The world of guest ranches continues to change and to become ever more dynamic. Horses may still occupy center stage, but dining, skiing and executive conferences vie for attention as well.

In this issue of Ranchweb's Newsletter, we highlight the success of Lost Valley Ranch and it's owner, Bob Foster, who has retained a AAA 4 Diamond rating for 29 years. And we look at the inventive cuisine of Jonathon Gillespie, who commands the kitchen at Vista Verde Ranch.

At Latigo Ranch, Randy George explains the appeal of cross country skiing in the Rockies in a guest ranch environment. The long family history at White Stallion Ranch in Arizona is the subject of our Ranch Profile while the legendary Frank Simms explains why corporate guests love visiting the Lodge at Chama.

Taking care of yearlings is nearly a full time job for eager guests at Focus Ranch while Fazenda Santa Cruz offers a taste of ranching in South America. Finally, we single out our new website, Dude Ranch Food & Wine, which gives an in-depth look at some of the culinary frontiers that are being explored on today's guest ranches.

Ask Bob Foster to define what sets Lost Valley Ranch apart from other guest ranches, and he's apt to say, "Every guest ranch can have cabins, great horses and blue skies. But it's the personality of the owner that makes all the difference. And that's the difference between a resort and a guest ranch. You don't know the general manager at a resort, but you will get to know him intimately during a week at a guest ranch. As a manager, who you are, what your philosophy is and what your values are greatly impact what happens on the ranch."

How does a guy from Burlington, Vermont who went to the Culinary Institute of America end up at an exclusive guest ranch in the Rockies?

"I applied on a whim," chef Jonathon Gillespie of Vista Verde Ranch recalls. "They interviewed me three or four times for the sous chef position. But on my last interview, they told me that the sous chef position had already been filled. And then they asked me to be their executive chef."

Start with an azure blue Colorado sky, add a panoramic view of 100 miles of the Continental Divide and expect perfect powder. Now you've got the makings of a Rocky Mountain cross country heaven. And that's what you get when you click into a pair of skinny skis at Latigo Ranch, which is nestled on the edge of the Gore Mountain Range with amazing vistas in all directions.

Russell True is not only the owner of the White Stallion Ranch, which sits on 3,000 acres at the foot of the Tucson Mountains adjacent to the Saguaro National Park. He's part of the second generation of Trues to run the ranch, which dates back to the 1940's. So his observation that guests today don't just come to ride and relax is based on years in the business.

There's an extraordinary ranch in New Mexico where the guest list is a who's who of congressmen, senators and Fortune 500 CEO's. The Lodge at Chama is beloved by political figures as well as Hollywood names such as Kevin Costner and Larry Kasdan. It's the rare ranch that keeps high profile individuals very happy and yet also manages a vigorous business in corporate meetings and retreats.

Anyone looking for an old?fashioned ranch where there's work to be done should put the Focus Ranch high up on their list.

"We run about 1,300 yearling cattle and we take them from our ranch onto forest permit land and into seven pastures," says Terry Reidy, who owns the ranch. "We move them about 25 times during the summer time. So as a guest, you're pretty much assured of working the cattle. There's very few weeks that we're not moving them. It's about as active as you could want."

Brazil might conjure up visions of Ipanema Beach and the sounds of samba, but there's a side to this vast country that has a strong ranch tradition as well. Deep in the heart of the province of Mato Grosso du Sul is Fazenda Santa Cruz, a working cattle ranch or "fazenda" that offers guests a chance to see how it's done in South America's largest country.

Ranchweb's brand new Dude Ranch Food and Wine website celebrates some of the best chefs at guest ranches in this country and abroad. More guests are asking for the very best in cuisine and this website allows ranches to highlight their accomplished and inventive chefs, creative individuals who love the ranch life.

The new 7th edition of the best selling guide RANCH VACATIONS is off the press. The new 2005 edition is for the first time all color with vivid photos of ranches across the United States and western Canada. To order please check your local book store, Amazon.com or you may call 707-939-3801 to order.