Ag edition by Saratoga Sun

S O T F A F H to

The Saratoga Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

2014

Salute to Agriculture

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Fifth-generation rancher keeping the dream alive By Doug Radunich After moving back to the Platte Valley 10 years ago, Byron Barkhurst is keeping the dream of running his family’s ranch with his family. Barkhurst comes from a long line of ranching families who originally settled in the Platte Valley. Some of his ancestors first came to the Valley and settled on Brush Creek south of Saratoga in the mid 1880’s. Like many of his relatives before him, Barkhurst also grew up on the family’s Ranch. As he left the area after high school, he returned six years later to help run the cow-calf operation on the ranch with his family. Since 2004, Barkhurst has been home helping on the family ranch, which includes doing many different duties. He, his wife Wendy, and five children work together with his parents Les and Tammy Barkhurst. “Our kids are the sixth generation of Barkhursts to live here, and that really is a blessing,” Barkhurst said. “There’s been a lot of hard work from everyone who’s been here, not only the men, but the women too. Many times they were brooding chickens or slaughtering hogs and boiling the hair off of them, and then back to the house to prepare meals. My grandma was tough as nails and could do anything anyone else could do. In our family there’s a tremendous desire to work hard, and to have strong work ethic, but also have the willingness to adapt and change as times change.” Barkhurst described the hard work that goes into maintaining the cow-calf operation. “A lot of work goes into getting the calves on the ground in late winter, and then ready for sale in the fall,” he said. “During calving you’ve got the feeding, and we sort off the heavies, the ones we think are going to calve sooner than others,” he said. “Then we’ve got to watch them at night, and dad does most of the night watching. We mostly calve on the meadow, then we get them tagged, processed, and moved to another meadow.” “First we’ll do the tagging, where you make sure you match and number the right calf to the right cow, since

you wouldn’t want to mis-tag them,” Barkhurst said. “Then we’ll give them a vaccination shot subcutaneously in the neck, and then, as an antibacterial we put iodine on their navel where their umbilical cord was attached. Occasionally, one will have horns too, even though we try to breed the horns out of them. You have to put a dehorning paste on the horn itself on both sides, and it’s kind of an acid that burns the horns away. The horns are basically hair that grows and twists, and if you get that early enough and kill that area, the horn won’t grow.” Barkhurst said they will then use metric tape measure to estimate the weight of the calves, and log the information into their records. “During calving we still have other cattle at our lower place to go down and feed,” he said. “It is where we develop our replacement heifers, yearling bulls, and winter our herd bulls.” After the processing is done, Barkhurst said they have to brand the cattle. “The brandings start in the spring before we start irrigating, and we’ll usually brand 100 in a day,” he said. “The kids will help shove calves on to the branding table, and everyone pitches in. In May, Dad does the artificial insemination on the replacement heifers. This is our way of introducing new genetics into the herd.” Aside from managing the cattle, Barkhurst also brought up the irrigating and doctoring that goes into maintaining the operation. “Dad irrigates our lower place, and I irrigate up here,” he said. “We do that and we’ve got the fence that we need to fix to keep cows in. There’s also the doctoring, but we haven’t needed to do that as much as we used to. In confined areas you get a lot of sickness, while out there on the meadow we don’t get as much. We have cut down on doctoring by quite a bit and we used to rope calves off of horses, but most of the time we rope off of four-wheelers now.” Barkhurst also mentioned field work to be done in the spring.

Photo by Doug Radunich

Byron Barkhurst tags one of the calves on his family ranch just south of Brush Creek. Barkhurst is part of a family that has lived in this Valley for five generations. “In the fall we’ll plow fields to prepare for spring alfalfa crops when needed, and after we ship the calves we’ll clean the corrals and haul manure out to the field,” he said. “We’ll also spread the field with fertilizers in the spring, and Mom does all the dragging of the meadows. I love ranching because every day there’s something fun. No two days are the same.” Come summertime, Barkhurst said his mom, Tammy, will work in the hay in the fields with him and his dad until they finish in early fall. “When we start haying, mom cuts all the hay,” he said. “She runs the swather, but she can rake it, bale it, haul it all in and stack it before going on to the next field. We’ll do that together from the first week of July clear until the middle of September. We usually have equipment that needs work done, and we’re still trying to keep the fences up. We have quite a bit of vaccinating and sorting, and the kids help with that too.”

As the year gets closer into the winter season, there is still more work to be done with the calves. “By November, we’ll be ready to split the calves off their mothers and throw them on a truck to send to buyers,” Barkhurst said. “For the people who buy our cattle, we’ll put them on a video and then sell them on a video auction, and we’ll usually contract them in July for a November ship date. This year we’re adapting and doing things differently because we don’t have our summer pasture. But that’s how ranching is, you adapt, you survive.” Aside from cows, bulls, heifers and steers, the ranch also holds horses and sheep that graze on the land. Barkhurst said the kids get swine for their 4-H projects and they plan to get chickens again for the ranch this year. To produce their own vegetables, the family also plans to build a greenhouse this spring. “Wendy and I worked at get-

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

ting our garden going, but every time we get it ready it freezes,” Barkhurst said. “So, we’ll try to build a greenhouse this spring so we can get it to where we kind of protect the garden a bit. The outside garden hasn’t worked out so well for us, since we’re at an elevation of 7,440 feet up here. I have a strong belief that we need to be as self-reliant as possible.” Another project on the ranch is the new house that Les is building on the ranch for him and Tammy to live in. “We’re about ready to put drywall up, and dad did all the framing and electrical work,” Barkhurst said. “My mom did the woodworking and several headboards, and we’re waiting to do more woodworking inside. There’s always some project or some fence that needs to be built, haystacks that need to be built or repaired, or panels that need to be fixed or repaired. So, making time for the new house Continued on page 3

HATS OFF TO AG

Platte Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Want to learn more about how and where to fish, protect cold-water fisheries, assist local agencies and ranchers with their conservation projects? Sign up online at www. tumembership.org specifying Platte Valley #495 as your home chapter. Or call 326-3607 for information on our next meeting and come check us out.

