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THE DIAMOND TAIL RANCH
By Steve Todd, CA Director of Marketing & Public Relations

The wives would stay in Vail while the CA members and guests traveled further north to the Colorado – Wyoming border to the Diamond Tail ranch.

This would be the third time Ray, Sally, Renée and Mike Duncan, and Maggie and Bill Rey have hosted the annual gathering of the Cowboy Artists of America, the most recent previous ride being the millennium ride of 2000.

The Diamond Tail ranch is located in a picturesque high-mountain valley within the Medicine Bow mountain range in the far northern reaches of Colorado.

The Laramie River flows north through the center of the ranch and provided evidence of the good wet spring in the mountains that would ensure plenty of grass for the duration of the summer

The Diamond Tail Ranch is home to over 1,000 head of buffalo, raised on the ranch to supply the growing demand for the lean high quality protein sought by consumers. The buffalo calves are weaned and raised right on the ranch. (More information is available at DiamondTailRanch.com)

Weather of any kind is possible with the headquarters at 8,100 feet elevation. Joe Beeler, his son Jody and the Duncans were staying close to the fireplace for the three days preceding the ride while the weather varied between cold rain and snow flurries. But the weather would break with bright blue skies on Tuesday, June 22 when CA members and guests began rolling in from all around the country. Handshakes and bear hugs were in good supply as each new arrival was greeted and welcomed by those already at the ranch.

The first order of business is to locate your bunk. There were plenty of choices for the sleeping accommodations. You might find an empty bunk in the bunkhouse with the rest of the ranch hands, or you might find a spare mattress in one of the tents pitched in the meadow just outside the main meeting-dining room tent.

Many of the CA members brought and pitched their cowboy teepees in the meadow. A few of the senior members with “connections” got bunks in the famed “Rat Palace”. Needless to say, no one would have any trouble sleeping in the clear mountain air, after the fine meals and campfire music and musings.

Meals are always a favorite time during the trail ride. First off, the food is fantastic. The catering crew always has plenty of good food ready for the cowboys, guests and ranch crew.

This year the crew was from Durango, Colorado. There’s plenty of time to visit, and there’s always some stories of trail rides past. It’s just plain good fun and fellowship.