Jim Keen Booksigning at Borders in Austin November 3, 2007

July, 2007 marked the long awaited release of Great Ranches of the West, the newest book by award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Jim Keen. It is an eye opening and heart touching portrait of a culture, people, and industry in great danger of being lost.

In 1993 there were nearly 900,000 cattle producing ranches in the US. By 2004 that number had dropped to 775,000. This is an alarming trend. When a ranch goes out of production it impacts the whole area around it. Small communities all across the country are dying without so much as a proper burial. With the recent sale of US based Swift & Company to a Brazilian firm, preserving America’s great ranches and our nation’s food supply is more imperative now than at any time in our history.

Great Ranches of the West tells about the history and compelling life stories of thirty great ranches that continue to survive in 17 western states. In this fantastic new coffee table book Jim Keen’s photography captures the every-day-life challenges that these ranchers face; many of whom have been ranching for five or six generations—some even longer.

Five years in the making, Great Ranches of the West features:
• 30 Ranches--17 States—Nearly 600 Breathtaking Photographs
• Compelling True Stories of the Ranches and Families
• Interesting History of America’s West
• 228 Full Color Pages
• 12"x11" Fine Art Coffee Table Book
About the Author

Jim Keen is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker. He has won over 100 regional and national awards for his photographic art and his work is in private and corporate collections across the US and in fifteen other countries. Professional recognition for his video work includes five “Telly” awards and three “Communicator” awards, and his film, Silent Climb, was featured at the Breckenridge Film Festival.

Endorsements:

“This book will help readers understand the urgency of preserving the Western ranchlands, made up of families and rural communities, that provide nourishing food for our nation, preserve a healthy natural environment, and entrust that great American values will endure.” --Mike Callicrate, Cattle Producer, Family Farm Activist, and Founder of Ranch Foods Direct, Natural Meat Company

“The beautiful images in Great Ranches of the West convey solitude, hard work and harsh conditions. They transport the viewer to a vanishing part of our history.” ---Colleen
Fanning, Art Program Manager, Denver International Airport

Official Website: http://greatrancheswest.com