The staff of the Saratoga Sun is proud to be part of a great agricultural community.

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Above, Barkhurst admires his hit-and-miss engine with a saw rig, which was built in 1915. Once used to cut logs, the machinery was brought to the family ranch by Barkhurst’s great-great-grandfather.

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Right, Barkhurst goes through calving records, which he checks after tagging the calves. He records information such as the calf’s sex and how much it weighs.

can be a bit difficult, and the house is pretty much a big project as it is.” Barkhurst added that everyone has their own different way of doing ranch work. “The thing about ranching is everyone does it different, and no two operations are exactly the same,” he said. “What works for one may not for another. The key seems to be to make your operation as efficient as possible with

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whatever hand you’re dealt, and then always be willing to improve. I believe that’s the key to making your specific operation successful.” While he may now be enjoying the blessings of the ranch, Barkhurst said he never forgets the past family history that made the ranch what it is today. “The ranch isn’t the way it is because of me, it’s because of all the generations and families

who worked hard to get it to the point where it’s at now,” he said. “There was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears that made it what it is. Even the kids worked on the ranch, and it really continues to be a family effort. When I came back, the first thing my folks said was we’re in this together, and we either succeed together or fail together. Hard work pays off, and we appreciate that sense of teamwork.”

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

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From sky-rise hotels to the big sky experience Brush Creek Ranch’s new director of engineering faces myriad of changes

opposed to a one building hotel and maybe a parking structure,” he said. Moving to Wyoming was a struggle at first. Vucsko said between the elevation and the By Mike Dunn cold, life on the high plains took Life used to be different for a while for him to get used to. Robert Vucsko . “You better drink your water A few years ago, he was living here. Because with this elevain Indianapolis, working at the tion here, that headache can be luxurious JW Marriott; hosting bad. But now, I love it. I was guests such as Madonna, entire taking big deep breaths there NFL football teams and some of for a while,” he said. Indianapolis’ most important It is hard for him to come up business people. He used to set with his favorite part about up conventions for hundreds of living on a ranch. But when he people and help manage exclu- toured Brush Creek Ranch for sive restaurants. the first time, one thing stood But things have changed. out to him the most— peace As the director of engineering and quiet. at the Brush Creek Ranch, Vuc“First two days I visited here sko now works out of a large in- I slept longer those two nights door shop. His boots are covered than I have slept in 10 years,” with mud while his Carhartt Vucsko said. “I don’t think I’ve jacket is thickly layered with ever gotten two nights sleep like dust. He’s gone from sky-rise that in a row.” to big sky. “I would look up and be able For a man who grew up in Tal- to hear a bird flapping its wings lahassee Fla., Wyoming ranch above me and be amazed. I have life is a whole new world. Vucs- never been able to hear that ko has worked at several differ- kind of stuff before,” he added. ent hospitalThough ity jobs over the ranch the years The quiet, the seclusion. aspect of the and most reis still in These are some of the job cently comes the learnfrom a hotel things that some of our ing process in Omaha. clients do not experience for him (reHowever, phrase), it Brush Creek too often. gives him Ranch pres~Robert Vucsko a new perents a whole spective to new chalhis already lenge for him. long career in hospitality. He “I need to learn this ranch, said his goal is to provide his which is always a challenge clients with the same incredible when you move to a new prop- experience he has had at Brush erty — this one just happens to Creek Ranch. “The quiet, the be the size of a small village as seclusion. These are some of the

Photo by Mike Dunn

Robert Vucsko pets a horse at Brush Creek Ranch. Ranch life on the high plains has been an adjustment for Vucsko, but he said that he is enjoying all that it has to offer. things that some of our clients do not experience too often,” Vucsko said. “For guests, we want to give them that unique, authentic, western feel with great hospitality.” Vucsko and his family live on the ranch, nestled between the

Sierra Madres and the Snowy Range. Despite moving to the ranch in December, he said he continues to be in awe of where he lives and works everyday. “There is not one place [on the ranch] that I would walk into and not say ‘whoa,’” he said.

Vuscko is no longer in high-rise hotels. His cell reception does not work as well as it used to. The nearest grocery story is a 20-minute drive. But the western life is starting to grow on him. “It took me a couple weeks to get used to it, but now I love it.”

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The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

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Five FFA members earn state degrees By Doug Radunich Five members of the Encampment Future Farmers of America Team have been selected to receive the 2014 State FFA Degree from the Wyoming FFA Association. Encampment K-12 School Seniors Brett Miller, David Flauding, Matt Jarrett, Michelle Hooker and Garrett Dale have all earned the degree, and been recognized as top State FFA Association members. Their advisor is Encampment K-12 School Vocational Agriculture/Athletic Director Clint Bromley. According to a release from the FFA, the State FFA Degree program recognizes students’ accomplishments in their handson supervised agriculture experience (SAE) work program. The five Encampment students who received the degree also demonstrated leadership skills, scholastic achievement and a desire to serve the community while meeting benchmarks in their FFA and agriculture education careers. For their required SAEs, Hooker worked at the Old Baldy Club and showed pigs; Miller worked on the Grace Meadows and Silver

