Essays from West of 98: Strenuous Living
Almost five years ago, I happened across a burgeoning podcast called “Mountain and Prairie.” Creator and host Ed Roberson interviews a variety of guests—conservationists, ranchers, artists, authors, athletes, and more—about the American West, its impact on them, and vice versa. Ed and I connected via social media and quickly became friends due to our shared love for important topics like Theodore Roosevelt and “Road House.”
Last fall, Ed announced plans for the “Strenuous Life Retreat,” a weeklong adventure in September 2022 at the Zapata Ranch in southern Colorado, adjacent to the stunning Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. I raced to sign up and snagged a spot before the retreat quickly sold out. That’s where I was the last week and why I took a brief social media/newsletter hiatus.
Ed based this retreat on the principles espoused by Theodore Roosevelt in his famed 1899 speech, “The Strenuous Life”:
“I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph.”
Ed has adopted these core principles of purpose, physical effort, and mental effort as his operating system (read more here). He credits it with changing the course of his life. If you know me personally, you know that mental effort is a favorite pursuit, often to a fault. I try to act with purpose, but I am also easily distracted. Then there’s physical effort. It’s an understatement to call me “not naturally athletic.” Ed has climbed mountains and run ultramarathons. I…have not. A few weeks before the retreat, my wife and I were on a short hike that left me out of breath. I told her the retreat might kill me. I briefly considered dropping out. I was enthused by the intellectual aspects but intimidated by the physical itinerary. Thankfully, my wife (correctly) pointed out how much I would regret not attending.
I have much more to say about this retreat, the lessons learned, and the experiences gained. Stay tuned because I plan to discuss it on an upcoming podcast episode of my own. Apart from my wife, Ed has been the chief encourager of dedicating my efforts to podcasting. In the past year, Mountain and Prairie has become so successful that Ed has turned it into his primary business. If there was ever a time to properly devote myself to the West of 98 Podcast, this is it.
The retreat was also wildly instructive to my ongoing study of local economies. The Zapata Ranch is operated by Ranchlands, a ranching operation on the forefront of agriculture in the American West. Ranchlands recently launched a new podcast (hosted by Ed), so I encourage you to listen to their story in more detail. It is an inspiring tale of creativity, perseverance, and stewardship. Ranchlands founder Duke Phillips III describes the business’s main product as conservation: they manage land to its best outcomes, rather than fitting the land to a pre-determined use. Ranchlands runs both cattle and bison. They offer hunting, educational tours, and agritourism. They support incredible artisans and artists who market their goods through the Ranchlands Mercantile. At the Zapata, a one-time golf course has become a splendid lodge with relaxing accommodations, horseback riding, education, and world-class meals. My five days at the Zapata led to some of the best and most interesting meals I’ve eaten in my life. It wasn’t just high quality; it was also the food selection. They serve their own beef and bison alongside selections from the ranch garden and a host of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other goods grown by neighboring farms.
I went to Colorado looking for an experience in strenuous living. I found that but I also found a ranching operation that attracts visitors from the world over and helps them experience the best of the local food economy in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. That’s a win for Ranchlands and a win for all those local farmers.
I am overloaded with inspiring examples of local economies that are growing, working, and transforming rural places across America. Look past the negativity in the world. You’ll find, like me, that there’s an abundance of inspiration and optimism.
James Decker is the Mayor of Stamford, Texas and the creator of the West of 98 website and podcast. Contact James and subscribe to these essays at westof98.substack.com and subscribe to West of 98 wherever podcasts are found.