“Bright Lights, Big Country”
National spotlight shines on Roundup, Montana ranch
Yellowstone Valley Woman magazine, September/October 2006
By Julie Koerber

  Among the whispering pines and rolling hills in the heart of the Bull Mountains lies a 5th generation ranch that could soon be known more for its retreat-like escape than its strong ranching history. It’s a place where you can sit under the stars with absolute peace, ride on horseback to a campfire cookout complete with cowboy songs, hike through timbered trails, or even take a yoga escape atop the neighboring sandstone rims. It’s called the Runamuk Guest Ranch and the secrets it holds will soon be revealed on the national television airwaves.

  “It is really exciting to be turning the heads of executives at The Food Network,”says Jody Dahl, who owns the guest ranch with her husband Toby. After marketing their property on the internet, one day out of the blue, an executive with the cable channel called them expressing interest in this little slice of heaven right in Roundup, Montana. “I was extremely shocked,” says Jody. “I thought-I am sure I heard that person wrong.” Jody says an Internet search is how Runamuk was discovered. “They had done a search of different working, guest and dude ranches. They were looking for something that was authentic and real. Beyond that, I don’t know what specifically they searched for.” Jody admits with a laugh.

  Surprisingly, there were no location scouts, no extensive phone interviews, not even an application to be filled out before a video crew converged on Runamuk. “From the minute they called us-boom-they wanted to come. I didn’t try to talk them out of it, but I did downplay it at first,” Jody confesses. “I really tried to lay it on the line for them that this is not a dude ranch.”

  It turns out, the Runamuk Guest Ranch is exactly what producers of the show “The Secret Life of Cowboy Food” were looking for-a working cattle ranch that folks could visit on vacation. According to the show’s supervising producer, Kerry Lambert, the program takes an amusing and lighthearted look at the history behind the food. Kerry says it was the western mystique that drew them in and made them decide that Runamuk needed to be shown to a Food Network audience. Kerry says, “It appeared unspoiled and unpretentious. It didn’t try to be anything, it just “was”. I liked that it was owned by a young, modern couple who still cared about maintaining its history, but still managed to put a new spin on things.”

  Of course, with the camera lens focused on the kitchen, the heat was on Jody to pull off an authentic cowboy meal. She admits she was a bit nervous, “I wanted everything to be as perfect as possible.” During the network’s stay, the crew dined on prime rib, beef roast and, of course, steaks served up with homemade bread, fried sweet potatoes with fresh herbs and a spinach salad with edible flowers. Not exactly your ranching grandfather’s meal. “What we do here as far as food goes is mesh the old ranch style with new and more modern twists,” Jody shares.

  When the crew arrived, Kerry says the goal was to teach the show’s host, Jim O’Connor, a thing or two about good old-fashioned cowboy grub. “My plan was to shoot Jim learning about the chuck wagon and historical cowboy food, going to a rodeo and seeing how the participants fuel up for the event and have Jim experience a working cattle ranch to see how working cowboys eat on the ranch.”

  Kerry says the premise for the Runamuk segment was simple-if you want to eat like a cowboy, you have to work like a cowboy. “So, Toby makes Jim help him wrangle some bulls before they sit down to eat Jody’s home cooking.” Kerry says, “I have traveled to some of the finest resorts and restaurants in the world, and Jody’s skill in the kitchen rivals some of the best-trained chefs.”

  With such a glowing review, Jody admits she was never formally taught how to cook. She merely opened a book and sought perfection. “I told my husband when we got married, I am not cooking and I am not sewing. Well, I am still not sewing.” She laughs when she says, “My cooking comes from the fact that I like to eat and I like to try to perfect things—no matter what I’m doing.” So, she’ll open up a cookbook and figure out what other spices and ingredients can be added to put her own twist on a certain recipe.

 While you can’t beat the attention of millions of television viewers, Jody and Toby know they took a chance when just a little more than a year ago, they turned the area’s largest Hereford ranch into a destination for travelers. “Toby’s great, great grandfather was a ranching pioneer,” Jody will tell you. While the 18,000 acre ranch still runs commercial cattle, it’s safe to say, some of Toby’s relatives didn’t necessarily warm up to the idea of changing the ranch’s course after 120 years of doing nothing but ranching. “This has truly been a generational change.”

  In time, however, it’s become clear, this area delivers that romantic image of the West that many Americans and International travelers just love to experience. “One of our goals here is to educate as we show people a good time in an attempt to preserve our way of life,” Jody says. “You can experience genuine ranch life by riding horses and moving cattle in some of Montana’s most beautiful country.” She says getting an honest look at ranch life is the goal. So if you make it to Runamuk, there’s a chance you’ll be working cattle, fixing fences, checking water lines, and even watching the branding of a calf if you like.

  Jody and Toby know getting on a horse to move cattle isn’t everyone’s idea of a good, relaxing time. So, they have molded different experiences into their ranch. They offer different types of massage and body pampering experiences, even a one-of-a-kind yoga escape with the area’s best instructors. The ranch is also about to unveil a new kind of getaway. It’s a place where you can take in relaxation through isolation. The couple’s homestead cabin sits right in the middle of nature with no one around for miles. After a Swedish deep tissue massage, you can cool off in the cabin’s outdoor shower nestled up against the rimrocks.

  If you look at the ranch’s guest book, don’t be surprised if you see quite a few international travelers. Jody says they have had guests from Poland, England, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, and Australia just to name a few. Jody says, “I spent all last winter researching and marketing and come April, guests started booking and just continued to book throughout the summer well into fall. We weren’t quite prepared for the jump in business that quickly.”

  Come October, Jody and Toby may see an even bigger jump in the number of guests. That’s when the Food Network episode plans to air. So, tune in. You may already know all about the “Secret Life Of Cowboy Food,” but what you might not know is that one Montana ranch, rich in history, is going out of its way to showcase the true spirit of the West whether it is atop the rims on a yoga mat, on horseback exploring the rugged Montana countryside or even bellying up to the supper table. Kerry Lambert says it best,”it gives people the chance to explore this daring side of themselves and a side of history they couldn’t otherwise get.” Kerry adds, “And of course you can’t beat the rugged Montana setting and the big skies!”