.

Bianca was born and raised in Italy. She first started riding when she was 9 years old. Now Bianca lives in Santa Fe and works as a wrangler as well as teaching horsemanship for skill-set restructuring to post-911 veterans and active military at Horses for Heroes. Kit was rescued by Bianca 2 years ago. His previous owner left him skin and bones. His ribs and hips were sticking out and had absolutely no muscle on his body. With dedication and a lot of love, Kit has become a strong, brave, and healthy horse.

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Introducing the Longshot 10X Vented Straw Cowboy Hat. Structured with all around vents and a regular oval cattleman crown in a new cognac brown. 10X Quality Straw, Made in U.S.A. Classics 10X Collection. Brim: 4 1/4″ Crown: 4 1/8″

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About recusing Kit, “I called his owner at the time and asked if I could worm him and let him out of his stall (he hadn’t been out of his stall for one year) and she told me I could just have him. The following week I received a bill of sale for $1 and a major project on my hands. It’s been 2 years now, and I’ve worked super hard to put weight and muscle on him and we’re both incredibly happy. He was, and is, truly the best gift I could ever ask for, he completely changed my life.”

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“Kit probably has the most personality of any horse I’ve ever met. He’s goofy, he’s super smart (always breaking himself out of his stall/paddock), and he’s extremely willing to take on any adventure/obstacle. I was immediately drawn to him because of his personality, every time I would walk past his stall, even if he was eating, he would run over to me to say hi.”

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“I felt the west and the horses calling me.”

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I moved to New Mexico from NYC about 5 years ago now. I was in grad school and I just realized that I didn’t want that life anymore. I couldn’t see myself working as a professor and sitting in the subways every day.

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I had come to visit Santa Fe with my parents over Christmas and I fell in love. I was offered an opportunity to work at Horses for Heroes and decided it was time to leave NYC and start my new life with horses again.

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Mother’s Day with Ranch Wives

Mother’s Day with Ranch Wives

It is said that all love begins and ends with motherhood. Meet two moms who are putting their spin on being a ranch mom in the twenty-first century and sharing their story along the way.

Part One: Photography by Tawnee Williams

JaTanna and Natalie have been friends since before they can remember. Back to the days when after school play dates were planned to ride horses and play in tree forts. Both born and raised in the same rural Montana town, they grew up together. Not in a non-personal, see you around town kind of together; but the share everything, do everything type of together. They are as much a part of each other as they are separate.

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JaTanna married into agriculture when she said I do to her high school sweetheart, a 6th generation Montana rancher.  Natalie was born into the ranching world, and despite her belief that she’d never stay in it, found herself marrying a 5th generation Nebraskan rancher. In a time when some women may take offense to the title “ranch wife,” these ladies continue to hold the title near and dear to their hearts, wearing it proudly as a badge of honor. While they both hold Doctorate degrees in Pharmacology, have careers both on and off the ranch, and are founders of Ranch Wives Beef Co., ranch direct beef company – the inner core of their hearts will always be with their family: HOME on the ranch.

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Part Two: Montana with JaTanna

There is a spiritual happiness that comes with living life on a ranch. Teaming with energy, from the thriving animals to the growing kiddos, you can almost feel the electricity pulsing through the fresh ranch air. But not surprisingly, there is also an equal amount of calmness that comes with living life on a ranch. The wide-open spaces evoke a gentle ambiance of beauty that is both seen and felt. Being a ranch mom is about learning to balance both these feelings. It’s about completing the demanding requirements of ranch work and household chores, while also taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures of raising children outside the hustle and bustle of city lights.

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Tawnee Williams is a rancher’s daughter with a deep adoration for the people and spaces of Montana, where she was born and raised.  She photographs the ever-changing landscapes and captures the people living and working in this rugged and beautiful place. It takes a special kind of person to live and thrive here, and Tawnee makes it her purpose to honor them through her photography.

Part Three: Nebraska with Natalie
Photography by Sam Raetz

You see, the romanticism of the western countryside is not lost on the ladies. Instead, it is amplified by the pitter patter of tiny feet below. Daily chores take extra time and care with little helping hands, but they don’t mind. On long hot days outside chores are made doable with a Stetson brim to shield the sun, a blanket for the kids to play on and several packed lunches. Often times, warmer mornings are spent as a family in the tractor feeding cattle, and afternoons are spent gathering cattle on horseback. When the Nebraska and Montana weather is uninviting, the women turn their sights indoors, reading their children a book they can recite by heart or preparing a recipe one-handed while holding a baby in the other. Motherhood on the ranch is truly a special kind of motherhood and one the women are thankful to call theirs. At the end of the day when they lay their head on their pillow and close their eyes, they thank God for the daily experiences the ranch brings and the blessings the agricultural community has bestowed upon their families.

