We are proud to announce that Dustin Payne's bronze sculpture, “The Icon,” has been selected as the award presented to ten legendary ranching operations being inducted into the National Western's inaugural Ranches of the West Heritage Award.
Established by the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, this new distinction celebrates the ranches and families whose contributions have helped shape the American beef industry and preserve the ranching heritage of the West.
Recognizing a Lasting Legacy
The Ranches of the West Heritage Award goes beyond recognizing a ranch's history, size, or reputation. It honors working ranches whose leadership and accomplishments have made a lasting impact on the cattle industry.
The inaugural recipients represent generations of ranching families and operations that have helped advance livestock genetics, improve beef quality, develop innovative production practices, and demonstrate exceptional stewardship of the land.
Equally important are the traditions these ranches have carried forward. Their dedication to agriculture, their communities, and the next generation of cattlemen has helped establish the foundation of the Western ranching industry as we know it today.
The 2027 Inaugural Honorees
Ten distinguished ranching operations from across the American West have been selected for this first class:
Arizona: K4 Ranch
Colorado: Bledsoe Ranch, Silver Spur Ranches, and Spann Ranches
Montana: Vermilion Ranch
Nebraska: Timmerman Ranch
New Mexico: CS Ranch
North Dakota/South Dakota: Thomas Ranch
Utah: Ensign Ranches
Wyoming: Padlock Ranch
These ranches will be formally recognized during the 2027 National Western Stock Show, with an induction ceremony on January 14 at The Legacy in Denver. An accompanying exhibit will share their histories and contributions with visitors to the National Western.
“The Icon” | A Lasting Tribute in Bronze
Each of the ten honorees will receive Dustin Payne's bronze sculpture, “The Icon,” commemorating their induction into the Ranches of the West.
For Dustin, whose career has been dedicated to telling the stories of the American West through sculpture, the opportunity to have his work represent these ranches is particularly meaningful.
The sculpture will serve as a lasting tribute to the generations of cattlemen and ranching families whose perseverance, innovation, and commitment to the land have shaped the West.
Already recognized with the inaugural National Western Purchase Award at the 2026 Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition, “The Icon” has now reached another significant milestone, with its limited edition completely sold out.Its selection to honor these legendary ranches adds another meaningful chapter to the sculpture's legacy.
It is a tremendous honor for Dustin to have “The Icon” become part of the history of these remarkable ranches and the National Western's newest tradition.
We look forward to celebrating these deserving recipients and sharing more about this special recognition in the months ahead.
Read the Official National Western Announcement
Dustin Payne Studio
Preserving the history and heritage of the American West through bronze.