Kathy McCraine has been involved in ranching, writing, and photography most of her life. Born in Texas, she grew up on a ranch in Arizona and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona in Journalism and Art. In a career spanning over three decades, she has:

• Edited the Record Stockman, Brangus Journal, Arizona Cattlelog and Arizona Quarter Horse magazines.
• Worked as an Associate Editor at Western Livestock Journal.
• Founded Livestock Communications (1978), one of the first advertising agencies in the U.S. to specialize in livestock.
• Founded and published the Arizona Rancher (1993-1996), a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the Arizona cattle and horse industries.
• Published, wrote and illustrated three successful cookbooks, including Camouflage Cuisine (1984), which has been in print for 26 years.
• Edited and illustrated Keepers of the Range (2007), the 100-year history of the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association.
• Written and photographed chapters for the Western Horseman book, Legendary Ranches (2007).
• Won numerous awards in writing, photography and advertising through the national Livestock Publications Council.
• Written freelance articles for such magazines as Western Horseman, Range, Arizona Highways, Thunderbird Magazine, and American Cowboy.

    McCraine and her husband, Swayze, own and operate Camp Wood Cattle Company and the 7 Up Ranch near Prescott, Arizona, where they run 1,200 head of commercial cows and yearlings, and raise registered Quarter Horses.

    Currently McCraine serves as the Southwest Connection for Range Magazine. She is the photographer for a book on illegal immigration being written by journalist Terry Greene Sterling to be published by Globe Pequot Press in 2010. She is also collaborating with Texas artist Mark Kohler on Cow Country Cooking, a book of art, photography, recipes and tales from Arizona ranch country, to be published in 2010.