Saddling Up for a New Chapter

It’s funny how life works. At the start of this year, I took a gamble, hoping to break into western storytelling. I reached out to tie-down World Champion Shad Mayfield—a hometown cowboy from near where I grew up—and he gave me a chance. The result was Money $ZN, a behind-the-scenes profile that showcased Shad’s grit and life outside the arena. The video became my most popular work, but to my frustration, it didn’t immediately lead to more opportunities.

Months passed. I stayed busy with other projects, including a PBS documentary, but the cowboy stories I wanted to tell felt out of reach. Then, last week, everything changed. Within 10 minutes, I landed two incredible western-themed projects that reignited the dream I almost gave up on.

The first took me to Clovis, New Mexico, where I captured the story of an 18-year-old tie-down roping phenom. His journey is a natural extension of my work with Shad, with ties to the same legendary cowboy family. The second project—still under wraps—comes from a visionary cattle company with bold ideas for creative storytelling.

Looking back, I see now that timing is everything. What I thought was a dead end earlier this year turned out to be a slow burn. The seeds I planted with Money $ZN are finally bearing fruit, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Cowboy stories are in my blood, and I’m grateful for the chance to tell them my way. Life’s trail is winding, but it’s brought me to this moment, and I can’t wait to see where it leads next.