Montana News

Montana cowboys gather in Great Falls

Posted: Jan 25, 2013 7:11 PM by Beth Beechie - MTN News
Updated: Jan 25, 2013 7:11 PM

GREAT FALLS - The Montana Cowboy's Association is a club that's deemed Big Sky ranchers, ranch-hands, and even saddle-makers as true cowboys.

For 75 years, members of the club have made their way back to the Cowboy's Bar in Great Falls for an annual get-together.

Boyd Wolverson joined the club back in 1964, when you needed a member sponsor to join; Wolverson's sponsor was his father.

Wolverson said, "It was a heritage. Just sitting, enjoying conversation with the guys that belong. I've never met one I didn't like. They're all real good people."

Allan Purfley remembers the day he found out he could be a Montana cowboy: "I always thought you it was a private club. That you had to be invited to join. Then I find out I didn't have to! I could come in and do it, so I did."

Almost all the members say that each year their reunion is something they look forward to, seeing old and new friends, and also for what they take away from the convention: the stories.

John Bink chuckled, "Well there's a lot of different guys and you don't see them all the time. It was an idea to get all these guys in and renew old acquaintances and talk about how many horse wrecks you had and how many bones got broke."

And while some of the cowboys compare scars with old and newer members, what they all cherish is the tradition and honor of being a cowboy.

And some seasoned members hope that the young guns who've recently joined keep this fraternity of cowboys in line with the morals the club was founded on.

Bill Steele said, "Is there still going to be someone here that'll carry on? What this country, here in Montana, was all about 100 years ago? And you can't worry about it. You can just hope that will all take place and this is the best place to start."

The Cowboy's Bar is located at 311 3rd Street NW.