Writers’ Wednesday – On The GO! – Horse Girl: Wild Horse Annie Book (Off-site, KOP)
December 9 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Writers’ Wednesday – On The GO!
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
5:00 – 5:30 pm – Building open
5:30 – 6:30 pm – Lecture
Speaker: Terri Farley, author
Book Title: Horse Girl: How Velma Bronn Johnston Became Wild Horse Annie and Outsmarted the Mustang Killers of the West
Summary of Talk: The American mustang—wild, wind-tossed, and thundering across the open West—might have vanished into myth if not for Velma Bronn Johnston. A shy woman who was left with physical effects from a childhood battle with polio, Johnston was living a quiet life on a struggling ranch near Reno, Nevada, when she discovered wild horses being brutally transported to slaughter. Outraged, she reported it—only to be offered a permit allowing her to do the same horrific deed. But instead of backing down, Johnston took a stand.
Her refusal to profit from cruelty launched her into a firestorm of activism, upending her life. Laughed at, threatened, and dismissed, she pressed on. When a rival mocked her as “Wild Horse Annie,” she seized the name as a badge of honor and purpose. Embracing her new identity, she began to raid illegal holding pens under the cover of darkness, captivated the media, and became the voice of a movement. Her biggest allies were schoolchildren across America, whose letter-writing campaign swept the country.
Johnston’s commitment to these majestic animals was finally recognized in 1971 when Congress unanimously passed legislation to protect the nation’s wild horses—an enduring victory for one determined woman and the animals she refused to abandon.
Award-winning author Terri Farley presents the captivating story of Horse Girl, revealing Velma Bronn Johnston in a new light through previously unpublished family photos and journal entries. Farley’s storytelling brings Johnston’s unwavering courage into the spotlight, revealing a woman determined to protect the wild mustang—no matter the cost.
Terri Farley, author
Speaker Bio: Terri Farley has always loved books, horses, and wild places. One of those wild places was inner-city Los Angeles, where she first taught high school English and journalism before moving to Nevada. Farley now rides and hikes the range and spends time researching and writing the books that have made her an acclaimed author and advocate for the West’s wildlife—especially wild horses. She is the author of the Phantom Stallion adventure series and Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to Save Them. She was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame in 2017.
The Writers’ Wednesday Lecture Series, held on the second Wednesday of each month, features a different author who takes part in a book signing, a presentation, and a question-and-answer session with the audience.
The program intends to highlight writers who focus on Nevada, the Great Basin, or the West in general. The authors discuss the content of their books but also share details about the creative process.
We would like to thank our partner, the Knights of Pythias, for hosting our off-site lectures.
The Knights of Pythias fraternal organization promotes friendship among men and for the general welfare of its membership. They strive to make the world a better place by practicing the principles of friendship, charity, and benevolence through community service. The Knights of Pythias have been serving Nevada communities since the 1870s. There are only three active lodges left in the State of Nevada. The address is 980 Nevada Street, Reno, NV 89503.
