Taming a Wild One

2012 Oil on Old Barn Wood
23″ x 26″ unframed
$1300
Contact to Purchase

The first rodeo in the eastern part of Montana .was held at the Steffen Ranch outside Glendive on July 25, 1922. The name of the chap riding this wild horse is unknown. How long he stayed on top or whether he won is also unknown. John Steffen couldn’t remember, even though the nonagenarian scrupulously catalogued all his father’s old photographs and memorabilia. What John wrote as a tribute to all the homesteaders of this era though is more important.

“We, the sons and daughters of the homesteaders, owe you a debt of gratitude. You suffered and sacrificed much for us. You have given us a less rigorous, more enriching and rewarding life than you endured. You gave us a heritage surpassing monetary worth. You gave us a sense and appreciation of values, a love of country, family, and neighbor. In the western ranching and homestead areas of today, this heritage is reflected in our present day youth who show a greater sense of balance than their counterparts in other areas of America.”

John died last year, just six months after his brother, Clarence, and with their passing, another Steffen generation of great ranchers and fine people has ended.