Winter 2026

Manifesto » Arena Tested. Character Forged.

Theodore Roosevelt once said: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...”

This is YOUR invitation to step boldly into the arena in 2026.

We don’t HAVE to go through this life and all of its trials and tribulations, we GET to. That shift in perspective changes everything. I encourage you to celebrate every victory with a great glass of wine or whiskey since life’s wins deserve ritual. Whether it’s Browne Cabernet after a successful, personal endeavor or Do Epic Sh*t Bourbon for simply making today count, the examined life requires celebration and the driven life requires reflection.

Teddy reminds us that the arena is where we belong. Not on the sidelines. Not with the critics. But in the thick of it. That’s where growth happens. That’s where we discover who we are and what we’re capable of achieving.

2026 is ours to create. Let’s go. TOGETHER!

Meet » Theodore Roosevelt

I first learned about Teddy in my middle school history class in Spokane. My teachers brought historical figures alive and instilled in me a passion for history.

As a child, Teddy was severely afflicted by asthma and poor eyesight, yet remained energetic and intellectually curious. He traveled extensively, attended Harvard, and excelled academically and athletically. My grandfather Bitner followed a similar path, entering Wittenberg University at just 16, thriving as a scholar and an athlete, attending Harvard Law School, and studying in Bordeaux, France, where he developed his lifelong love of wine.

After the death of his mother and wife on the same day, Roosevelt fled to the Dakota Badlands to ranch and reinvent himself. This eventually brought him to the presidency, and once elected, Teddy transformed it. At 42, the youngest president ever, he didn’t just occupy the office – he owned it, bringing energy, passion, and PURPOSE to every single day! Not only did he have the guts to take on the big railroad monopolies, he treated nature not as a renewable asset but as a special and powerful place. He stood for fairness and a square deal for every American, whether you were a titan of industry or a working man trying to provide for your family.

That’s leadership. That’s doing what’s right, not what’s easy. Roosevelt saw what needed to be done, and he DID IT – with conviction and excellence all the way through! More than anything, he reminds me of my grandfather. Both Teddy and Bitner were real action men, engaging full throttle at whatever drives them.

Do » Skiing

I first got into skiing when I was five or six, thanks to my dad’s love for the sport. I remember how cold it was – far below freezing – at 49° North Mountain Resort in Chewelah, Washington.

Since then, skiing has taught me that life rewards those who commit fully, who lean into the fall line, who trust themselves when it’s steep and fast. It’s where I feel most alive, especially alongside my loved ones. Teaching my kids to ski isn’t about the sport, but about instilling courage, GRIT, and the willingness to get back up.

My most memorable ski adventure took me to Utah, where I carved through Snowbird, Alta, and Park City during spring conditions. While I’ve skied many mountains since, my favorite remains the whole Sun Valley experience, which captures everything I love about the sport. Switzerland sits at the top of my bucket list, not just for the legendary slopes, but because it perfectly pairs a good cocktail after a long, hard day on the mountain.

Read » On Teddy Roosevelt

There are several books by and about Teddy Roosevelt that sit at the core of how I think and live. I return to these books constantly because Teddy lived what I’m trying to build in my day-to-day: a life of purposeful action and philosophical depth.

The Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt

His autobiography is the ultimate “shift gears” masterpiece. A sickly child becomes a rancher, who becomes a police commissioner, who becomes president. Every chapter proves that reinvention isn’t a weakness.

The Strenuous Life by Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy makes the case that comfort is the enemy of greatness. “Far better it is to dare mighty things…” is a philosophy of living. Each essay is a punch in the chest that demands you get in the arena, do the work, accept that effort without error is impossible, and strive anyway.

Mornings On Horseback by David Mccullough

This book captures how Teddy embodies the “YOU to WE” principle – you must become your best self before leading others to greatness. It distills the exact philosophy that shaped my leadership approach and connects me to my Montana Gang heroes like McGuane, Harrison, and Chatham.

These books sit on my desk as daily reminders: strive valiantly, DO. I highly encourage you to pick them up this winter!

Gifts & Goods » Sloane Stationery

In the world of the iPhone notes app and digital files that get lost in the cloud, I keep coming back to Sloane Stationery. Their notebooks have the kind of weight and texture that turns thinking into a physical practice. When I’m working through a problem, brainstorming ideas, or trying to capture something important, Sloane’s products make me want to slow down, be more precise, and engage with what I’m writing rather than just fill up space.

I also love giving Sloane Stationery as a gift because it’s an invitation to think better. When you hand someone a beautiful notebook, including the personalization or monogram that Sloane provides, you’re telling them their ideas deserve more than just their phone or a random scrap of paper. You’re giving them a space to slow down, work through complexity, and build something worth keeping.

Check out Sloane Stationery, a favorite of mine from across the pond.

Visit » United States National Parks

National parks are not just scenic destinations; they are cathedrals of the American spirit. These protected landscapes represent our highest ideals: preservation over exploitation, legacy over profit, collective inheritance over individual gain.

And at the heart of this unprecedented conservation achievement stands Theodore Roosevelt, the man who understood that true greatness means protecting what cannot be rebuilt. His vision for the national parks was revolutionary precisely because it was permanent. He doubled the number of sites within the National Park system during his presidency from 1901 to 1909, including signing the legislation that officially created Crater Lake National Park.

During my visit to Crater years ago, standing at the rim, staring at that massive blue lake cradled at the mountain’s peak, nature’s scale just stops you cold. Then Zion: Walking the Narrows with canyon walls soaring overhead, you feel it: small and powerful at once. Humbled and energized.

I haven’t visited enough of our nation’s National Parks, and while Courtney and I have plans to visit more, there is one that holds a special place in my heart: Glacier. To be with my wife, the sheer beauty, our Forest Project wines being served in the lodges, and overcoming my fear of driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road! PRICELESS.

The scale and timelessness of these places is humbling, reminding me that we are part of something far larger and more enduring than our individual lives.

Drink » Forest Project Wine & Spirits

Teddy Roosevelt didn’t just talk about protecting America’s wilderness, he stepped into the arena and ACTED. 230 million acres preserved. Five national parks established. A legacy that endures 100+ years later.

With the Browne Forest Project, we share that same commitment: preserve what’s precious, act with purpose, and leave something extraordinary for those who come after us. We’ve planted 350,000 trees alongside non-profit One Tree Planted to restore forests, create habitat for biodiversity, and make a positive social impact.

Join me in raising a glass of Forest Project. Cheers to the wild places that make America exceptional and to the leaders who had the courage to protect them.