Archival stills and paintings, including many by Frederic Remington, intercut with interviews of ranchers and cowboys, demonstrate that the essential lifestyle even clothing style is largely unchanged. Despite the hard work, long hours and low pay, the modern cowboys profiled in The Last Cowboys are devoted to their way of life. In addition, he or she must also know how to yield a branding iron. The working cowboy may be disappearing from the American West, but certain traditions will probably live on through the rodeo. The Last Cowboys highlights competitive bronco-busting and cattle roping, sports that arose from the skills cowboys used routinely.
Women are well- represented on the rodeo circuit, too.
The Last Cowboys dispels some of the myths about the cowboy way of life, but in uncovering the reality, does nothing to diminish the romance. The Last Cowboys won a CINE Golden Eagle award.