Starting from Scratch: The Adventures of a Lady Dude Rancher

By Alice Gleason

Compiled and edited by Genny Barhaugh and Carol Guthrie

Discover the history, humor, and hardships of Montana ranch life through the stories of Alice Gleason, a woman whose life was shaped by the mountains and the pioneering spirit of the American West.

In 1930, Alice and her husband, Kenneth, began homesteading west of Choteau, Montana, and established the Circle 8 Guest Ranch. For nearly five decades, they shared their mountain ranching lifestyle with guests along the East Front of the Rocky Mountains.

In Starting from Scratch, Alice's firsthand recollections bring a bygone era to life. From country schools, crank phones, and wringer washers to good horses, fresh mountain air, dangerous blizzards, floods, and forest fires, her stories offer an engaging glimpse into the realities of rural Montana life.

Discovered in a closet after Alice's death in 1997, these stories preserve the memories and experiences of a remarkable woman and the history of the Circle 8 Ranch.

A wonderful addition to the bookshelf of anyone who loves:

• Montana history and Western heritage
• Horses, ranching, and dude ranch life
• Stories of homesteading and mountain living
• The people and traditions of the American West

Whether you're a horse person, a Western history enthusiast, or someone who appreciates authentic stories of life in the mountains, Starting from Scratch offers a memorable look at Montana's ranching past.