Meet Stephanie Kasun

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Kasun. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Stephanie, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

6.5 years ago, I made a big decision to move from north west Colorado to Montana in search of a change. When I arrived in Bozeman I reverted to my old ways and habits of going out late, and being a part of groups that I really did not want to be a part of. When Covid came around, my job at Bridger Bowl Ski Area ended early and I needed work fast. I had heard of Wildland firefighting but didn’t think it was something I was capable of. My friend told me there was an opening for an all women’s fire crew though the Montana Conservation Corps. On that crew I got basic fire training, learned how to cut trees and got my saw certification. Eventually I learned I am capable of some tough things.

That next summer I was hired on a Wildland fire engine out of Idaho. This was fun but I needed more. I needed to be running around in the woods and doing more hands on work. The following season, my husband (boyfriend at the time) was trying to get hours flying helicopters and needed to move to Alaska to fly glacier tours. I figured that was a good of time as any to try and get on a hotshot crew. If I was going to work in Alaska, I wanted to be a part of the hardest working and truly gnarly.

It was on Pioneer Peak Hot Shot crew where I found my place and my people. I found that with enough motivation I can run, hike, carry and work just as hard, if not harder than the other 20 boys. That summer I was the only women on that crew. That in itself was a tough feat due to the fact that it is hard for most women to keep up to the standards that this crew has set in place. My second summer I was able to get my FFT1 training signed off. Meaning, I am able to lead half of the crew (12 people) and take on much bigger, harder, and more complicated tasks. I learned to talk and work with helicopters, work with and lead other resources, run pumps, read weather, work 18 hours a day digging, cutting trees and so much more.

After two seasons on that crew, I had saved up enough money to start my own business. That following summer I swapped my fire boots and chainsaw out for paint brushes and leather. I found out quickly that it is REALLY hard to run your own business. It is honestly way more mentally challenging than being a firefighter. Staying on top of your own money, having discipline to create when you really don’t have the energy, signing up for shows, talking to people and promoting your self, and business, holding your self accountable, (because there is no one else to do it) and staying on top of deadlines have been proving to be a difficult task. Especially being someone who has been diagnosed with ADHD.

Learning that my chaotic thinking, my overloaded brain and difficulty staying on task or having any sense of organization, has a name and that there’s a reason I think the way I do, has helped me learn that I need to look at everything a bit differently, and that’s ok. Looking back at all I had accomplished in my wildland firefighting career is what keeps me going and knowing that I can do REALLY hard things. My ADHD is what makes me an idea person, gives me my creativity and makes me funky and I love it, most of the time. Working as a Hotshot helped me become more resilient and prove to my self I am capable of BIG things.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a small business owner, Artist and wildland firefighter. I have always been artistic, my parents both went to school for art degrees, but I am completely self taught. I started truly creating about 6 years ago but started my own business and have been working full time for 1.5 years now.

I love dirt biking, skiing, running, fishing, biking and being outside. While in my favorite elements I take photos and get inspired. Being out in nature is my inspiration for my art. I use acrylic and leather to create original paintings and leather natural feeling goods that make you feel like you are on a grand adventure.

Being a wildland firefighter, I love giving back and helping people. I feel like as an artist my art makes people happy but doesn’t “give back”. So this summer I am creating a line of “fire inspired” hats and paintings. Part of the proceeds of this new line of art will go to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation based in Boise, ID. They’re a non-profit that helps support wildland firefighters and their families when things don’t go right.

I also have started a new branch of my business. I have started a “Hat Bar”. Available for parties, weddings or events, I have a tent setup with my hand burned, hand painted patches and lots of different styles of ball caps. At one of these events, you can pick your patch, pick your hat and I assemble on the spot. I also add your own personal leather tag unique to your event, on to the brim. For example: Wedding date and names.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Creativity: I have to thank my ADHD for this one. I am an idea person, so the ideas never stop. Without my ideas, I wouldn’t stand out and have my different avenues for creating. Having my leather and my landscapes let me move between the two media types, not get bored, burnt out and having fresh new ideas constantly.

Perseverance: Never stop trying. Just because something might seem like its not worth it, every little opportunity can turn into the biggest one! That’s how I started my hat bar.

Take a Break, Remember where you came from: I am a go-getter, a get stuff done, can’t stop moving type of person. I constantly forget that it is ok to take a break, remember to breathe, slow down and take in what’s going on around you and how far you have come. Every step is progress even if it seems like its backwards. You learn from it and move on and forward.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

I would honestly do exactly what I am doing now. I currently am in love with my life, dog, husband, friends and family. I love where I am, who I am and where I am going. I would just spend a little more time slowing down and then going dirt biking. I would try to promote my self a little less and use that time to just paint and enjoy it a little more instead of always trying to “get ahead”.

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