Spur ranches, and had market beef; Jarrett worked for the Town of Encampment; Flauding mowed lawns and helped build a house; and Dale worked for the Whitehorse Country Store and had market steers. The SAE could include livestock production, agribusiness experience or placement in an agriculture business or company. “Our SAE could be pretty much anything we could make money at, including working or raising livestock,” Miller said. According to the National FFA Organization, students who are eligible for the state degree must have received a Chapter FFA Degree; been an active FFA member for at least two years (24 months) at the time of receiving the State FFA Degree; have completed at least two years (360 hours) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth-grade level, which includes the SAE; and earned and productively invested at least $1,000, or have worked at least 300 hours outside of scheduled class time through an SAE. Students must have demon-

strated leadership ability by performing 10 parliamentary law procedures, giving a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or FFA and serving as an FFA officer, committee chairperson or committee member. Additionally, students must also have a satisfactory academic record, certified by the agriculture teacher and the school principal or superintendent; participated in the planning and implementation of the chapter’s Program of Activities; participated in at least five different FFA activities above the chapter level. For service hours, students much complete at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two different activities. All community hours are cumulative, and the 10 community service hours used to obtain the chapter degree can be used toward the state degree. The students will be recognized at a special ceremony April 7-10 in Cheyenne at the Wyoming State FFA Convention. They will receive a gold State FFA Degree emblem pin and certificate to commemorate their achievements.

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Photo by Doug Radunich

Garrett Dale, David Flauding, Michelle Hooker, Matt Jarrett and Brett Miller were the five members of Encampment’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) Team to receive the 2014 State FFA Degree.

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Do You Know What Ag Does For You? Agriculture contributes to a healthy economy in the Upper North Platte Valley. Agriculture produces food, fiber and products from renewable resources. Agriculture gives us open spaces and healthy habitats for livestock and wildlife. Agriculture keeps our soil and plants healthy through good stewardship. Agriculture provides each of us with safe, abundant and affordable products we use every day. SER Conservation District says “Thank You” to Carbon County Ranchers and Producers

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

HATS OFF TO AG

Photo by Doug Radunich

Montie Munroe feeds livestock with the aid of a hay grinder and feeder attached to his trailer.

Working hard and staying busy By Doug Radunich After several decades spent on the land, Montie and Cheryl Munroe are still hard at work maintaining their cow-calf operation and keeping their large ranch alive. Montie owns the ranch, known as the Munroe Ranch, since he moved to the land and built the house, where he and Cheryl currently live, 42 years ago. He said the entire Munroe Ranch, located along Highway 230 near the Colorado border, includes around 4,000 deeded acres, 1,700 acres of BLM land and a forest permit that encompasses 45,000 acres. Montie, a fourth-generation stockman, is originally from north of Fort Collins, Colo., while Cheryl is originally from Riverton. Cheryl, who comes from a long line of ranchers, has lived on the ranch with Monite for 31 years. “This ranch has been sold about three times before I bought it, and it had been leased out for years and years before then,” Montie said. “It was really run down when we bought it, and all the buildings and corrals I’ve built and my

dad built. There were about eight homesteads here when I moved here, and they were about 160 acres each. I was born and raised in Colorado, but I got here as quick as I could.” Currently on the ranch are around 300 head of cattle, which includes 14 bulls, and 45 head of horses that Cheryl keeps as pets. Montie and Cheryl recently vaccinated the cows before calving in early March, and had their whole family and several neighbors help them out. As part of their cow-calf operation, Montie said they inseminate the cows the natural way, and don’t use any growth hormones whatsoever. Before the cows are bred together, the Munroes use something called “lepto-vibrio”, which vaccinates them and cleans up their reproductive system. “There is artificial insemination out there, but I just use the natural service with a bull and a cow to inseminate,” Montie said. Each January, their calves are then sold at the Stock Show Special, which is part of the

Centennial Livestock show in Fort Collins. Cheryl said they usually have many buyers each time the calves are brought for purchase.

“A bunch of us from the “We used to calve in January valley, including the Millers, and February, but with Montie Youngs and other families, sell doing most of the work himself, that weekend, and that’s our paycheck every year,” she said. Continued on page 8

Photo by Doug Radunich

Lisle Munroe uses a squeeze-shoot to spray the cattle with a poron-based insecticide that helps rid them of lice, grubs and other unwanted insects.

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

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Have an awesome Ag week! Photo by Keith McLendon

The Snowy Range CattleWomen produced napkins featuring the brands of local ranches both past and present.

CattleWomen have stake in beef industry By Mike Dunn Preserving agriculture for future generations is important for many in the Platte Valley, and one group has been promoting agriculture agriculture for decades. The Snowy Range CattleWomen have spent years advocating for beef inside and outside the Valley. “We are just promoters of beef. We are ambassadors,” long-time Snowy Range CattleWomen member Peggy Hiser said. The Snowy Range CattleWomen have a long history in the Platte Valley. Originally started as the “CowBelles”, Wyoming was the first to organize the CowBelles on a statewide basis. In 1986, the CowBelles decided to change their name to the American National CattleWomen. Today, the Snowy Range CattleWomen are a part of the Wyoming CattleWomen Association. According to their website, the CattleWomen are “a group of dedicated individuals who believe that the livestock industry is of basic importance to world existence.” Hiser said that the Snowy Range CattleWomen do several

projects to help with youth in the area including raising money for college scholarships and the Wyoming Young Beef Ambassadors. “They are kids that go all over the United States promoting beef and telling stories about ranchers,” Hiser said. The CattleWomen also supports many youth agriculture events in the Valley. “We give awards to the FFA and 4-H at the fair,” Hiser said. With around 25 members, the Snowy Range Cattlewomen do several fundraisers to help support their projects. “We sell napkins with the brands from all over the county,” Hiser said. “Then the ladies are planning on doing a cookbook with recipes … the bull sales bring in our most current money at the time. We have scarves we sell and just about anything with beef on them.” Hiser said she first got involved with the Snowy Range CattleWomen in 1969. “My husband was the county extension agent for four years,” Hiser said. “We were in the ranching business and

