Colton Patterson built Broken Bow around the music, artwork, traditions, and values he inherited from his grandfather. At just 19, his work has grown into a social media following with more than one million people, along with collaborations with artists like the Turnpike Troubadours.

That same appreciation for Americana and the outdoors made Patterson a natural fit to illustrate Wendell Berry's Mike, a story about a bird dog, quail hunting, family, memory, and the connection between people and the land. Quail Forever Journal editor Ryan Sparks explains why Berry's writing has remained so influential to him, and how the story's deeper themes connect directly to conservation and the hunting tradition.

The conversation explores Patterson's creative process, his love of old country and bluegrass music, the influence of his grandparents, and why his deliberately timeless artwork resonates in a digital world. The discussion also digs into the idea of "membership," Berry's concept that we don't simply occupy a place but belong to a community of people, animals, land, traditions, and generations.

For anyone who loves bird dogs, quail hunting, conservation, or the culture surrounding the outdoors, this is a conversation about much more than pulling the trigger. It's about why we return to the field and what we carry home with us.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Show notes

• Read Wendell Berry’s story Mike as it appeared in Quail Forever Journal with Broken Bow’s illustrations.
• Check out Colton Patterson’s artwork at Broken Bow.
• Learn more about Wendell Berry and his writing in this terrific article from The New York Times following his passing in August.

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.