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The South Dakota Cowgirl

Life on the Ranch Through My Lens

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You are here: Home / Archives for ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.

5 Mental Health Benefits of Horseback Riding

April 14, 2022 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

5 Mental Health Benefits of Horseback Riding, south dakota cowgirl photography

By Stephen Bitsoli Sunshine Behavioral Health Editor|Author|Content Writer  Humans have been bonding with horses for centuries. ...

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My Alluring Lane Boots

February 24, 2022 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

lane boots, the south dakota cowgirl, perfect black boot, cowboy boots, cowgirl fashion

It's been a hot minute since I've hung out in this little corner of my world, and I have so much to catch all of you up on! To kick off the new year, ...

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Fall Work

October 26, 2021 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

fall work, the south dakota cowgirl, black and white, western images

Fall work is my favorite time of year! The calves are big. The air is crisp. The sun will warm your back. The grass turns to gold -- to ready ...

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A Horsemanship Workshop!

September 7, 2021 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

horsemanship for barrel racers, horsemanship workshop

I know it's been a hot minute since I've posted here, but I've been on the road so much this year, I find myself coming and going... But I'm about ...

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The 2021 CNFR

June 3, 2021 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ 1 Comment

the CNFR, Visit Casper

I was devastated for all the college rodeo athletes last year, when the 2020 CNFR was cancelled due to Covid. But this year, the show is a go, and ...

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The First Branding of 2021

May 25, 2021 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

south dakota cowgirl photography, branding season 2021, cowboys, ropes, branding images,

Branding season 2021 is in full swing here in the ranch country of South Dakota and I'm happy to say we're having so much fun. I'd love to say that ...

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Lessons From 2020

January 1, 2021 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ 2 Comments

lessons from 2020, balance, life is about balance

There are three types of survival methods. Flight, Fight or Freeze. These are designed to help us save ourselves from a perceived threat. I am stuck ...

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2020 Cowgirl Gift Guide

December 14, 2020 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

2020 gift guide

For all you last minute shoppers out there, here's a quick gift guide to help the cowgirl, horse lover, or budding photographer in your life! And in ...

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A Career Well-Run

November 22, 2020 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ 2 Comments

a career well-run, no average joe 022, avie, the south dakota cowgirl

“A horse gallops with his legs, perseveres with his heart, and he wins with his character.” -- From Ride Like a Girl -- His legs carried me to ...

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Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do

September 10, 2020 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ Leave a Comment

dreams don't work unless you do, the south dakota cowgirl, dusty saddles photography, barrel horses, barrel racer, big dreams

Dreams don't work unless you do: I climbed on 6 head of horses yesterday.  It's been a while since that's happened.  I'm doing less -- less ...

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