Her Own Way

Photo submitted by Colleen Wudel

I am a retired rancher. My husband and I custom grazed steers in central Alberta, and he taught ranch roping clinics for many years. In my mid-forties, I decided I was finished being ground crew at brandings and learned how to rope. The first branding I roped involved longhorns. They are incredibly quick; it felt like trying to rope a rabbit. The images I am including are from that same ranch, taken several years after my first time roping at their branding.

My husband passed away a couple of years ago, and I have since retired to the town of Cochrane. However, a significant part of my identity remains rooted in knowing that I could hold my own and do my part at any branding.