Archives

Charlie Russell and His Characters Charlie Russell was known to slip friends and acquaintances into his paintings. So, when Andy Thomas painted Charlie for the first time, it seemed only natural [...]

with Kristen Juras, Lieutenant Governor of Montana For Montanans, Western Art Week is more than a boon to tourism; it is an opportunity to see ourselves reflected in the brushstrokes and bronze [...]

with Shane Etzwiler, President of the Great Falls Area Chamber There’s never a bad time to visit Great Falls. Year-round there are opportunities for recreation, shopping, dining, and [...]

By Brad Reynolds Bonnie McCarroll didn’t die in the arena, but the dreams of many a cowgirl did. When McCarroll’s horse crushed her in 1929, it vindicated every rodeo manager and cowboy who had [...]

For decades, Pamela Harr has built a reputation as a professional bronze artist, depicting Western subjects, including female pioneers. “Women are a big part of our history and made some amazing [...]

A century ago, women on the East Coast rebelled against gender norms with bobbed hair and hip flasks. Meanwhile, Western women subverted traditional roles by climbing atop bucking broncos. Female [...]

With the rise of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association following the 1936 Boston Garden strike, rodeo contestants finally had representation in the sport. With the CTA came fair prize money, equality [...]

Rodeo has always been king in north central Montana. Prior to 1952, however, the king’s subjects lacked order. A group of cowboys from Roy gathered individuals from across the region with the [...]

In premise, the Rodeo Association of America (RAA) was a great idea. Its formation in 1929 brought about a standard set of rules, allowing for world champions to be recognized in bronc riding, [...]

In the 1700s, horses were often as wild as the West itself. Early cowboys mounted mustangs (descended from stock introduced by the Spanish) and had to “break” them of bucking off riders. [...]