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Stanley farmer says,"The cowboy life's a great life"
Enter Little Knife Outfitters, a trail ride and guide service created by Swede upon the suggestion of a friend. Swede and Jean offer a piece of the West to those who want to see the scenic Badlands up close, rather than from the window of a car. The Nelsons run their trail rides in the Badlands south of Watford City, in the North unit of Theodore National Park, and in the grasslands area. The service offers the sort of challenge and adventure Swede has always imagined. "When we ride, there's a bit of excitement. If you ride over a hill and there's a buffalo bull standing there, you really don't want him to charge, but there's a thrill that maybe he'll look at me," says Swede. A trip to Little Knife Outfitters can also provide relief from the fast-paced city life. Swede says living in the Badlands is "a stress reliever" and a chance to try something new. "People come down here, and maybe they've never ridden a horse before. They kind of forget the rat race," he says. Swede says he gets as much satisfaction from his business as visitors do. "A lot of what I've gotten from this business isn't money," he says. "I don't miss the television and I don't miss the radio. I like to hear the coyotes howl at night, or the turkeys or the deer. It's peaceful."
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Glendon "Swede"
Nelson loves the thrill of adventure and the romantic sense of a cowboy's
life. On his no-till farm in Stanley, Swede and his wife, Jean, raise
durum, spring wheat, and oats. But when the crop is in and the spraying
is done, Swede says he needs something else to do - something a bit
closer to "the edge."