Saddle Up – Texas Ranching Tradition features photography by Joe Vitone and a film by Lori Najvar. The exhibit is a celebratory examination that portrays tough people — living on a harsh land — doing a tough job. A combination of fine art photography and personal interviews, this visual collection explores the lifestyles of four Texas ranching families. In addition, it reflects the ranchers' role in the continuity of traditional American ranch practices.
Saddle Up honors the iconic Texas rancher and their rich connections with tradition, family, and the land. The beautiful and compelling images tell a captivating story, while their oral histories demonstrate how people connect despite ethnic, socio-economic, and generational diversity.
Since 2018, the SaddleUp exhibit has toured at the following venues: State Capitol Visitor Center in Austin; UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio; Pioneer Farms in Austin; the Cattle Raisers Museum in Fort Worth, Texas; and the National Ranching Heritage Center on the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock.
You can also take a virtual tour of the exhibit at TexasFolkLife.
Below is a video we produced about the exhibit.