Wanda Wilcox Shares her Ranch Heritage
Photography by Stu Hoefle
On a recent spring day at the Barron Ranch on the Stillwater River, Wanda Wilcox and her husband, Tiny Starkweather, informed their guests of afternoon plans to haul a trailer of bulls to higher pasture and check those previously hauled to the new location. She would drive the pickup and trailer with the horses, while one of the guests was behind the wheel of the pickup hauling bulls, and a ranch hand, Justin, would follow in the feed truck.
Though the task wouldn’t require five riders, that’s the reality for Wanda and her family who operate a working vacation ranch. Three guests from Oklahoma would experience the chore of hauling bulls and watch as they grazed off into fresh, green pasture. Then, what would be a serene ride along the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains for guests, would be a duty to find the remaining bulls with Tiny and Justin before all headed back to the ranch for a home cooked meal. These visitors enjoyed the realistic ranch vacation so much, this was their second trip to the Barron Ranch.
“We’re not make believe,” Wanda said. “We’re the real deal here, we’re not hiding anything. Everything we do is an experience for them.”
The pioneer spirit which brought her great-great grandfather to Montana from Norway in the late 1800s runs in Wanda’s blood. The fifth generation Montanan embodies the same gumption that enabled her ancestors to settle and survive the past century raising cattle, sheep, and horses.
“Being authentic works best for us. It’s eye opening to some of our guests to see the constant work that needs to be done throughout the day on a working ranch. And, of course, there’s always the things that come up without warning, but people like coming here and experiencing that, especially if they feel like they’ve contributed.”
But as a single mom of two young boys in the 1980s, Wanda soon discovered raising livestock alone wouldn’t cut it. After working as a wrangler at a Red Lodge dude ranch, she had garnered the necessary experience to begin what would become a 38-year career as the founder and operator of Paintbrush Adventures.
Establishing her guest ranch, Wanda initially offered trail rides, hunting trips, multiple day pack trips, and floats on the Stillwater. Soon enough, her success had earned her the title of “Saddle and Paddle Queen.” But about ten years ago, the dynamic of the business took a sharp turn when the family realized tourists wanted to experience an ‘authentic’ working ranch. Now, in addition to outdoor adventures, working ranch vacations are offered.
“People save all their lives to come to a place like this,” Wanda said. “It’s a dream come true for them. I’m happy we can provide that for them.”
Wanda and her husband are joined by her sons, Ty and Troy in the daily operations of the outfit and whether it be raising and breaking horses, guiding hunts and pack trips, or helping out with daily guests, each family member plays a role. As a working ranch with over 100 horses, 120 Angus cattle, 37 Longhorns, and 200 ewes, guests are exposed to the daily realities of ranching during their visit, be it calving, lambing, branding, moving cows, or feeding.
“Being authentic works best for us,” she said. “It’s eye opening to some of our guests to see the constant work that needs to be done throughout the day on a working ranch. And, of course, there’s always the things that come up without warning, but people like coming here and experiencing that, especially if they feel like they’ve contributed.”
Many enjoy the feeling of partaking in a successful day on the ranch so much, they have returned year after year, or even extended their stay.
“I’ve been known to work with people,” Wanda explained. “I’ve turned some guests into employees who have stayed on to help out for a week or two, or even a month. Guests who have visited from Italy, Germany, and England find that they want to stay and experience more of the ranch and end up staying for several weeks.”
It’s these types of visits that make it all worthwhile for Wanda.
“I have traveled the world through the people that have visited here,” Wanda said. “I don’t have to leave here, I can experience their world at the same time they experience ours.”
And, in those extended stays and unique visits, Wanda has met some of her closest friends.
“During the flood last year several of them set up a GoFundMe,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “They sent thousands of dollars to us to help with the cleanup. I couldn’t believe it.”
While running a ranch is hard enough alone, adding the element of opening it to guests can be a challenge. But it’s one that has paid off for Wanda in more ways than one – allowing her the opportunity to make lasting friendships and share the same beauty of the Beartooths, the community of Absarokee and the tranquility of living that satisfies her soul with folks from around the world.
