TF179 | Jefferson Island Ranch
A note from the Task Force Director.
TF 179 was a true Montana Ranch experience. The Jefferson Island Ranch sits just East of Whitehall, up against the Tobacco Root Mountains, and offers everything one would expect to see here in Montana.
Day 1:
Day one started with horsemanship at the barn, where recipients met their horses for the week and learned to brush, saddle, and bridle. We then took each recipient out for an hour ride so they could get comfortable and ask any questions they may have. Following a big lunch with the ranch hands, we took the recipients over to the arena for bulldogging practice. I explained that this is the one event in rodeo where an individual event has such a team feel. Each man is rooting for another, all the while trying to best his time to win. This group of men threw themselves into a sport, completely foreign to them, and loved every second of it. The day ended with a swim in the creek, fly fishing, and trap shooting.
Day 2:
Day two brought some weather, as the rain was on and off all day. We started at the gun range, sighting in a couple new 17 HMRs and a few long-range guns as well. We took the side-by-sides up to the back of the ranch to check on pairs with the ranch’s cow boss. We saw a few herds of elk and deer and got to appreciate how big this country really is. The guys kept commenting on how one can’t really appreciate the scale of the landscape when looking up from the valley floor.
Day 3:
Was a big day on the ranch. We were in the saddle by 6:00 a.m. and rode out to gather 100 pairs. We branded the calves in the morning while it was cool, then vaccinated and branded the cows in the afternoon. A full day of work and a long-lasting experience. The boys jumped right in, giving shots, wrestling calves, running the irons, etc. They embraced the work and found an appreciation for what it took to complete the task. We then trailed everything back to pasture and ended the day fishing the pond for rainbows.
Day 4:
A truly special day as Beartrap Outfitters took us over towards Ennis, MT to ride into a mountain lake for a day of fishing. A 2-hour ride in, and the guys did awesome. Once there, the rods got strung up, fire built, and lunch was served. There’s no better way to show off what MT has to offer than what we did that day. Snow-capped mountains while sitting in a saddle on a clear, sunny day. It was the perfect scene for decompression and camaraderie.
There are no words to describe how appreciative we all were for the folks at Jefferson Island Ranch for making this happen. It provides an experience offered nowhere else within BSB. It combines the mountains and river-bottom scenery with a western lifestyle experience that no one will soon forget. These recipients earned every memory they took from this place. They embraced the place and the process as well as any other group I’ve had out. Thanks to them…we are all better men for it.
Sincerely,
Ryan Elliott
TF179 Director
Volunteers to thank
Ryan Elliott, Task Force Director
Dusty Daws, Assistant Task Force Director
Trae Mcinroe
Patriots to thank
Jefferson Island Ranch
Beartrap Outfitters
East Slope Outdoors
Nikki
Shawn Hertz
Stone Glacier
Welcome Bag Patriots: Alpine Dentistry, Anthem Snacks, FHF Gear, Graplrz, LMNT, Melissa Ferraro, onX Maps, River's Edge West, & Wild Society Coffee.
“When Big Sky Bravery first started reaching out to my organization, I had heard nothing but good things. Every person who came back couldn't stop talking about the experience and how much it meant to them. I believed them, but if I'm being honest, I never thought it was something I needed. I didn't consider myself broken by any means or in need of a reset. I figured there were plenty of people who deserved that opportunity more than I did.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
I've been working since I was 12 years old. I joined the Army at 17, and before long I found myself in leadership positions while I was still growing up myself. Over the last 20-plus years, between deployments, work, raising a family, graduate school, and always taking care of the next mission, I think I just got used to operating at 100% all the time. Looking back now, I realize a lot of us are so used to being burned out that we don't even recognize it anymore. It just becomes normal.
I didn't realize how much I was carrying until I finally put it down for a week.
That's what Big Sky Bravery gave me without ever trying to.
We fished, rode horses, rounded up cattle, branded and vaccinated cattle, tagged calves, wrestled steers, shot guns, rode side-by-sides, cooked out, and spent every day doing something different. I think that's what made it so special. The things they had us doing didn't let me think about work, personnel issues, projects, emails, or everything waiting for me back home. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about the next problem that needed to be solved. I was just enjoying where I was and the people I was with.
The volunteers were some of the best Americans I've ever met. They welcomed us like family from day one and expected nothing in return. They reminded me that there are still some truly great people in this world.
The men of TF 179 quickly became brothers. We laughed, we shared stories, and we had conversations about life that I'll never forget. We talked about being husbands, fathers, teammates, and leaders. I learned something from every one of those men, and I'm a better person because of it. We still talk to each other often.
I cried. I belly laughed for the first time in a long time. I felt like a teenager again just doing fun things with my friends. I honestly didn't realize how much I needed that.
The biggest impact didn't happen in Montana. It happened when I realized I'm more appreciative of my wife and daughters than I've ever been. I value my time so much more now. I've realized I was holding on to things that no longer served me, and I've been able to put them to bed without resentment. I'm more present at home, more grateful for the life I've been given, and I truly believe I'm a better husband, father, teammate, and leader because of that week.
If you're reading this and thinking this opportunity should go to someone who needs it more because you're doing fine, I get it. That's exactly what I thought.
The truth is, many of us have spent so many years carrying responsibility that we forget what it feels like to set it down, even for a little while.
To everyone at Big Sky Bravery, the volunteers, the donors, and everyone behind the scenes, THANK YOU. What you've created is something really special. It changed me in ways I never expected, and I know my family is better because of it.
I arrived thinking I didn't need Big Sky Bravery.
I left realizing I did.
I left better than I showed up.”
-TF179 Recipient
“Service in the SOF community places people out of the ordinary world into the extraordinary.
Members of the community often feel isolated, disconnected, and even discarded when back in the ordinary between adventures. BSB is living proof that great Americans still exist in the ordinary world. They do not need to understand or have similar lived experiences to relate; they simply need to have Love for them.
To be in service to one’s country is a noble calling. To serve those who serve, similarly quietly in the shadows, not for notoriety, fame, or glory, is transcendent.
To the men and women of BSB:
Thank you for your time, efforts, and energy. You will never fully understand the impact one week in the mountains can have…with people who Love them.
Luke 12:48.”
-TF179 Recipient
“BSB,
Continue the incredible work you provide for the SOF community. Being apart of TF179 was the first reset that didn’t feel like I was just checking a box. Throughout the week, I was still challenged physically and put into an environment where it was comfortable to open up more than what I am used to. The planning and effort were noticed from day one by the BSB team and how serious they take their responsibilities to provide for each SOF member. Throughout the week, during events, work was not on my mind, and I didn’t have to worry about the next deployment, task, or training requirement. It was awesome sharing this experience with other professionals who understand the day-to-day life of being an Operator. Having the focus on small groups created a bond between each participant and volunteer that I know I can count on in the future if ever needed. BSB, don’t change what you do when it comes to the focus behind this program. Continue to support our communities because you make a difference.”
-TF179 Recipient
