Growing up, Nicole Louden dreamed of living a few miles outside of town on a farm or ranch. And through a chain of events that she never could have imagined taking place, she finds herself smack dab in the middle of a working cattle ranch outside of Ellsworth, Neb.
That transition has provided her with an amazing opportunity though. Armed with her camera and pen in hand, Louden is providing a beautiful glimpse into that life on a ranch in Nebraska through Sandhills Prairie Girl.
She may be a seasoned Sandhiller by this point but that is not where Louden’s story began.
She grew up in Cozad, Neb. and had no background in the agriculture realm. That Central Nebraska area is more of your river bottom and irrigated crop fields; a stark difference from life on a ranch in the Sandhills.
But when she met her husband, Jon Louden, while attending college at the University of Nebraska - Kearney, things were about to change for the Cozad native.
She admits the first trip out to the Ellsworth area was a shock. No trees. No crop fields. Nothing. And when the couple married and moved to the ranch two miles west of Ellsworth in 2003, it was a tough transition.
“Jon (Louden) decided to bring me up to the ranch for the first time and I’m like ‘Whoa!’” said Louden.
“It did take me time to adjust and it was all very overwhelming. But I adjusted and this is now my home where I’m raising my kids. It took some time but I now appreciate all of this,” she added.
Louden is now a ranch veteran, raising her children and helping with the day-to-day duties of being a ranch wife.
It’s a full time job for everyone on the ranch as the cattle rarely provide a day off. Through the hard work and countless hours working on the ranch, a vision began for her that has blossomed into something special; Sandhills Prairie Girl.
“It all started in 2020. I made a New Years Resolution that year to start journaling about ranch life. Boy, what a year to pick to start that. The world turned completely on its head and we were all locked down in March” said Louden.
“But ranch life continued. We are spring calvers so I began sharing our experiences calving, journaling about it, and taking pictures of the processes,” she added.
The formula created in those early months of 2020 was well received by friends and family. They encouraged Louden to share the experiences with more than just her circle and make her page public for all to see.
Fast forward to present day and that decision has turned into 13,000 Facebook followers, a Nebraska Life article, and messages from fans all the way from Italy and Australia.
Facebook is the best place for you to follow along Louden as she pens poems, reflections, and blogs to go along with stunning photography.
Her writing is well done and always poignant but the photos she takes will stop you in your tracks.
“I’m a self-taught photographer. As I have learned more about it, it has become a passion for me,” said Louden.
Her photos are not staged per say, just taken at the right times. Sunrises and sunsets provide the template of colors that help create the stunning images. She partners that with the images that are created organically from working on the ranch to put together the successful formula.
Louden is also an accomplished writer, publishing several articles about Ellsworth resident Wade Morgan and his store and Audrey Powles and her western business among many other subjects.
She writes reflections as well on her Facebook page to accompany her photography. It’s an easy follow for Facebook users who may not be familiar with how things work in this area. That has led to it’s growth since 2020.
“Sandhills Prairie Girl is continuing to grow and I’m letting it do its own thing. I have really enjoyed the connections I have made through the blog,” said Louden.
“I love to inspire and encourage people to get out there with your camera and look for the beauty wherever you are and be grateful for where you are,” she added.
With crazy weather patterns in the Panhandle, mixed in with the ranch life, things can change very quickly out in this part of the world and even on the Louden ranch. One thing is for sure though, Nicole Louden will be there with pen and camera in hand, ready to show the world what it takes to get the job done in the Sandhills.