12,000 Acres of Heaven: The Lazy E-L Ranch by Isaac RoseThe Lazy E-L Ranch is south of Billings, Montana in Roscoe (population 106). Your kids will have so much fun there. A typical day at the Ranch includes horseback riding, bear watching, 4-wheelers, feeding goats and chickens, and wonderful food. If you need a vacation here is the best place to go.
“5 stars” — Caleb Rose
“Two thumbs up” — Hannah (age 10), another Ranch guest
Here’s a little bit about the crew at the Ranch.
Jael Kampfe and Gerald Sherman — are married and run the Ranch together (more on Jael on page 2).
Thad and Cliff — Thad is the head cowboy and Cliff’s the head wrangler, and both are amazing riders. Cliff can flip backwards onto a bareback horse! Thad and Cliff win rodeos all the time.
Sean and Melissa — Sean is the head cook and married to Melissa. Sean is Gerald’s son and Melissa helps him in the cookhouse. (Ed. note: they’re really great at their jobs.)
Ceily and Kim (wranglers) — Kim and Ceily would pass as sisters if you asked me and are great riders.
Julia and Charlene — Julia (Jael’s aunt) runs the chicken and goat farm and the vegetable garden. Charlene is an assistant cook and a great bareback rider.
Luke and Jake — both are 15 years old. Luke is Gerald’s son. Jake loves horses. Both weed and cut grass and do many jobs around the ranch for the crew.
Random Thoughts On A Lazy E-L Vacation by Pete Rose, father of IsaacThings I thought about as I flew home from Montana on Saturday night:
...A pink cowboy hat and pink cowboy boots look really cute on a 2-year-old girl.
...There is something that just tastes different (read: better) about farm-fresh eggs, ribeye steaks from cattle raised on the ranch, and beets that get roasted an hour after they were pulled from the ground.
...There’s a lot to be said for a vacation in a place where you turn on your Blackberry and see the words, “No Service.”...I dare you to ride a horse for two hours and not have the Bonanza theme song running through your head.
...It’s kind of cool to hear things like “loosen the reins” or “get back on the horse” and realize people aren’t using figures of speech.
...It’s nice to be awakened not by alarm clocks, but by roosters and sunshine.
...I was seconds away from convincing Isaac to try Rocky Mountain Oysters (if you don’t know, ask). Maybe next time...
...People rush around way too fast in Los Angeles.
...You feel a great deal of pride when you watch your kids do stuff you wouldn’t have had the guts to do at their age, like ride horses or go looking for bears.
...The next time I think I’ve had a busy day, I’m going to remember how hard people work at the Lazy E-L Ranch.
Up Close and Personal by Isaac RoseJael Kampfe, the proud director of the Lazy E-L Ranch, has run it for seven years; her family has owned if for over 100 years.
She mostly teaches little kids but still is an excellent horseback rider. She is 39, and with Gerald she has 6 happy grandchildren, some of whom live and help out around the ranch. She has 2 dogs, Huck and Doc. The ranch has around 7 dogs.She is very energetic and is one of the nicest people you will meet. She is the boss of the Crew and they move cattle for a living (she’s also the boss of that).
Ride Em' Cowboy: A Night at the Cody Night Rodeo by Isaac Rose
The Cody Nite Rodeo goes 7 nights a week with roping, steer wrestling, under-age-12 rodeo and much more. Sometimes the Lazy E-L Ranch cowboys enter.
When I went there on Wednesday night, Billy Buchanan, a Wrangler for the Ranch, entered and won fourth place.
During the rodeo, 100 assorted kids (including myself) got to chase three steers that had ribbons tied to their tails. The kids who got the ribbons won prizes.The Rodeo is located in Cody, Wyoming.