The Spartans, The Bulldogs and The Rams all have one thing in common: at least 12 schools each share these college mascot names. I'm not saying the the "Cowboys" don't have their fair share of college mascots (Oklahoma State, McNeese State) but at some point it can get a little out of hand, with the "Bulldogs" mascot calling home to 41 different schools in the United States, but still, the amount of teams that use a certain nickname is not the reason for writing today. I'm writing about how the State, Town and University I call home all ruminate what it means to be a Cowboy.

Now first off, I don't feel like writing "Cowboy and Cowgirl" every time I want to address the the proud folk I'll write about and I despise the word "Cowpokes," so I'm just going to call them Cowboys. I figured that should be noted before someone thinks I'm being unfair or sexist.

I wasn't born in the great state that is Wyoming, but it is my home. No matter where I go or where I live, my heart belongs here. The people, the land, the way of living and the memories I have will always point me back here. The natives of this town, like the third, fourth, or fifth generation ranchers on their family property or the folks like my father, and his father, or his father after him are the people and the citizens I hope to be like someday, in the fact that they are such a proud, humble, caring and hard working kind of people; the true romanticized Cowboys you only ever hear about or see in a John Wayne movie. They grew up with morals I could only WISH to achieve

Yet still, these are not the exact Cowboys I believe I am nor ever will be. I'm talking about the volunteer Cowboys, the ones who earned that title being a student at the University of Wyoming. These people weren't born Cowboys and Cowgirls, but they sure as hell formed in to them. Although, not EVERY student becomes the heroic image they represent during their tenure of secondary education; a few stragglers who choose not to adopt the sense of community and passion for their classmates and peers can give off a distasteful imagery of what it truly means to belong to such a wonderful institution. Not much effort has to be put forth to claim the feelings of pride and respect displayed by Cowboys.

There is no better way than to quote the very poem behind the inspiration behind this article. "Ride for the Brand" by Paul Harwitz recites tales of hard work, trust, respect and giving despite any outside force saying otherwise and you do it all for the well-being of "the Brand," or your community, the reason for your being as you know it. The entire ordeal is a tale of honesty, respect, resilience and tenacity amongst all, because if you have no sense of community, no love for your neighbor or respect for those you share this life with, you are probably not a true Cowboy. Which is why I love Wyoming, the University and Laramie. This place is my home; where my heart calls home, and where the people I share it with share the ideals I pride myself on and strive to obtain. No matter where I go or why I go there, my mentality will always stay in Wyoming, because once you're a Cowboy, you're always a Cowboy.