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The Cowboy Way: Seasons of a Montana Ranch – A Journalist's Enthralling Account of a Vanishing Way of Life
In February of his forty-fourth year, journalist David McCumber signed on as a hand on rancher Bill Galt's expansive Birch Creek spread in Montana. The Cowboy Way is an enthralling and intensely personal account of his year spent in open country—a book that expertly weaves together past and present into a vibrant and colorful tapestry of a vanishing way of life. At once a celebration of a breathtaking land both dangerous and nourishing, and a clear-eyed appreciation of the men—and women—who work it, David McCumber's remarkable story forever alters our long-held perceptions of the "Roy Rogers" cowboy with real-life experiences and hard economic truths. In February of his forty-fourth year, journalist David McCumber signed on as a hand on rancher Bill Galt's expansive Birch Creek spread in Montana. The Cowboy Way is an enthralling and intensely personal account of his year spent in open country—a book that expertly weaves together past and present into a vibrant and colorful tapestry of a vanishing way of life. At once a celebration of a breathtaking land both dangerous and nourishing, and a clear-eyed appreciation of the men—and women—who work it, David McCumber's remarkable story forever alters our long-held perceptions of the "Roy Rogers" cowboy with real-life experiences and hard economic truths.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 29, 2011
I was a ranch hand in Wyoming before moving east.This is the only book I've read that comes close to ignoring the "romance" and covers what the day to day is really like. We didn't do everything like it's done in this book, but this is the one book I tell friends to go read when they ask what modern ranch work is like.
January 6, 2015
What is it that makes me want to learn the up close details about other professions? I think some of us enjoy learning about people's life passions, and you wouldn't really want to continue to work as a cowboy/ranch hand unless you had a passion for it. This book was fun, engaging and realistic. I live in the county next door to the ranch in the book, and it was good to read that despite the unending hard work of ranching, the beauty of Montana in winter and summer, can still pack its own punch. Thank you, David!
June 22, 2020
Journalist David McCumber’s The Cowboy Way: Seasons of a Montana Ranch is
a memoir of the author’s year learning what it means to be a real cowboy on an expansive cattle ranch. Bill Galt, owner of Birch Creek Ranch, agrees to hire David McCumber, 44, for one year with the understanding that he perform all the regular duties of any hired hand.
Montana’s Birch Creek Ranch comprises of 64,000-plus acres of deeded and leased land that supports beef cattle, hay and grain fields. The land is mountainous with rolling pastures, and creeks that support the ranch’s water systems.
During the year David performs all the grunt work expected of a newly-hired ranch hand. Immediately upon arrival he wrestles with huge bales of hay, flaking off feed for cattle. Although he’d thought he was in pretty good shape, his body tells him differently, but he keeps at it. As the seasons change he does it all—calving, feeding, fixing fences, irrigating, haying, moving cattle, branding and vaccinating. He fights weeds and fire. He helps maintain the numerous vehicles required for daily operation. By the end of the year he’s lost thirty pounds and several inches from his waist.
Much of what David does is dirty and physically-demanding work, but occasionally he has that perfect “cowboy day”: riding horseback gathering cattle, appreciating the exquisite beauty of this vast land under perfect skies. He also works through freezing conditions in the snow, slogs through mud during the spring thaw, and toils under Montana’s blazing summer sun. Along the way, he describes the beauty of what he smells, sees and hears–the bracing aroma of horse, leather and hay, the herds of elk, birds calling for their mates, sun shimmering off the side of the mountain. He learns to appreciate the strength and know-how of a good cattle horse.
McComber gives us personal views of how a ranch this size works, a look at the kind of person who runs a ranch of this caliber, and of the many men and women he works with. He observes tempers flaring, people who are dedicated to their work, and slackers (who don’t last long). He realizes how hard the 12-14 hour days, with rarely a day off, are on families and marriages. He shares with the reader not only the often dangerous and gritty work, but also the satisfaction of a job well done. The author talks about the economics of running a ranch this size and the necessity of sound business practices.
