BUFFALO — Local author Craig Johnson is this year’s recipient of a lifetime achievement award named for Western literary legend Owen Wister.

The Western Writers of America recently announced that Johnson, of Ucross, is the 2025 recipient of its Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions. The award will be presented at the organization’s June convention in Amarillo, Texas.

Johnson’s “Longmire” series is soon to be 21 novels deep, anchored by the main character, Walt Longmire, sheriff of Absaroka County, a fictional Wyoming community based on Johnson County.

The honor was unexpected, Johnson said in an interview. He’s been writing for 20 years, but he said he feels as though he has 20 more years of writing ahead of him.

“I never had any idea I was going to win it or even have a shot,”

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