TF119 | Whitehall, MT
A note from the Task Force Director…
TF 119 was a unique task for BSB. We set out to put these recipients on a true working cattle ranch and let them partake in the western way of life. The Jefferson Island Ranch and all the folks that work there did not disappoint. The ranch sits just East of Whitehall up against the Tobacco Root Mountains and offers everything one would expect to see here in Montana.
Day one started with horsemanship at the barn where recipients met their horses for the week and learned to saddle and ride. Following a big lunch with the ranch hands we had a surprise for the recipients. I said ”I know we’ve talked a lot about decompressing and relaxing the rest of the week but right now I need you to have an open mind, a great attitude, and a long-sleeve shirt because we are going to take it up a notch”. You could hear the wheels turning as we drove to the arena. As we crested the hill 2 of the boys helping us this week were bulldogging a steer. As the cowboy dropped from his horse to the steer at 40 mph the comment from the back was “Ah hell no”. We put the recipients through a bulldogging practice, and everyone got to tip a couple steers over. This was a high-intensity activity that was well outside their normal environment and created an experience they’ll never forget.
Day two was a big day. We were in the saddle by 5:00 a.m. and rode out to gather 200 head of cows and 200 calves. We vaccinated and tagged the cows then spent the afternoon branding the calves. A full day of work and a long-lasting experience. The boys jumped right in cutting tags, wresting calves, running the irons, etc. They embraced the work and the heat that day, which made that evening one of the most memorable. After a day like that when you finally sit on a porch, overlooking the river, with a drink amongst friends…there’s no place one would rather be.
On the third day we took a break from the ranch and went fishing on the Madison River. The guides from the Tackel Shop in Ennis did a great job. Fishing was a little slower that day but everyone put fish in the boat. Finished the day with a steak dinner at LaHood Steak House near Cardwell. That evening we were able to unwind behind the screened-in porch and got to have some great conversations.
On our final day, we took the buggies into the mountains behind the ranch. We stopped for a few hours in a pasture and set up some targets for both handguns and long-range shooting. We finished our evening with a buggy ride to the back of the ranch and found two groups of elk and a ridge that one can see for miles in any direction.
This Task Force was special to me as I feel like it was one-of-a-kind. The men that participated in the week not only deserved time to decompress, they also earned the experience. They allowed themselves to enter a place and a process that is truly unique to Big Sky Country and Big Sky Bravery. Thanks to them I believe we all left as better men for it.
Sincerely,
Ryan Elliott
TF 119 Director
Volunteers to Thank:
Ryan Elliott [Task Force Director]
Mitch Davis [Assistand Task Force Director}
Patriots to Thank:
Jefferson Island Ranch
The Tackle Shop
Nicky
ANTHEM
LMNT
Wild Society Coffee
Melissa Ferraro
"I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to get out to Montana with Big Sky Bravery in the Summer of 2024. The week I spent there with the other members of my Task Force and the BSB volunteers was an incredible experience.
After serving in the Special Operations community for the past 22 years, I have been all over the world and even in the breaks I was given throughout that time, nothing compared to the time I was given with BSB.
Until then, I had not been able to truly unplug and relax. The activities and experiences that were set up for us were, for me, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But aside from the physical events we took part in, the other incredibly rewarding element of the trip was the time we were given to bond and share stories.
The discussions led by the BSB volunteers opened up a dialogue that would have remained suppressed for an eternity.
Big Sky Bravery has set up an incredible program that I hope many others can take part in. While our profession has many positive aspects to it, the one thing that we all need help with is stepping back and allowing us to reset. Not just for ourselves but for our families and our units. I cannot express enough gratitude for the program and the people who work, volunteer, and donate to this amazing organization.
-M.”
“The experience of a lifetime. Big Sky Bravery gave me the amazing opportunity to unwind and decompress in the beautiful landscape of Montana.
Decade’s worth of conflict and stress were pulled from my shoulders on this great get away.
Thank You.
-M.”
