Yellowstone is a Paramount Network neo-western drama television series developed by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson that debuted on June 20, 2018. Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, and Gil Birmingham appear in the series. The documentary tracks the disputes between the Yellowstone Ranch, a cattle property, the Broken Rock Indian reservation, Yellowstone National Park, and land developers. The first episode of the fifth season debuted on November 13, 2022, with the second series following in 2023. Since its premiere in 2018, Yellowstone has provided fans with a unique look into the beautiful world of farming and its challenges in the twenty-first century.
Yellowstone paid homage to a famous character from the field of horse training in the fifth episode of season 4. Jefferson White, an American performer, played Jimmy Hurdstrom in the National Network television series Yellowstone. John only takes him on as a courtesy to his grandpa, who wants him to stay out of trouble. Jimmy met the famous Buster Welch during his first days at his new residence on the 6666 Ranch in Texas. Jimmy plans his first day of labour at the ranch in episode 5 by sleeping anywhere he can locate. Jimmy is awakened near the conclusion of the episode by a discussion between his ranch hand, Ross (Barry Corbin), and an old rancher revealed to be Buster Welch.
Who Is Buster Welch?
In the field of horse training, Buster Welch is a legend. Yellowstone, season 4, episode 5, features Welch. He was born on May 23rd, 1928, in Sterling City, Texas, and has spent his entire life around horses. He left home to work on a property in Midland at 13, where he started training horses. Buster worked on many famous ranches, including the 6666 Ranch, where we first encountered him in Yellowstone.
Our darling Jimmy was exposed to Welch in Yellowstone at the 6666 Ranch, where he was assigned to work until he was ready to return to Yellowstone. That felt familiar to Welch, like going back to an old haunt. He grew up working at the 6666’s, Pitchfork Ranch, King Ranch, and the Long X Ranch. Welch worked diligently at several positions on the estate because he always wished to own a ranch. Along with his ability, his commitment helped him establish himself as a famous cutting horse trainer.
Buster won the NCHA World Championship four times during his long tenure and the NCHA World Championship Futurity five more times. When he was 18 years old, Buster began to focus on racing and participated in many NCHA (National Cutting Horse Association) title events. The American Quarter Horse Hall of Honor accepted Buster Welch. In addition to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, he has been honoured in the NCHA Members Hall of Fame and the National Cutting Horse Association Riders Hall of Fame. The NCHA World Championship Futurity, which he won five times, and the NCHA World Championship, which he won four times, are all awards he earned in 2012.
Therefore, we are not surprised that Welch appeared in a show where ranchlands are essential for the plot, and Jimmy will learn many lessons from them. He played a significant role in farming history and gained attention in the 6666s.
Early Life
Before the outbreak of the Civil War, Buster’s ancestors established family homes in Texas and have Tennessee origins. He had been born there and raised until his early youth in Texas, north of Sterling City, close to the Colorado and Concho Rivers’ confluence. His grandmother temporarily raised him on their cattle property after his mother passed away soon after his birth. His father remarried, relocated the family, and started working for Atlantic Richfield in Midland, Texas. Buster began riding broncs at the stockyards while he was in elementary school. He had previously run away from home numerous times. Welch left home too early, at the age of 13. He departed home and found employment in Midland, Texas, managing big cattle herds, training horses, and performing other field duties for cattle ranchers Foy and Leonard Proctor. Buster picked up the fundamentals of riding and handling livestock there he carried with him into maturity.
Relationship
Sheila was the wife of Buster. Sheila participated in cutting horse competitions while riding cutting horses. She earned over $1 million in NCHA cash in several championship victories. They relocated to the nearby 18,000-acre Chriswell Ranch in the late 2000s after selling their 25,000-acre Double Mountain River Ranch. To meet the market demand for naturally unprocessed meats, they ultimately relocated to Rotan, Texas, where they raised cattle under the “B Lazy W” name. Buster managed to grow the property to include both leased and owned acreage totaling more than 60,000 acres while continuing to train cutting horses. At the age of 76 years, Sheila passed away on December 7, 2014.
Career
Buster gained experience dealing with cattle and rough stock at numerous prestigious ranches after leaving Proctor’s, including the 6666 Ranch, Pitchfork Ranch, King Ranch, and Long X. His dream was to one day be the owner of his property. Welch established himself as a horseman capable of training a horse to “some degree of completion” in the early 1950s after taking advantage of the new National Cutting Horse Association when he was 18. Cutting horses had also started to become a popular choice for prize animals. Welch was managing 800 head of cattle on a leased property when a drought “focused his choices.” He had always intended to make a name for himself in the livestock ranching industry.
Welch started working at Homer Ingham’s estate in Las Vegas, New Mexico, among other ranches. Ingham “provided me my first real opportunity in training horses,” according to Welch. For him and his friend Warren Shoemaker, Welch trained and taught horses. Welch decided to pay $125 to Ingham for a six-year-old untainted horse called Chickasha Mike at Shoemaker’s advice. Chickasha Mike was a child of Billy Clegg, an American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame winner. Welch broke Mike and used him for mowing and ranch labour.
Welch entered the horse in a few regional competitions because he appeared to have a knack for cutting. Michael won his first five competitions in 1952. Later on, Welch sold Mike to Bill Hale of Odessa, Texas, for $8,500. Hale then sold Mike to Welch’s former boss, Leonard Proctor.
Buster Welch holds the mark for the most NCHA World Championship Futurity championships with five victories and has four NCHA World Championship titles (1954, 1956, 1974, and 1976). On September 7, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas, he was given a National Spur Award for his work in the farming and livestock sectors.
What Was Buster Welch’s Age?
Fay Owen “Buster” Welch, an American cutting horse master, lived from May 23, 1928, to June 12, 2022. On May 23, 1928, Buster Welch was born near Sterling City, Texas. He passed away at his home in Abilene, Texas, on June 12, 2022, at 94 years old.
How Did Buster Welch Contribute To Yellowstone?
In the Yellowstone show, 93-year-old Buster Welch portrays himself and appears to be talking with Ross about his cutting horse experiences in a heartwarming discussion that makes the viewer happy.
How Did Yellowstone Fans Feel About The Welch Episode?
Fans of Yellowstone were undoubtedly delighted that the program honoured such a legendary figure, and many of them have expressed their positive feedback and opinions on social media.
