In 1969, my dad, his siblings, parents, and grandparents sold their ranch in Arvada, Colorado, and moved their cattle operation west to the small town of Meeker, Colorado. For the next 30 years, my dad lived and worked on the 3,000-acre ranch, running cattle, breeding and training American Quarter horses, and caring for the ranch. As my dad moved to the small guest house on the property, he created many memories, including my parent’s love story. 

My parents married and moved five minutes down the road after my great-grandfather sold the ranch in 1997. Today, it’s still a part of our lives as we help the new owners move cows and brand, teach the kids riding lessons, and take care of their animals when they’re away. I’ve grown up hearing stories, looking at photographs of the ranch, and trail riding through the pastures. 

Days Gone By tells a story of a memory-filled ranch in northwestern Colorado. Through my contemporary images and archival photos, I explore my connection to a property that I didn’t grow up on but learned about through the tellings of my dad and other family members. With medium format black and white film, I aim to show lost memories that are held stagnant in elements of the ranch like time-riddled wood, metal, barns, and houses. I present a collection of images that show the marks left on the ranch by past and present families, both physically and figuratively.