Page 95 - February Sun Rays

The crew managed to safely transport their entire herd from from Fort Worth, Texas to Miles City, Montana. The above
illustration provides an example of how the men kept their cattle in tow.

A member of Ace’s herd, affectionately known as “Carrot Top.” resident named Bud McCasland. Inspired
by the miniseries “Lonesome Dove,” Mc-
cowboy heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Au- life cowboy Ace Wright didn’t just dream Casland had decided to organize an old-
trey and Hopalong Cassidy crossing the it – he lived it. fashioned cattle drive. Ace said no, he
open range and dreaming that someday hadn’t heard of it, but it sounded like a
we’d ride along with them. While attending a bluegrass music festival once in a lifetime adventure and he want-
Well, Sun City Texas resident and real in Montana, a man came up to Ace and ed to know more. He decided to apply to
asked if he had heard of a Fort Worth take part in the drive, but as the event
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG simply sounded too strange to be true, Ace
didn’t expect to hear anything in return.

The wheels of fate, however, were turn-
ing. Time passed, and eventually a let-
ter arrived informing Ace that he had
been selected as an “official cowhand.”
The drive would run from Texas to Mon-
tana, utilizing only those resources which
would have been available to cowboys in
the 1880s. The organizers of the drive
made extensive preparations: meetings,
route planning and financing all had to
be covered. They suffered a few delays,
but soon, the drive was on.

Ace quit his job and, along with a few
other early hires, started branding the

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