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Continued on page 17

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

HATS OFF TO AG

it is easier to do it later and it is closer to spring. We once took the cattle to the national forest July 1, but now we go after July 15. We vaccinate the cows two to three weeks before calving, to put immunities in the first milk (colostrum) for the calves, and then we vaccinate the calves so they can build immunities and fight bacteria and viruses on their own.” Montie said business has also gotten better over the years. For last year, he said he sold his calves for the most money he had seen in comparison to previous years. “The cattle market has definitely gone up, but so have the prices of everything we buy,” Montie said. “So we’re actually level, but it costs just a little bit more than what we’re used to. When you look at the comparison between your income and your expenses, our expenses have gone up more than our income has.” Aside from working with the cattle, Cheryl said there are always additional jobs to do around the ranch, such as repairing, building or rebuilding things like fences, roofs, feeding bunks or entire barns. “We’re always tearing things down and fixing things up, and we keep working on things,” she said. “The thing Photos by Doug Radunich about ranches is you have to stop doing this nice stuff Cheryl Munroe helps move a large group of cattle toward the fields. and start doing the necessary stuff.” Montie said his favorite part of ranching is being his own boss, and not having to work for someone else. He also mentioned how hard it is for a young person today to make it in the business, without any kind of ranch handed to them. “I like working for myself when I’m outside, and ranching isn’t a way to get rich, it’s a way of life,” Montie said. “The thing about agriculture now is that if a young person doesn’t have a ranch given to them, they won’t make it. They can’t buy a ranch and pay for it with an old cow, you can’t even pay the interest.” Cheryl said the grueling nature of the job may also sound undesirable for today’s young folks. “The average age of people in agriculture is 55 years old, and kids today are going to be doctors, lawyers, electricians, truck drivers, plumbers or something else where they can make a living working five days a week,” she said. “People want to work 8 to 5 and be done, and have weekends off. You don’t get weekends off here, and Dozens of cattle wait to be led out to the fields for feeding time. why would you want to work in the daylight and then work in the dark for half of the night? I think that’s why we’re seeing that a lot of family ranches are gone.” Added by Cheryl was the financial struggles that come along with working on, maintaining and living on such a large ranch. “A rancher doesn’t have a savings account, she said. “You’re looking at it, and you’re always putting money back into the land. As we age and have to go into an assisted living home one day, we’ll have to sign the place over to pay for assisted living.” Even with its changing role in America and number of people who go into it, Cheryl stressed that ranching would always be an important part of the economy. “If you didn’t have agriculture, the whole economy in America would crumble,” she said. “We’re the grassroots, and we buy the fuel, diesel, electricity and groceries. We’re paying someone else down the line, and if you do away with all the agriculture in America, people down the line aren’t going to have jobs. Sometimes the government is not looking at it that way, and they’d rather ship business overseas where they don’t have to pay workers very much.” Montie added that “if you don’t have agriculture, you don’t eat”, and included that he and Cheryl would like to live on the ranch for as long as possible. “When they kick dirt in our faces, I guess that’s when we’ll quit,” he said. Montie Munroe uses his tractor to pick up hay that will be ground and used for livestock feed.

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

areas of the North l a r u Pla r tte the ll e y Va

Servin

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Dumpsters, carts, roll offs, special events The Platte Valley Medical Clinic would like to thank

THE AG COMMUNITY FOR THEIR COMMITMENT

to feeding the world

www.saratogasun.com

Building ranch traditions for tomorrow’s generations. Sun file photo

Brett Miller, of Encampment, was honored with the Accomplishment, Commitment, Excellence and Service. (A.C.E.S.) Award for his cooperation with younger members of the B.E.V.O. 4-H. Miller is a senior at Encampment School.

B.E.V.O. going strong at 85 years old By Linda Kraft Thirty four members, 100 projects, plus leaders combined with enthusiasm, desire to win and hard work make up the Beaver Creek Encampment Valley Organization. B.E.V.O. as it is fondly called has a membership of youth residing in Encampment, Riverside or outlying areas. B.E.V.O. had its beginnings as the first 4-H club in Carbon County in 1929 and in 1930 was the first beef club in Wyoming. Now it is a community club. The project base through the years has expanded from primarily beef to encompass 20 project areas from fashion to entomology, aerospace to shooting sports, nutrition to wildlife. B.E.V.O is proud of our membership. While some members are the first of their family to be in 4-H, others can

boast of being fifth-generation members or being related to the founders or members of the founding club. Many past and present members have won numerous awards and trips locally, at the county level, at the state level and nationally. These accomplishments have been in various project areas, as a club at county fair, with groups featuring county youth as judging or fitting teams and with record books now called portfolios. Past members who excelled in 4-H as B.E.V.O. alumni also have gone on to have outstanding careers in agriculture. Some past members even used their 4-H projects to pay their college expenses or were awarded scholarships to finance their higher education. This past 4-H year in Carbon County, B.E.V.O. member

Brett Miller was honored with the A.C.E.S. award for his outstanding cooperation with younger members. Georgia Miller, Brett’s mother and horse leader, was honored as the seasoned leader with more than six years of experience. Friends of 4-H recipients in Carbon County, Guy and Lael Knotwell, were selected for their cooperation with weighing and tagging Platte Valley 4-H steers for many years. B.E.V.O. welcomes anyone wishing to join 4-H. Club meetings are held at 7 p.m. the second Monday of every month at the Encampment School Library. Our requirements for completion for every member are an educational opportunity, a community service event, exhibiting a project and a finished portfolio turned into the 4-H Extension Educator at years end.

