The real cowboy way. The photo takes me straight back to a Freedom bull ride… Rowdy in his element, managing the show, watching every gate, every rider, every bull like a hawk. What most folks don’t see in moments like this is the years of work behind it. Training a bucking bull isn’t about “making” one mean. It’s about developing natural athletic instinct. You start young, teaching them to load calmly, stand in the chute without blowing up, break clean, buck hard, and most i

A Short Story By: Anita Waggoner When Rowdy read the first draft of Freedom, he was thrilled. He recognized our ranch, our struggles, our laughter, and pieces of himself on every page. What meant the most to me was that he understood I wasn’t simply writing a Western. I was preserving the life we had built together, with all its grit, heartbreak, humor, and love. Rowdy didn’t live to see how far Freedom would travel, from the original book to award-winning screenplays and com

There is a difference between researching a world and remembering one. When I write about ranches, rodeos, bucking bulls, cowboys, small towns, long drives, financial risks, unpredictable animals, and people whose word can still mean something, I don’t have to imagine what that world feels like. I lived it. My connection to the Western way of life began long before I ever thought about writing a screenplay. I was raised with rodeo in my blood. My grandfather, Leo Moomaw, was

The first time I went to Freedom, Oklahoma, I didn’t realize I was stepping into a place that would quietly change me. I thought I was going there for business, for opportunity, for a new chapter. What I found instead was something older… something steadier. It felt like stepping back in time. Not in a nostalgic, polished sort of way, but in the way life must have felt when neighbors knew one another by necessity, when a handshake still meant something, and when stories were

Sometimes I still wonder about the unlikelihood of it all. One week after my husband admitted he was having an affair, I found myself in Las Vegas with a broken heart and a life that no longer looked the way I thought it did. From the outside, I appeared to have everything going for me. I was successful, independent and capable. I had built a good life. I was not looking for someone to rescue me, and I certainly was not looking for a down-and-out Oklahoma cowboy with little m

Sometimes we spend years telling one story... only to realize there was another story being written all along. As I continue developing Freedom, I've come to understand something I didn't see when I first began. Cheyenne isn't just the lead character. She represents the woman I was. The woman who dared to leave everything familiar behind to follow a dream. The woman who loved deeply, trusted completely, stumbled, got back up, and kept moving forward despite heartbreak and dis

Ellie McCall is a fictional character currently being developed for Season Two of Freedom. Ellie arrives at Cedar Canyon Lodge looking for a housekeeping job, but Cheyenne soon discovers she has hired much more than a housekeeper. The widow of a world-champion bareback rider, Ellie is an experienced horsewoman with a natural gift for understanding people, horses, and the details that make a lodge feel like home. She begins leading trail rides and gradually becomes Cheyenne’s

People often ask, "When does filming begin?" The honest answer is that bringing an independent television series to life is a marathon, not a sprint. Behind every script are countless hours of writing, rewriting, researching, and building a world that feels authentic. Behind every producer inquiry are emails, phone calls, meetings, and follow-ups. There are sponsorship conversations, financing discussions, presentation decks, legal documents, marketing plans, and relationship

What makes Freedom different isn't just the story. It's the life behind it. I didn't learn the West by researching it. I lived it. I owned and operated a working ranch in Freedom, Oklahoma. I raised rodeo bulls, worked as a professional bull riding stock contractor, produced rodeos and bull riding events, built businesses that welcomed guests from around the world, and spent years alongside the cowboys, ranching families, and communities that define this way of life. Those ex

I attended my very first rodeo in Omak, Washington, just a few days after I was born. My grandfather, Leo Moomaw, was one of the founders of the Omak Stampede and served as an early stock contractor, helping build the Western tradition that continues to bring generations of families together today. Rodeo has been in my blood from the very beginning. August 13 through 16, 2026, Omak will proudly celebrate the 92nd Annual Omak Stampede! From the first ride-in to the final runni

When the arena lights come on and the gate swings open, the crowd sees eight unforgettable seconds. What they don't see is everything that happens before and after. Long before the first bull leaves the chute, stock contractors, ranch families, pickup men, bullfighters, veterinarians, announcers, judges, rodeo secretaries, arena crews, and countless volunteers have already put in hours, sometimes days, of work to make the event possible. The bulls themselves aren't simply "pe

A Young Hero in the American West Every ranch has someone you can count on. In the Freedom Series, Season One, that's Wade. Wade is young and athletic. He is chasing his own dreams, but family always comes first for him. Raised with a strong work ethic, he has a deep respect for the land. Wade understands that character isn't measured by words. Instead, it is measured by actions taken when no one is watching. The Courage to Stand Up When trouble comes to the ranch, Wade doesn

Every unforgettable story begins with unforgettable people. While Charlie is a fictional character in FREEDOM, he was inspired by a very real man whose quiet strength, unwavering character, and love for family left an indelible mark on my life. During my years on a ranch in Freedom, Oklahoma, I had the privilege of knowing a man who embodied the values that built the American West. He wasn't interested in recognition or applause. He believed in keeping your word, working hard

There are stories that entertain. Then there are stories that preserve something worth remembering. FREEDOM began long before I sat down to write a screenplay. It began on a ranch outside Freedom, Oklahoma, where I spent years raising bucking bulls, hauling livestock, fixing fences, feeding cattle, and living alongside cowboys and ranch families whose values shaped my life forever. Those years taught me that the American West is more than a place. It's a way of life built on

Some people think making a film starts when the cameras begin rolling. The truth is... it starts long before that. This week has been about opening one chute gate after another. I've been reaching out to organizations and brands that represent the authentic Western way of life, sharing the vision behind FREEDOM and exploring partnerships that honor the people, traditions, and heritage that inspired this story. Every email sent... phone call made, and proposal shared... is ano

Life doesn't hand out guarantees. It hands out opportunities disguised as hard work, setbacks, and moments that test your resolve. You can spend your days wondering "what if"... or you can saddle up, take your best shot, and see where the trail leads. Not every dream will work out exactly as planned. I've learned that firsthand. But every time you have the courage to try, you grow stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next opportunity. At the end of the day, success isn'

Not every day in filmmaking is spent on a movie set. Some of the most important days happen behind the scenes. Today I completed a professional Brand Partnership & Product Placement Deck for Freedom, a presentation designed to introduce the project to Western lifestyle brands, sponsors, and corporate partners who share the values of authenticity, hard work, faith, family, and the American West. We also began reaching out to potential apparel partners, opening conversations ab

Life doesn't hand out guarantees. It hands out opportunities disguised as hard work, setbacks, and moments that test your resolve. You can spend your days wondering "what if"... or you can saddle up, take your best shot, and see where the trail leads. Not every dream will work out exactly as planned. I've learned that firsthand. But every time you have the courage to try, you grow stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next opportunity. At the end of the day, success isn'

When people think of a screenwriter, they often imagine someone walking a Hollywood backlot, attending premieres, or sitting in a writer's room surrounded by producers and directors. The reality for most independent screenwriters couldn't be more different. Most mornings begin with a cup of coffee, a computer, and a dream that still hasn't found its audience. There are no assistants, no production office, and no guarantees. One day I'm rewriting dialogue. The next, I'm updati

I've learned a thing or two riding dusty roads and working around cattle. Not every gate is meant to be opened, and not every pasture is worth turning your horses into. I've spent enough time reaching out to other groups only to catch a little smack and a whole lot of opinions. That's all right. It comes with the territory. These days, I'd rather sit on the porch with folks who wave when they drive by than chase after people who never wanted me at their campfire in the first