Natalie wears the Horseshoe Print Dress.

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Hodding Carter said, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other is wings.” JaTanna and Natalie couldn’t agree more, and it is their belief that a ranch is the perfect way to simultaneously give their children both roots and wings.

To learn more and support the Ranch Wives please visit https://www.ranchwivesbeefco.com/

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MDW At Cowtown Rodeo New Jersey

MDW at Cowtown Rodeo New Jersey

When you think of New Jersey, the first thing that comes to mind is probably far from big skies, open ranges, and round-ups. In the most densely populated state, you wouldn’t think of finding anything of this nature.

Story and photography by Jesse Michalski

A taste of the west is hard to find when you’re nestled between the shadows of the New York and Philadelphia skylines. However, there was a time where New Jersey was undeniably a Garden State and with this came cowboys, crops, and cowherds.  Nestled in southern New Jersey, only 30 miles away from the City of Brotherly Love, much of this western lifestyle still remains. Through miles of seemingly endless crops and where only silos surpass the horizon, cowboys and cowgirls can find their authentic taste of the west at The Cowtown Rodeo.

Bronc Rider: Will Stites

Bull Rider: Juan Picon Jr.

What started as an attraction at the Salem County Fair in 1929, Cowtown Rodeo in Woodstown, NJ has been keeping the western tradition with events like tie-down roping, bull and bareback riding, steer wrestling, and barrel racing for generations.

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Family owned and operated, Cowtowns’ held rodeos at the county fair until 1937. Soon after, the Country’s demands during the Second World War put the rodeo on hold till 1955.

It was in the late 1950s that the rodeo gained national televised attention and had to be moved to a larger arena in 1967, where it is currently held today.

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The rodeo brings in spectators and participants from across the nation. Stands quickly become packed with onlookers of all ages. Some have been attending the rodeo since they were a child and are passing the experience onto their young ones. Even for the riders at Cowtown, there’s something special about Saturday nights in Woodstown.

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“Cowtowns’ kinda like family now… you’re there for 18 to 19 weeks in a row with the same guys. When I miss a week, it’s like something is missing” -Will Stites

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Running annually every Saturday night from May 25th to September 28th, this year marks the 65th consecutive season of professional rodeo on the First Frontier Circuit.

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Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles

Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles

Left to Right: Laura Peña, Sylvia Hinojosa, Julie Murillo, Maira Solis and Brisa Bergeron

In a profession historically reserved for machismo and facial hair, one mariachi band has become a trailblazer for the next generation of female musicians who envision themselves on stage. Purists in sound and style, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles takes great pride in the traditions of their culture. Reyna (translated in English, Queen) is the first all-female Mariachi band formed in the United States. From playing for President Obama at the White House to being nominated for a GRAMMY in 2009, these twelve women continue to influence history together.

Story and photography by Sam Raetz

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Brisa Bergeron – the youngest member of Reyna – grew up listening to the very band she now calls a family.

“We give girls the opportunity to learn from other women. Growing up, I was confused about why I didn’t see women in mariachi bands until I was introduced to Reyna.”

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Since the group’s inception in 1994, members have come and gone, but the quality of their product remains unchanged. Women aged across the decades come together to travel the country, sharing traditional Mexican folk music. Julie Murillo, the leader of the group, states that she worked in predominantly male groups prior to joining the Mariachi Queens.

“Reyna feels like a sisterhood. Like a family.”

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And family it is. Sisters, and violinists, Sylvia Hinojosa and Laura Peña share the front row together each time the group takes the stage. Sylvia, the last remaining original member of the band, first picked up a violin at age 10 when her father and grandfather taught her to play by ear. As older sisters do, Sylvia fostered Laura’s development as a violinist and inspired her formation to the musician she is today.

“I was extremely fortunate to have had a female mariachi figure in my life from a young age — my sister Sylvia.”

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Reyna’s success stems from their rare combination of talent, work ethic, and perseverance. The Mariachi Queens on-stage performance is infectious; it’s clear they love the work that they do.

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Mariachi music, specifically for Mexicans and Mexican Americans, is more than blazing violins and trumpets though. It’s a cultural symbol that is a part of who they are and who their ancestors were. Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles is a group of musicians that interweaves effort to keep tradition and standard of the past alive while opening the door for the next generation of las reynas.

