Eldon Leithead grew up on his father’s ranch doing what most boys learn and love to do: Being a cowboy. He was horseback at a very young age and is still horseback at 82 years old. In 1968, he and his wife Georgia purchased his father’s place, where they raised their two boys, Cleve and Kirk.
They had cows, horses, and dogs. After 10 years, Eldon sold the ranch. He then went to work for the South Paintrock Grazing Association, tending to their cumulative 1,400 cow/calf pairs and bulls. His job involved riding through the cows daily and checking all the summer pastures. He was on his horse from sun up to sundown moving the cows around, pushing them off the riparian areas, fixing fences, and doctoring sickness as it arose. Eldon roped, branded, vaccinated, and worked cattle for more than 45 years, taking care of the cows on some 40,000 acres on the beautiful Big Horn Mountains between Ten Sleep and Hyattville.
His tenure on the mountain has resulted in some serious injuries; one in particular sent him to the hospital in Billings, Montana, with a brain injury. After his recovery he was right back to doing what he loved. He is at his Worland home in the winter where he spends his time repairing tack, building cabinets, and undertaking other woodworking projects. Eldon is always looking forward to another year on the mountain come spring.