The DRA Will Celebrate the 85th Annual Convention

The Dude Ranchers' Association will celebrate the 85th Annual DRA Convention in 2011.  The Convention is being held in Tucson, Arizona at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, January 19th - 23rd, 2011.  The Associations' ranch members, Associate members and many great vendors attend this event..the largest attended DRA Event of the Year.

The Association's original membership of thirty-five ranches from the Yellowstone area has now grown to 100 +member ranches in 12 western states and two Canadian provinces. In spite of this growth, the Association today remains dedicated to preserving the beauty, natural resources, and the original western ranch experiences that attracted the first visitors. Within this context, the Association has produced industry standards, a common means for promoting dude ranch vacations, and a single source for the exchange of ideas and information.

True to its roots, The Dude Ranchers' Association is still a diverse group, composed of cattle ranches who accept paying guests and mountain top lodges that offer a ranch atmosphere. All preserve the open warmth and hospitality of the first ranches and allow for the original western ranch experience by requiring an extended stay. The formation of lasting bonds and memories still brings families back to ranches generation after generation. This is truly a living testimony to the timelessness of the values and standards of the original dude ranchers. Today, as it did over a century ago, the western dude ranch experience offers relief for both the body and spirit of those seeking refuge from the pressures and routine of modern life.  A Dude Ranch Vacation is....the Original Western Vacation!

The 85th Annual Convention Highlights:

• 3 Day Convention with 2 Day Vendor Show
• Build lasting relationships with all DRA Members!
• Seminars
• Round-Table Discussions 
• Marketing Tips & Trends
• State of the Association 
• Ranch To Ranch Discussion
• Casino Night with Coaches for Charity
• The White Stallion Team Penning Calcutta and Competition
• Horse Safety Courses on Wednesday & Sunday
• The Infamous Pigeon Rolling
• More Entertainment
• 20+ Vendors
• Food, Family, Friends & FUN!
• Annual Educational Trust Banquet & Auction

For more information please contact the DRA office at info@duderanch.org or 866-399-2339!

Ride The West With The Best

Ranches with Adult Only Weeks

Sometimes you just want to get away with your significant other, adult friends or even by yourself. Dude ranchers understand that and have set aside a few weeks of their seasons for just that purpose. These “adult only” weeks are usually in the spring or fall when there are fewer number of guests. This gives you a chance to experience the ranch on a more personal level. So grab a little time for yourself and come see some of the most spectacular fall colors from the back of a horse at one of the DRA ranches.  See List of Ranches that offer Adult Only Weeks.

Dude Ranch Vacations Offer A Taste Of The Old West

I found this good article about Dude Ranches on the Travel & Leisure - Article Fabric blog...Articles from all over the world on Travel and Leisure weaved into one site!  Here is a few paragraghs...

Dude ranch vacations were born in the late 1800's, but they really began to become popular in the post-World War I years. Society became more mobile, thanks to the automobile, and economically, the times were good. The movies were a popular form of entertainment, and westerns were dominant in films, creating a desire among large numbers of people to visit the Wild West. The only problem was that the west had been tamed.


And so was born a new American tourist attraction--the dude ranch. For a few days, tenderfoots could become cowboys, but without the perils true cowboys had faced. In a structured environment, dudes could learn to ride and roam the wide open spaces under the protective eye of a guide.

Virtually every state west of the Mississippi has at least one dude ranch. While no two are identical in the activities offered, they all share one thing--a lot of time will be spent on horseback. Novice riders will be given lessons, an appropriate mount will be provided, and a cowboy is born. Ranch hands will lead the dudes on trail rides of varying lengths, and many ranches offer the opportunity to spend two or three days riding the range and sleeping in the open. READ MORE...

Authentic Working Ranches

At an authentic working cattle ranch the main emphasis is our horse and cattle program. You'll experience horses that are comfortable working cattle, or just leisurely heading out and exploring country. Great riding, good ranch horses, where there is little to no head-to-tail riding. Riding is our main activity and will match you to the right horse for your riding ability. Beginner riders to experienced leave here with more knowledge about horses, horsemanship, and cattle, than they've experienced anywhere else.

Certified Wrangler Class

Wrangler Training Class Available On May 7th and 8th, 2010.
The Bar W Guest Ranch is hosting a two day training course. The first day will cover Red Cross Basic First Aid, Adult CPR and AED. Each participant will receive certification cards. The second day will cover DRA Horse Safety & Adaptive First Aid for the Trail. Each participant will receive wrangler certification cards. Lodging is available. Class is limited to 25 participants.
Date and Time: May 7th and 8th 8:00am 5:00pm each day.
Rates: DRA Horse Safety & Adaptive First Aid for the Trail $25 per person for wranglers with jobs at DRA member ranches. $50 for non DRA members. These rates include lunch. Red Cross Basic First Aid, Adult CPR and AED $55 per person Lodging is available in our lodge for $60 per person which includes dinner and breakfast. Contact Ted for more information or to reserve a space.
Ted Harvey
The Bar W Guest Ranch
Whitefish, Montana
866-828-2900

Visit a National Park during your Dude Ranch Stay

2010 is the year of National Parks. The buzz around these American landmarks is undeniable after the release of Ken Burn’s PBS documentary. Families everywhere are looking to vacation to Mother Nature’s playground this summer. For a fun twist, the Dude Ranchers’ Association can facilitate a holiday at traditional dude ranch right on the footsteps of a National Park.  Search for your next Dude Ranch Vacation near a National Park today!

Ailing Florida girl experiences her dream on Colorado guest ranch

A dude ranch in Granby is making "Dreams Come True" this weekend for an 11-year-old Florida girl with a life-threatening illness.
Given her choice, Morgan Blackwell picked riding horseback in the Colorado snow for her dream-come- true. She browsed online and liked what she saw at The C Lazy U Guest Ranch & Resort.

Mac MaKenny Carries the Olympic Torch

Saddeling up with the Flame
By Jim Barr, SnowSeekers

Albertan Mac MaKenny, owner of the HomePlace Ranch in southern Alberta, rode his way into the history books tonight, by becoming the first and only torch bearer to have ever taken the Olympic Torch by horseback. Read More...

84th Annual DRA Convention in Billings, Montana...

CODY, Wyo.—Travel guides define Montana as having a “significant equestrian presence.” That presence increases dramatically next month when a couple hundred or so horsemen and women come ridin’ in for the 84th annual meeting of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, or DRA. Member ranchers, associate members, vendors, and media convene Feb 2nd – 6th for the signature event of the year at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Billings, Montana.

For the first time this year, the Dude Ranchers’ Association has teamed up with Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch for a Casino night Fundraiser. The event will be held Feb 3rd. There will be a live band, auction, costume party, raffles and lots of good old fashioned fun.

The Dude Ranchers’ Educational Trust founded in 1988 has awarded over one hundred thirty thousand dollars in scholarships to students who in some way through their careers will help to perpetuate the Western Lifestyle of Dude Ranching. There is a wide range of careers that would qualify such as Culinary, Marketing, Farrier, Land Management, Herd Management, Hospitality, Accounting etc.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Located on the edge of Billings, Montana, their 400-acre main campus includes nine residential lodges, two of which are intensive-care units, two therapeutic community homes, and an accredited school. They are an integral member of the Billings medical community. As a private, not-for-profit multi-service agency, they provide intensive residential treatment and extensive Community Based Services (CBS) for youth and families.

The first official meeting of the Dude Ranchers’ Association was held on September 27 and 28, 1926 in Bozeman, Montana. Ranchers, railroad officials and National Park officials attended the two-day event to discuss the five objectives set forth:1) Establish cooperation among ranchers and railroad officials 2) Discuss the transportation and proper care of guests 3) Create advertising and publicity for the association 4) Standardize practices 5) Create an efficient sales organization. Having agreed to all five objectives, the ranchers added a sixth - the Organized Protection of fish and game.

For more information about this event please, contact The Dude Ranchers’ Association at 866-399-2339 or info@duderanch.org www.duderanch.org

Rowse 1+1 Ranch Award

Rowse's 1+1 Ranch in Nebraska Sandhills is awarded "The Best US Cowboy Experience" by Rustic Vacations.

We are extremely honored to share this award with our guests. Our guests come to have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of being a cowboy and riding the range. Guests leave behind noise, crowds, traffic and the hasslte of everyday life to experience their vision of the Old West that still exists, cattle drives, sorting pairs, branding, roundups and roping. Generations of ranching traditions are very much a part of the Rowse family. Come ride with the 1+1 ranch and enjoy the Warm Western Hospitality. www.1plus1ranch.com

Come See us at the NFR

Don’t Forget to come see us at the NFR. Stop by our booth for brochures from our many great dude ranches or pick up a free directory at the DRA Booth in the Pro-Rodeo Zone. We hope to see you at the Thomas Mac Arena.

The DRA will be at the NFR

The DRA will once again have a booth at the Thomas Mac Arena for this year's National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The DRA and many of our fine ranches will be promoting dude ranch vacations at the 10 day show, December 3 - 12th 2009! Stop by and see us if you are in the ProRodeo Zone at the Thomas Mac!

Live the American Dream Vacation at the West’s Best Dude Ranches

At the more than 100 dude ranches that make up The Dude Ranchers’ Association, guests are sure to find the All-American Western vacation they have been dreaming of—days spent in the saddle, enjoying stunning scenery and breathing fresh country air, and evenings enjoying tasty down-home cooking and ranch entertainment. Today, as it did over a century ago, the western dude ranch experience offers relief for both the body and spirit of those seeking refuge from the pressures and routine of modern life.

Dude ranch vacations are based on a lifestyle that stretches back more than a century. By the end of the 1800s, most of the American West had been explored and the stories of its natural wonders had spread throughout the Eastern portion of the country as well as Europe. Lured by the promise of awesome beauty, a spirit of romance and adventure, and the honest simplicity of the western way of life, travelers headed west in search of a respite from the crowded, noisy squalor of fast-paced cities.

Most dude ranch guests are looking for that same experience today—a chance to rejuvenate their souls and refresh their spirits. And with the impressive array of activities found at these dude ranches, everyone—Mom, Dad, kids, grandparents, couples or singles—can find something that interests them.

Dude ranches are ideal places for kids and families to re-discover each other. Without the typical distractions of TV, phones, computers and electronic games, families spend time together, riding, hiking, playing games or simply talking. And while dude ranches are a popular destination for families, couples, singles and groups of all types love this unique traveling option as well. Most ranches offer a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, fly fishing, river rafting, swimming pools, children’s programs, cattle drives, cookouts, line dancing and plain relaxing on the porch swing, so everyone in a group is sure to find something that appeals to them. And since the cooking, cleaning and planning is all taken care of, everyone enjoys a true vacation.

Since 1926 The Dude Ranchers' Association has been helping folks find quality ranch vacations by establishing and enforcing high standards for its members. Dude ranches applying for membership go through a rigorous two-year inspection and approval process, including a close review of their application, a review of references from former guests, an appearance before the board of directors and on-site inspections during actual dude ranch operations. Typically, only 70% of the ranches that apply meet the high standards of the Association. When guests book a vacation at a Dude Ranchers' Association member ranch, they can be assured that it is actually a ranch and not just a hotel with horses.

The Dude Ranchers’ Association's original membership of 35 ranches from the Yellowstone area has now grown to 100-plus member ranches in 13 western states and 2 Canadian provinces. In spite of this growth, the Association today remains dedicated to preserving the beauty, natural resources, and the original western ranch experiences that attracted the first visitors.

Now is the time to take advantage of shoulder-season discounts. For more information about the unique experience of a dude ranch vacation or to request a brochure, call 1-866-399-2339 or visit www.duderanch.org.

Guest Testimonial of the Week

Folks email the DRA office daily looking for their next dude ranch vacation...and occasionally they write back to "thank us" for a great experience.

Thank you very much for your directory and help in assisting me with selecting a great dude ranch for August 2009. We returned this past Sunday from the Vee Bar Guest Ranch near Laramie, WY and had a wonderful time! It was my first dude ranch experience and found Wyoming to be a beautiful state. I have passed along your website to numerous employees and friends letting them know how easy it was to narrow down our search with your directory and how helpful you were. Thank you again and I hope to return to the Vee Bar next year. The Cole family and staff made my sister and I feel very welcomed and comfortable. Elaine from PA!

The 84th Annual Dude Ranchers' Convention

The Dude Ranchers' Association 84th Annual Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Billings, Montana February 2nd - 6th, 2010.

Convention Highlights!

Largest attended DRA Event of the Year. This year registration is on Tuesday, with the event ending Saturday morning, leaving all attendees time to travel home for Super Bowl Sunday!!! This 3 day event will include the following activities:

Build lasting relationships with all DRA Members!
Casino Night
Seminars & Round-Table Discussions
Marketing Tips & Trends
State of the Association Address
Horse Safety Courses
The BS Show & More Entertainment
20+ Vendors
Food, Family, Friends & FUN!
Annual Educational Trust Banquet & Auction
Call the DRA Office at (866) 399-2339 For Registration and for more Information

Saying Goodbye...

The Dude Ranch Industry has lost two of their “pioneers” this last month, DRA Hall of Famers, Leo Hargrave of Hargrave Land and Cattle Guest Ranch and Nancy Ferguson of Eaton’s Ranch. They truly helped make the industry what it is today. Please take a moment to tip your hat to these two great dude ranchers’ I know they will be missed by all..

