It was never a goodbye

About five years ago, the editors at American Cowboy magazine penned a thank you to our audience as we shuttered our print product. “It’s been our loyal readers,” we said, “who have been the lifeblood of this publication. It has been a privilege and an honor to represent you and this way of life. Telling your stories has truly been our greatest pleasure.”

Today, much of the AC team remains a part of the Equine Network, though we’ve committed ourselves to other ventures and brands. But, the magic we made putting AC to print continues to be made:

Meet Ron

Ron Blevins is a 28-year veteran of the Marines and the Air Force and Army Reserves. In 2015, he read our article, “Warriors to Ride the River With,” which inspired him to become an active participant in the Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program, operated by the Semper Fi & America’s Fund.

(The same story also inspired last year’s award-winning film, “The Drive to Brotherhood.”)

This past weekend, in 2022, Blevins accompanied Col. John Mayer—the program’s foreman—to dinner at a ranch in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he ended up a guest at the table of the story’s author, AC editor G.R. Schiavino. A day later, Blevins and Schiavino saddled up together to gather the herd of Schiavino’s fiancé, who works on the ranch on which they’re living. 

JMHP member Ron Blevins (right) joined author G.R. Schiavino (center) and friend Leslie Bailey (left) on a Saturday gather in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Courtesy image.

Riding for the brand

“It’s going on eight years since I met Col. Mayer, who introduced me to the Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program,” said Schiavino, who is now an editor for The Team Roping Journal and The Breakaway Roping Journal. “Never did I ever imagine that story would have the impact it’s had, or that I’d get to break bread and ride out with the people it has impacted, like Ron. I won’t even try to imagine what other opportunities it might create, but I think there’s more to come.”

The print magazine might be dead, but AC‘s writers and editors are still riding for the brand; you just can’t see them from the road—yet.

Read More About the JMHP and The Fund:

FINALE ROPER INVITES VETERAN GROUP TO COWBOY ON ARIZONA RANCH on The Team Roping Journal

THE WARRIOR RIDES AGAIN on American Cowboy

COWBOY-ERA MAKER: COTTON ELLIOT BIT AND SPURS on The Team Roping Journal

“DRIVE TO BROTHERHOOD” TEASER on Horse&Rider

Share this:

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

American Cowboy is the cultural chronicler of the West, covering history and heritage, travel and events, art and entertainment, food and fashion delivered to your inbox once a month.
Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Articles