The Wrangler Horse and Rodeo News

Presenting students with boots gives the Jae Foundation and the Cowboy Cole Foundation a chance to initiate conversations with students and prep them for when they experience crisis. "With every pair of boots, comes a conversation that would have never happened," Andrea Allen said. "That is the purpose of the Jae Foundation that Cowboy Cole partners with for the Boots for Seniors project. We want them to understand speaking the words out loud takes the power out of that thought and deflates that situation." Through this, the foundation is making a di«erence in Wyoming and in the lives of students who will soon relocate to further their education. Additionally, providing accessible resources for the student's unique needs is a goal of the Cowboy Cole Foundation. As they achieve these goals, they are hopeful to see a di«erence in the high rates of suicide in the state. "Wyoming is traditionally a very reactive state and not preventative. We have to start changing our way of thinking to be preventative," Andrea Allen said. After witnessing several tragic losses, Rand Selle, founder of No More Empty Saddles, decided to take a stand in altering the outcome of addiction and suicidal thoughts. The way he looks at it, something as simple as a phone call or visiting over co«ee to ask how they're doing can be the di«erence maker. "Studies have found that somebody who is going to commit suicide, won't talk about it," Selle said. "If they have somebody who goes to them and initiates that conversation, 90% of the time, nothing will ever happen. Their life will be turned around. It only takes two minutes to pick up the phone, make a phone call and check on someone. And that might be a game changer." Selle built a close circle in No More Empty Saddles to equip those in need. Through his experiences, he has made touchpoints to reach people and change the trajectory of their decisions. "When I first moved to Wyoming, I was just starting to be a pickup man. Now, I am several people's pickup man — someone they can rely on when they're struggling," Selle said. He is a certified mental health specialist, meaning he can understand behaviors and be supportive. Another asset to No More Empty Saddles is Sheryl Foland, a licensed social worker. She compliments Selle's strategy. "If somebody has a problem, they can sit and chat with her; then she'll keep in touch with them," Selle said. "I'm more of the ranch cowboy guy. The ones she can't really communicate with, she might send my way and vice versa. If I have somebody comes to me and reaches out, I can send them her way. She has the degree to evaluate people better." Selle recognizes those in the western industry have a barrier in asking for help — pride. This is the reason No More Empty Saddles has a team who relates to their way of life, with the education to be a resource. "A lot of ranchers don't want anyone to know or to be Cole Allen. Photo Courtesy of the Cowboy Cole Foundation seen talking with a mental health specialist. If I can be the middleman and discreetly get them in touch with somebody who can help, I call that a win," Selle said. Addressing mental health stigma and suicide in the Western industry may be the first step in change, and through collective e«ort of organizations like Cowboy Cole Memorial Foundation and No More Empty Saddles, individuals can feel empowered to put their well-being first without fear of judgement. It is beyond important to embrace the humanity behind the cowboy persona to sculpt a future where mental health is prioritized and lives are saved. The following resources are ready to be of help if you or someone you love is experiencing crisis: National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 988 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 Cowboy Cole Memorial Foundation: https://www.cowboycole.com No More Empty Saddles:µ https://www.facebook.com/groups/nomoreemptysaddles A memorial to those who lost their battle with mental health Photo Courtesy: Rand Selle

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