It’s No Surprise That Wyoming’s Rowdy Randy Keeps Winning Awards

Wyoming is known for it's beautiful sunsets, wide-open spaces, mountains, sage brush, wildlife and some of the most talented artists in the United States.

The word definition for the word "Artist" according to Merriam-Webster:

a person who creates art (such as drawing, painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination

One look around the state of Wyoming and you can see every one of those artistic skills being put to good use, especially the writing and drawing part of that definition.

Casper's Casey Rislov and Zachary Pullen are two of those artists that have used their skills, to team up and create a pair of award winning books together. Rislov says that from the start Rowdy Randy was to represent the wildlife that Wyoming calls Wyoming home.

Rowdy Randy, from the start, has been there to display the animals that everyone comes to see. Like in Yellowstone, people come from all over the world to see them. I noticed that when I go to those National Parks there was no great book that shows illustration wise, anatomically correct the way the wildlife would look. I thought that would be a fun book and Zac was on-board.

The Rowdy Randy book series is only on it's second book, but making such an impact that the awards have been rolling in.

The book that introduced the world to Rowdy Randy, picked up 9 awards.

• National Indie Excellence Awards
• Western Writers Of America
• CIPA EVVY Book Award
• National Parenting Product Award
• Benjamin Franklin Award
• Best Books Award
• Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award
• Will Rodgers Medallion Award
• Wyoming Great Read Award

Never mind that this broncobuster is a horsefly. She acts taller than any tall tale. She might be easy to overlook, but Rowdy Randy definitely can't be ignored. She spends her days buzzing and biting all the creatures in her path, all the while stirring up a whole heap of trouble.

The second book titled "Rowdy Randy Wild West Show" was released in October of 2022 and has already won three major awards this year, with more to come. You know a book is making an impact when New York Times Best Selling authors and Wyomingites, Craig Johnson and C.J. Box have great things to say about the book.

“The whole world is buzzing about The Rowdy Randy Wild West Show. Clap your hands, all four of them, for the legendary horsefly that insects-up to become a rodeo entrepreneur!”

Craig Johnson -  Author "Longmire" series

Children will enjoy the story, and readers of all ages will be thrilled by the illustrations. The Rowdy Randy Wild West Show is a hoot!

C.J. Box - #1 New York Times Best-Selling  Author of Shadows Reel

Most recently, the month of October has been great for Rislov and Pullen. Winning the Will Rogers Medallion Gold Award for Western Young Reader Fiction/Illustrated. Also during these awards Craig Johnson was awarded the WRMA 2023 Golden Lariat Award.

Also in October, Rowdy Randy Wild West Show, won the Nebraska Center For The Book's best Illustration.

In April the Casper duo, won the Western Heritage Juvenile Book Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.