FALL 2009 The Smith Family: Five Generations of Ranching Northern Range Ranch Roping The Living Words of the Constitution Part 8 Photographer Myron Beck: A Western View www.paragonfoundation.org $5.95 US The Journa l of the PARAGON Foundation, Inc. O U R M I S S I O N The PARAGON Foundation provides for education, research and the exchange of ideas in an effort to promote and support Constitutional principles, individual freedoms, private property rights and the continuation of rural customs and culture – all with the intent of celebrating and continuing our Founding Fathers vision for America. The PARAGON Foundation, Inc. • To Educate and Empower We invite you to join us. www.paragonfoundation.org Fall 2009 Volume 5 No. 3 William C. Reynolds EDITOR Nicole Krebs ASSOCIATE EDITOR marilyn Fisher SPECIAL FEATURES EDITOR Robin Ireland ART DIRECTOR myron Beck FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER Darrell arnold Julie Chase Baldocchi mark Bedor Robert Dawson Guy de Galard Jay Dusard Dan Gagliasso Heather Hafleigh adam Jahiel Jim Keen Thea marx CONTRIBUTORS THE PARAGON FOUNDATION Bob Jones PRESIDENT GB oliver EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Don “Bebo” lee VICE PRESIDENT Stella montoya 2 SECRETARY / TREASURER alice eppers Bobby Jones Daniel martinez Jonna lou Schafer DIRECTORS For sponsorship inquiries, contact Nicole Krebs – 575.434.8998 at the PaRaGoN Foundation, Inc. office, 1209 michigan ave., alamogordo, Nm 88310. To join or renew your membership or sponsorship, call toll free 877.847.3443. The Cowboy Way is published quarterly by the PaRaGoN Foundation, Inc. memberships are $50.00 per year. The PaRaGoN Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3. Postmaster: Send address changes to the PaRaGoN Foundation, Inc. 1209 michigan avenue, alamogordo, Nm 88310 w w w. pa r a g o n f o u n d at i o n .o r g Copyright © 2009 all rights reserved photo by Myron Beck I N T H I S I S S U E 8 47 77 Of Note Myron Beck Northern Range Ranch Current events and Culture a Western View Roping Series from out West By Guy de Galard 58 22 The Living Words 82 A Ranching Family that of the Constitution Ace Powell & Dave Powell Doesn’t Own the Ranch By Nicole Krebs a Pair to Draw to By Darrell Arnold By Dan Gagliasso 60 28 Ranch Living 90 R-CALF USA With Thea marx Recommended Reading Special Section old and New Books 65 Worthy of Your Nightstand 34 An Intrepid Spirit Say It or Print It Five Generations 92 – It’s Your Right of montana Ranching Range Writing By Marilyn Fisher By Thea Marx Cowboy Poetry from all over the West 41 70 The Cowboy Way Interview Custer and Me 94 a Visit with my Time at Cavalry School PARAGON Memorials PaRaGoN’s GB oliver By Mark Bedor 96 44 74 Out There Your Rights Heading West Peasants or We The People? Guest Ranches to Visit Cover, Mission Spread and Table of By GB Oliver endorsed by the Dude Ranchers’ Contents photography by Myron association Beck. These photos were taken on the Grant Shearer Ranch and their use has been graciously given by The Artist Ride. 3 fa L L 2 0 0 9 4 w w w. pa r a g o n f o u n d at i o n .o r g photo by Myron Beck F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E V I C E P R E S I D E N T GB OLIVER Positive Steps This past summer, PaRaGoN Foundation was honored Nothing looks accidental or unintentional, and attention is by american Horse Publications at their annual awards paid to the appropriate use of bold and italics to designate ceremony. our magazine was one of eleven publications more important information and create a hierarchy with the nominated in the category “Best association magazine, typography. The stunning photography caps off the book- 15,000 Circulation or more.” I am pleased to say that we won like feel that this magazine has.” We are also proud that we and received some wonderful praise from the judges panel, won second place for editorial Photography with a photo “This magazine has such a strong aesthetic that extends from taken by our friend and superb photographer, Jay Dusard. cover to cover; you almost want to put each issue on display. We are honored and humbled by this recognition and will The lifestyle editorial content that includes books and music continue, with your help, to bring helpful and entertaining is refreshing in this genre. In addition, there’s sophistication information to you with every issue. in the typography that few other magazines can match. 5 fa L L 2 0 0 9 6 w w w. pa r a g o n f o u n d at i o n .o r g photo by Myron Beck F R O M T H E E D I T O R WILLIAM C. REYNOLDS Taking Things to Heart as you can see by the front cover of this issue, we have to press, we are all awaiting the highly anticipated return of changed the name. We made this decision after much Nicole’s husband, anthony, who – the subject of last month’s wrangling, as we wanted a name that stated simply and “out There” photo – will be returning from deployment in clearly the way PaRaGoN Foundation operates, and since Kuwait. In addition to Nicole’s article, our Special Features we operate “the cowboy way,” there it was. The Cowboy Way. editor marilyn Fisher weighs in on the First amendment We hope you will take it to heart. and gives us further insight into that pillar of our We all have been made painfully aware of the uproar Constitution and our freedom. taking place on the proposed health care bills. elected Freedom was what the moon family was seeking and officials are taking writer Darrell arnold their summer ta ke s u s f o r break to meet a visit with with “the folks” michael moon and hear their and his family views on health as they work care with the the Chico hopes that the Basin Ranch in bill or bills can be Colorado. Bill passed easily in the fall. Full stop. Rather than being greeted Bullard, R-CalF uSa Ceo, tells us more about the NaIS by nodding sheep, our elected ones were faced with what (National animal Identification System) issue and what we some have called “mobs” – people angry and frustrated and need to know to help stop it in its tracks. mark Bedor has wanting answers. Instead of responding as problem solvers, tough duty telling us all about his adventure in the Custer many of those town hall hosts criticized the passion of their Battlefield re-enactment in montana. mark also gives us a audiences, failing to see what was really at issue at this time look at what author Jim owen is up to along with a superb in our nation. This isn’t just about health care and the profile of artist and leather craftsman, al Shelton. Guy de economy. It’s about the law of the land – the Constitution, Galard takes us to the Northern Range Ranch Roping Series our individual liberty and the future of our children’s where big loops mean big fun, while our own Thea marx freedom. What many in government today are obviously gives us another installment of “Ranch living” along with missing is that the Constitution is about limiting the story of the Smith family and their ranch in alder Gulch government. It is about protecting citizen’s property and not in the North Boulder Valley area of montana. Photographer taking it for redistribution from one group to another. If one extraordinaire myron Beck is our featured photographer this watches these town hall meetings, one comes to the obvious issue and gives us the gorgeous fall shot for our first cover of conclusion that not only have the health care bills not been The Cowboy Way. 7 read by most of our elected officials, but the Constitution We hope you enjoy this fall issue and as always we are hasn’t been read lately, if at all, either. We, as a people, need quite aware and thankful of your generous donations and to take to heart the importance of that document and where spirit that enable us to continue to bring The Cowboy Way the actual power sits – squarely in the hands of citizens like to you. You, our fellow american citizens, your strength and you and me. and, by all appearances, we are at a point in time resolve will be what protects our liberty and prevents those where we might need to consider cleaning house when the in power from throwing the Constitution under the bus. term elections come around in 2010. our freedom is all of ours to cherish, nurture and protect – PaRaGoN’s executive Vice President GB oliver speaks something we must take to heart everyday. specifically to the health care issue, among others, in our “Your Rights” section in this issue. He is also the subject of our interview as we felt many of our new readers should get to know GB better. our associate editor Nicole Krebs continues her explanation of the Constitution and begins with the ever important, First amendment. as this issue goes fa L L 2 0 0 9 John Swift's 1964 alaskan on his classic 1981 Chevy Custom deluxe Classy Camping – the Alaskan Truck Camper There are those who camp and then there are those that of the genre that work perfectly. That description also fits the hero CamP. most people fall into one of those two categories, unless of our story, the classic alaskan Truck Camper. you’re one who simply DoeSN’T camp. Camping has always The alaskan Truck Camper is not the bulky profile of the been subject to the elements – tents helped, but something better average pick-up truck camper. The original alaskan Camper was evolved. When camper camping came along, it was with the designed for those searching for protection from the elements, 8 advent of the “slide-in” pick-up truck camper – a milestone of but wanted a low compact profile that made traveling easy and convenience that changed everything – for many. I don’t know remote campsites accessible. That, my friends, is what an alaskan where the name “slide-in” came from, as I have yet to see anyone Camper is all about. “slide” one of those big Conestoga wagons-without-wheels onto alaskan Campers, Inc. builds, as they say, “The campers a pick-up. I have seen them “drop” into a pick-up bed after what camper, and it’s manufactured right here in Chehalis, seemed to be four or five days of hand cranking four separate jacks Washington. It’s singular unique and timeless quality is that the to lower said camper. I have also had the unpleasant opportunity alaskan Camper RV is the original ‘top up – top down’ design, ‘it to witness a “slide-off ” – when the camper owner gunned it and raises – it lowers’ the top of the camper for safety and comfort. forgot to chain down his little mobile Ponderosa. Camper styles This is what a true pop-up, slide-in camper should be, a low over the years, it seems, change like hemlines, and, like hemlines, traveling profile that is not compromised with wimpy, canvas most of the changes are mostly cosmetic – the essence is the same sidewalls. These campers do not compromise on quality of – a big box that rides in the truck bed. For many of the camping material or workmanship; it’s all about camping and truck persuasion, change is an unnecessary and wasteful concept, campers. and, as they say of a used alaskan, ‘If you find one for especially for those who simply love the timeless execution of a sale, our advice is, buy it.’” great singular idea. example? of course. The Buck folding hunter. That is exactly what John Swift did. He found his alaskan The Coleman lantern. The twist-off beer top. They are all classics (shown here on John’s 1981 Chevy Custom Deluxe) in a friend’s w w w. pa r a g o n f o u n d at i o n .o r g photo by Bill Reynolds