Who We Are
Ranch Preservation Foundation works to protect, restore and preserve historic western ranches. Join us in our mission.
The Ranch Preservation Foundation is a duly incorporated nonprofit corporation under the Internal Revenue Service code 501(c)(3). The Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN) is 88-3202965.
Our Mission
The Ranch Preservation Foundation works to protect, restore and preserve western ranches, while honoring the storied histories of each unique property to maintain the connection to the past and history of dude ranching.
RPF Board Members
Russell True
Russell started his life in the dude ranching business when he was 6 years old. He grew up on the historic White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, purchased by his parents in 1965.
Today, in addition to historic ranch preservation efforts Russell and his family own the White Stallion and he is a principal of Ranch Preservation Holdings, LLC, as well as one of the founders of True Ranch Hospitality with Jaye Wells.
Russell co-hosts the podcast “Cowboy Up” with H. Alan Day, swapping stories and life lessons with some truly fascinating guests. He was co-founder and president of the Arizona Dude Ranch Association and served as the president of the national Dude Ranchers’ Association for two terms.
In 2017, Russell was inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame and the Family Travel Association named him Person of the Year in 2019.
He is the author of two books: Dude Ranching in Arizona and Dude Ranching in Wyoming, detailing the images and history of dude ranching in each state. He is an avid reader of history and a highly respected and entertaining public speaker.
Josie Hedderman
Josie grew up with horses and was known to ride bareback with a piece of rope around her palomino’s nose for a bridle. Both sides of Josie’s family have roots in Cody, Wyoming for more than 100 years. With a background in non-profit event management, hospitality, marketing, and packaged travel, she thrives in connecting people with history through elevated experiences.
Josie officially “took the reins” of the Dude Ranch Foundation in April 2024. She has been inspired by the opportunity to safeguard dude ranching history while actively working on future-focused programs.
Bridget Brussels
Bridget is a marketing professional whose career has always found a way to tie in her love of horses and animals. After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2016, Bridget worked in public relations for a specialty veterinary clinic, and then sales and marketing for Bob’s Custom Saddles, a western performance saddle manufacturer.
She’s found her niche as the Marketing and Social Media Manager for the True Ranch Collection, a group of historic dude ranches.
Bridget went to her first dude ranch when she was 10 years old and wouldn’t have imagined her life would circle back. Today, she develops the branding, creative, social media and digital presence for the True Ranches. She enjoys telling the story of dude ranches that each hold a special place in the history of the West.
Bridget competes nationally on the American Quarter Horse Association circuit in the all around events with her horse Accidental Zipper, “Red.” She grew up in the Midwest, but after moving to Arizona in 2012, can’t see herself anywhere but out West.
Jaye Wells
Jaye Wells is a designer, developer and entrepreneur, and one half of the founders of True Ranch Hospitality with Russell True, as well as a principal of Ranch Preservation Holdings, LLC.
Jaye was born in Montgomery, Alabama and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended the Memphis College of Art and Parsons School of Design in New York where he studied product design, architecture, and urban development. In 1985, he began his own architectural firm, Wells & Associates, working in both restoration and home design throughout the Mid-South. His portfolio includes historic preservation and museum work.
Jaye has founded several non-profits including the Larry Hatchett Fishing Fund in 1990, which hosts foster children to take them deep sea fishing; and Mar a Mesa, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable fishing in the Sea of Cortez.
Jaye is Past President of Rillito Race Track in Tucson, the Birthplace of Quarter Horse Racing. He is a founder of the Rillito Park Foundation. Over the past four years, Jaye has worked to promote legislation at the Arizona State Capitol in connection to horse racing and dude ranching.
Dave Leishman
Dave’s first dude ranch visit was meant to be an escape from office stress and corporate burnout from his busy life back east. Instead, it became a life-changing, priority-altering experience.
Dave and his wife, Jan, purchased the Bar W Guest Ranch in Whitefish, Montana. Along with their three daughters, Meghan, Emily and Haley, they owned and operated the dude ranch for 17 wonderful years.
Dave has served on the Dude Ranchers’ Association Board, the Montana Dude Ranch Association Board, and was past President of the Montana Dude Ranch Associations.
Brook Judy
Brook began her career in hospitality as the concierge at White Stallion Ranch. Her background in guest relations is key in overseeing ranch management, contracting corporate retreats and understanding guest needs and their motivations. Today she manages the True Ranch Service Center in Tucson, AZ, overseeing central management operations for all Ranch Preservation Holdings and True Ranch Collection properties. She keeps a pulse on everything going on at each property overseeing central reservations and group sales, marketing, accounting, human resources and logistics departments.
Brook is an avid horsewoman and competes across the country on the American Quarter Horse Association circuit in the All Around events with her Quarter Horse “Caretta.” Brook grew up in the Midwest and moved to Arizona in 2012. She completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of Arizona in 2016 and immediately stepped into the world of dude ranching and hasn’t looked back.