*WARNING: Contains Light Nudity
Hunky Dick Powers sets Instagram alight with pictures and videos of himself herding cattle, chopping wood and fishing in his family's 1,800 acres in the buff – dubbing himself The Naked Rancher.
Skinny-dipping in hot springs dotted around the magnificent landscape in Montana, where he has been helping to run the ranch since 2017, triggered 36-year-old Dick's desire to ditch formal wear for his birthday suit.
He said:
“I love being naked and I love being a naturist."
He continued:
“Anything which involves a blade I avoid for safety reasons. I will chop wood with an axe, but that's as far I will go – I don't want to slice anything off!"
“I did once wear chaps and a helmet to use the chainsaw for an Instagram pic, but if I'm honest I regretted it."
“All my posts tend to be organic and natural, while that one felt like it was mainly for my followers."
Dick, who is now ranch manager, says his love of nature was awoken as a child growing up in Florida's Everglades.
“I played a lot of sports growing up and was part of the American Indian Scouts – which is similar to regular Scouts, but a lot more primitive," he said.
“You learn how to survive off the land in a more traditional manner, like the Native Americans do."
She continued:
“It was there that I started to build a connection with nature."
Brainy, too, Dick loved science and, in September 2007 won a place at the University of Wyoming to study geology.
He said:
“I'd always enjoyed the outdoors and science was my preferred subject at school, so I wanted a profession that would let me do both."
With the Rocky Mountains just a short drive away from his university campus, for the next three years Dick threw himself into his studies.
Impressed by their son's beautiful surroundings, at the start of 2009, Dick's parents decided to leave Florida and relocate to the bordering state of Montana.
“It was always a dream of my dad's to move to the mountains and have his own ranch," Dick explained. “He'd been a businessman his whole life and it was his time to enjoy his golden years."
After graduating in 2010, Dick spent three years working on an oil rig, clearing his student debt and saving.
He said:
“I was a rig geologist, but in all honesty I didn't really enjoy it."
“I would help with the drilling before the oil started being rigged."
He continued:
“I was in my late 20s, though, and enjoyed how much money I was making but, after three years, it was time to get out."
Using his savings, in 2015 he funded a post graduate degree studying renewable energy development at the University of Montana – a stone's throw from his parents' ranch, where he spent weekends working the land.
“It's a big old chunk of land for the old man to manage on his own," he said.
He continued:
“We have 200 cattle that need seeing to all year round, we have a huge hay operation and logging season requires a hell of a lot of man power."
Living on and off in the guest wing of his parents' five-bedroom house since graduating in 2017, he became ranch manager the following year but, despite their close relationship, he has not told his parents he is a naturist.
“Instead of using my post grad degree, I became quite the handy man and that eventually led to me taking over from my dad at the ranch," he said.
He continued:
“It was here that I discovered the wonders of geothermal hot baths, as there are dozens of these incredible hot water holes dotted around The Rockies and most have signs saying clothing optional."
“As kids we ran around naked, so I've never been shy and there's nothing quite like taking a dip completely naked – you feel at one with the world."
“Once you've experienced it, it's hard to go back."
Soon swimming in his birthday suit was not enough for Dick.
He said:
“In the summer heat, working the land can get incredibly hot."
“One day I was in the field, working on a ditch for the irrigation system and thought, 'Screw it – I'm going to get naked.'"
He continued:
“So I took most of my clothes off apart from my underwear and worked the field."
“After a few days, I thought, 'Damn, I have got to get rid of these tan lines' – so I got butt naked."
“It might sound funny, but it's the honest truth."
Now he does everything from mow grass on his tractor to digging ditches and irrigating fields completely starkers.
And in May last year, he took up his friend's suggestion and started posing pictures of himself working in the buff on Instagram under the alias The Naked Rancher.
“My friend felt it was a good idea and I thought, 'Why not?'" he said.
He continued:
“It turns out she has a lot of gay buddies and they all went wild for it."
“They all liked the photo and shared it and before I knew it I had hundreds of followers."
“I'm straight, but I find it very sweet and very flattering. There are occasions when people, mainly men, will message or comment asking me out on a date."
He continued:
“I'm not intimidated by that thought, as I have a lot of gay friends."
“I might live in a conservative area, but I have an overwhelming desire to be myself no matter what the environment dictates."
“I've never liked being a stereotype."
He continued:
“I like being the odd ball and I like being naked – it frees my spirits."
Soon gathering over 1,000 Instagram followers, while his pictures raise a laugh, Dick says ranching is tough work.
“I'll usually wake up about 6am and have a coffee before going to the barn and seeing what work needs to be done," he said.
He continued:
“It always involves getting on the tractor and chasing some loose cows."
“I'll have a short lunch break and work into the evening, before enjoying some down time with my folks – who have no idea about my nudity."
“I head out fully dressed every morning, then take off my clothes when I arrive at whatever work needs doing."
He continued:
“I've never been caught, but if and when they find out they'll probably blush at first, before making fun of me."
“We're a very close family and I know it wouldn't bother them deep down."
“It's just not something I've ever felt the need to bring up and share with them."
In the future, Dick hopes to expand his naked ranching repertoire by offering guided tours of the area – in the altogether.
He said:
“It's an incredible part of the world and all these beautiful places are literally in my backyard."
“I'd love to show people the best things the area has to offer, with guided tours to hot springs, wooded trails and that sort of thing."
He continued:
“At first I would probably do it in clothes, but who knows, down the line I can see this place making a beautiful naturist retreat."
To keep up with Dick's latest Instagram posts, follow him on @thenakedrancher.
