Wyoming Magazine

WYOMING NEW YEARS EVE PARTIES

WYOMING WINTER FUN

WYOMING magazine Issue No. 1

December 2015

Antelope Butte is Back!

Antelope Butte Ski Area Will Reopen This Year!

11

BEST WAYS TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES THIS YEAR

NEW D N A BR

y e c n Chaliams WilALBUM Crossfit Gyms of Wyoming Wyoming Ranked #4 For Well Being Ski Areas of Wyoming Where To Get The Best Ugly Sweater This Year

Holiday Drinks With Wyoming Spirits Wyoming’s Award Winning Distilleries

Do You Even Lift, Bro? J i The Join Th h CrossFit Movement

BIG

Changes h For Small Business Marketing

Editors Note Welcome to the inaugural issue of Wyoming Magazine.

I am so proud of the work we KDYH GRQH WR EULQJ \RX WKLV Ę?UVW issue. The people involved have worked very hard to make this something great.

About Tyson Waggener For those of you around the state I would like to introduce myself. I am the publisher here at Wyoming Magazine. We were inspired to start the magazine because of all the work we are doing at GilletteWy.com. We have been working to revolutionize community news here in Northeast Wyoming. As our site grew we decided we wanted to take the leap to print and bring our community news platform to WyomingMagazine.com. We will be covering news, events and information from around the state online as well as publishing unique in-depth content in the quarterly magazine. While other little boys daydreamed about professional athletes and race car drivers I looked up to writers and artists, William Randolph Hearst and Vincent Van Gogh come to mind. It has always been a goal of mine to publish a magazine about this great state. As a Wyoming Native , Ę?QG LW IDVFLQDWLQJ WKDW HYHU\ \HDU , Ę?QG QHZ DPD]LQJ SHRSOH places and things to do in our state. The one thing I think is PLVVLQJ LV D ORFDWLRQ ZKHUH ZH FDQ Ę?QG DOO WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ Thats how the Wyoming Magazine was born.

Publishing a magazine is a team sport. I am truly grateful to all the writers, photographers, illustrators and everyone behind the scenes that had a hand in making this happen.

Tobie Waggener I am lucky enough to have the unending support of my wonGHUIXO ZLIH ZKR VSHQW KRXUV SODQQLQJ UHDGLQJ DQG SURRĘ?QJ WKH entire magazine before it went to print. Without her this would not be a reality.

Brooke Austin Brooke is an amazingly talented person that has been working hard to bring some of the great content in this issue. She is one of the most driven people I have ever met. I am sure you will enjoy the information about CrossFit the sport that is taking the state by storm.

Emily Jewell Emily has been working quietly behind the scenes on anything and everything that needs to happen. If there was a swiss army knife of a person in our organization it is Miss Jewell. Thank you for all your help.

Sarah Ferguson Sarah is a talented artist, teacher and writer from Northeast Wyoming. She worked hard researching the Gillette winter activities in this issue.

Paul Plourde 3DXO LV D SHUVRQDO IULHQG DQG FROOHDJXH +H LV WKH GHĘ?QLWLRQ RI D Wyomingite. As a Wyoming native he knows all the best places to get lost in our great state. You will see some of his amazing photography in this issue.

Michelle Alspaw-English Michelle really stepped up to the plate this time to bring you the wonderful images in the Chancey Williams article. It was such a breath of fresh air to work with someone so passionate about her craft and interested in getting the perfect shot. I think we all agree you did a great job Michelle.

Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band I met Chancey and the band about eight years ago in Las Vegas.

That is a story for another time but this group of honky tonkin’ musicians are also some of the best people on earth. They are always fun to work with and I am grateful for all they did to help us bring you some entertainment in this issue.

A huge thank you to everyone else that made this happen. It was such a great experience to meet every single one of the business owners, travelers and adventure seekers. You are what makes this state great.

I hope you enjoy the new Wyoming Magazine we have all worked tirelessly to bring it to you.

Stay Wild, Wyoming Tyson Waggener Publisher, Wyoming Magazine tyson@WyomingMagazine.com 307-689-2428

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

7 14 21 24

Small Business Marketing Business Owners in Wyoming are approaching their marketing in a whole new way, leveraging technology to grow their business and business is good!

40 42

Antelope Butte Foundation Wyoming residents around the Big Horns are excited to see Antelope Butte Ski Area open its doors this year after being closed since 2004.

48

Do You Even Lift, Bro? Crossfit has been sweeping the state. There are a million reasons to join the movement.

This article will give you an overview of the sport so you look and sound like an old pro.

Crossfit In Wyoming

BY BROOKE AUSTIN

There are 26 Crossfit gyms in Wyoming at this point. Crossfit is creating a health and fitness movement that of which the state has never seen.

Wyoming - A State of Well Being Everyone living here knows the state is great but now there is some outside confirmation.

Wyoming Winter Events From the Gillette Ice Fest to the Sundance Winter Carnival there are all kinds of things going on around the state this winter. Get out and have some fun!

10 Best Places To Get That Ugly Sweater This Year You know its going to happen. You will be invited to an ugly sweater party this year.

Grab the ugliest one before its gone.

53

10 Best Wyoming New Years Eve Parties New Years Eve is a time to celebrate a new beginning and all the success of the last year. Get out and have some fun. There are parties in every corner of the state and something for everyone.

WYOMING NEW YEARS EVE PARTIES

28

Wyoming Spirits Make The Perfect Holiday Drinks Try one of these tasty drink recipies from some of our states finest distilleries.

WYOMING WINTER FUN

WYOMING magazine Issue No. 1

December 2015

Antelope Butte is Back!

Holiday Drinks With Wyoming Spirits

Antelope Butte Ski Area Will Reopen This Year!

30

Chancey Williams and The Younger Brothers Band Our hometown band has become the world’s hometown band. Playing shows internationally and releasing their fourth album they are having more fun than ever, and so are the fans!

35

11 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues This Year As we all know Wyoming winters can get long and cold. Keep your spirits high by working a couple of these tips into your life.

Wyoming’s Award Winning Distilleries

11

Do You Even Lift, Bro?

BEST WAYS TO BEAT THE WINTER BLUES THIS YEAR

J i The Join Th CrossFit Movement

BIG

W D NE BRAN

cey Chaln ms a i l Wi ALBUM

Changes h For Small Business Marketing

Crossfit Gyms of Wyoming Wyoming Ranked #4 For Well Being Ski Areas of Wyoming Where To Get The Best Ugly Sweater This Year

December 2015 ·

WYOMING Magazine

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Small Business Marketing Has Gone Through Big Changes Bolt Marketing Is Your Local Wyoming Creative Design and Marketing Agency olt Marketing is a local Wyoming based full service Graphic Design, Web Design, Marketing and Ad Agency. Tyson Waggener, the founder of Bolt Marketing is a Wyoming native. He was raised in North East Wyoming. When he was in High School he built his first website and was instantly hooked on the power of the internet. After High School Tyson left Wyoming to pursue a his education at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. After earning his bachelor’s degree from UNLV he went on to earn a Masters Degree in Illustration and Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. After earning his education he settled in Wyoming where he has began working with business owners on creating powerful tools that grow their businesses. “Creating a good marketing campaign is all dependent on your goals as the business owner, however many of the tools we use are universal through all industries,” Waggener says. “Once we have clearly identified what end result the client wants its our job to put together the campaign that will meet and often exceed our clients expectations.” Looking for ways to improve how you market your business? Bolt Marketing has some advice:

B

The internet is constantly changing and evolving and your marketing plan needs to be keeping up with those changes in technology. At Bolt Marketing we look at your website a little different than just a “Business Card” on the internet. We see your website as your online presence that is there to assist potential clients. Your website should be working for you 24/7 to bring more people in the doors.

There are ways your website can be what is called “sticky” and work to attract and capture the information of potential clients. The days of the old business card websites are over. Most search engines have even started penalizing sites that do not offer fresh content and information for your website visitors.

For example, if you are a restaurant in Wyoming you should be updating your website with your specials and and changes or new offerings you have. When you update your site with new fresh content like a “Weekly Specials”

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or “New BBQ Sandwich” the search engines see your site as active and therefore more valuable to people searching for restaurants in your area, so they show your site to searchers first ahead of your competition. These are the things we work with our clients to provide. Fresh content is one of the best changes you can make to help grow your business.

Once you create the content then it is tie to share it on social media. Most people in Wyoming are using Facebook but Twitter is a growing force in this area. Having a social media marketing strategy is important on its own but if you are creating fresh content online and sharing it you are on your way to creating more customers.

EMAIL MARKETING Email marketing is something that we build into every long term marketing campaign we create. Our clients are capturing contact information including emails on their websites as well as from social media and even at their physical locations via “email giveaways and iPad sign up stations”. Social media platforms have come and gone but email is here to stay. If you are capturing customer and potential customers emails you are on the right track.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT We currently manage hundreds of thousands of fans for our own publications and our clients. Most of the time if you are

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WYOMING Magazine · December 2015

a business owner you are very good at what you do and that might not be social media marketing. Taking time away from your business to learn social media marketing techniques and to continue to stay educated on all the latest rules and regulations is a full time job. Most business owners do not have time to do that. That is why they hire a social media management team like Bolt Marketing. We offer packages starting at just $200 per month which can gain your business an incredible amount of publicity.

LOCAL TARGET MARKETING Once you identify your target market you can get so precise with targeting exactly who you want to reach without wasting a single dollar on reaching someone who is

outside your target market. If you want to target Males 16-24 living in Casper, Wyoming who like camping, you can do that.

There has never been a marketing platform as strong as the current options. The power of local target marketing has created an unfair advantage for the people who are using it. We live to create campaigns that give our clients an advantage over their competition. Bolt Marketing prefers to only work with one business in each industry and area because we do not want to compete against ourselves.

Once you identify your target market you can get so precise with targeting exactly who you want to reach without wasting a single dollar on reaching someone who is outside your target market.

MOBILE FIRST Statistics show that as much as 83% of the people using the internet at any given time are doing so from a mobile device like

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Growth hacking is a new term that is used by marketing professionals to describe marketing techniques that help companies see exponential growth around a marketing campaign.

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WYOMING Magazine · December 2015

a smart phone, iPad or other tablet. Building your campaigns, websites and all your marketing material to be mobile friendly is critical to the campaign’s success. We often think mobile first because that is where your customers are finding and seeing your marketing campaigns. Being a mobile first company we have been able to see tremendous growth for ourselves and our clients by thinking about how they are accessing the marketing campaign.

can happen when you have every piece of your campaign in the perfect place and the add a viral social media marketing campaign. In today’s business world you see brand new companies get this right on their first campaign and become overnight success stories because their campaign went viral via social media. Bolt Marketing can help you build a viral marketing campaign. It is really a matter of having all the right pieces in place.

GROWTH HACKING Growth hacking is a new term that is used by marketing professionals to describe marketing techniques that help companies see exponential growth around a marketing campaign. This

PRINT IS NOT DEAD There are more magazines in print today than ever before. Do you think they are printing them and losing money? They have readers, advertisers and can be the perfect marketing partner

if all the other pieces of the campaign are in place. We are a firm believer that there is still a place for a good mix of marketing including your local newspaper and magazines. You just need to find your target market, goals and build your campaign based on that information. Many companies put an ad in the newspaper to target 18-24 year olds when truth be told, that demographic is not reading print newspapers. However, 45-60 year olds are reading the newspaper so if that is your target market a newspaper ad makes sense. Marketing is like a good recipe, if you don’t have the best mix of ingredients your bread will not rise. Bolt Marketing can help you get your marketing just right to accomplish exactly what you want.

There is really no other marketing and design company like Bolt Marketing in Wyoming. Our company is a full service Marketing and Creative Agency. If you are thinking about changing your marketing, building a new website or putting more effort into social media marketing give Tyson Waggener and the team at Bolt Marketing a call, we can help. 307.689.2428 or email tyson@bolt.marketing

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Antelope Butte Foundation: ”The Antelope Butte Foundation is a group of people that believe the best way to run the old Antelope Butte Ski Area above Sheridan, Wyoming is through a nonprofit organization.”

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WYOMING Magazine · December 2015

orthern Wyoming has all the ingredients for a ski area; wide open spaces, powdery snow and beautiful scenery. Wyoming’s lack of a large population means skiers and snowboarders are less likely to have to wait in long lines for the chair lift, but it also means it has be an intricate balancing act IRU WKH VNL DUHD WR RSHUDWH DQG VWLOO PDNH SURʐW or at least break even. Many owners of small VNL DUHDV ʐQG LW FORVH WR LPSRVVLEOH WR KDYH D FRQVLVWHQW SURʐWDEOH EXVLQHVV 7KH $QWHORSH Butte Foundation is a group of people that believe the best way to run the old Antelope Butte Ski Area above Sheridan, Wyoming is WKURXJK D QRQSURʐW RUJDQL]DWLRQ 7KH FXUUHQW $QWHORSH %XWWH ʐUVW RSHQHG to skiers back in 1964. At that time they had three runs, quaintly labeled “A, B and C”.

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Since then the area has undergone many updates and had quite a few owners. It was even closed for two winter seasons in the 1980’s due to costs. Antelope Butte Ski area last closed its lodge to skiers back in 2004.

Since then the US Forest Service has taken care of the land and buildings. Around 2010 there was rumor that the Forest Service was going to tear down the equipment and sell it for salvage since there were apparently no interested parties in opening the ski area back up. Obviously, there were many people in the community that did not want to see that happen. In 2011 a group of people gathered together to start the Antelope Butte Foundation. They hope to raise enough money to re-open the area so that the people of northeast Wyoming have more opportunities to enjoy winter sports.

The foundation believes that running the ski area as a QRQSURĘ?W ZLOO PDNH LW PRUH YHUVDWLOH DQG VXVWDLQDEOH LQ D rural setting like what we have in northern Wyoming. They also believe that reopening Antelope Butte will be a good thing for the surrounding communities. The foundation estimates that the ski area will employ around 30 people with 10 to 12 of those people employed year round. Many of the people that support the Antelope Butte Foundation enjoyed winter sports when they were younger and they want the youth of Northern Wyoming to be able to enjoy it too. In fact, many of the supporters learned to ski or snowboard at Antelope Butte. The foundation is focused on making the area a family friendly resort. The mission of WKH $QWHORSH %XWWH )RXQGDWLRQ LV ĹĄWR SURYLGH DĘ?RUGDEOH accessible skiing, mountain recreation, and related training and education for all, especially youth and beginners.â€?

The current estimated budget to re-open Antelope Butte is $4.33 million. Currently, the old lodge is being inspected and evaluated to see if it can be remodeled.

If the lodge can be remodeled that will greatly reduce the expected cost. They plan to have two chair lifts, one magic carpet and 23 total runs. The mountain has a base elevation of 8,400 feet and a summit elevation of 9,400 feet. The ski area is mostly north facing, which will help to

December 2015 ¡

WYOMING Magazine

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ensure a snow base. The foundation has put in a lot of time doing research and feasibility studies on reopening the ski area. The goal is to make Antelope Butte sustainable based on winter operations alone.

Any nonwinter activity will increase revenue and lower operational costs WR WKH QRQ SURĘ?W 7KH IRXQGDWLRQ estimates that reopening Antelope Butte could add $1 million in additional local economic activity.

Since 2011, the foundation has campaigned, raised money and completed a ton of paperwork. In the VXPPHU RI WKH\ KHOG WKHLU Ę?UVW Antelope Butte Summer Festival and they had their second festival in the summer of 2015. Over 750 people attended the Summer 2015 Festival.

In May 2015, the Antelope Butte Foundation signed the purchase and sale agreement for the improvements of the area and on September 9th they made a $55,000 down payment toward the purchase of the Ski Area improvements. If everything goes as planned they will complete their capital campaign in January 2016.

After that, they will acquire improvements and equipment. The renovation of the lodge and the

The current estimated budget to re-open Antelope Butte is $4.33 million.

Currently, the old lodge is being inspected and evaluated to see if it can be remodeled.

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

refurbishing of the lifts will happen around May 2016. The entire process ZLOO KDYH WDNHQ RYHU Ę?YH \HDUV EXW will be well worth it when Antelope Butte opens up its lodge to patrons again in December 2016.

The Antelope Butte Foundation also plans to have summer activities including; scenic chair lift rides, concerts, hosted events and mountain biking. They will be open for summer recreation around May 2017. There has also been talk of a possible zip-line in the future for the area. It takes a little over an hour to get to the ski area from Sheridan. Antelope Butte will also attract people from the other communities in Northern Wyoming along with some tourism. The foundation says that they want to focus on providing a fun experience, at a fair price, to the whole family.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, please visit: www.AntelopeButteFoundation.org.

The goal is to make Antelope Butte sustainable based on winter operations alone. Any nonwinter activity will increase revenue and lower operational costs to the non profit. The foundation estimates that reopening Antelope Butte could add $1 million in additional local economic activity.

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Do You Even Lift, Bro? ooking for a new way to get in shape for Ski Season? Maybe you are curious about the new exercise craze that is not only sweeping the nation, but the state of Wyoming. CrossFit has become an increasingly popular form of exercise. &URVV)LW LV ELOOHG DV IXQFWLRQDO ʐWQHVV that is meant to prepare the body for any type of physical demand, and being able to transfer the movement and muscle memory from CrossFit into your everyday life. People that participate in CrossFit say it is not just a fad, it is here to stay due to its promising results and remarkable community.

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The Basics of CrossFit According to founder Greg Glassman, CrossFit is “a deliberate attempt to optimize physical competence in each of ten UHFRJQL]HG Ę?WQHVV GRPDLQV Ţ 7KHVH ĹĄGRPDLQVŢ DUH • Cardiovascular and respiratory endurance • Stamina • Strength • Flexibility • Power • Speed • Coordination • Agility • Balance • Accuracy To achieve a balance between all ten, CrossFit workouts FRPELQH PDQ\ GLĘ?HUHQW W\SHV RI H[HUFLVHV LQFOXGLQJ KLJK intensity interval training, plyometrics, calisthenics, Olympic weightlifting and strongman lifts. When you participate in a CrossFit program, you may use barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, pull-up bars, medicine balls or other equipment to exercise. A use of machines is very limited. It’s all about what your body can accomplish with minimal equipment.

Intensity is the trademark of CrossFit. Participants are encouraged to move fast and lift heavy, pushing themselves to the absolute limits of physical ability during each 10-45 minute workout. If you’re not used to this type of training, the workouts FDQ EH WDLORUHG WR PDWFK \RXU FXUUHQW Ę?WQHVV OHYHO $ ORQJHU workout doesn’t necessarily mean a more challenging one. Usually if there is a shorter, more intense workout posted for the WOD (Work out of the Day - in CrossFit lingo), then there will be a required strength portion such as a 5x5 back squat or 3x10 push press. Many athletes, especially professional CrossFit athletes, incorporate olympic lifting in their weekly programming.

Today, CrossFit combines principles of diet and training into a program that’s designed to provide challenges and build community while producing measurable physical results.

the CrossFit philosophy. What started with individual training sessions quickly grew into group classes that laid the foundation for the modern CrossFit community. In 2000, Glassman founded CrossFit along with Lauren Jenai. One year later, CrossFit.com was established to bring the program to a wider audience through an open-source platform. CrossFit saw rapid expansion in the following years, growing from a single gym to DQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO SKHQRPHQRQ ZLWK RYHU DĘ’OLDWHV

What is CrossFit Like Now? The Development of CrossFit $OWKRXJK WKH RĘ’FLDO &URVV)LW EUDQG ZDVQĹ&#x;W HVWDEOLVKHG XQWLO 2000, Glassman began experimenting with the workout structure when he was in his teens. As a gymnast, Glassman noted that many of the athletic people he knew only excelled in one RU WZR DUHDV RI Ę?WQHVV +LV RZQ TXHVW WR JHW VWURQJHU OHG KLP to wonder if it might be possible to develop competence in a wide variety of physical disciplines by incorporating many different types of movements into a single workout. Early CrossFit workouts were designed to with a combination of high intensity and short duration mimic the rigors of competition.

In 1995, Glassman opened a gym in Santa Cruz, California and began training the Santa Cruz Police Department using

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

Today, CrossFit combines principles of diet and training into a program that’s designed to provide challenges and build community while producing measurable physical results. To get started with the discipline, you attend an “Elements� training course that covers the nine “foundational movements� of CrossFit. These exercises appear in various combinations in CrossFit’s “workouts of the day,� known as WODs. Each WOD involves performing a certain number of reps of each exercise with a set amount of weight to complete one circuit. The number of times a circuit is repeated depends on the design of the WOD. A typical class at a CrossFit gym consists of a warm-up, a set of skill or strength training, a WOD and a cool-down.

The CrossFit community has evolved and is widespread

along with a large Internet community of dedicated enthusiasts.

Competitive CrossFit participants post their weight loads and reps on the CrossFit website every day. You can go online to learn more about what CrossFit involves, or get started yourself by looking up current and past WODs.

What Are the Benefits of CrossFit? Those who enjoy and promote CrossFit receive many benHʐWV RI ZRUNLQJ RXW DW D KLJK OHYHO RI LQWHQVLW\ • Compound movements create a greater calorie burn.

• Growth hormones, such as testosterone, HGH and IGF-1, increase to build muscle.

• Aerobic capacity improves and oxygen use becomes more HʒFLHQW • Diversity prevents the physical acclimation that leads to plateaus.

• Body fat percentage decreases.

• Strength and endurance increase.

• Weighted multi-joint exercises promote healthy bone density.

•

Encouraging physical exertion leads to greater gains.

7KH SURPLVH RI EHLQJ DEOH WR UHDS WKHVH EHQHʐWV GXULQJ the relatively short duration of a typical CrossFit workout can make the discipline appealing if you lead a hectic life. For those who prefer community support, the group setting of CrossFit provides the incentive to stick with the program despite how GLʒFXOW LW FDQ EH

CrossFit Lingo WOD Box

Score AMRAP For Time

RX’d

$ƫOLDWH

Workout of the Day, a new one posted every day in a CrossFit gym or….

Another name for gym. Usually CrossFiT “boxes” are bare-bone compared to regular gyms. They have everything you could need for CrossFit, but less machines and racks of dumbbells, and more room to let you be the machine.

Total number of reps during a given workout.

As many reps as possible in whatever amount of time. Such as, 10 rounds in 15 minutes.

Record your time at the end of a workout and compare it against others, or try to beat it the next time you perform that workout.

The prescribed weight of a barbell, kettlebell, med ball, etc. is usually posted for every workout.

For example, an RX’d clean and jerk weight for a WOD may be 135 lbs. for men and 95 lbs. for women. $Q šDʒOLDWHŢ LV D J\P RU ER[ WKDW KDV FHUWLʐHG &URVV)LW WUDLQHUV DQG LV DʒOLDWHG ERWK with CrossFit.

December 2015 ·

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here are roughly 25 (afĘ?OLDWHG &URVV)LW J\PV RU “boxesâ€? in Wyoming. We had the pleasure of interviewing a few CrossFit gyms throughout our great state and found out that here in Wyoming, you can receive some of the best WUDLQLQJ &URVV)LW KDV WR RĘ?HU 0DQ\ competitions are held throughout the year as well, such as team, indiYLGXDO DQG D FRPSHWLWLRQ VSHFLĘ?FDOO\ geared toward beginner or intermediate athletes. Wyoming CrossFit has VRPHWKLQJ WR RĘ?HU IRU HYHU\RQH DQG we are lucky live in such a healthy state.

If you are ever in the Sheridan area or happen to live there, Cloud Peak CrossFit is the place to be for Ę?WQHVV 6HWK /DUVRQ WKH RZQHU RI Cloud Peak CrossFit, started a small gym just in his garage that evolved into his successful business. If you’re worried about going to a new gym,

CrossFit T in Wyoming

by BROOKE AUSTIN

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

working out around people you don’t know, or just don’t think you’re cut out for this kind of workout, think again. “We care about each other and help each other out all the time.

We create a competitive atmosphere and still cheer each other on even if it means the person you’re cheering for beats your time in a workout or maybe they lift more weight for a new personal record. You come to our gym and within a few months you know everyone that comes to FODVV RQ D Ę?UVW QDPH EDVLV Ţ 6HWK Larson, Cloud Peak CrossFit. Every year Cloud Peak CrossFit hosts their Average Joes competition. Beginner and intermediate CrossFit athletes are encouraged to get a taste of what a competition is like, and since a majority of members are newer at CrossFit, it attracts many athletes.

Nutrition is a huge part of CrossFit EHFDXVH LWĹ&#x;V EHHQ VDLG WKDW Ę?WQHVV is 75% nutrition and 25% working

out, according to Mike Kmetz, a co-owner at CrossFit 7220 in Laramie, Wyoming.

Every year his gym participates in a nutrition challenge where members can commit to 6 weeks of eating right. They also use before and after DEXA body scans, that produce amazing body-fat percentage results. CrossFit 7220 has evolved since 2011 from an 800 square feet facility to 7,000 square feet today.

The quality of coaching is extremely important when learning CrossFit’s movements and lifts. “We work hard to FUHDWH DQ HQYLURQPHQW ZKHUH IRONV ʐUVW learn proper body movement then apply that knowledge in their workouts. We also believe that great trainers are a key to success and their personal interac-

tion with customers during ring workouts is critical.” -Mike Kmetz, CrossFit rossFit 7220. This gym has also reached out ut to the University of Wyoming and hass a relationship with UW’s Department off Kinesiology, which is unique. They’ve e funded a scholarship for a student to intern ntern with them every year, and have continued ntinued to get the word out about theirr gym by starting a CrossFit club where re UW students can receive one free workout orkout per week.

CrossFit 7220’s famous competition is WKH :<$& :\RPLQJ $ʒOLDWH &XS 7KLV ʒOLDWH &XS 7KLV WHDP FRPSHWLWLRQ FURZQV WKH ʐWWHVW J\P QV WKH ʐWWHVW J\P in Wyoming.

CrossFit athletes can be very intimidating if you have ever ver watched the CrossFit Games on ESPN, N, or talked to

Brad Winter, CrossFit Tolero - Gillette, Wyoming

December 2015 ·

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devoted gym-goers. But really, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just an extremely dedicated version of your â&#x20AC;&#x153;average joeâ&#x20AC;? from all walks of life: teachers, doctors, engineers DQG ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RĘ&#x2019;FHUV ,Q Gillette, Wyoming, a law enforcePHQW RĘ&#x2019;FHU RZQV D J\P &URVV)LW Tolero. After getting out of the navy in 2005, one year later, he hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been exercising and put on 20 pounds. He decided that he wanted to be healthier and searched the internet for the best workout, when he came across CrossFit. You could say Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for CrossFit sparked right away and he was hooked. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I enjoyed then is the same thing I enjoy today, that no matter your Ę?WQHVV OHYHO \RX FDQ Ę?QG DQ intensity in CrossFit that you canQRW Ę?QG DQ\ZKHUH HOVH Ţ 5\DQ Herd, CrossFit Tolero. Tolero considers themselves a â&#x20AC;&#x153;low-keyâ&#x20AC;? gym as well, priding in the fact WKDW WKHLU J\P LV D UHĘ&#x2018;HFWLRQ RI the people who are members of LW )RU WKH PRVW SDUW D SHUVRQ RĘ? the street could feel comfortable walking into it. Tolero has provided that sense of community to the residents of Gillette for over three years, while building a strong group of like-minded people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Community is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but in the end if you fail to provide the individual the results they desire i.e., feel better, look better, be stronger, faster, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have anyone for your community.â&#x20AC;?

-Ryan Herd, CrossFit Tolero. If CrossFit sounds like something you would like to try, look up your local CrossFit gym. They will be happy to help you with your Ę?WQHVV JRDOV Casey Dietz, CrossFit Tolero - Gillette, Wyoming

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

Holiday Drinks Made With

Wyoming Spirits inter in Wyoming should be the measure of a man.

Every President of the United States should have WR Ę?UVW VSHQG D :LQWHU LQ :\RPLQJ 2QFH \RX KDYH DFFRPSOLVKHG WKDW :\RPLQJLWHV EHOLHYH \RX DUH Ę?W WR lead our great nation. Although are Winters are long and cold there are some great people out there working to keep us warm. Their names are Backwards Distilling Company and Wyoming Whiskey.

Backwards Distilling Company is located in Mills, Wyoming and was founded by the Pollock family. They started the distillery out of DQ DSSUHFLDWLRQ IRU Ę?QH VSLULWV DQG LQ WKHLU WHUPV D ĹĄSURSHQVLW\ IRU WKH XQXVXDOŢ &XUUHQWO\ WKH\ RĘ?HU 5LQJOHDGHU 9RGND 6ZRUG 6ZDOORZHU Rum, Contortionist Gin, Strongman Gin and Milk Can Moonshine. I have heard rumor on social media that they are concocting their very own Absinthe, which we are all very excited to try.

Here are a few recipes using Backwards Spirits to help you through the cold this winter.

W Big Top:

2 oz Ringleader Vodka 2 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice 0.5 oz freshly squeezed lime juice 0.5 oz tarragon syrup (see below) 1 dash aromatic bitters (we use Bittered Sling Moondog bitters at Backwards) Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a grapefruit peel

Tarragon Syrup 2 cups sugar 1 cup water 1 bunch fresh tarragon Combine sugar and water in a pan, heat over medium heat until mostly dissolved. Add in bunch of tarragon, let sit until fragrant. Do not let syrup boil.

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

Winter Quarters: 2 oz cinnamon infused Milk Can Moonshine (see below) 8 oz good quality hot chocolate made with milk or 1/2 and 1/2 2 oz whipped cream Pour moonshine into mug Add warm hot chocolate Top with whipped cream

Cinnamon Infused Moonshine 1 bottled Milk Can Moonshine 4 cinnamon sticks Place cinnamon sticks in moonshine bottle Let sit for 4-5 days Strain out sticks

Fally Ballyhoo 2 oz Contortionist Gin 0.75 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice 0.5 oz real maple syrup Shake with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a star anise pod and a lemon peel

yoming Whiskey LV :\RPLQJşV ʐUVW bourbon made in small batches at the distillery in Kirby, Wyoming. From day one Wyoming Whiskey has been handmade and aged in Kirby.

Wyoming Whiskey has a smooth WUDGLWLRQDO ʑDYRU DQG LV SHUIHFW for creating some warm cocktails WR ʐJKW Rʏ WKH :\RPLQJ ZLQWHU weather.

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Sour Puss 2 oz Wyoming Whiskey 3/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino Syrup 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice Shake, strain and pour over fresh ice Garnish with a lemon peel and Luxardo cherry

Whiskey Before Breakfast 2 oz Wyoming Whiskey 3/4 oz Tuaca 1/2 oz Gingersnap Simple Syrup* 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters 1 Dash Regan’s No. 6

Gingersnap Simple Syrup 1 cup maple syrup 3 strips cooked Pecan-Wood smoked bacon chopped 1/3 cup pecans (cooked at 375 for 10-15 minutes) Combine all ingredients into a small saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes.

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hancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band have been touring together for over 8 years. They have played many shows, created 4 albums and toured the country together. Although they have had a lot of great experiences traveling, they have not grown too far from their Wyoming roots. Any fan listening to the band’s music or watching their music videos or live performances can see heir love for the Cowboy State is strong.

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WYOMING Magazine · December 2015

The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humble beginnings started in Moorcroft High School. Chancey Williams and Travis DeWitt started a band so they could enter a high school talent contest. Since those humble beginnings they have added Wyatt Springsteen on lead JXLWDU DQG YRFDOV %URRNH /DWND ZKR SOD\V WKH Ę?GGOH DQG DGGV a third part to their harmonies and most recently, Jack Robbins who plays the bass guitar. They have released three albums; Honky Tonk Road (2008), Highway Junkie (2011) and Echo (2013). They have sold more than 40,000 records, which is a major accomplishment for a band from Wyoming without the aid of a major record label.

The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest album will be out soon. The music video IURP WKHLU Ę?UVW VLQJOH RĘ? WKHLU QHZ DOEXP ĹĄ'RZQ :LWK 7KDWŢ has been viewed over 135,000 times. The album was recorded in the House of Blues Studio in Nashville. Although the band has humble Wyoming roots, they have played plenty of big city shows and had the opportunity to play with some of the biggest names in music as well. While playing at Cheyenne Frontier Days this summer Chancey drove around town with Toby Keith, which led to hanging out and having drinks in Tobyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s private jet, which then led to Chancey singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Should Have Been a Cowboyâ&#x20AC;? with Toby on stage at the big show. Chancey sums it up best, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got to sing with Toby Keith in my home state on my favorite stage, it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get much better than this.â&#x20AC;?

W

yoming Magazine had the opportunity to ask the band members about their best memories and also about the new album:

:\RPLQJ 0DJD]LQH <RX KDYH SOD\HG DOO RYHU WKH FRXQWU\ ZKDW DUH VRPH RI \RXU IDYRULWH YHQXHV" 7UDYLV 'H:LWW Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tough one! I think the Cowboy Saloon LQ /DUDPLH LV GHĘ?QLWHO\ WKH WRS RI WKH OLVW 6R PDQ\ UHDVRQV EXW most of all having our fans right up front having a blast means the most to us. :\DWW 6SULQJVWHHQ I love playing the Cowboy Saloon in Laramie. I also love playing larger shows with bigger artists (Like Cheyenne Frontier Days and State Fair Shows). The big concerts are unreal. &KDQFH\ :LOOLDPV Probably the main stage at Cheyenne Frontier Days because it is as big as it gets for Wyoming. %URRNH /DWND I have a couple places I love to play. The Cowboy in Laramie is probably my favorite. I love that all our friends come out and support us! We always have fun crowds while playing there as well. I also really love playing at the Loud American during the Sturgis Rally. We get to share the stage with other amazing musicians who are also our really good friends! Also, our awesome Manager Dean Kinney owns the

Loud American and they all treat us so well. Lots of fun memories made there! :\RPLQJ 0DJD]LQH :LWK DOO WKDW WUDYHOLQJ WRJHWKHU \RX PXVW KDYH D IHZ FUD]\ VWRULHV IURP WKH URDG" 0D\EH VRPH IXQQ\ VWRULHV DERXW &KDQFH\" 7UDYLV 'H:LWW We all have a lot of stories about each band member! I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if some of those stories are safe for print! %URRNH /DWND I have so many crazy stories from the band that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to pick one! Every weekend there is always something funny and crazy that goes on. One of my favorite stories is ZKHQ ZH KDG D QLJKW RĘ? DQG VWD\HG LQ WR SOD\ FDUG JDPHV DQG decided to each get folded up in a hideabed. Luckily, I have this on video! Another funny moment is when we were on our way to a show in Nebraska. We were going through a small town, when we noticed a bunch of people sitting outside on the street curbs waving. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when we realized we accidentally were the start of a parade. So Chancey decides to start waving and honking his horn, while driving his 97 Chevy Van and Wyatt driving the truck and trailer behind us caught on to what we were doing and started honking and waving as well. :\DWW 6SULQJVWHHQ One time some jerk threw a beer bottle into the crowd at the Cowboy in Laramie. It hit a girl in the head and there was blood everywhere. She went to the E.R. and we saw her back out partying later that night. Wyoming people have a lot of fortitude! :\RPLQJ 0DJD]LQH :H KDYH KHDUG WKDW \RX ZLOO EH SOD\LQJ VRPH VKRZV LQ )UDQFH VRRQ +RZ GR \RX JX\V IHHO DERXW WKDW" &KDQFH\ :LOOLDPV :HOO UHDO H[FLWHG WR VHH D GLĘ?HUHQW SDUW of the world. I am anxious to see how French people like our music. It will be a great experience!

-DFN 5REELQV I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait. I have always wanted to visit France

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and playing there will make it much more memorable.

7UDYLV 'H:LWW : Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so exciting getting to play on another continent for people whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen us before! I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait for the opportunity to see more of the world, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so cool that we get to do that and call it work! Our job is amazing! :\RPLQJ 0DJD]LQH ,I \RX FRXOG SOD\ DQ\ YHQXH RU HYHQW LQ WKH :RUOG ZKHUH ZRXOG \RX SOD\" -DFN 5REELQV Red Rocks Amphitheatre. :\DWW 6SULQJVWHHQ Red Rocks is next on the bucket list. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen a ton of shows there and can only imagine what the view is like from the stage. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best venue in the World!

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

&KDQFH\ :LOOLDPV Red Rocks!! %URRNH /DWND If I could play any event or venue in the world, it would probably be Red Rocks Amphitheater. It has always been a huge dream of mine and the rest of the band members. :\RPLQJ 0DJD]LQH <RX KDYH KDG D FKDQFH WR SOD\ ZLWK PDQ\ RWKHU EDQGV DQG DUWLVWV RYHU WKH \HDUV DQG E\ WKLV SRLQW \RXU IDQV DUH VWDU VWUXFN ZKHQ WKH\ VHH \RX :DV WKHUH D WLPH ZKHQ \RX ZHUH VWDU VWUXFN" &KDQFH\ :LOOLDPV Yes, I had already been working in the business for a while in Nashville when I got the chance to go to the BMI awards with all sorts of stars there. I never got star struck

Brooke Latka: Hometown: Casper Instrument: Fiddle / Background vocals Childhood Inspiration: “When I was little, I would always watch the Celtic Women and those Irish Dancing videos like Michael Flatley’s, ‘Lord of the Dance’. They always had these two blonde ʐGGOH SOD\HUV WHDULQJ LW XS RQ VWDJH , ZDV VR mesmerized by them that I would go in my room DQG JHW RXW P\ ʐGGOH DQG DFW MXVW OLNH WKHP Ţ

Wyatt Springsteen: over anyone until I saw Dwight Yoakam in person.

7UDYLV 'H:LWW I was pretty surprised when we opened for Gary Allan and one of his security guys tapped me on the shoulder as I was packing up my drums, and said that Gary Allan wanted to meet us! He was incredibly nice and very polite! And it was very humbling that he wanted to meet us and thank us for opening for him. :\DWW 6SULQJVWHHQ , ZDV RQ VWDJH VHWWLQJ XS VRPH RI RXU VWXʏ ZKLOH 0HUOH Haggard was doing his sound check maybe 15 feet away from me. My Mom and wife snuck in to watch sound check and I looked over at them like “are \RX NLGGLQJ PH"Ţ 7KDW ZDV RXU ʐUVW &KH\HQQH )URQWLHU 'D\V VKRZ RQ WKH ELJ stage and I’ll never forget it. %URRNH /DWND Meeting Toby Keith was a big deal for me! I was so nervous! Also Gary Allen! I was so star struck I accidentally tripped in front of him. :\RPLQJ 0DJD]LQH :KDW LV \RXU IDYRULWH SDUW RI WKH QHZ DOEXP" &KDQFH\ :LOOLDPV I think I like this album the best out of any I have done.

This album I have had a chance to take a little more time with the recording DQG IRFXV PRUH DWWHQWLRQ RQ HDFK LQGLYLGXDO VRQJ 7KLV DOEXP DOVR UHʑHFWV RXU sound along with new fresh songs. The fans are going to love it!

-DFN 5REELQV I really like all of the new songs. They still have our traditional country roots, but also incorporate some new age country feel.

7UDYLV 'H:LWW I think I like the direction we are moving with our music and the way we have grown as artists and performers. We have grown a lot with every aspect of being a band and the new album will show how far we’ve come.

Do you want to keep up with the band? Make sure to check out Chancey Williams and The Younger Brothers Band on iTunes and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hometown: Saratoga - Currently Laramie Instrument: Lead Guitar / Vocals Childhood Inspiration: “My Dad’s band ‘Rimrock’ played for several Carbon County Fairs. When my brother and I were little, we got to go on stage with Dan Seals while he did his sound check. I’ll never forget how well he treated us.”

Jack Robbins: Hometown: Laramie Instrument: Bass Guitar &KLOGKRRG ,QVSLUDWLRQ š, FDQşW WKLQN RI D VSHFLʐF musician, but when I was younger we would often host barn dances and ever since attending those, I knew I wanted to join a band.”

Travis DeWitt: Hometown: Moorcroft – Currently Laramie Instrument: Drums Childhood Inspiration: “I started playing drums because my older brother let me listen to his rock music, and I took a liking to Metallica drummer, Lars Ullrich. I don’t know why, but it just seemed like a lot of fun to be able to play like he did! It seems like all my inspirations when I was a kid were all rock drummers! But, I couldn’t help tapping along to all the country songs I heard on the radio too!”

Chancey Williams: Hometown: Moorcroft – Currently Laramie Instrument: Acoustic Guitar / Lead Vocals Childhood Inspiration: “I would say George Straight. When I was younger I remember George Straight playing on a commercial during the NFR and I knew watching that I wanted to do that when I grew up”.

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11

Best Ways To Beat The Winter Blues This Year

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ere in Wyoming in the middle of Winter with shorter days and plummeting temperatures, it is not hard to fall victim to a serious case of the winter blues. Whether you KDYH IXOO EORZQ VHDVRQDO DʏHFWLYH GLVRUGHU RU VLPSO\ ʐQG \RXUVHOI IHHOLQJ GHSUHVVHG DQG lethargic with a little case of cabin fever during the winter months, you are not alone. In fact, it is a well-known fact that a large percentage of the population struggles with mood changes during the winter.

Beating the Winter Blues If the winter months get you feeling down, you do not QHHG WR VXʏHU 7KHUH DUH VHYHUDO ZD\V WR PDQDJH \RXU symptoms. Some of the best ways to beat the winter blues are simple things that are easy to incorporate into your everyday life. Try these tips to make getting through the winter a bit more bearable.

1

Change Your Light Bulbs

The decreased amount of daylight you are exposed to during the winter is one of the main causes of seasonal depression. While you can’t do anything to make the sun stay out longer, you can make the lighting in your KRPH RU RʒFH PRUH QDWXUDO 5HSODFH \RXU H[LVWLQJ OLJKW bulbs with bulbs that mimic natural sunlight. You can also get a desk lamp that you turn on for a few minutes HDFK GD\ WKDW LV VSHFLʐFDOO\ PDGH WR UHGXFH WKH V\PSWRPV RI VHDVRQDO DʏHFWLYH GLVRUGHU &KHFNRXW DPD]RQ FRP IRU DOO WKH GLʏHUHQW PRGHOV

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2

Take Vitamins

Take vitamin D during the winter to help make up for getting less vitamin D from the sun GXULQJ WKHVH PRQWKV 7R KHOS IHQG RĘ? PLQRU GHSUHVVLRQ VWDUW WDNLQJ 6W -RKQĹ&#x;V :RUW %RWK RI WKHVH vitamins have been shown to improve your mood and health during the winter months.

3

Wear Bright Colors

Snow and bare trees create a barren and depressing landscape during the winter. Brighten things up a bit by dressing yourself in bright, cheerful colors. Adding a little bit of color takes away some of winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreariness and boosts your mood.

4

Pamper Yourself

Cold winter air is hard on your skin, and wearing heavy winter coats and shoveling snow takes its toll on your back and shoulders. If you feel winter wearing down your body, plan a trip WR WKH VSD IRU D IDFLDO DQG PDVVDJH 3DPSHULQJ \RXUVHOI HDVHV WKH SK\VLFDO HĘ?HFWV RI ZLQWHU DQG when you feel better physically, you also feel better emotionally. Sounds like a good reason to jump on a plane to Las Vegas, as we all know they have the best spas and treatments in the world.

5

Be Social

Though staying indoors and hibernating seems like a tempting prospect during the coldest months of winter, doing so is not good for your emotional well-being. Take time to meet with friends or join a club.

Getting out and socializing with other people passes the time and improves your mood. Like Wyoming Magazine on Facebook, we post all kinds of activities and events as they come up. Its a great way to get out and do something. Facebook.com/WyomingMagazine

6

Pick up a Winter Sport

If you are stuck surviving the winter, you might as well make the most of it. Pick up a sport like skiing, snowboarding or ice skating. This gives you something to actually look forward to during the winter months. Participating in winter sports also keeps you active and gets you out to enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

7

Keep the Blinds Open

Closing the blinds and curtains helps with energy bills during the winter, but it tends to make the winter blues worse.

Keep your curtains and blinds open during the day to let in those few precious hours of daylight. Close them when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark to save on heating bills.

8

Eat Healthy

The winter months are a prime time for unhealthy eating due to the holidays.

Maintaining a healthy diet, however, improves your mood and boosts your energy levels. Most importantly, avoid UHĘ?QHG DQG SURFHVVHG IRRGV DQG VXJDUV as they actually contribute to worsening depression.

9

Go for a Walk

A quick walk gets your heart pumping and releases feel-good hormones known as endorphins. Going for a walk also forces you to spend a bit of time in the sun which will also help lift your spirits.

10

Buy Fresh Flowers

)UHVK Ę&#x2018;RZHUV EUHDWKH IUHVK DLU into any space, and the burst of color works to improve your mood. During the winter when it seems like everything is GHDG WKH VLJKW DQG VPHOO RI IUHVK Ę&#x2018;RZHUV is a reminder of life and spring.

11

Learn Something New

The winter months are a prime time for unhealthy eating due to the holidays.

Maintaining a healthy diet, however, improves your mood and boosts your energy levels.

Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picking up a new hobby or learning more about something that has always interested you, expanding your knowledge is a good way to make the most of your winter. Learning VRPHWKLQJ QHZ WDNHV \RXU PLQG RĘ? RI the negative parts of winter, and it gives you something of which you can be proud.

Stay warm this winter and good luck beating those pesky winter blues.

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Location: Willow Lake - Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming Shot in August 2015, Least weasels are found in areas in Wyoming.

Usually not this far south.

Canon Rebel, 55mm f5.6 iso 200 1/100 Courtesy of Paul Plourde

BOLT MARKETING AD

WYOMING A State of Well Being

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WYOMING Magazine 路 December 2015

very Year Gallup-Healthways conducts surveys and interviews with American FLWL]HQV WR FUHDWH D š:HOO %HLQJ ,QGH[Ţ 7KLV LQGH[ UDQNV HDFK VWDWH DFURVV ʐYH FDWegories of well-being and then creates and over all “Well-Being Index”. The latest index was conducted with information gathered in 2014. Wyoming ranked #4 out of 50 states for over all well-being.

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Wyoming’s Well-Being Scorecard: (OHPHQW RI :HOO %HLQJ

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+HUH LV D GHVFULSWLRQ RI WKH ƩYH HOHPHQWV RI ZHOO EHLQJ XVHG IRU WKH LQGH[ Purpose: Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals.

6RFLDO Having supportive relationships and love in your life. )LQDQFLDO Managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security. &RPPXQLW\ Liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community.

3K\VLFDO Having good health and enough energy to get things done daily.

Top 10 States Ranked for Highest Overall Well-Being: 1.

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Alaska Hawaii South Dakota Wyoming Montana Colorado Nebraska Utah New Mexico Texas

Top 10 States Ranked Lowest for Overall Well-Being: 1.

