Ranch Roots and Artistic Dreams

I first met Butch at the Kettle Falls Historical Center in Kettle Falls, Washington. Soon after, I purchased a derby hat from her with Paint horses and Native décor on it. Yes, this lady did the artwork, and it’s fabulous. The next time I went in, I purchased a tote bag with the same themes. I tell ya, this gal has skills!

She is as sweet and giving and so very talented.

So let’s go ahead and meet Butch Bovan.

Tell us about you and your art.

Born a hundred years too late on a cattle ranch near Daisy, Washington, my first memories of art were lying on the kitchen floor, drawing pictures of a grasshopper with my big brother from his Biology book.  

I cannot remember not having horses, riding, playing, and working with them as they were an integral part of our ranch life.  

What inspired your art?

An 8th-grade graduation gift of the book “Trails Plowed Under” by Charles M. Russell spurred my gut desire to be an artist of all things pertaining to the West. It is in my painting, sculpting, and all art that I portray this cowgirl West which lies forever in my heart.

What was it like growing up in Daisy, Washington?

My older siblings-a sister and two brothers-and I attended a little one-room school named Waterloo, which was about two miles from home. There was no school bus, so our transportation was by horse named Ginger.

Tell us more about Ginger.

What a great old mare she was. We’d all pile on and head off. 

There was a little barn at school where the horses stayed until school ended. When I started school at five years old, a neighbor boy and I, since we were so young, got to go home in the early afternoon before school let out. 

We’d ride our horses home and the older siblings had to walk. It was no big deal back then, but nowadays most parents wouldn’t think of letting their little ones ride home alone like that.

We always rode old Ginger bareback, and in winter, Mom would snug us up with blankets around our legs and the horse helped keep us warm. 

Tell us more about the area schools.

Three little schools around the area, Waterloo, Maud, and Daisy consolidated into Evergreen School when I was in the fifth grade. They provided a school bus, so that ended our days of riding our horses to school, playing pranks, and racing.

Which Mom never knew about. HA!

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