Elle McGill grew up on her family’s ranch in Lodge Grass, MT – in the heart of Crow Country, known as “God’s Country.” She has a deep love and appreciation for the Big Horn mountains, the Big Horn River and Crow culture as well as a taste for fine horses and good cowboy gear.
From her deep familial roots in the cattle industry – and her former role as a state brand inspector for the Montana Department of Livestock, Elle has learned to appreciate a good spring rain, an easy winter, a cool summer, and heavy calves in the fall. She’s also learned to deal with the less than ideal conditions, like the soft cattle markets and the hard times. Despite challenges, her priority will always be producing gear that cowboys can use daily, whether through droughts and storms, with 600 pound steer calves, or during failing hay crops. Elle recognizes that ranchers and cowboys keep the country fed, and they require good horse flesh and quality gear.
After what started as three pulled wool saddle pads for her brothers and their good friend in spring of 2025, word-of-mouth success led to a nearly full-time business. Having now produced over 100 pulled wool saddle pads, doors have opened for her that she hadn’t thought were possible. Come that winter, long-time friend Tia Watson offered Elle her cinch building business, which was a huge honor. This acquisition resulted in Powder River Cowboy Gear, which she named in reference to the land where she and her husband, Lawson, raise their three wonderful little boys – Gabe, Laughlin and Lewie – in Powderville.
