September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 1

September

Renewing Associate Members

Audrey Miller

Montana Dude Ranchers’ Association

New Associate Members

Roy Rodger’s R Bar Ranch

Agape Naturals

Thank You!

Contents

Marketing 2

Social Media 2

Email Marketing 3

Educational Trust 5

Dude Ranch Life 6

90th Anniversary

Convention 7

Keynote Speaker 8

Employment Ads 10

Member Registration 11

Ranch Ramblings

Dear Ranchers,

With many of you getting ready to close and some getting ready

to open we wanted to take a minute and thank you all for your

continued support of the DRA office. We have had a great summer

with lots of walk in traffic here at the museum. I again have had the

privilege of getting out and visiting some of you so thank you for

having me.

Leah celebrated her one year anniversary in May, which is not as

easy as it looks as many of you know I might be a little OCD!!! We are

very lucky to have her on board…I will be celebrating my 14th

year

with the DRA in January and can’t think of anywhere else I would

rather be. We both feel pretty darn blessed to work for such an

amazing organization. We truly hope the Northern Ranches have

had a wonderful summer and that the season is looking great for you

Southern Ranches. Say a quick prayer for everyone affected by the

fires this summer.

You know where we are if you need anything so please do not

hesitate to give us a call.

Thanks,

Colleen and Leah

Editorial TheVacationGals.com: A press trip that resulted in a story about White Stallion

Ranch and Arizona.

CiaoBambino.com: A press trip that resulted in a story about why a dude ranch

vacation should be on every family’s bucket list.

CowboysIndians.com: ‘A dozen dude ranches’ featuring mostly DRA ranches.

AkronOhioMoms.com: A press trip that resulted in a story, ‘17 photos that

capture life on Arizona’s best dude ranch’ – featuring Stagecoach Trails Ranch.

TravelPulse.com – ‘Visit These Family Vacation Destinations Before School

Starts’ included the DRA and highlighted dude ranches as a great throwback

vacation.

We have several other press trips wrapping up so are expecting some more

great coverage. Thanks to all the ranches that participated.

From The Office

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 2

Marketing

Press Releases & Pitches

-What are you doing this fall for your vacation: Kid

Free Dude Ranches?

-DRA 90th Anniversary

-Things you may not know about Dude Ranches

-What Type of Dude Ranch Fits You Quiz

Co-op & Stand Alone Ads Co-op Ads

-Cowboy and Indians

-Western Horseman

-American Cowboy

Stand-alone Ads

-Elite Equestrian - ¼ page

-Cody Hunting Guide -

Advertising our West-

ern Museum

Outbrain is the world’s largest content discovery platform.

We promoted several DRA Ranches in each story - ‘Dude Ranches and National Parks,’ ‘Why Choose a Dude

Ranch Vacation’ and ‘Dude Ranches in the Fall’. Below are the top five media outlets that opened the content:

Fox News Health.com

Sky News (British Sky Broadcasting) The Telegraph - UK

CNN (Turner International and U.S)

Total Impressions for three weeks 1,609,759 – Total clicks 1,299

Video We have a new commercial running on Best of Amer-

ica by Horseback highlighting dude ranches and our

90th anniversary - check it out here.

Elite Equestrian Ad

13,579 Total Likes

1,000 Avg. Total Reach Per Day

Social Media Analytics

Blog and Website

Sessions

Page Views

Average Time

Pages / Session

July

35,183

124,560

4:18

3.54

WWW.DUDERANCH.ORG

1,949 Avg. Daily Impressions

1,388 Avg. Daily Viewers

424 Followers

121 Total Posts

BLOG

What are you doing this fall for your vacation?

A new twist on an old trend seen by dude ranch

owners

Live your western vacation dream in Wyoming

Short on cash and time off of work?

3 cattle drive vacations out west

Average Sessions Per Day: 92 ~ Average Time: 1.26

9,841 Avg. Monthly Impressions

550 Monthly Profile Visits

August

30,942

103,505

4:02

3.35

Average monthly engagement rates, replies and

profile visits are only two clicks away from your

Twitter home page.

If you click on your profile picture in the upper

right corner “Analytics” is located on that drop down

menu. Lo and behold it is easy to report how well this

social media outlet is engaging your customers.

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 3

Email Marketing

Let’s send an email campaign in four (loaded) steps. But first, recognize these terms:

Lists—Groups of emails (or subscribers); Template—the look of the email;

Campaign—Uses a Template and a List to send a message.

Ok, are you ready? If you get lost, slow down and read this helpful article.

1. Sign Up for MailChimp

2. Create a List and upload their emails

3. Create a Template (use one of the premade templates and put in your information)

4. Create a Campaign

Select a style (regular is fine)

Select the List you created in step 2

Fill out the Form (Namely the first two boxes—Name your Campaign and Email Subject. The other

options are ‘advanced’ options, best to leave them alone for now)

Select a Template— Find your saved Template from step three.

Preview and Test—Send the email to yourself first to make sure

Send!

I recommend just sending yourself an email first to help iron out any issues before doing a full campaign.

Mail Chimp ~ Easier Than It Looks

It’s free and you can manage email marketing campaigns

for your Blogfor your Blogfor your Blog The Dude Ranchers Association is hosting a drawing for blog posts

submitted by staff members. By submitting a post, your name will be

put into a drawing for $200.00.

Submit your blog to info@duderanch.org by November 1st.

Win 200 DollarsWin 200 DollarsWin 200 Dollars

Drawing held on December 1st, 2015Drawing held on December 1st, 2015Drawing held on December 1st, 2015

See an example here.

Blogs must be about personal

experiences. Please do not include

the name of the ranch. Send two

high resolution photos along with

your content.

Your blog may be used in our mar-

keting efforts with your personal

by-line. Please call our office for

more information if you have any

questions. 307.587.2339

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 4

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 5

Dude Ranch Life

Female Cancer Survivors Bond Over Fly Fishing

At the Absaroka Dude Ranch

by Hallie Jackson and Matthew Vann

Tonia Hanson didn't take news of her breast cancer

diagnosis very well when she first learned of it.

Afraid it would impact her business, she refused to

tell anyone except a few close friends and family mem-

bers. But a few days at a Wyoming camp where women

cancer survivors go fly-fishing changed all of that.

"It is so hard to explain how peaceful it is to just

have the motion of casting a fly rod," said Hanson, 52.

"It was the first time I haven't thought about what

happened to me."

Fly-fishing is no different from regular fishing, ex-

cept the angler uses as an artificial fly as bait to catch

fish. For those who participate, the motion of casting

helps exercise muscles that may be weaker after treat-

ment.

But the retreat is more than just physical therapy.

Surrounded by 13 other women at a fly-fishing retreat

Tonia Hanson, 52, a breast cancer survivor,

learned how to fly-fish during a retreat.

— hosted by Casting For Recovery, an organization

focused on improving the quality of life for cancer sur-

vivors — Hanson feels at home. The women are all

cancer survivors who've undergone the same aggres-

sive medical treatments, including double mastecto-

mies and chemotherapy.

"They know what you feel so you don't have to ex-

plain," Hanson said. "It's an awesome feeling."

Kristin Kelly says her cancer treatment was grueling.

The 42-year-old was battling stage three cancer, and

had what she calls the "toughest radiation."

"It was a very lonely process and I felt no one un-

derstood what I was going through," she said.

The women see fly-fishing as a way of casting aside the

pain of their cancer treatment.

"When you catch it and you let it go, that visual of

just letting it go is always hard for me to do," Kelly

said. "It's hard to let go of a bad year."

"It is so hard to explain how peaceful it is to just

have the motion of casting a fly rod."

Up to 7,000 women have participated in Casting

For Recovery's retreats, and it has seen a surge in in-

terest among potential participants.

"A great majority of the women who attend Casting

For Recovery have never attended any sort of conven-

tional support group for their cancer," said Executive

Director Whitney Milhoan. "And so it tells us that this

unconventional approach to healing is really meeting a

need."

And for Hanson, the retreat is a reminder that she's

regained a semblance of her old self before the cancer.

"This is life," she said. "I'm doing more of it."

WANTED: WANTED: WANTED: SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTSSCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTSSCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS For The 2016 For The 2016 For The 2016 --- 2017 Academic Year2017 Academic Year2017 Academic Year

Remind your employees, the scholarship applications are due March 15, 2016. Download the application at duderanchhistory.com.

Raffle Ticket sales are going well! Send your stubs and money to the office. Additional tickets are available.

Thank you for supporting education!

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 6

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 7

90th Anniversary Convention

Please see full agenda here.

Horse Safety & Adaptive First Aid Seminars

Bud’s Drive in Sock Hop Dinner

Employee Development Workshop Vendor Show

Dining and Dancing at the Historical Buffalo Bill’s

Irma Hotel

Dude Ranchers’ Association Marketing Report

Dinner & Educational Trust Auction Night

This years convention is going to be really special. We are very excited about

our line up of events! This year’s hand tooled 90th Anniversary Saddle

(sponsored by Cactus and Companies) is going to be very authentic and

original. Our gift bags will include your very own custom 90th Anniversary

belt buckle from Montana Silversmith. Please fill out the attached

registration form to secure your spot! Please don’t forget to reserve your

accommodations with the Holiday Inn at 307.587.5555. See you in January!