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The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

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Portraits of Platte Valley Agriculture. Past, Present and Future Photos by Liz Wood

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Steer and Heifer Show provides learning experience, grows beyond just Carbon County By Doug Radunich With the warmer month of May just around the corner, Lael Knotwell is preparing for another load of cattle at this year’s Carbon County Steer and Heifer Show. Knotwell is now in her 12th year as the coordinator for the steer and heifer show, which takes place each May at the Seven Bar Arena between Saratoga and Encampment. The show features 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) kids from the mountain west regions who come to show their cattle before county fair. “We get kids out of county and kids out of state from places like Craig and Meeker in Colorado,” Knotwell said. “We also get quite a few from Laramie and places like Wheatland and Jackson, and sometimes kids from Walden come over. The 4-H kids who compete can be from 8 to 19, while the FFA kids can be from freshman year of high school up to 21.” Knotwell said the event was originally designed for just Carbon County, but that kids from outside the region began to register as word spread. “It was designed and started for our county, and to give local kids a chance to show and expose their cattle before they go to county fair,” she said. “That has been the main purpose, and the show has grown as the word gets out. We invite people from across the state, and we’ve definitely had growth, especially from out of county kids who have come and shown. We have tried to do more advertising for it, and we usually get a pretty decent turnout.” Knotwell said they have also tried to expand the show to include more learning experiences for the kids each year. “Last year we put a clinic on where we helped kids with clipping and fitting,” she said. “We’ve tried to expand, and we upped the premium money to encourage more kids to come. We want to broaden their horizons.” According to Knotwell, the steers shown are divided by

hip height (measuring how tall they are at the hip), and put into different divisions according to height. The heifers are divided by birth date and age. After viewing the different groups, one judge for the entire show picks an overall grand champion steer and reserve champion steer, and an overall grand champion heifer and reserve champion heifer. The overall grand champion heifer receives $200; the reserve champion heifer receives $100; the grand champion steer receives $275; and the reserve champion steer receives $125. “It’s based on the judge’s opinion, and the steers are judged on things like looks, phenotype, being sound and correct skeletal-wise, meat and muscle,” Knotwell said. “The heifers are judged on structural correctness and soundness, balance and femininity. There’s an entry fee of $14 per head to enter, and we try to give every exhibitor money. We want to make sure everyone goes home with money.” Knotwell said the kids are divided into a junior, intermediate or senior division determined by the age of the kids participating. The kids are judged while in those divisions on their showmanship skills. “In the showmanship class, the kids are judged on how they present the animal in the show ring and how they conduct themselves with their animal,” Knotwell said. “They’re judged on how the animal complies with them in the show-ring and how well their animal is trained.” Knotwell said they have brought in an experienced judge from the UW judging program in Laramie the past couple years. “We like to get someone who has gone through a college judging program, or someone that is currently on a team or coaching one” she said. “We want to try and find someone knowledgeable in the industry, who has judging knowledge or is a breeder that has kept up with the show ring part of it.”

Photo courtesy of Lael Knotwell

Gage Barkhurst and his dad Greg prepare to show a steer at the Carbon County Steer and Heifer show. Knotwell grew up in a ranching family in Encampment, and showed cattle in both the 4-H and FFA programs. She said her mom, aunt and uncle were all 4-H leaders back in the day. During her youth Knotwell participated in past Steer and Heifer shows, and her aunt and uncle served as the show’s coordinators. “When they were ready to be done with the position, they asked if I would be ready to do it,” Knotwell said. “The show has been around for awhile, and they used to have it at the saw mill in Saratoga. After that they moved it to the indoor arena by Buck Springs and eventually the Seven Bar Arena. I have been involved with the shows at least since ’81, but it has probably gone on before that.” Still the active rancher, Knot-

well currently lives on part of the Silver Spur Ranch with her husband, Guy, and two daughters, Konnar and Kamry. Guy runs a cow-calf operation between the Silver Spur Ranch Headquarters and Cow Creek Ranch. “There’s around 1,800 head of cattle that my husband manages between Headquarters and Cow Creek, and we also have a few ranch horses,” Knotwell said. “My kids have their own steers and heifers, and we’ll be getting some pigs. They love to show their horses, too. We have been there for 17 years, but Guy has worked for Silver Spur and lived at Cow Creek since ’84. He lived at Headquarters three or four years prior to Cow Creek and worked for the ranch on and off even before that.” For the 2014 show and others

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

in the future, Knotwell said she hopes more local Platte Valley kids will sign up to show off their cattle. “I kind of wish more local kids would participate, but we know a lot of them are busy with sports and other activities,” she said. “We encourage them to participate because it makes a huge difference in their cattle. Having more practice like that is good for them before they go to county fair. It gives our kids more exposure for competition, and shows them what’s out there to compete against.” This year’s Steer and Heifer Show takes place May 11 at the Seven Bar Ranch Indoor Arena, located on the west side of Highway 230, 10 miles south of Saratoga. For more information call Lael at 307-327-5973, or 307-327-5966.

