Chisholm Trail
JObs on the Trail
Trail Boss: Drive leader who planned the route and managed the crew and finances.
Cook: Managed the chuckwagon and prepared meals. Wrangler: In charge of the remuda.
Point Rider: Front rider who set the pace and directed the herd’ s movement.
Swing Rider: Rode along sides of the herd and kept cattle from straying.
Flank Rider: Backed up the swing riders and kept the herd tight.
Drag Rider: Rode at the rear to push slower cattle.
Chisholm Trail
Jesse Chisholm was a trader and merchant who developed a freight wagon road to connect his trading posts from Oklahoma through Kansas. As cowboys started moving cattle north from Texas, they followed the well-known path and eventually the entire route from San Antonio to Abilene became known as the Chisholm Trail.
The long journeys weren’ t easy as drovers faced perilous weather, stampedes, rustlers and other hazards. These daring adventures captured attention as legends and tall tales came to life. Visitors from the east traveled thousands of miles to catch a glimpse of the fascinating cowboy.
“ Cowboy exploits on the cattle trails captured the imagination of the American people and attracted interest internationally,” said Ron Wilson with Lazy T Ranch.“ That captivation led to the creation of Buffalo Bill’ s Wild West show, which shared the American West with people around the world.”
Even today, guests from across the globe travel to the heartland to experience the cowboy culture. Originally homesteaded in 1855, Wilson’ s Lazy T Ranch in Manhattan, Kansas, hosts weddings, school tours and other events. While Wilson’ s ranch isn’ t located on the Chisholm Trail, he is committed to preserving its history and invites guests to enjoy the heritage and beauty of the tallgrass prairie.
Wilson grew up on the Flint Hills ranch with a family full of storytellers, and he continues the tradition of sharing the spirit of the West, both with visitors as well as through his prose. As the official Poet Lariat in Kansas for more than 20 years, Wilson uses his poetic license to educate the next generation about the cattle trails and the importance of the cowboy, an American icon. Wilson also serves as volunteer chair of the Historic Cattle Trails Consortium, using his passion for the western way of life to promote museums and significant sites along five historic trails, including the Chisholm.
Within a stone’ s throw of the Chisholm Trail, Velma, Oklahoma, is home to a multi-generation ranch steeped in history.
When brothers Zac and Adam Pogue returned to the ranch following college, they established Pogue Brothers Cattle in 2010 on land their great-grandfather farmed during the Great Depression. Located a mere five miles from where the Chisholm Trail traversed Stephens County in southern Oklahoma, they run Angus-Hereford cattle and are continuing their family’ s legacy, but it hasn’ t been without hardships.
“ Faith and family kept my great-grandfather going during the‘ 30s when times were tough,” said Zac Pogue.“ His strong foundation of family, along with hard work, helped the ranch survive, and eventually thrive.”
DIRECTIONS 2026 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN 25