I very much enjoyed The Cowboy Way and reading this journalist’s experience of a year in a cowboy’s life on a modern cattle ranch.
a memoir of the author’s year learning what it means to be a real cowboy on an expansive cattle ranch. Bill Galt, owner of Birch Creek Ranch, agrees to hire David McCumber, 44, for one year with the understanding that he perform all the regular duties of any hired hand.
Montana’s Birch Creek Ranch comprises of 64,000-plus acres of deeded and leased land that supports beef cattle, hay and grain fields. The land is mountainous with rolling pastures, and creeks that support the ranch’s water systems.
During the year David performs all the grunt work expected of a newly-hired ranch hand. Immediately upon arrival he wrestles with huge bales of hay, flaking off feed for cattle. Although he’d thought he was in pretty good shape, his body tells him differently, but he keeps at it. As the seasons change he does it all—calving, feeding, fixing fences, irrigating, haying, moving cattle, branding and vaccinating. He fights weeds and fire. He helps maintain the numerous vehicles required for daily operation. By the end of the year he’s lost thirty pounds and several inches from his waist.
Much of what David does is dirty and physically-demanding work, but occasionally he has that perfect “cowboy day”: riding horseback gathering cattle, appreciating the exquisite beauty of this vast land under perfect skies. He also works through freezing conditions in the snow, slogs through mud during the spring thaw, and toils under Montana’s blazing summer sun. Along the way, he describes the beauty of what he smells, sees and hears–the bracing aroma of horse, leather and hay, the herds of elk, birds calling for their mates, sun shimmering off the side of the mountain. He learns to appreciate the strength and know-how of a good cattle horse.
McComber gives us personal views of how a ranch this size works, a look at the kind of person who runs a ranch of this caliber, and of the many men and women he works with. He observes tempers flaring, people who are dedicated to their work, and slackers (who don’t last long). He realizes how hard the 12-14 hour days, with rarely a day off, are on families and marriages. He shares with the reader not only the often dangerous and gritty work, but also the satisfaction of a job well done. The author talks about the economics of running a ranch this size and the necessity of sound business practices.
I very much enjoyed The Cowboy Way and reading this journalist’s experience of a year in a cowboy’s life on a modern cattle ranch.
May 7, 2020
Did not want this book to end. Being from the west, I loved the intimate look at working on a cattle ranch, the geography, the mountains, vistas, waterways and the local lore. This was not about being on a horse “punching cows” or a trail drive. This was cleaning out the shop, shoveling out the cow muck, repairing fences (LOTS of it), baling/stacking hay, irrigation streams, building roads, constantly fixing the vehicles. And, once in a while, hop on a horse and find some cows. Long days, hard work….how do they do it? The author, fortunately, kept all politics out of his writing…so unusual nowadays (seems like everyone wants to pile on the left or right). Just good writing and descriptions of what he was asked to do and how the crew performed their duties, day after day…a whole year’s worth of “adventures”. This is not a “spend the entire night” reading it book. This is to be savored. I would read a chapter or two, then put it down, rest and pick it up at night before bed, or take it out on the deck in the afternoon. Really nice, nice book.
May 24, 2024
loved his style of writing, the poems in between chapters. he has a really nice way of putting things that i suspect we've all tried to articulate at one time but couldn't figure out how.
like the difference between the time when you're new somewhere and everything you see is so unfamiliar and big and scary and you wonder how you will come to understand it-- and the time when you realize you've learned what you thought you never would and you look around and everything is so familiar like you've understood it forever and you have memories attached to tools and you know how to build a dam and fix fence and milk cows.
at first it was really fun to be privy to every single detail of this guy's experience working on a farm every day but it did get tiring by the end. overall would highly recommend to anyone, especially if you're into manual labor and farming stuff.
like the difference between the time when you're new somewhere and everything you see is so unfamiliar and big and scary and you wonder how you will come to understand it-- and the time when you realize you've learned what you thought you never would and you look around and everything is so familiar like you've understood it forever and you have memories attached to tools and you know how to build a dam and fix fence and milk cows.
at first it was really fun to be privy to every single detail of this guy's experience working on a farm every day but it did get tiring by the end. overall would highly recommend to anyone, especially if you're into manual labor and farming stuff.