HATS OFF TO AG

LEAD director sees benefits in sowing ag knowledge By Mike Dunn

Wyoming ranks 15th nationwide in beef cow numbers. Wyoming Agriculture Statistics 2010

uated from (the University of Wyoming) with my degree in Ag Communications and I have always been interested in working with small communities. I think working for this program is perfect for me.” Cindy said that she was a LEAD program graduate herself. “I was a participant in LEAD class three,” Garretson-Weibel said. “I continued to be on the board of directors after that.” Though the LEAD program was originally developed in 1984, the program started to run into some funding problems in the late 90s. Garretson-Weibel was one of the people who helped continue the program during those tough times. She connected the Wyoming Business Council with Wyoming LEAD, which

continues to fund it to this day. Garretson-Weibel said that the LEAD program has several benefits to participants and the community as well. “It exposes them to a wide variety of opportunities,” Garretson-Weibel said. “Individuals meet with department heads throughout the country. It also give them a broader understanding of agriculture.” With the benefits the LEAD program provides to students and their communities, Garretson-Weibel said that there have been few participants from her home county. “I would like to see more applicants from the Platte Valley,” Garretson-Weibel said. If interested in the LEAD program, please contact Cindy Garretson-Weibel at 307-7776589.

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The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

BELTS • WALLETS • WILDLIFE & COWBOY PRINTS • WINE HOLDERS • TOWELS

A Platte Valley native is leading the state in agriculture advancement. Cindy Garretson-Weibel, a former Valley resident, is the Agribusiness director for the Wyoming Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), a statewide adult leadership program for those involved with agriculture and rural communities. Garretson-Weibel explained that those who go through the LEAD program learn a variety of skills beneficial to agriculture. “We focus on leadership skills,” she said. “Anything from agricultural research, rural economics, natural resources.” The 14-month program takes adult learners across the state, nation and world. Program participants not only meet at seminars during that stretch of time, but they head to Cheyenne to meet with state legislatures. Garretson-Weibel said that they also spend a week in Washington D.C. to see the national government in action. LEAD students take a 10day trip to a foreign county in order to learn about agriculture there. “We do it to learn about agriculture in another country, learn about cultural economics and seek potential agricultural opportunities for Wyoming,” Garretson-Weibel said. The LEAD program has touched almost all corners of the globe. They’ve been to nations like Taiwan, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Chile, Ireland, England and China. “We just announced that this group will be headed to India next November,” Garretson-Weibel said. Growing up on a ra nch between Encampment and Saratoga, Garretson-Weibel said that her background in the Platte Valley guided herself towards her career. “I have always had a strong interest in ranching. I grad-

HATS OFF TO AG Water:

Going below the surface Staff Report

Photo courtesy of Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust

The Kurt Bucholz Award was established by the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust and Laura Bucholz in 2008. The award is presented to an individual who demonstrates the core beliefs held by Bucholz, who was a veterinarian, rancher and legislator for Saratoga. Pictured above is the award designed by local artist Jerry Palen.

Nominations sought for the Kurt Bucholz Award Staff Report The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is seeking nominations for the Kurt Bucholz Award, which honors an individual who exemplifies the core beliefs held by Dr. Bucholz during his lifetime of dedicated public service and commitment to conservation. The award was created in memory of Kurt Bucholz, DVM, a legislator and rancher from Saratoga. His wife, Laura Bucholz, and the Stock Growers Land Trust Board of Directors established the award in Dr. Bucholz’s name in 2008. The award is presented each year to an individual who represents his conservation values, especially the conservation of working ranches. “The Bucholz Award emphasizes the role of private enterprise and initiative in the conservation of Wyoming’s working landscapes,” Dr. John Lunt, former Stock Growers

Land Trust board member and 2009 award recipient, said. “This sets it apart from other such recognitions.” The Kurt Bucholz award is presented by the Stock Growers Land Trust at its Annual Roundup Barbecue, which will be held in Devils Tower, Wyo. on Aug. 23, 2014. Past award recipients are: Dennis Sun – 2008; Dr. John Lunt – 2009; Joe Glode – 2010; Jim Chant – 2011, Bob Budd – 2012 and Mike Healy - 2013. Each year, renowned artist Jerry Palen volunteers his time and talent to create a bronze award depicting the Stock Growers Land Trust horse and rider logo. Individuals eligible for nomination will have achieved a lasting impact in one or more of the following ways: • Ardent supporter of conserving Wyoming’s working landscapes and one who recognizes the indispensable role of ranching in this

endeavor. • Astute and successful rancher and land steward who has been active in state and/or national natural resource issues, and a strong proponent of private enterprise and private solutions for conservation in Wyoming. • A background of actions promoting the bedrock importance of water to Wyoming and the vital significance of protecting traditional water rights. • A strong and abiding interest in hunting and wildlife and a personal commitment to habitat conservation. Submissions are due by May 15, 2014. Please direct questions to Lance Schutte at (307) 772-8751 or lance@wsgalt.org. Nomination forms can be found, and submitted, online at www.wsgalt.org.

People turn on the tap and water comes out. They normally don’t think much about where the water comes from. It is a lot more complicated than just turning on a faucet. Groundwater is “a renewable natural resource that comes from precipitation that soaks into the soil and moves downward to fill openings in beds of rocks,” according to the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) and Wyoming Natural Resource Foundation (WNRF). The Platte Valley is located above one of the largest tertiary aquifers in the state of Wyoming according to the United States Geological Survey. Statewide, more than 75-percent of Wyoming citizens depend on groundwater for part, or all, of their drinking water. However, in the town of Saratoga, all of the water used within town limits comes from groundwater aquifers. The WACD and WNRF said that Americans are among the largest water users in the world, using 79.6 billion gallons of groundwater per day. In the months of January and February of this year, the town of Saratoga has already used 18,622,251 gallons of water. The winter months typically have the lowest use of water throughout the year. To conserve water, the WACD and the WNRF said to be conservative with water use. This includes never letting a faucet run when not using water, only run dishwater and clothes washer when there is a full load, repair dripping faucets and toilets, choose water and energy efficient appliances, landscape with native plants and avoid over watering lawns. Another concern with groundwater aquifers is pollution. The WACD and WNRF ask people to use common sense when disposing of toxic and chemical materials that may enter the groundwater system. There is no agency regulating water quality from private drinking wells in Wyoming so homeowners can get information on groundwater from a local Conservation District at www.conservewy. com, the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office at 307-777-6163, or the Department of Environmental Quality-Water Quality Division at 307-777-7781.

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

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HATS OFF TO AG

The Saratoga Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

HATS OFF TO AG Knowing your weeds is plant-tastic By Liz Wood With a wide variety of plant species in the Platte Valley, it is important for agriculture producers to know what plants are OK for animals and which ones can be toxic. Last July, Mae Smith, University of Wyoming Extension Educator in Rawlins, led a tour with the help of Dan Rodgers, Professor of Range at UW and Jaimy Cass, with Carbon County Weed and Pest Office in Saratoga. Smith said that plants can tell a lot about the soil in the area. • Crested Wheat Grass is used for reclamation projects • Arrow Grass is bad for animals

because it contains cyanide and goes into the animal’s blood stream when eaten. • The Canada Thistle is on the Wyoming Weed & Pest Control Act Designated List of Noxious Weeds, one of 25 on the list. • The Ox-eye Daisy is also on the state list as is the leafy spurge. • The Leafy Spurge has an extensive roof system and their seeds can shoot up to 30 feet. Pulling these weeds can make them spread. Fortunately, the Leafy Spurge has a natural enemy, the beetle. • The Rubber Rabbit Brush has bark with long thin grayish leaves.

• Lupine plants are poisonous to sheep, they also cause serious problems for calves in gestation. Lupine affects the nervous system of sheep and eventually kills them. If a cow eats Lupine, it affects the calf between 40 and 70 days of gestation, causing a condition called Crooked Calf Syndrome. • The Wild Rose can be identified by its twin leaves. A nearly exact replica of one leaf is on each side of the stem. • Wire Grass can be identified by the nodule on the side of the grass. • The Western Wheat Grass has been designated as Wyoming’s state grass.

CattleWomen have stake ...

continued from page 7

Since then, Hiser has continued to be an active member in the organization. “We’ve had our ups and we’ve had our downs,” Hiser said. “Right now, we have a pretty good membership. We have some younger gals involved as well.” Hiser said that organizations like hers are important to the Valley because of the area’s dependence on agriculture. “This is one of the biggest and best cattle producing areas in the state. We have topnotch quality breeding programs, we have a lot of good bull sales in the Valley. So it is just promoting the Valley and the beef industry,” she said. Most importantly, Hiser said that she gets a lot of satisfaction out being a part of the Snowy Range CattleWomen. “It’s just fun to get together and have a good product.”

TA Ranch

Excited about a healthy future for Agriculture in the Platte River Valley!

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

HATS OFF TO AG

Gardens grow communities too By Mike Dunn It is that time of year again, where the air gets warmer, the grass gets greener and the gardeners start planting their garden. The Town of Saratoga Community Garden Board is excited to continue growing their vegetables and their community this season. “Last year was our first year. We did a lot of tree-planting,” Leslie Johnson with the community garden board said. “We rented out a lot of individual plots in the gardens.” The Saratoga Community Garden was established to allow residents to plant a garden who may not have access or room to set up gardens. “It’s for people who love to work in the dirt and maybe who don’t have a garden spot at home,” Johnson said. “It’s for people who like to be outdoors and like to beautify and grow vegetables. It’s each person responsible for their own plot unless they want help.” Today, they have several members on the board including Johnson, Cindy Bloomquist, Ken Schwerdt, Lara Griena and Christie Smith. Still, the gardening board depends on the efforts from volunteers. “We are always looking for people to join us,” Johnson said. “We are looking for volunteers to help with weeding and cleaning” The importance of having

one of these garden goes beyond what comes out of the ground. Johnson believes that these gardens build a community. “It gives a sense of doing something constructive. It serves educational purposes to anyone who has not grown a garden to learn about successes in Wyoming; how to grow plants, how to battle the wind, the elements and all of these things that go into a garden,” she said. Even with the short season, the community garden does successfully produce many fruits and vegetables. Some of the produce includes rhubarb, raspberries, carrots, strawberries, Their next step is completing the greenhouse. The greenhouse project was started last fall, however, the board ran out of both time and manpower before greenhouse could be completed. “That will be our next big project,” Johnson said about the greenhouse. The greenhouse will allow patrons to start planting earlier. Johnson encourages anyone to participate in the community garden- especially the next generation gardeners. “We would really like to get some of the young people out there to continue the success of our garden.” The Community Garden

Photo by Liz Wood

A raised bed at the Community Garden flourishes last July. Board will meet at 6 p.m. on of every month. To purchase a May 12 at the Saratoga Town plot for $20, contact the ComHall. The board will continue munity Garden Board. to meet on the second Monday “It is all new,” Johnson said.

“It’s a project waiting for the hands that want to be a part of a community effort and the benefits are their own garden.”

Farm Bill holds promise for Platte Valley producers Staff Report In February, the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Farm Bill) was signed by President Barack Obama. The Farm Bill will call for changes to agriculture across the nation and in the Platte Valley. According to a fact sheet provided by the United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Bill “repeals certain programs, continues some programs with modifications and authorizes several new programs admin-

istered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).” The fact sheet also noted that most of the new programs will be authorized and funded through 2018. The original bill was established in 2008. Sheryl Hunter, the Carbon County Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, said that this bill provides several benefits to ranchers in the Platte Valley. “One of the biggest effects that this will have is the

permanent enactment of the livestock program,” Hunter said. These livestock programs are classified under the USDA fact sheet as “disaster programs.” These programs protect ranchers from weather related losses. It states that “producers are no longer required to purchase crop insurance or NAP (Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) coverage to be eligible for these programs.” Out of the four disaster

programs extended, three of them will benefit ranchers in the Valley. The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) is set up to provide compensation to ranchers that have experienced grazing losses due to fire or drought. The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is another program established to provide benefits to livestock producers for death of their stock due to extreme weather or attacks by animals rein-

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

troduced to the wild by the federal government. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP) is set in place for provide emergency assistance to ranchers for losses due in part by diseases. To learn more about the Farm Bill go to http://www. ag.senate.gov/issues/farmbill or contact the Natural Resources Convention at 326-5657.

HATS OFF TO AG

Protecting your pigs from PEDV By Liz Wood

Sun file photo

Mychaela Jackman models her woven shawl during the fashion show at the Carbon County Fair in August. Jackman is a member of the Platte Valley Pride 4-H Club.

Platte Valley Pride 4-H Club finds new life By Sheryl Hunter The Platte Valley Pride 4-H Club is comprised of dedicated leaders and a handful of energetic, hardworking youth, enrolled in approximately 30 various projects. Our members reside from Encampment to Ryan Park and Saratoga and all areas in between, or the Platte Valley. We are a newly revitalized club in the area with community club leader, Byron Barkhurst, following the footsteps of his parents.

Platte Valley Pride members are involved in many different project areas. Some are carrying on family traditions of raising and/or showing cattle, swine, and sheep. Others are starting new family traditions with interests in aerospace, photography or woodworking, to name a few. Several of the members have earned local, county, and state level awards and trips. These awards have been earned by individuals and teams alike. Some of these include cake

decorating, cooking, and table setting awards at the Showcase Showdown; Overall Reserve Grand Champion Woodworking award at State Fair, and numerous livestock show wins at County and State Fair. Platte Valley Pride welcomes anyone wishing to join 4-H. Community Club meetings are held the second Sunday of every month starting at 6 p.m. at the USDA/Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District conference room.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) is a virus that affects pigs and has become a problem across the nation. According to www.pork. org, PEDV a new virus to the United States. It was first introduced on May 17, 2013. PEDV is caused by a virus (Cornoavirus) that is related to transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus. This virus has a high morality rate, almost 100 percent in pre-weaned pigs. The virus is transmitted through oral contact with contaminated feces. The most common sources of infested feces are pigs, trucks, boots, clothing or other fomites (objects or materials likely to carry infection). The incubation period is 12-24 hours before clinical signs appear, the website said. Animals can infect others up to three to four weeks. Vaccine studies are in progress, but other immunity/protection precautions include • No cross-protection between TGE and PEDV even though both are Conronaviruses. • Maternal protection through colostrum from previously exposed sows

can be quite effective. • No protection is long lasting (herds can re-break). The treatment includes supportive care through hydration and providing a clean, dry, draft-free environment with access to high quality drinking water. The website said that electrolytes may be beneficial. To prevent PEDV from infecting pigs, cross contamination with any suspected pig feces can be limited by: • Clearly defining and communicating a line of separation which marks the separation between your facility, transport vehicles or the outside/inside of your production site. • Contact your veterinarian and enhance biosecurity procedures. • Biosecurity of transportation vehicles is important; they should be clean, disinfected and dry. • Several disinfectants have been demonstrated to effectively inactivate PEDV, such as formalin, sodium carbonate, lipid solvents, and strong iodophors in phosphoric acid. • Replacement breeding stock should originate from a negative herd. Infection with PEDV can create tremendous financial losses to a pork producer.

Wyoming farmers and ranchers produce about 2.2 million tons of the hay each year! wyomingfoodfreedom.org/wyoming-ag-facts/

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture

HATS OFF TO AG

Local student to judge at Denver Stock Show

By Doug Radunich Not even in high school yet, Encampment student Hailey Barkhurst joins the judging team for the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Barkhurst, an eighth-grader at Encampment K-12 School, said she had to raise money to attend the most recent National Western Stock Show, which took place in January. This year marked the first time Barkhust attended the well-known stock show. According to her father, Byron, Hailey went just to watch the show this year, but was recently made part of the judging team. “We had to raise money for a fundraiser, and the top 10 kids who raised the most amount of money got to go (to the stock show),” Hailey said. “I raised about $170, and we sold fruit and baked goods. We did it at school, but we took them other places.” During other times of the year, Barkhurst participates in both the Carbon County and State fairs. She has shown and continues to show steers at the fairs, and in last year’s market swine show, she placed third in the 223225 lb hog division. At the state fair this year, Barkhust said she will serve again as a judge. “I’m going to state for livestock judging this year,” she said. “We’ll be judging steers.” Barkhurst said she will also be attending another stock show coming up in mid-April. When not attending livestock shows, Barkhurst raises heifers and steers on her family’s ranch, south of Brush Creek Ranch. “I enjoy building a relationship with them, it’s pretty fun,” she said. “It’s something to do to get away from all the people.”

The Saratoga Sun’s March 26, 2014 Salute to Agriculture