As the country’s farmers and ranchers reach retirement age and their replacements dwindle, a program has sprung up to match beginners with established agricultural know-how.

In 1862, gold was discovered in nearby Grasshopper Creek, and Bannack was founded for the prospectors who followed. The population boomed, and two years later, the thriving town became the first territorial capital of Montana. Within a few years, though, gold was found elsewhere in the region, and many who had set up camp in Bannack packed up and tried their luck elsewhere.

Within an hour’s drive of Blanding, Utah, you can be riding in Colorado, Arizona, or New Mexico. The prominent geographic feature looking east is Sleeping Ute Mountain, a gorgeous landmark located one state over in southwestern Colorado and one of four major landmarks trail riders in this area use for navigation. To the south lie the Chuska Mountains in Arizona.

The Black Hills of South Dakota offer a beautiful place, a magical place—a riding place. The ponderosa pines, so tightly woven through the hills, give these hills their name. The wonderful people we met gave us a renewed sense of spirit and a heightened regard for the land and its history.

Times are surely changing in the Lone Star State. Texas grub used to mean chili, barbeque, or Tex Mex, or a messy combo of all three. Nowadays, these old favorites still reign supreme, but more elegant fare is redefining the way people think about Texas cuisine.

The chill in the autumn air, the first sign of winter's inevitable return in Utah's mountains-that's our annual cue to pack up the horses for one last warm-weather adventure. This year, the cooler temperatures had our aching ol' bodies practically begging for some quality time on sun-drenched trails.