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Jeanette Martinez
Open Road 6X

Maira Solis
Stratoliner Hemp

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Linda Uhila
Open Road Straw

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Angelica Hernandez
Destiny Panama Fedora

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Romina Huerta
Open Road 6X

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Keep it Public

Keep it Public

The term, “Public Lands” has become a sort of a buzzword these days in certain industries around the US. If you step back and think about the term, it simply means land that can be used by and is for the public. That’s you, that’s me, that’s all of us. We have access to these lands thanks to certain branches of the federal government like the National Park Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc. These lands can be used for all sorts of recreation and appreciation. Backpackers, fishermen and women, and hunters use these places as an integral part in the pursuit of their passions.

Story and photography by Ben Matthews

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Cascade mountains via Hwy 2. – Shortly after moving to Seattle, I drove this highway for the first time and was instantly in love with the endless forest of green, the cascading rivers and the towering mountains above it all. I knew this was the place for me. – After a quick stop at the Espresso Chalet for a caffeine boost and to say hello to Bigfoot, we arrived at our trailhead and entered into the Mt. Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest.

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Over 1.7 million acres of old growth forest, alpine meadows, and glaciated peaks lie within this forest. All for people like us to explore. We chose a specific trail that took us to an old Forest Service fire lookout, that was used in the past as a location for forest rangers to lookout for any signs of wildfires in the summer months. These days, rangers use satellites to help detect wildfires, but the remanence of what used to still remain. After a snack at the top and plenty of time to reflect on the beauty that surrounded us, we slowly made our way back to the car with our spirits lifted.

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Although these lands were set aside to be public, there have been threats in certain regions recently over the interest of privatized companies who would like to exploit the land for its resources, which in turn, would destroy the recreation opportunities and the overall beauty of these special places.

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With all of this in mind, I challenge you to make the lands that you know and love a priority. Fight to protect them for future generations. Do your part to keep them clean and encourage others to do the same. These lands are for all of us. Get out there and use ‘em!

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Meet The Maker: Odin Leather Goods

Meet the Maker: Odin Leather Goods

The first time I met Odin was at a craft fair where my wife and I ran a booth. We would take turns running the booth while the other would go search for other vendors that we liked. Usually, we would spend more than we made but we always felt the common mission: shop small. On one of my walks around the market, I was drawn to Odin’s booth because I have always appreciated hand leather goods. I bought a wallet and struck up a conversation with (I did not know at the time) Odin’s wife. I walked away with the strong sense of community and that I had helped support the makers getting by on craftsmanship. I felt fulfilled by the great conversation with the person selling it.

Photographer Steven Visneau visits Odin Leather Goods in Texas.

Odin and his wife.

About a year after that market I was going through a time in my work where I wanted to focus on projects that made me feel that same satisfying feeling as when I bought the wallet. I wanted to build a portfolio based on creatives working in a craft-based field. The first person I thought to photograph was Odin.

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That same person who I would be reminded of every day when I would reach for my wallet with a rich patina that which was now one of my favorite possessions. We arranged for me to come to his workspace, his home garage at the time, with no real direction other than to capture him creating his goods. Upon arrival, I was greeted with a grand smile, strong handshake and open mind to what we were doing that morning. We immediately struck up conversations about our work, running a small business, family, music, and of course our love for hats.

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As we shot that morning the conversation never subsided. I was there for almost three hours just shooting, chatting and watching someone who I had just met but seemingly had a world of things in common with. I left our shoot with what become the beginning of a new direction in my work along with a connection to someone who I knew that would remain in my circle of friends. Since then I have run into Odin at markets, bought more of his creations (a belt that I wear every day), introduced him to buyers that have carried his goods, and have admired his progress in his business along the way.

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When asked to photograph him again years later for this Stetson Story I jumped at the chance to reunite creatively with the person whose inspiration was behind a lot of my current work.  This time we shot in his new workshop that he has moved into just a few streets off a historic town square. As expected upon arrival I was greeted with that same warm smile, a big hug and immediate conversation about work, life, family, his grandfather’s vintage Stetson and running a now growing small business.

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We took a moment to recognize how this has all come full circle in our work. His AMAZING wife that I met long ago, also joined us that day as she is now an integral part of this family run trade and we chatted about family, shows we watch (This is Us our fave) and how they are gearing up for their first venture into a brick and mortar shop this Fall.

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During our shoot, I was just as enthralled with watching the process from receiving a shipment of leather to the creation of a beautiful handmade product, as I was the first time I had photographed him. I left that day thinking that same thought of how or better yet why our paths had crossed in the first place. Was it working in the same circles of creative field’s, was it our similar love of handmade items, was it music, style, city, etc., I’m sure. Although, I do think that paths cross, blend, and continue on together on some unknown journey making fate, chance, timing an integral part of the equation. No matter the reason, be it pragmatic or sublime, I’m honored to have met, worked with, and become friends with such an esteemed human being. See ya again soon Odin!

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