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Missouri Michigan Arkansas Tennessee Alabama Mississippi Ohio Indiana Kentucky West Virginia

To learn more about the Well-Being Index visit: www.healthways.com

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WYOMING Magazine

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Wyoming Winter Events

42

WYOMING Magazine 路 December 2015

Gillette Ice Fest

By February you might be starting to get the winter blues, never fear Gillette Ice Fest is here! The annual Ice Fest is free to the public the festival is put on by the Gillette Main Street Association, with one goal, celebrating a downtown winter! Ice Fest is held February 20th, from noon to 4pm and includes the infamous Chowder Challenge, Ice Carving, and a silent auction for local art. Did someone say Chowder? Yes! Come sample the local best as they compete for cash prizes in claiming the best Chowder this side of the North Platte. Once you are warmed up by the delicious soup samplings, head out to watch the ice carving contest held in the new Main Street Square Plaza. Local artists will chip, saw and chisel out masterpieces

from giant blocks of ice shipped in from South Dakota. Watch as they brave the elements to create one of a kind winter masterpieces. Want to take home a piece of art? You won’t want to miss the silent auction with local artists and vendors. There will be various levels RI ʐQH DUW WKDW FDQ EH ELG RQ DQG \RX will want to keep an eye on your bids as they snowball as the day progresses.

From hearty soups to frosty sculptures and local talented artists, the Ice Fest promotes community warmth and gathering in from the frosty temperatures. Load up the family and friends to downtown Gillette Main Street to celebrate Ice Fest!

Checkout GilletteWy.com for more information as the Gillette Ice Fest gets closer.

Wild West Winter Carnival Riverton Wyoming Established in 1986, the Wild West Winter Carnival (WWWC) has brought fun and exciting events to Wyoming`s Wind River Basin during the winter months. Join us as we celebrate winter in our beautiful area.A few Wild West Winter Carnival (WWWC) events to look forward to: Ice sculpting, Fishing derby, Quick draw, Crab crack, Medallion hunt, Hot air balloon rides, Kids coin grab, Hole in one golf, Car show, Casino night, Coloring contest, Quilt fest, Coronation, Gala, R/C car races. http://www.wildwestwintercarnival.org/

Sierra Madre Winter Carnival - Encampment Wyoming Come enjoy the annual winter carnival in Encampment! There are always

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WYOMING Magazine

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family friendly activities including a treasure hunt, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Build Your Ownâ&#x20AC;? sled race, chili DQG EUHDG FRRN RĘ?V D ĹĄ6L[WK Street Sprintâ&#x20AC;? snowmobile race, and Human Saucer Bowling. The event is sponsored by the Town of Encampment 307-327-5501.

(XNDQXED 6WDJH 6WRS 'RJ 5DFH /DQGHU :\RPLQJ Last year they had the Eukanuba Stage Stop Dog Race with seven stops around the state. The stage stop locations were jackson Hole,

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WYOMING Magazine ¡ December 2015

Alpine, Lander, Big Piney, Kemmerer and Uinta County. :H FRXOG QRW FRQĘ?UP WKLV years race stops and dates we believe there will be a race this yera. Sled dog racing is a sight to see. It is amazing what the dogs and racers can do. No pet dogs allowed.

FREE to the public. For more information call, email or visit them on their website435-691-3580, wyomingstagestop.org, racedirector@ wyomingstagestop.org, or bark@jhsleddog.com

Sundance Winter Festival We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 2nd annual Sundance Winter Festival to be held in Sundance, Wyoming, February 20-21, 2016. Take a look at the amazing schedule of snow HYHQWV ZHĹ&#x;UH RĘ?HULQJ 7KLV is the second year and if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t join in the fun, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be the only one!

6FKHGXOH RI (YHQWV 6DWXUGD\ )HEUXDU\ WK â&#x20AC;˘ Ski Joring with Horses, Preliminary races, Main Street Sundance. Races start @ 10am, Calcutta @ 1pm cash jackpot,1st, 2nd, 3rd place embroidered event apparel. â&#x20AC;˘ Downhill Barstool races, 3rd Street Sundance, Registration starts @ 12noon, Racing heats start @ 1pm, 1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophies. â&#x20AC;˘ Vintage Snowmobile Hill Climb, Sundance Mountain--snow permitting. â&#x20AC;˘ Snow Sculpture/carving competition, teams start Wednesday February 15, 4th Street Sundance, SatXUGD\ )HEUXDU\ Ę?QLVK snow sculptures by 1pm, judging @2pm, cash prize.

Extended cold temps needed for this event. â&#x20AC;˘ X-Country Ski Clinic, Reuter Campground, BearORGJH 5DQJHU 'LVWULFWĹ?

Sundance, 9am â&#x20AC;˘ Sledding, snowman building, activities for the kids, Crook County Library. â&#x20AC;˘ Foodies & Craft Vendors various locations on the streets & Craft vendors on Main Street. â&#x20AC;˘ Live music, Downtown Sundance Bars, evening.

6XQGD\ )HEUXDU\ VW Ski Joring with Horses, Final heats on Main Street. Races begin at 10am, cash jackpot, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place embroidered event apparel.

â&#x20AC;˘

Nordic Ski Race, Reuter Trailhead, Bearlodge 5DQJHU 'LVWULFWĹ?6XQdance, start 9am, winners & prizes @ Longhorn Saloon & Grill immediately following the race.

Winter Enthusiasts! Put a trip to Sundance on your calendar for February 20-21, 2016.

Get ready, this 2nd annual festival is sure to be even more awesome than last year!

Join the fun as a cowboy galloping your horse down the Main Street in Sundance pulling a skier through an obstacle course complete with snow jumps. Grab a costume

and be creative with a barstool and an old pair of skis and you can enter the wild and wooly Downhill Barstool Races. Are you a budding artist?

Form a team of snow carvers WR VKRZ RĘ? \RXU VNLOOV LQ WKH Snow Carving competition.

Want to enjoy skiing a bit more tame? X-Country clinic & Nordic races in the nearby %HDUORGJH 0RXQWDLQV ZLOO Ę?W the bill. Snow permitting, there will be a Vintage Snowmobile Hill Climb up the side of Sundance Mountain.

With this much fun the only question left to ask is where do I sign up? Please go to

www.sundancewinterfestival. com for all the forms and more information.

The 1st Annual Sundance Winter Festival has something for everyone in the family.

There will be sledding and snow man building for the kids, food and craft vendors, and nightly live entertainment at the pubs. Get your Winter on in Sundance!

Sundance! Let the name awaken your imagination of days long ago when rowdy cowboys whooped it up on Saturday nights or perhaps you picture serene Native American villages

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camped at the base of the Sundance Mountain where they performed their sacred Sun Dance ceremonies. This historic town welcomes the visitor to come and explore the rich history and to soak in the vibrant vistas where the beauty of the rugged west comes alive.

Sundance meets the traveler’s needs whether it be restaurants and bars, hotels

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WYOMING Magazine · December 2015

and lodging, retail shopping or just a tank of gas. The friendly merchants are ready to serve your every need.

Check out the 2nd Annual Sundance Winter Festival (and be sure to Like us on Facebook!) event details @ www. sundancewinterfestival.com and feel free to call Steve or Reggie for more information (307) 283-2438.

DIRECTIONS: From I-90 Westbound take exit 189. Turn right to stop sign Hwy 14.

Make left turn onto Hwy 14.

Proceed 2 miles to 2nd street and turn right. Go to end of block to Main Street where Sun-dance Winter Festival will be held.

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WYOMING Magazine 路 December 2015

10

Best Places To Get That Ugly Sweater This Year

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ouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been invited to an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ugly Christmas Sweaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; party, or maybe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hosting one of your own. Christmas traditions and fads come and go but it looks like the ugly Christmas sweater party is here to stay. We even have a National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day set for the third Friday in December each year.

Finding the perfect ugly sweater and accessories can be tricky. Here is a guide we put together to help you out.

Festive sweaters from the past are re-appearing at parties all over the United States this time of year. Google Trends reports that searches for ugly Christmas sweaters have risen over 10 times in the last 4 years. Clearly this trend is here to stay.

Here are a few of the best places to snag that perfect ugly sweater.

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My Ugly Christmas Sweater boasts ugly Christmas sweaters of all kinds; from vintage 80s beauties to modern naughty styles. They have light up and 3D sweaters and a category they have entitled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;holy grailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which boasts the ugliest of the ugly.

7KH\ RĘ?HU WLSV IRU KRVWLQJ \RXU XJO\ VZHDWHU party and how to rock your ugly sweater. They have sizes up to 4XL and a selection of Hanukkah sweaters. Each year this site sends ugly Christmas sweaters to troops overseas to help brighten their holiday season.

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Ultimate Ugly Christmas has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, and in the NY Times. Their sweaters are categorized for you by SULFH VL]H DQG VSHFLDOW\ 7KH\ DOVR RĘ?HU SDUW\ hosting tips and tricks and the site features a fun blog with funny and interesting ugly sweater LGHDV IRU \HDU Ĺ&#x17E;URXQG IXQ 7KLV VLWH RĘ?HUV IUHH shipping in the United States.

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The Ugly Sweater Storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front page features a hilarious 58 second YouTube video featuring a catchy jingle and various people rocking their ugly Christmas sweaters. Besides the typical categories of ugly sweater, this site also sells ugly sweaters for you dog and trophies for awarding to the ugliest at your party.

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The Sweater Store boasts that they have the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest collection of ugly Christmas

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sweaters with over 20,000 sweaters in stock. They also have Hanukkah and cat sweaters available for purchase. They ship worldwide. All of their sweaters are vintage, so they have a sizing chart to help you make the right decision.

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Rusty Zipper is an online vintage shop with a section devoted to the ugly &KULVWPDV VZHDWHU 7KH\ RĘ?HU WKRXVDQGV RI VHOHFWLRQV VHSDUDWHG LQWR PHQĹ&#x;V womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sizes. They also have accessories and other fun items to complete your holiday ensemble. They have resurrected the process for color changing shirts from the 80s and applied them to custom color changing ugly Christmas sweatshirts. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about you but I miss Hyper-Color t-shirts.

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Tipsy Elves is the home of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;not your mommaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas sweaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Their sweaters are all brand new and feature humorous and slightly naughty designs.

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The Ugly Christmas has sweaters for men, women and children. They have a section of extras that include hats, belts, scarves, dog apparel and ugly ties.

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Your Ugly Christmas Sweater has selections categorized by sizes and special features such a light-up sweaters, or turtlenecks. They even have a special section of Bill Cosby style ugly sweaters, if you are looking for that kind of thing.

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Etsy artists sell a wide variety of ugly Christmas sweaters. Many new styles are available as well as recycled, repurposed designs and vintage sweaters. Etsy has an easy search feature so that you can shop for exactly what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for.

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eBay is the home of every odd thing that you might ever need. A quick search for ugly Christmas sweaters will turn up any number of interesting choices. The fun of getting into a bidding war with a couple of other people or the thrill of winning an interesting sweater for less than a dollar make this time well spent.

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You are going to look freakinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; great at that ugly sweater party this year!

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So grab a cup of cocoa, settle down in a comfy chair in front of the fireplace, laptop in hand and begin the search for that perfect ugly Christmas sweater. You are going to look freakinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; great at that ugly sweater party this year!

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10

Best Wyoming New Years Eve Parties - Get out and have some fun!

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re you looking for something fun to do this New Years Eve in Wyoming. There are celebrations all over the sate. Pick the one that sounds like a good time and lets have fun!

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The New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events in this list are hot spots in a land where people make their own entertainment. These are communal gatherings, where authenticity is celebrated, history relived and company enjoyed.

1

Join the Torchlight Parade at Jackson Hole

Festivities begin at the mountain resort with the kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Glow Worm Parade at 5:30 p.m. Children under age 14 will carry glowsticks. Adults follow immediately thereafter, carrying torchlights.

Did I mention the parades are on skis? Kids who are comfortable skiing the Teewinot Run may do so. Younger children ride on VQRZPRELOHV 7KH SDUDGH Ę?QLVKHV ZLWK D JUDQG Ę?UHZRUNV GLVSOD\ over Teton Village.

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Watch the Ball Drop in Cheyenne

&KH\HQQH LV SURXG WR EH RĘ?HULQJ this New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve tradition so far west of Manhattan. Cheyenne welcomes thousands of people to its Ball Drop every year. Count down to the New Year beginning at 11 p.m. There will be music and dancing on the plaza. A 200-pound ball of LED lights will JHQWO\ GHVFHQG DQG Ę?UHZRUNV ZLOO VKRRW RĘ? IURP WKH WRS RI WKH Hynds Building.

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Attend First Night in Casper

Another Eastern New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve tradition moves West. Casper offers its version of the nonalcoholic celebration that began in Boston in 1976. Downtown Casper H[SORGHV ZLWK PDJLFLDQV Ę?UH DQG

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improv dancers, native American storytelling and drumming and a community drum circle. The HYHQLQJ HQGV LQ ʐUHZRUNV

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Buckin’ Ball in Gillette

The annual Buckin’ Ball in Gillette includes an evening rodeo and dance. Two-step the night away to live country music, this year provided by Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band.

Which just happen to grace the pages of our issue this month.

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Dine in Style at Yellowstone National Park Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge are Yellowstone’s winter accommodaWLRQV %RWK ORGJHV RʏHU D VSHFLDO New Year’s Eve dinner menu, including traditional Western fare. Mammoth Hotel is the only park accommodation reachable by car in the winter. To access Snow Lodge, deep in the park’s interior, Yellowstone provides snowmobile and snowcoach.

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Solve a Murder Mystery in Cheyenne

Nagle Warren Mansion was built

by Erasmus Nagle in 1888. The furnishings are authentic to the period, and the restored building is in the National Register of Historic Places. Stay at this bed and breakfast over New Year’s Eve and participate in a costumed murder-mystery dinner.

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Get Lost in Cody

Cody is a gateway town to Yellowstone National Park. It’s also the nearest access to the ice

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climbing thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opened up at Shoshone 1DWLRQDO )RUHVW 7ZR RXWĘ?WWHUV KDYH SHUmits to take ice climbers up the frozen ice falls of the South Fork. You can go RĘ? LQ DQ\ GLUHFWLRQ IURP &RG\ %DFN LQ WRZQ KXQNHU GRZQ RYHU D EXĘ?DOR Ę?OHW at Wyoming Rib and Chop House. Then go snowshoeing in the morning. Its the perfect quiet Wyoming New Years.

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Find Yourself in Thermopolis

Thermopolis Hot Springs are the largest mineral springs in the world. The healing waters were a gathering spot for the

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dinosaurs. Indigenous tribes have long valued the therapeutic waters. Have a soak. Breathe. Relax. Repeat. Make a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution.

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See the Stars in Alta

The Grand Targhee Resort has a full complement of New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve activiWLHV WRUFKOLJKW SDUDGH Ę?UHZRUNV SUL[ Ę?[H GLQQHU DW WKH %UDQGLQJ ,URQ *ULOO and late-night entertainment provided

by Musketeer Gripweed at the Trap Bar. At 8,000 feet, though, it seems a waste not to move out onto the snow and contemplate the stars as the New Year

commences. Four days later, the USSMA Ski Mountaineering Classic takes place.

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Take the Bridger Gondola at Jackson Hole Here we are, back where we began, at Jackson Hole. Have yourself tucked in with warmed blankets. Your gondola ascends the Bridger line to over 9,000 feet. A special New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve dinner at eco-friendly Couloir Restaurant is followed by Gondi-Gala, with music provided by Mandatory Air. The best place to be is above it all.

Location: Willow Lake - Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming Shot in August 2015, Facing Darton Peak Canon Rebel, 28mm f22 iso 200 1/60 Courtesy of Paul Plourde

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