Nancy Ferguson
Nancy Eaton Ferguson, 88, of Wolf, passed away at her residence on July 21, 2009. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be at Eatons’ Ranch at a later date. Born Feb. 28, 1921, in Sheridan to William and Patty (Alderson) Eaton, she attended Sheridan schools and was a graduate of Sheridan High School. She married Tommy Ferguson at Eatons’ Ranch on Sept. 5, 1942. She was the Sheridan Rodeo Queen in 1939, served on the Wolf Creek School Board, the Hospital Auxiliary Board, and was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Wyoming, the Book Review Club, and was Lady President of the Dude Ranchers’ Association. She was preceded in death by her husband; a brother, Billy Eaton; and a daughter, Judy Ferguson. Survivors include her children, Susan Van Allen, Patty Kaufmann, William Ferguson, and Thomas J. Ferguson, Jr.; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may benefit the Nancy Eaton Ferguson Sheridan WYO Rodeo Scholarship Fund, c/o First Interstate Bank, PO Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
The service  will be held on September 19 at the ranch at 4:00 p.m. and we will have a cocktail reception immediately following.

Leo Hargrave:
Charles Leo Hargrave, 87, died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at his home in Laclede, Kansas. Leo was a man of many talents honed from a humble upbringing during the Great Depression and WW II.
Leo married Ellen White of Laclede, KS, June 10, 1978. He built their Charolais operation and surrounding lease lands to the point that he was recognized as a model of sustainable environmental grazing practices. The couple simultaneously built a dude business on the cattle ranch. Guests from around the world joined them for the next 20 years in Living the Legend of a Montana cowboy. Leo spent 6 years helping to guide the Dude Ranchers’ Association as a board member and was honored with induction to the DRA Hall of Fame in 2007.

The DRA Wrangler Certification Update

The Wrangler Certification course has been established to train wranglers/guides in the skills needed to meet the Minimum Horse Safety Standards accepted by the DRA certified ranches. This course provides the skills and knowledge needed to prevent potential accidents, and how to anticipate dangerous situations on the trail. Participants in this program must already have a good working knowledge of horsemanship skills. This is both a hands on and classroom experience. The course follows the material presented in the DRA Horse Safety Manual.

The Wrangler Certification program has been very successful again this year:
• 6 Ranches have hosted the wrangler training
• 16 Ranches sent wranglers to be certified
• 58 wranglers have been certified this year making a total of 247 wranglers currently certified.

The Certified Wrangler Instructor Training course has been established to train instructors for the Wrangler Certification program. This covers presenting the material in the classroom and in a hands-on experience at the barn or on the trail. There are currently 58 Certified Wrangler Instructors.

DRA Horse Safety Program

In 2004 the DRA introduced its first Association defined Horse Safety program. The program has seen a significant level of participation from membership. It is designed to assist ranches in managing risk and establish reasonable standards for the Industry. The Horse Safety Program consists of the DRA Horse Safety and Adaptive First Aid for the Trail Certifications, Certified Wrangler Instructor, and Certified Wrangler and is an endorsed insurance program.

The DRA Horse Safety and Adaptive First Aid for the Trail program reflects the minimum guidelines for member ranches and other trail riding programs related to Horse Safety and Adaptive First Aid for the Trail. This program provides an educational opportunity through a seminar approach. Our goal is to promote continual evaluation of safety procedures and skills to improve the quality of our programs. Currently there are a total of 107 DRA Ranches, Associate Member Ranches and Outfitters Horse Safety Certified.

The Dude Ranchers’ Association Horse Safety Program is the standard for anyone involved in Western Riding Programs. It's been developed by those with more experience and more guest hours in the saddle than any other organization in the world. Summer camps, trail ride operators and Western riding instructors would all greatly benefit by becoming a part of the Dude Ranchers’ Association and taking advantage of the expertise available there. Safe practices not only help provide a better experience for guests and more return riders, operating under policies established by the recognized leader in the field provide insurance companies with a greater comfort level which can lead to lower rates. DRA has an insurance program available to members. Call them and ask for more information.
Allen A. McBride, Camp Mac

2009-2010 Scholarships Awarded

In today’s tough economic times it is harder and harder to fund a quality college education. The Educational Trust was set up to do just that. The Educational Trust began in 1988 by Mark Grubbs. Mark and his wife, Amy, were co-executive directors and former dude ranch owners. Mark’s dream was to establish a fund to give scholarships to young people who wanted to be in the Dude Ranch industry. The scholarship fund has been administered by our Executive Director (s) and the Educational Trust Board of Directors from it’s inception to the present. Each year the DRA Educational Trust awards scholarships to students who will perpetuate the dude ranch industry.

The Educational Trust Board awarded 8 scholarships worth a total of $12,000 for the 2009/2010 school year. The recipients are:

Darcey Anthony - Colorado, Haley Chesser - New Mexico, Spencer George - Colorado, Susannah Jackson - Massachusetts, Kameron Kelsey - Montana, Haley May - Colorado, Kelly Rich - Montana, Steven True - Arizona.

Congratulations!
Since the first scholarship was awarded for the 1990-1991 school year, the Educational Trust has awarded a total of $149,000.