In the Wild West, ranchers and settlers needed a way to not only maintain land, but also protect and manage their herds. Before barbed wire was invented, it was a feat easier said than done. Before barbed wire was installed, fences had to be constructed entirely of wood or planted with hedges, neither of which were viable options in the West.

In search of the perfect style of wire, inventors took many interesting paths to arrive at what is more recognized today. The museum houses his collection of over 8,000 different wire strands, with 1,300 strands on display. However, although barbed wire is still widely used today, that does not mean it is or ever was preferred by most cowboys.

Throughout the 20th century, writers from Teddy Roosevelt to Larry McMurty have mourned the death of the American cowboy. But the cowboys are still there, doing daily ranch chores, gathering with neighbors to brand their calves, playing ring toss on weekend roping games, and practicing cutting horses. I do things like that. Those looking for mythical figures need to leave the urban world and take a fresh look at the West. They will find a ranching lifestyle that blends tradition and innovation, maintaining the deeply rooted traditions of men and women raising cattle and horses.

Ranch life is more than a profession, but ranchers have a love and habit of not only protecting their land, but preserving it for generations to come. New Mexico rancher Richard Spencer shares his insights into ranching and what his life means to him.

New Mexico rancher Richard Spencer tells the story of barbed wire from a cowboy's perspective and demonstrates the old cowboy trick of securing fences. For more information on Barbed Wire, please consult us anytime!