My Ranch, Too

A Wyoming Memoir

By: Mary Budd Flitner

Narrated by: Cindy Piller

For many outsiders, the word “ranching” conjures romantic images of riding on horseback through rolling grasslands while living and working against a backdrop of breathtaking mountain vistas. In this absorbing memoir of life in the Wyoming high country, Mary Budd Flitner offers a more authentic glimpse into the daily realities of ranch life - and what it takes to survive in the ranching world.

Some of Flitner’s recollections are humorous and lighthearted. Others take a darker turn. A modern-day rancher with decades of experience, Mary has dealt with the hardships and challenges that come with this way of life. She’s survived harsh conditions like the “winter of 50 below” and economic downturns that threatened her family’s livelihood. She’s also wrestled with her role as a woman in a profession that doesn’t always treat her as equal. But for all its challenges, Flitner has also savored ranching’s joys, including the ties that bind multiple generations of families to the land.

My Ranch, Too begins with the story of her great-grandfather, Daniel Budd, who in 1878 drove a herd of cattle into Wyoming Territory and settled his family in an area where conditions seemed favorable. Four generations later, Mary grew up on this same portion of land, learning how to ride horseback and take care of livestock. When she married Stan, she simply moved from one ranch to another, joining the Flitner family’s Diamond Tail Ranch in Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin.

The Diamond Tail is not Mary’s alone to run, as she is quick to acknowledge. Everybody pitches in, even the smallest of children. But when Mary takes the responsibility of gathering a herd of cattle or makes solo rounds at the crack of dawn to check on the livestock, we have no doubt that this is indeed her ranch, too.

The book is published by University of Oklahoma Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2018 University of Oklahoma Press (P)2019 Redwood Audiobooks

Interesting Wyoming Ranching History

Really enjoyed this memoir. Provided interesting history and information on the area I grew up in.

True Grit Story of the Life of a Ranch Family

A fascinating account from a ranching wife's perspective of a rancher's legacy , and the determination, dedication and hard work it takes to keep it going. Ranching is not for whimps.

Made me want to visit Wyoming!

I received this audiobook free at my request and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a great memoir about ranch life, with great characters, and true love for the land behind the author's words. As I put in y heading, this really makes me want to go visit Wyoming. The Cindy Piller did an excellent job, and her narration really portrays the passion of Flitner's story. I think this is one that I'll probably listen to again, as it really spoke to me. I think everyone would enjoy this.

Inspirational

Rich story and great narration!

This book feels like stories told around a campfire by a woman who lived a rich and meaningful life on the range.

Fun and well done.

Great Listen

My Ranch, Too A Wyoming Memoir
: Mary Budd Flitner

This is a nice Memoir about ranch life in Wyoming. Mary shares memories through adulthood. She shows strong female partners that aren't afraid to get down and dirty. I enjoyed this book very much. I spent my first eleven years on the other side of the state. I was a town girl, but had friends that were ranch kids.



The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Cindy Piller gave an excellent perfotmance. It felt like she was telling her own story.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
My Ranch, Too A Wyoming Memoir
: Mary Budd Flitner

Her Ranch, Her Life

I enjoyed this book very much. The author has done a wonderful job painting word pictures of her long and satisfying ranch and family lives. She describes her life experiences - from small, daily tasks to major excursions through ranch country. She’s generous in sharing her thoughts about her way of life and its future in Wyoming.

Cindy Piller continues to grow as a narrator. I was so entertained by her reading that I forgot from time to time that she was not describing her own life. She embodies the author’s voice. If I were to meet the author, I would expect her to sound just like Cindy Piller.

A New Appreciation

As a city dweller driving through Wyoming, I have experienced being stopped on the road for a herd of sheep to pass by. However, until I listened to this memoir of a lifetime of ranch life, I had almost no understanding of what I was seeing. I thoroughly enjoyed the memories shared by Mary Budd Flitner of her life as a rancher and as a woman. I gained an entirely different perspective and new appreciation of rural western life. I highly recommend this heartfelt and extremely informative book.

Ranches-Cowboys and Legacies

I’m not a cowboy but I am a ranchers wife. Mary crafted her stories to paint a picture of everyday cowboy life and described all the problem solving skills used to survive. Cindy Piller developed the rich characters with wonderful voice inflections and built depth into the story. Thank you for allowing me to share this story, My husband has helped gather at Castle Gardens and will enjoy listening to stories of other roundups.