September 10, 2023
I’m not sure if I can put a finger on why I enjoyed this book. In the beginning, I didn’t quite understand where the story was going. I did end up enjoying it though. It was a realistic look at what modern day ranch life is like, which had a grounding effect when considering stories of the Wild West or the TV show Yellowstone.
I wouldn’t read it again, but I would read more of his work.
I wouldn’t read it again, but I would read more of his work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
A fascinating journal of a journalist's year-long stay working on a Montana ranch. The author's descriptions of people and places together with the tasks he's given over the course of the four seasons is wonderfully informative and interesting. Also, the narrative is well-paced and it frequently reads like the best fiction. But it's not, it's fact. Which is why I love this book.
May 23, 2023
This is a really good book, it's written from a divorcee who left everything to go work on a ranch for a year. His descriptions of the day-to-day life, and the history of the ranch is quite enthralling.
May 5, 2020
A well-written and engaging account offering great insight into the life of a working contemporary cowhand. It's not romantic, but there are moments of grace that make all the hard work worth it.
January 5, 2014
i have always wondered how a ranch is run. Now I know! And what a treat.... it is all about the famous Galt Ranch which is in Meagher county next to Broadwater where I grew up, and still spend my summers, in Montana. David McCumber wrote this in 1999 so I am sure Bill Galt has a few more high tech devices at his fingertips these days. Loved learning about the endless cycle of fence repair because much of the damage is done by elk and other wildlife.... never crossed my mind that that is a factor. Calving in winter and shipping days.... loved the way he always was hoping that he would be one of the guys on horseback instead of on the four-wheelers. I have a new huge appreciation for what my rancher friends do every day of the year. AND when David sees something beautiful in nature, his writing is delightful. If you like the outdoors and always wondered what it would be like to spend almost everyday out in it..... working, you will enjoy this good book. Amazing.
May 4, 2014
This was really two books. One was about the life of a modern cowboy/ranch hand; that life is rather dull, but the author did a good job of breathing life and vitality into it. Not exactly thrilling, but one can see why he enjoyed it. The other was a study of masculinity on the ranch, and it's depressing. All of these men who spend all day, literally every day, together and seem to be completely unable to relate to each other except through insults and anger. I suspect that's just the products of their culture, but I can't help thinking that life on the ranch would be about 10 times more pleasant if the people working there actually gave a bit of thought toward how they could connect to each other better.
August 29, 2010
There have been times when I've thought of chucking it all and running away with the circus or joining a dude ranch but then reality sets in and I remember that I'm afraid of heights and horses. McCumber did chuck it all for a year and brings us into his experiences on a ranch in Montana where he learned to rope, ride, pull a calf, befriend a llama, bale hay and work from sun up to sun down (among other adventures). I'm anxious to read more of McCumber's work as he's one of those writers that you'd just love to sit around a campfire or share a cup of coffee with.
July 11, 2014
Good book though I felt it was a bit too long; not necessarily at the end, but throughout. Was a great look at ranch life but I grew up on a small farm and even worked for neighboring farms as a teenager, therefore I know how to fence and didn't think we needed to talk about every single story of fencing on the ranch for a hundred or so pages. I think I just got a bit bored. All in all a good read.
August 4, 2010
Glad I read it.
November 20, 2011
Good, but it pulls punches. Still has it's funny, self-deprecating moments.
December 26, 2011
Fascination with the west, ranching, working outside were satisfied by this book.
March 21, 2012
Read my review at my blog.
September 25, 2012
Kind of dry, but I learned a lot about "ranch life."
May 26, 2013
I loved this memoir. Didn't want it to end.
December 12, 2014
It was a good book noone in my school has heard of the book or the movie. I will recommend this book
January 29, 2013
This is an excellent book! Great writing and realistic descriptions of life in the west
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews