| There was a long history of treating highway robbers as heroes. The title Road Agent described a bandit or thief who robbed travelers on the highway. They were admired by some because they were considered to be bold men who confronted their victims face-to-face and were ready to fight for what they wanted.
Some highwaymen robbed alone, but others operated in pairs or in small gangs. They often targeted private coaches and public stagecoaches.
Devoted to the cowboy lifestyle, Mike McFarland started sculpting as he recovered from an accident he had while roping horses. As he explains: "I have devoted my life to cowboyin' and sharing with folks my love for that life. Regardless of a person's background, I believe all Americans have a little cowboy spirit in them.
"I believe the reason people like western art, is the cowboys independence, courage and the guts to do a job under tough conditions."
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