Alumnae Story
Out West With Real-life Cowboys

By Tami Courtney (maiden name Diggan)
Holden, Mo.
Formerly of Ferndale, Mich.

In the summer of 1975, I went to National Center West. I was between my freshman and sophomore years in high school. Members of my entire troop headed west. We visited Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Bad Lands, Wall Drug, Ten Sleep, Wyo. — for their famous rodeo — and had numerous other adventures.

I went mostly to ride the horses. I rode a great little Palomino named Charro. I still have the picture of me on her. I also rode another horse, whose name escapes me. This was a defining time in my life, as I realized how many more "things" I could do on my own — fearlessly.

At that time I had been a Girl Scout since Brownies. I went into the Brownie troop because I wanted to wear the little brown uniform. Then I discovered I loved it and stayed!

While traveling through the Dakotas during our trip west, I saw my first real life cowboys — red bandanas, chaps, rainslickers, hats, the whole works — driving cattle. As a 14-year-old girl, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! While in Yellowstone National Park, I came face-to-face with the largest creature I had ever seen — a moose. He put his nose up to the upper window of the motorhome I was in — the window to the bed area over the cab. He was so tall, he had to bend down to look in. Wow!

Then two years ago, I attained my Certified Horsemanship Association Level III Instructor certification. One of the people doing the clinic was Maryanna Wood. Maryanna spent numerous summers at National Center West as a wrangler and working with the horses. She and her horse, Elmer, are now living legends with North American Trail Riders Conference — as competitive trail riding partners. Elmer is about 34 years old now.

I have done many, many things since leaving Ferndale, Mich., and Girl Scouts. My entire Scouting experience has been one of the best things in my life . . . and something I am now looking forward to is getting involved with my local Girl Scouts.