Convention Highlights January 19 - 23, 2016 ~ Holiday Inn, Cody, Wyoming

Introducing the 90th

Round Table Discussions

Marketing to the Millennials

Simple Marketing Strategies

How ‘Social’ Are You Really?

Shopping in Downtown Cody

President’s Banquet at the

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Speakers Employee Relations

David Pollard, Fred Pryor Seminars

Greatest Inheritance

Jon Albert, Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation

Tourism and Family Travel

Rainer Jenss, Family Travel Association

Marketing to Millennials

Nancy Schretter, Beacon Group Holdings, Inc.

Simple Marketing Strategies

Larissa Milne, Travel Writer & Business Consultant

How ‘Social’ Are You Really?

Leah Knepper, French / West / Vaughn

For more information about the individuals speaking

please read the “Speaker Biographies” on the Convention webpage.

Vendors

Leavitt Recreation &

Hospitality Insurance

Ranch Jewelry

Sattler Insurance

REASONS TO ATTEND

“I always take something away

from the convention to enhance

our guest’s ranch experience. Ac-

tually, it’s usually several things.

I also always take away some-

thing will enhance our business

operations.”

--Randy George, long time member

Latigo Ranch, Colorado

REASONS TO ATTEND

“No where else can we get the current trends in the mar-

ket so well explained. Along with the invaluable interac-

tion of our member Ranches. Having been in the business

just three years these meetings provide me with informa-

tion to make our Ranch even better. Thank you again and

see you in Cody next year!

--Kenny Long, new member

Crossed Sabres Ranch, Wyoming

Agape Naturals

Deneen Pottery

Dude Ranch Partnership

Escalante Rugs

Insurance Associates

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 8

90th Anniversary Keynote Speaker

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 9

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 10

Employment Ads Bob Stinson

702.290.4321 ~ hockeypuck1617@aol.com

Position Desired ~ Ranch Hand, Entertainer

My back ground working with cattle is limited to loading them in and out at the

stock show in Denver for two seasons. I've groomed horses, turned them out,

cleaned stalls, and fed. I learn fast and would like my next career to be working

with cattle in some way. (Not necessarily as a cowboy) I'm 48 years old and my

background is in entertainment. I'm a singer and guitar player who has toured

around LA, Nashville, Las Vegas...for the past 25 years.

I'd like to get a CDL and haul cattle at some point, if someone was willing to

train me. I'm looking to make good money and will need accommodations. I do not

have any disabilities, no drugs, no felonies, or DUI's. I'm just a normal guy who

loves the open spaces, hunting, and fishing, and working with livestock. A lot of

my family is in the ranching and farming business, guess I got the bug too! I also

work part time as a freelance writer and photographer with True West and Wild

West magazines. Numerous features in the past and many in the works. Western

history is a huge passion too!

Adam and Janelle Prows

307.690.8609 ~ mustang_enterprise@yahoo.com

Position Desired: Ranch Manager

I am a mature, responsible family man with a wife and a 10 year old daughter. I

am seeking a full-time, year-round management position as a Head Wrangler/

Head Cowboy. I have 15+ years of experience with cattle and horses, and 10+ years

in the Guest Ranch industry. I have extensive experience with horses from starting

colts to finished ranch horses. In addition to riding, using, and training horses, I

am skilled at identifying traits of safe and reliable guest horses and instructing

others in equestrian skills. I am capable of operating and maintaining most vehi-

cles and heavy equipment associated with ranching, as well as possessing knowl-

edge of hay production.

I have an Associate’s Degree in Equine Management and applied management

experience. I have also had training in crisis management and equine safety. I em-

phasize safety and respect for guests and livestock and have my BQA and First

Aid/ CPR Certification. I particularly enjoy the guest ranch environment because I

am energized by opportunities to interact with the guests. My wife also has exten-

sive experience and related education in all aspects of beef cattle production and

horse management and would be available for day work or seasonal interaction.

Meg Walls

410.292.1782 ~ firstrodeo2003@yahoo.com

Position Desired: Horse Program Manager

Honest, hard worker with over 25 yrs in the horse industry, daily cheerful dis-

position, people person, great organization skills, competent rider - herd manage-

ment, (vet tech) and colt starting. I can drive a tractor and I am a very good cook. I

am a self starter, college educated and I can handle many tasks with excellent

management skills. I am not afraid to lend a hand where needed. References avail-

able. I am looking for year round or seasonal work on a guest ranch.

www.duderanch.org/employment.php

is a great resource for employee recruitment

Please call us if you have trouble uploading your available jobs!

September 2015 Ranch Ramblings 11