Life in the Wild West

Everything about the American West has been romanticized to the point that most people really don’t know what is true and what isn’t. Billy the Kid has been made into some sort of hero, when he was really a bloodthirsty, cowardly killer. The Pony Express, while a great communication tool for its day, was a grueling race that killed both man and beast. What is the modern wild west like?

The American West was changed by the advent of fences and modern transportation. For those of you wondering, there are still cowboys. Today, they may be chasing livestock with four wheelers instead of on horseback, but the job is essentially the same. There are no more cattle drives. The automotive age has taken care of the need for those. Now, the market comes to your door in the form of a semi-truck and trailer to take your cattle to market.

But, while these things have changed with the coming of technology, the western lifestyle is still embraced by many. The western lifestyle has always been one that embraces the woman as a partner rather than a servant. Women had to be strong to survive, and many times they were required to take on tasks that were normally considered masculine. This holds true even today.

Cowboys still wear Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots, but you are just as likely to see them in a suit in a boardroom. These men and women are savvy and smart. Running a large ranch takes intelligence and the guts to stick it out when times get tough.