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Zak Sonntag

Zak Sonntag is a general assignment and features reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Casper, Wyoming. Previously, Zak wrote for the Casper Star-Tribune, along with the City Journals and Deseret News in Utah. He's an award-winning journalist with the Wyoming Press Association and the Utah Society of Professional Journalists Headliners Contest.

Latest from Zak Sonntag

Zak and homeless 12 24 25

Zak Sonntag: I Wrote About A Homeless Couple Thinking It’d Help. Did I Make Their Lives Harder Instead?

Zak Sonntag writes, "I felt so terrible to learn they were 'evicted' from their only shelter – the abandoned sedan – as a result of the story I wrote. "The day after it published, Casper Police knocked on the roof of the car early in the morning and explained they were on private property and needed to leave immediately, Springer told me."

Zakary SonntagDecember 24, 2025

Matthew Allwine is a 67-year-old former Marine and long-haul trucker with a soft heart for kids and soft, and perfecrt belly and luxurious white beard to be Santa. He's in his first season as a Wyoming mall Santa in Casper.

Behind The Beard With A Wyoming Mall Santa (Who Smokes And Drives A Kia)

When his employer told Cowboy State Daily that Santa would not be available for an interview, Santa would not stand for it. “I have a break at 3. You can find me in the parking lot. I’ll be at the gray Kia having a cigarette," he said.

Zakary SonntagDecember 24, 2025

Cowgirls and ranch hands are the true innovators behind today’s Western style, not celebrity bandwagon jumpers. When it comes to fashion or function, dressing like a cowboy — or girl — is all about attitude, not wardrobe. At the National Finals Redeo in Las Vegas, Aspen Edge gets a new Western look.

Beyond the Bandwagon: The Real Pioneers of Western Style

When supermodels Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid this year made the cover of Vogue magazine on the strength of a Western-wear photo shoot in Jackson, they were merely jumping on the bandwagon. The real style pioneers are the cowgirls and ranch hands who live the Western lifestyle.

Zakary SonntagDecember 21, 2025

Rodeo diehards flock to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo, where belt buckles symbolize pain, pride and a way of life. Western culture is more than a trend for riders and fans, it’s an identity. And when it comes to buckles, go big or go home.

At The NFR: When It Comes To Belt Buckles, Go Big Or Go Home

Rodeo diehards flock to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo, where belt buckles symbolize pain, pride and a way of life. Western culture is more than a trend for riders and fans, it’s an identity. And when it comes to buckles, go big or go home.

Zakary SonntagDecember 15, 2025

Truxel dishes advice on having a good time at Gilley's saloon and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Looking For Love At The NFR: Urban Cowboy Ruins A Honky-Tonk Dream At Gilley's

Rodeo fans stampede to Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo, but one obnoxious “Arizona Urban Cowboy” manages to ruin every romantic possibility. Between mechanical bulls and honky-tonk heartbreak, the only place to escape might be the dance floor at Gilley's.

Zakary SonntagDecember 13, 2025

Jaelin Kauf, Wyoming’s world champion freestyle ski star, overcame early setbacks and a 7th-place Olympic finish in 2018 to claim silver in 2022. Now dominating the World Cup circuit and a 2025 world title, she eyes gold in 2026 Milano Cortina.

Wyoming Freestyle Skier Won Silver In 2022 Olympics, Aims For Gold In 2026

Alta, Wyoming’s Jaelin Kauf is one of the world’s most decorated freestyle skiers and currently the “athlete to beat” in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. She won a silver in 2022 and is aiming for the gold medal in February.

Zakary SonntagDecember 06, 2025

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