ASPEN:  The Quest Express speaks with our final guest in our Aspen series: Tony Vagneur. He writes a column for The Aspen Times, called "Saddle Sore" which you can check out HERE and subscribe to The Aspen Times to follow.

Also check out:  www.aspenhistory.org and www.chicandtidy.com (more about this organization business in Part II)


Inside this episode:

• Tony's first childhood memories on the ranch
• Aspen and the Wild West of the 1880s
• Tony's poetry alibi
• Joining the family business
• Horses (here's the documentary mentioned: BUCK)

Part II drops this weekend followed by a few weeks of bonus episodes before the next city.

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Bio:
Tony Vagneur was born into the Vagneur ranching family in Woody Creek. His great-grandfather, Jeremie Vagneur arrived from Val d’Aosta, Italy, in 1882, and carved out a ranching dynasty that thus far includes five generations. He is a life-long rancher and businessman. Known primarily for his column, "Saddle Sore", in The Aspen Times and his exploits as a general raconteur and cattle ranching cowboy.

Tony grew up on the original Vagneur homestead in Woody Creek, named the Elkhorn Ranch by his grandfather, Ben. Tony graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and business administration from the University of Colorado.

Once back in Aspen, Tony began working for his aunt and uncle (Eileen and Vic Goodhard) at Aspen Trash Service, Inc., a relationship that would indelibly mark Tony’s business career for the next 25 years. He also did stints as a builder, a bartender, an equipment operator, a horse trainer, a ski racer, a string of Marlboro commercials and a long run at the T Lazy-7 Ranch. Tony put in seven years as an Aspen Mountain Ski Patrolman.

Tony spent much of his free time helping the Vagneur Ranch Company take care of the cattle in the high country. The cow camp became his home away from home. In the late 1980s, he created his own volunteer educational position with the U. S. Forest Service, a relationship he maintains to this day. 

Since 2000, Tony has spent winters on the ski hill and summers caring for herds of cows in the mountains above East Sopris Creek. He has been a regular volunteer on boards like the Roaring Fork Valley Planning Commission and the Red Butte Cemetery board. His column, “Saddle Sore,” appears each Saturday in The Aspen Times, and he fills up his spare time playing the piano around town.

The Vagneur family’s ranching legacy continues to now include Tony’s daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Ty Burtard. The couple leases the family’s original homestead in Woody Creek, operating it as a hay and cattle ranch.

Aspen Hall of Fame Inductee

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Music Credits: INTRO: Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel