Wyoming Rural Electric News March 2024

THE COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE

Over the years I’ve written about the cooperative business model and what sets the rural electric cooperatives apart from the for-profit investor-owned utilities. I’ve also highlighted the seven cooperative business model principles with my favorites being Concern for Community and Cooperation Among Cooperatives. However, during this past session of the Wyoming legislature, when there was a myriad of proposed bills aimed at electric utilities, I found that two other business principles came into play and those were Not-for-Profit and Democratically Controlled.

Even if you’re a member of a cooperative you no doubt read the stories over the summer about the proposed rate increases by the state’s two largest investor-owned (IOU), or for-profit, utility companies. It is because of these proposed rate increases, as well as one of the IOU’s announcements over the past several years to close many of their coal-fired power plants, that legislators felt compelled to both address the power plant retirements and the rising costs of electric bills through legislation.

Now, I know the cooperatives are not immune from inflation, supply chain shortages and everything that puts upward pressure on rates. And yes, several of the cooperatives have had to increase their rates over the past year, but not to the level of the IOUs. Because we, the members of the cooperatives, elect our boards of directors, who ultimately approve any rate increase (and pay the same rate as everyone else) and, because we are in the business to provide reliable affordable electricity and to improve the lives of our members, not to make a profit, legislators are starting to understand that what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. In other words, as the legislature contemplates what to do about increasing costs by the IOUs, they have started to recognize that the cooperatives are different and have crafted legislation that won’t impact us.

It has taken some time but thanks to the members, directors, employees and others communicating and talking to your elected officials, we are at a point where they understand and appreciate the differences between the co-ops and the IOUs. But let’s not rest on our laurels. We need to continue to be vigilant about getting to know our local elected officials and make sure they get to know us, particularly this fall after the elections when there will no doubt be some new faces who might not know or understand the cooperative difference.

SHAWN TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

RED CANYON RANCH SUNRISE

PHOTO BY SCOTT COPELAND IMAGES LANDER, WYOMING

THE WREN MAGAZINE

WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS

The official publication of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association

The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 70, number 2, March 2024 (ISSN 1098-2876) is published monthly except for January for $22 per year by Linden Press, Inc., Periodicals postage paid at Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at additional mailing offices.

WREN Magazine is owned and controlled by rural electric cooperatives in the interest of the economic progress of rural areas specifically and the entire population of Wyoming and the nation generally.

WREN Magazine has a total average monthly paid circulation of 32,298 for 11 months ending September 2023. WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/consumers and other subscribers throughout the entire state of Wyoming and the nation.

Acceptance of advertising by WREN Magazine does not imply endorsement of the product or services advertised by the publisher or Wyoming electric cooperatives.

WREN STAFF

Publisher: Linden Press, Inc.

— Editorial Team — Maggie York

Alison Quinn

Becky Freismuth — Design Team — Dixie Lira

David Merkley

Shawna Phillips

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

High West Energy, Pine Bluffs –Michael Lerwick, President

Big Horn REC, Basin –John Joyce, Vice President

Wheatland REA, Wheatland –Sandra Hranchak, Secretary/Treasurer

Basin Electric, Bismarck, ND – Paul Baker

Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View – Ruth Rees

Carbon Power, Saratoga – Kenny Curry

Garland Light & Power, Powell – Scott Smith

High Plains Power, Riverton – Brett Gardner

Lower Valley Energy, Afton – Scott Anderson

Niobrara Electric, Lusk – J.D. Wasserburger

Powder River Energy, Sundance – Mike Lohse

Wyrulec Company, Torrington – Dewey Hageman

Deseret Power, South Jordan, UT – Gary Nix

Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Julie Kilty

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$22 per year, Single copies $2 each

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To purchase call (307) 996-6552.

OFFICE OF WREN OWNER 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001

ADDRESS CHANGES

Please contact your local cooperative to update your address.

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The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, c/o Linden Press, Inc., 121 E Mountain Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524, [970] 221-3232. Include 3-digit co-op code.

Unbroken Spirit

I was first introduced to the wild horses at Deerwood Ranch back in 2017 when my aunt, Ruby Quarterman, treated me to a tour there with owner Rich Wilson. This original watercolor captures the unbroken spirit of the horses against a backdrop of aspen trees at sunrise.

JOHN KEELING CENTENNIAL, WYOMING

BASIN ELECTRIC

AFFORDABILITY

INVESTING IN POWER

Whether you’re turning the lights on in your home or keeping your livestock warm, electricity is vital to our way of life. It powers our communities and keeps us safe. We use many different fuel sources to keep electricity affordable for the cooperative family because investing in you is why we exist!

“My

Welcome to all things wild west in the rural electric cooperative world. Each month will be dedicated to our lineworkers, including snippets about a day in their life, true tales of risky jobs, or more information about what it’s like to be a lineworker at an electric cooperative.

WILD WIRED WEST

UMBRELLA SPECIES in the Sagebrush State

Sagebrush Sea

Wyoming has more sagebrush habitat than any other state. It is estimated that sagebrush habitat covers approximately 50% of Wyoming! The most common plant in the sagebrush ecosystem is, of course, sagebrush. But these silver-green shrubs aren’t just one species; there are actually over 27 different kinds of sagebrush plants. They often stretch horizon to horizon in this vast ecosystem.

At Risk

Sagebrush is not the only component of these ecosystems; more than 350 Wyoming plants and animals depend on sagebrush habitat for all or parts of their lives. Despite the importance of sagebrush habitat, it is an at-risk ecosystem. Over one-half of sagebrush habitat across the western U.S. has already disappeared, and an estimated additional 1.3 million acres are lost each year. The loss of sagebrush habitat has many causes, including development and the introduction of non-native species.

Sage Grouse

Because sagebrush habitat is declining, so too are many of the species that live in this ecosystem. One of the most iconic animal occupants of sagebrush habitat, the sage grouse, is no exception. Their lives are intricately woven with sagebrush habitat; sage grouse could not exist without it. Sage grouse are found across most of the remaining sagebrush habitat in the western U.S.

There are a lot of species and habitats that are in need of conservation, but conservation funds are often limited. One solution is the umbrella species strategy: focus conservation on one species whose protection can benefit other species in the same ecosystem. Sage grouse are one such umbrella species. Sage grouse conservation efforts focus on conserving sagebrush habitat, since sage grouse are 100% dependent on healthy sagebrush ecosystems. Because of this habitat conservation focus, many other sagebrush inhabitants benefit from the sage grouse conservation efforts as well.

WORKFORCE HOUSING IN COLORADO’S MOUNTAIN TOWNS

“The cost of housing is astronomical in some of these ski towns, so the ability to house important workers is critical.”

– Phil Zimmer, SMPA member and Energy Services Supervisor

Communities like Crested Butte, Buena Vista, Telluride and Ouray are among the most sought-after destinations in the United States. As a result, property values and monthly rentals in these areas have soared, making housing particularly difficult for essential workers like teachers, healthcare professionals, firefighters, and service industry employees.

After experiencing that problem in their service territory firsthand, San Miguel Power Association decided to take action.

Tri-State, SMPA, SDCEA and Fading West have worked together to bring affordable housing to the mountain communities we serve.

BENEFITS OF COOPERATIVE SERVICE

Tri-State and San Miguel Power along with funding from multiple organizations, piloted a housing program to assist their end-consumers with more affordable, energy efficient housing solutions. This program integrates donated land, all-electric manufactured home designs and low-cost financing.

Affordable housing stabilizes the local workforce and economy, fosters diverse and inclusive communities and enhances quality of life by reducing the burden of housing costs. Local utilities, partnering with their community and wholesale power supplier Tri-State, make homeownership a reality. That’s the cooperative difference.

Read the full story at www.tristate.coop/rethinking-american-dream-colorados-mountain-towns

THE ENERGY MIX:

Carbon

Carbon-based energy is derived from carbon sources, such as crude oil, coal and natural gas. Wyoming’s large carbon footprint is mainly due to the state’s coal industry, however there’s more than just coal to explore when it comes to how and where carbon is being utilized in the state. Wyoming is advancing the carbon economy, including efforts to grow Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS).

We will explore what this process is, as well as how and where it is being utilized in Wyoming, and also dive into a general understanding of how carbon is captured.

Petroleum Association of Wyoming

Representing Wyoming’s primary economic engine, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) is the voice of the oil and gas industry. Their members produce 90% of Wyoming’s oil and gas, generating over $5 billion in economic activity and directly employing more than 19,000 of Wyoming’s hard-working men and women. PAW strives to foster mutually beneficial relationships with Wyoming’s landowners, businesses and communities while promoting the sustainable production of Wyoming’s abundant resources.

PAW provides a forum for education, interaction, and unified action for members, policymakers and the public. For information about Wyoming’s oil and gas industry, including graphics and charts that lay out where and by whom oil and gas are produced, and how the industry supports the state, visit pawyo.org/facts-figures-2023.

BY WREN STAFF

Wyoming Carbon Innovation Network

In late 2023, PAW launched the Wyoming Carbon Innovation Network, which aims to ensure the existing oil and natural gas industry continues to prosper. They recognize that in order to keep this industry alive in Wyoming, they will need to support the development and growth of the carbon management industry in the state.

Carbon management is an emerging component of Wyoming’s critical energy industries. The Network will focus on strategic goals intended to bring new jobs and new economic opportunities to Wyoming’s already strong energy industries.

“The Carbon Innovation Network formed last year, basically as a mechanism for private industry that was doing carbon management … to come together to learn best practices and network and advocate if necessary for policies that can help advance carbon management,” said Pete Obermueller, President of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming.

Obermueller recognizes that carbon capture and sequestration is the main topic of discussion, however he argues that this is not the whole story when it comes to carbon management in Wyoming.

“Wyoming is already home to the largest carbon capture and sequestration facility in the world,” Obermueller said. “This facility in Sublette County currently captures around 25% of the entire globe’s carbon capture. We’ve been doing it for 40 years.”

Something else that isn’t new to Wyoming is using captured carbon for enhanced oil recovery. When drilling an oil field, you can generally expect to get 10-20% of the oil in place just from normal pressure and hydraulic lifting. After that, there are various methods to push more oil out of the formation. One of the best ways to do that is to inject carbon, which is referred to as enhanced oil recovery.

“We’ve been doing that for decades in Wyoming, and the results are pretty

Air pollution control

Air pollution control systems remove particulate, sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury (Hg) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) from the flue gas

Coal is burned

Coal is burned in a boiler that heats water to produce steam, which is then used in a turbine to generate electricity

Directed gas

5% of the flue gas is directed to the ITC from DFS via a carbon steel duct

Coal arrives

Coal mined in Wyoming arrives at the station

Carbon Capture

Carbon testing

Developers testing carbon capture technologies remove CO2 from the delivered flue gas

Permanent storage

Once removed from the gas, CO2 can be:

• Permanently stored through the enhanced oil and gas recovery process

• Used to create valuable products through coversion technologies

• Sent to deep geological formations for permanent underground storage

Electric cooperatives throughout the United States are partners in innovative carbon capture technology research projects.

Co-ops reduced carbon dioxide emissions 17% from 2005 to 2021.

Total CO2 Emissions

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

5 4

6

stunning,” Obermueller said. “They’re very successful at capturing another 5 to 15 or 20 percent of the oil in place. So then what happens of course you inject the carbon into one of those fields, some portion of it comes back out with the oil that you’ve recovered and then it gets re-injected. But by the end of that project, all of that carbon is stored underground. So it is carbon sequestration by the end of the project. Which means we’ve been doing carbon sequestration for decades, too.”

In regard to the latest legislative session and discussions happening at the Capitol, Obermueller said there is some rehoretic around carbon sequestration being unsafe. However, Wyoming and the data acquired have proven just the opposite. “A lot of the conversation this last session has been ‘it’s new, it’s untested, we don’t know if it’s safe.’ Well, in Wyoming, we have decades of data to support its success and safety. I would put Wyoming up against anywhere in the world in terms of our expertise on that kind of carbon management.”

Obermueller said Wyoming’s oil and gas operators are generally small businesses and that about 80% of Wyoming’s oil and gas operators are small businesses. “These guys aren’t the guys that are working on sequestration or enhanced oil recovery,” he said. “Their carbon management job is just trying to figure out how, on a small operation with a limited budget, to comply with new mandates of reducing carbon emissions, which is also carbon management. So the Network was designed to sort of tackle all of those things, as best we could.”

The Network, which is currently made up of both PAW members and non-members, will help to advance some bigger projects while leveraging people’s knowledge

and resources to help smaller operators manage carbon emissions, and to help keep them in business.

ADVANTAGES & HURDLES

“Probably the two biggest advantages are in the statutory and regulatory framework for carbon capture. About 1012 years ago Wyoming put into statute, our state laws, a framework for how carbon capture would work. So we have a lot of certainty in our laws already and have for a long time,” Obermueller said.

And on top of that, Wyoming was the second state to earn EPA primacy (EPA-approved authorization to implement Underground Injection Control Program responsibilities). Obermueller explained that Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality is the agency that manages the permitting for carbon sequestration, and while the EPA has hundreds of applications to get through, DEQ has something in the order of 35 to 40 applications. Wyoming DEQ has already approved their first few applications.

A hurdle PAW sees is in Federal land and minerals ownership. The BLM and the Federal government don’t have any framework for how to make carbon sequestration work on Federal land, which creates a challenge.

Another is that anyone who wants to perform enhanced oil recovery or sequestration is competing for two things. First is the actual pore space to do the project, because you can’t put it just anywhere. The geology of the space has to work in a specific way, or the space has to be an oil and gas field, of which there’s a limited number.

There’s also competition for a source of carbon. While we do have several carbon sources, Wyoming does not have an enormous amount of carbon available for either an oil and gas corporation or sequestration. “The biggest carbon sources are the coal-fired utilities,” Obermueller said. “But the technology and the expense to capture carbon from those sources is not yet at a place where it’s economical.”

THE VALUE OF CARBON

Carbon has always been a commodity in Wyoming. It has value. Obermueller said that, while “the conversation nationwide is about how it’s a waste product and we need to get rid of it, in Wyoming we’ve always needed more of it, and we still need more of it.”

Because Wyoming exports so much of our energy, including to the west coast, where low-carbon intensity demands are in place for what our customers purchase, “we can charge a premium,” said Obermueller. “That in and of itself helps us to produce more oil, and to keep our industry - which is so important to Wyoming - going for a long, long time.”

Carbon innovation in Wyoming is about more production, more jobs and more revenue for the state.

I would put Wyoming up against anywhere in the world in terms of our expertise on that kind of carbon management. “

University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER)

80% of Wyoming’s oil and gas operators are small businesses.

Wyoming is the nation’s largest coal producer.

The Sublette County facility currently captures around 25% of the entire globe’s carbon capture.

The mission of the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) is to promote energydriven economic development for the state of Wyoming. Created in 2006, SER enhances the university’s energy-related education, research and outreach. SER directs and integrates cutting edge energy research and academic programs at UW and bridges academics and industry through targeted outreach programs. Through “Centers of Excellence,” SER conducts innovative research across all areas of energy development.

Since its inception, a principal focus of SER has been CCUS, led by the Center for Economic Geology

Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC)

The Wyoming Integrated Test Center, also known as the Wyoming ITC, launched as a public-private partnership in 2016. The Wyoming ITC provides space for researchers to test Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS) technologies using 20 MW of actual coal derived flue gas. It’s supported by funding from Bismarck, North Dakota-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Denver, Colorado-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the state of Wyoming.

It officially opened at Dry Fork Station in Gillette in May of 2018. The ITC is a carbon capture and carbon utilization test center that plays a key role

Membrane Technology and Research (MTR)

MTR is currently constructing a large pilot CO2 capture system utilizing their proprietary Polaris™ membrane technology. This novel technology is easily retrofitted to existing emissions sources since it does not require steam integration with the host unit. Instead, the technology relies on off the shelf

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI)

KHI completed the first round of testing at the ITC in the fourth quarter of 2023. Their novel solid adsorbent technology features a hybrid temperature and pressure swing process that regenerates their sorbent at low

Research. The center leads four Department of Energy-funded, CarbonSAFE (Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise) projects, with the ultimate goal of ensuring carbon storage complexes will be ready for integrated CCUS system deployment. The active projects aim to support existing power plants and industry sources and utilize existing infrastructure to reduce emissions. These projects have brought around $100 million in CCUS related research to Wyoming, making UW and SER national and international leaders in this field of work. The team has worked with partners to study where to store carbon dioxide, how to monitor the carbon once it is injected, the costs of the technology, the regulations needed to permit the industry, public perceptions and much more.

in advancing the commercial readiness of carbon management technologies to help the world achieve its carbon goals.

In the fall of 2023, Governor Gordon reorganized the Wyoming ITC. Now, it is managed by the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources.

The Wyoming ITC is currently hosting five technology developers working on separate carbon capture technology projects. “The goal of the Wyoming ITC is to allow for technology developers to scale up their carbon capture testing and hopefully advance the technology closer to commercialization,” said School of Energy Resources Director of Outreach Christine Reed. “Eventually, we hope to see these CCUS technologies deployed to ensure the ongoing reliability of energy resources, while working to address concerns about carbon emissions.”

rotating equipment and electric power to facilitate the separation of CO2 from flue gas utilizing a diffusion mechanism through their membrane. This project will be the largest CO2 capture system in the world using membrane technology when it is completed. Another interesting fact about this technology is that it is modular. In order to scale the technology to treat a larger volume of gas, additional modules may be added, and rotating equipment scaled accordingly.

temperatures between 60-70 degrees C (140-158 degrees F) allowing waste or low-grade heat to be used for sorbent regeneration. This reduces energy consumption and improves process efficiency. The KHI team has been conducting environmental monitoring of the process and will be resuming testing in the summer of 2024.

TDA Research

TDA Research was the first technology developer to test at the ITC. The test utilized a hybrid membrane and solid adsorbent technology which was also scaled up and tested at approximately 12 MWe at Technology Center Mongstad in Norway. These tests led to TDA being selected for award negotiations by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations at DOE for a nominal 20 MWe large pilot system utilizing their proprietary carbon base sorbent. TDA will also resume small scale testing in the spring of 2024 at the ITC to gather further data to inform the design of their large pilot system.

GTI Energy

GTI in partnership with the Ohio State University (OSU) is currently finalizing the design of a facilitated transport membrane system for CO2 capture. The membrane material has been manufactured at OSU and will be integrated into a skid system scheduled to arrive at the ITC in the fall of 2024. This unique technology can capture up to 70% of CO2 with a single membrane stage and aims to capture over 90% of the CO2 with two stages at a scale of over 20 tons of CO2 per day with less energy consumption and lower operating cost than amine based solvents.

Colorado State University and The University of Wyoming

Colorado State and the University of Wyoming partnered with Living Ink to develop a system to cultivate algae to consume CO2 from flue gas and create a low carbon intensity ink. Ink is a high value product which can help build commercial cases for developing a CO2 utilization industry.

Project Bison

Alternative to the current Wyoming ITC, a U.S. climate tech company that develops direct air capture (DAC) systems is embarking on a new project called Project Bison. They are also looking at the southwest corner of the state, with the intent to implement direct air capture technologies, to capture the existing CO2 that’s already in the atmosphere.

They are also partnering with Frontier Carbon Solutions, however they are not directly involved with Wyoming ITC or the University of Wyoming. Project Bison uses CarbonCapture’s DAC systems to filter CO2 out of the air. Frontier Carbon Solutions then gathers and injects that CO2 into deep saline aquifers via Class VI injection wells. Project Bison then sells the generated carbon removal credits to organizations with net zero goals, seeking to offset their emissions.

Wyoming is the nation’s largest coal producer, but that doesn’t mean we have to have the largest carbon footprint. With innovative technologies and through collaborative programs and partnerships, Wyoming can continue to support our industries while also implementing climate solutions. According to SER, “Carbon capture can play an important role in Wyoming’s economy by helping current industries decarbonize. Wyoming currently generates the majority of its revenue through energy severance

tax from extractive industries such as coal, oil and natural gas. By helping these industries meet lower-emission standards and regulations, CCUS will help those industries remain robust.”

SER Professor of Economics Tim Considine demonstrated that CCUS projects create significant economic development for Wyoming, in the form of revenue for the state and local communities as well as new jobs in energy communities. For example, SER said, a single coal-fired power plant retrofitted with carbon capture for a 12-year operational lifespan

would result in about $160 million in new revenue to the state of Wyoming and nearly $180 million in county taxes.

CCUS offers an opportunity to keep energy communities vibrant and thriving. It can support new technologies such as hydrogen production from natural gas, potentially creating new markets for Wyoming’s energy products, SER said. “It is worth noting that CCUS is an important technology for keeping power plants operating in Wyoming and elsewhere.” W

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Veterinarians get a lot of education on diseases that are zoonotic. That means a disease that can jump back and forth between humans and animals. Most of our mammalian species have such capability and it is the job of the vet to help educate people on the dangers and prevention of such diseases.

My third year of vet school I was taking a large animal elective class on basic cattle procedures; like injections, surgeries and medicines. One day we were processing a bunch of dairy breed calves.

Not A Third Hand

Dairy cows carry a different array of diseases because of the way they are housed in close quarters for their daily milking versus out on the dry prairie like an old beef cow. After castrating the calves, they received shots for pain, an antibiotic and vaccinations. I was kneeled down on my patient ready to give him all his required injections. Since my one hand was being utilized to restrain the spunky spotted fellow, I naturally used my mouth to remove the cap from the syringe before I injected him. My professor (a tall burly man with only a mustache for hair on his head) commented that we should never use our mouths as third hands because of the zoonotic diseases that could be lurking on the outside of the syringes when around a barn. I concurred and didn’t think anything else of it.

After the lab my friend and I had worked up quite an appetite. So, we went out to eat at a shady diner infamous in the town. This is the kind of diner that is open all the time in a town of college students wanting a fatty snack after a night of celebrating the joys of college. You could skate to your seat with the years of grease layered on the floor and you needed a shower as soon as you got home or you’d smell like the place for three days. We have eaten there several times before with no problem. I of course ordered my usual chicken sandwich and gobbled it up quickly, chased by a Mountain Dew.

Later that evening, back at home post-shower to clean up after the cattle lab and the diner, my stomach began to rumble. The rumbling became more intense and frequent over an hour or so. I just assumed that I just needed to make myself expel whatever was in there and I would be fine. Well, I did and I was mistaken. That only set off a cascade of violent intestinal issues every 15 minutes from any exit available. I tried medicating myself

and it would just come right up. This continued for seven horrible hours until I told my husband we needed to go to the ER since things were showing no sign of letting up.

We arrived at the ER at about 4 a.m. and they got me right in. At this point I had no saliva and felt like a dehydrated prune. As they placed an IV for fluids and gave me an injection of an antinausea medication I felt instant relief. I remembered I had class in the morning and decided to send an email to the professor about my absence. Ironically, I missed a lecture about foodborne diseases in Epidemiology.

type of diet, and my mouth is not a third hand (most of the time). W

The next day, 10 pounds lighter, sipping on a Pedialyte and Gatorade cocktail, I tried to decide what was the culprit for the evening’s series of unfortunate

Dr. Megan Beavers is a veterinarian in Farson and Green River.

Will This Strange Antarctic Squid Solve America’s Memory Crisis?

New Deep Sea Discovery Proven to Be The #1 Natural Enhancer of Memory and Focus

Half a mile beneath the icy waters off the coast of Argentina lives one of the most remarkable creatures in the world.

Fully grown, they’re less than 2 feet long and weigh under 10 pounds…

But despite their small size, this strange little squid can have a bigger positive impact on your brain health than any other species on the planet.

They are the single richest source of a vital “brain food” that 250 million Americans are starving for, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

It’s a safe, natural compound called DHA – one of the building blocks of your brain. It helps children grow their brains significantly bigger during development. And in adults, it protects brain cells from dying as they get older.

Because DHA is so important, lacking enough of it is not only dangerous to your overall health but could be directly related to your brain shrinking with age.

With more than 16 million Americans suffering from ageassociated cognitive impairment, it’s clear to a top US doctor that’s where the problem lies.

Regenerative medicine specialist Dr. Al Sears, says thankfully, “there’s still hope for seniors. Getting more of this vital brain food can make a life changing difference for your mental clarity, focus, and memory.”

Dr. Sears, a highly-acclaimed, board-certified doctor— who has published more than 500 studies and written 4 bestselling books — says we should be able to get enough DHA in our diets… but we don’t anymore.

“For thousands of years, fish were a great natural source of DHA. But due to industrial fish farming practices, the fish we eat and the fish oils you see at the store are no longer as nutrient-dense as they once were,” he explains.

DHA is backed by hundreds of studies for supporting razor sharp focus, extraordinary mental clarity, and a lightning quick memory… especially in seniors.

So, if you’re struggling with focus, mental clarity, or memory as

you get older…

Dr. Sears recommends a different approach.

THE SECRET TO A LASTING MEMORY

Research has shown that our paleo ancestors were able to grow bigger and smarter brains by eating foods rich in one ingredient — DHA.

“Our hippocampus thrives off DHA and grows because of it,” explains Dr. Sears. “Without DHA, our brains would shrink, and our memories would quickly fade.”

A groundbreaking study from the University of Alberta confirmed this. Animals given a diet rich in DHA saw a 29% boost in their hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. As a result, these animals became smarter.

Another study on more than 1,500 seniors found that those whose brains were deficient in DHA had significantly smaller brains — a characteristic of accelerated aging and weakened memory.

PEOPLE’S BRAINS ARE SHRINKING AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW IT

Dr. Sears uncovered that sometime during the 1990s, fish farmers stopped giving their animals a natural, DHA-rich diet and began feeding them a diet that was 70% vegetarian.

“It became expensive for farmers to feed fish what they’d eat in the wild,” explains Dr. Sears. “But in order to produce DHA, fish need to eat a natural, marine diet, like the one they’d eat in the wild.”

“Since fish farmers are depriving these animals of their natural diet, DHA is almost nonexistent in the oils they produce.”

“And since more than 80% of fish oil comes from farms, it’s no wonder the country is experiencing a memory crisis. Most people’s brains are shrinking and they don’t even know it.”

So, what can people do to improve their memory and brain function in the most effective way possible?

Dr. Sears says, “Find a quality

MEMORY-RESTORING SENSATION: The memory-saving oil in this Antarctic squid restores decades of lost brain power starting in just 24 hours.

DHA supplement that doesn’t come from a farmed source. That will protect your brain cells and the functions they serve well into old age.”

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According to Dr. Sears, these are the purest and most potent sources of DHA in the world, because they haven’t been tampered with. “Omega Rejuvenol is sourced from the most sustainable fishery in Antarctica. You won’t find this oil in any stores.”

MORE IMPRESSIVE RESULTS

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time high. I’ve always had trouble concentrating, and now I think I know why,” raves Bernice J. “The difference that Omega Rejuvenol makes couldn’t be more noticeable.”

And 70-year-old Mark K. says, “My focus and memory are back to age-30 levels.”

These are just a handful of the thousands of reviews Dr. Sears regularly receives thanks to his breakthrough memory formula, Omega Rejuvenol

WHERE TO FIND

OMEGA REJUVENOL

To secure bottles of this brainbooster, buyers should contact the Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-9667405. “It takes time to manufacture these bottles,” says Dr. Sears. “The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to customers who need it most.”

Dr. Sears feels so strongly about this product, he is offering a 100%, money-back guarantee on every order. “Send back any used or unused bottles within 90 days and I’ll rush you a refund,” says Dr. Sears.

The Hotline is taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number may be shut down to allow for inventory restocking.

Call 1-800-966-7405 to secure your limited supply of Omega Rejuvenol. Readers of this publication immediately qualify for a steep discount, but supplies are limited. To take advantage of this great offer use Promo Code OMWREN324 when you call.

Zakotnik

Cowboy Life is Poetry

BY JACKIE DOROTHY

“There ain’t nothin’ like the feelin’

Thet ya git down deep inside

As ya trot out in the mornin’ When you’ve hired on to ride”

Waddie Mitchell

For nearly 70 years in the saddle, cowboy Gary Zakotnik, from Sweetwater County, is still eager to get up in the morning to face the morning adventures.

“If you study these cowboy poets, they capture what we feel every day,” he explained. “When we’re able to make a living doing what we enjoy.”

One of his favorites is called “Commutin’” and the words strike a chord with Gary as he quotes from the cowboy bard.

“There’s an old Wyatt Mitchell poem that talks about how city people could commute to their job but the cowboys commune while commuting to their job. When you get out in the morning and you hear the bridle crickets chirpin’ and Jingle Bobs tap out a tune … We don’t commute. We commune.”

Unlike many of his peers, Gary was not born into this life, instead it chose him. He is often saying that he was born with coal dust in his veins and slack in his pants.

“My grandmother lost two husbands and a son in the coal mine. It was a tough, tough life,” Gary said, adding, “That’ s why I left and got out of the coal mine business. Herding sheep was a hell of a lot easier than digging coal!”

It was 1957 when Gary was first introduced to the ranching life. At 12 years old, between the sixth and seventh grade, he was hired by his uncle to herd sheep. “I stayed out in the sheep camp by myself pretty much all summer,” he recalled. “Then I worked for several sheep outfits around Kemmerer as I was going through high school.”

He loved the new life he had discovered. This coalminer’s son exchanged his pick and shovel underground for life in the saddle and roaming the range in the sunshine. The verses from “Commutin’” capture the young Gary’s newly found freedom.

“It’s then you start appreciatin’ You’re on trails where few have trod And ya wonder how ya ever doubted If there really is a God”

It was the summer of 1960 when, as his family says, Gary’s fate was sealed. He went to the work for the Dearth Jamieson Sheep Company and fell for the “rich rancher’s daughter,” JoAnn Kaylee Jamieson. They were married and the ranch changed from a sheep operation to the cattle business.

As mere college students, the young couple were able to secure an FHA loan to purchase 125 cows and shares in the Little Sandy Grazing Association. Weekends and vacations were spent traveling from Laramie to Eden to help manage the family ranch, located just south of Farson.

“We’ve been very fortunate that we’ve been able to make a living doing what we both truly enjoy,” Gary said.

Gary

branding calves in the Sands in the early 1980s.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WYOMING COWBOY HALL OF FAME

WYOMING COWBOY HALL OF FAME CO-OP SPOTLIGHT

“We have had a lot of help on the ranch, and JoAnn does the bookkeeping and she’s head of the bull selection committee.”

The couple raised three daughters on the family ranch and took in many teenagers over the years who were in need. It was as much a blessing to Gary and JoAnn as it was to the kids they helped out.

“We offered them a bed and they earned it. They damn sure earned their room and board, and when they got out of high school, some stuck around for a while. And they come back often to visit. So, it’s just been a good life for JoAnn and I.”

While raising kids and cattle, Gary was also keeping busy shoeing horses and breaking colts, and he has spent nearly 50 years as a brand inspector. He can tell you the brands of most of the operators in Sweetwater County and remembers the original owners.

“It’s something I truly enjoy. I have met lot of good people and see a lot of different outfits,” Gary said. “In the state of Wyoming, any time livestock moves across the county line or there’s a change of ownership, then we have to inspect the livestock for brand. And we look at sheep and horses and cattle and make sure that the guy that’s selling them is the owner.”

“We live in a great community,” Gary reminisced. “We have a lot of good friends that helped us along through the years and we helped them.” He then said with a grin, “The best thing is that we haven’t had to bail any of our kids out of jail yet!”

The coalminer’s son has found his life’s calling in ranching and said, “I still get out of bed every morning looking for something to do. I’m still the active manager and I am able to do what I used to be able to do. It just takes me a heck of a lot longer to do it.”

All of Gary and JoAnn’s grandchildren have spent time helping on the ranch and now, he is working to hand the reins of the ranch operation over to his granddaughter, Katie and grandson, Jaden. If they can put up with a grumpy old grandpa, they will be the fifth generation. His word of advice for his grandchildren is to enjoy the same life their ancestors and he himself have followed.

“All the city folk can think about is when’s quitting time and when’s my vacation and when’s payday. I like to get out of bed in the morning and go to work because I just enjoy what we’re doing.”

“Now, in town when folks must travel

To their workplace every day

It’s said that they’re commutin’

To their job to earn their pay

They’ll choke in crazy traffic jams

Fight for seats on bus or train

It’s a wonder that this ritual

Doesn’t drive them all insane

We too, I guess, commute to work

As the job at hand dictates

But we commune while we’re commutin’

And what a difference … that makes”

Excerpted from “One Hundred Poems” by Waddie Mitchell W Jackie

JoAnn and Gary in front of the ranch house at its 100th year celebration in 2008.

LAMB

GREEK SOUP

In a mixing bowl, combine the lamb, eggs, cassava and spices. Then, add the goat cheese and mix until just combined. Form into 1" balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes, turning once. Meanwhile, sauté in a deep pot, the carrots and celery with avocado oil until tender. Season with additional salt, pepper, and oregano to taste. Next, add the broth and lemon juice to the vegetables and turn the heat down to a simmer. Then, add in the cooked meatballs. Keep on low heat or place in a slow cooker on warm until ready to serve. In a separate pot, prepare the macaroni, or rice if preferred, and set aside.

SONYA MCLEOD CODY

1 TSP SALT

1/2 TSP BLACK PEPPER

1/3 CUP OLIVE OIL

12 CLOVES GARLIC

2 TBS FRESH ROSEMARY

3 RACKS OF LAMB

THE MARINADE: 1/3 CUP OLIVE OIL

2 TBS FRESH ROSEMARY

12 CLOVES GARLIC

1 TSP SALT

1/2 TSP BLACK PEPPER

2 LBS GROUND LAMB

1/3 CUP CASSAVA FLOUR

2 TBS DRIED PARSLEY

1/4 CUP GOAT CHEESE, CRUMBLED

2 EGGS

2 TSP DRIED OREGANO

1 TSP REDMOND’S SALT

1/4 TSP GROUND PEPPER

1 PACKET OF “TRUE CITRUS” LEMON OR GRATED LEMON PEEL

1 TSP AVOCADO OIL

3 CARROTS, CHOPPED INTO SMALL PIECES

3 CELERY STALKS, CHOPPED INTO SMALL PIECES

8 CUPS CHICKEN BROTH

JUICE FROM 1-2 LEMONS, TO TASTE

BOX OF CASSAVA MACARONI

MEDITERRANEAN CASSEROLE

1 LB GROUND LAMB

2 SMALL EGGPLANTS

1 ZUCCHINI

1 GREEN PEPPER

1/2 LB MUSHROOMS

1 CAN STEWED TOMATOES

2 SLICES OF BREAD

1 TSP WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

1/4 CUP MILK

1/4 TSP BASIL

1/4 TSP THYME

1 SMALL ONION, CHOPPED

Make meatballs using lamb, milk, bread cubes (dried) and worcestershire sauce. Brown meatballs in oil, drain. Add onions and green pepper. Cook until clear. Add the rest of the ingredients and the meatballs and simmer till vegetables are tender. This is from a recipe entered in a Make it Yourself cooking contest in Casper, Wyoming many years ago.

JEAN VIGNAROLI BUFFALO

Do NOT trim any fat from the lamb racks. Unpack and clean lamb racks. Lamb has several layers of membranes. Peel 3-4 of these off so the seasoning and smoke will better permeate the meat. Crush the rosemary in a small food processor or mortar and pestle. Mince the garlic with a garlic press (or use equal quantity–4-5 tablespoons–of minced garlic from a jar). Make a paste with the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Use this paste to coat any part of the rack of lamb that is not covered with fat. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the fat cap on the top side of the rack. Set the grill to 400°. Grill the lamb for about 12 minutes per side or until done to your liking. Alternatively, you can smoke the racks for more flavor (I use a pellet smoker). Smoke around 180° for at least half an hour up to one hour. Raise the temp to 350° for about half an hour. Either method, aim for medium rare (internal temp 135°). Let rest for 10 minutes prior to cutting.

DEBRA DOWELL GUERNSEY

MAY:

Lookin’ East

Nickalina Groenewold, Newcastle

Amber Light

Scout Olson, Newcastle

Leaving for Work

Lorraine Griffith, Powell

Frosted Sunrise

Sandra Lineberry-Sims, Sheridan

Sunrise Over Elk Mountain

Joel Shevlin, Saratoga

Lilac Sky

Elizabeth Childress, Newcastle

Windmill

Gratitude for Another Beautiful Sunrise Martha Rasmussen, Burlington

Morning Sunshine

Jeanie Schlautmann, Gillette

Cows Waking Up Tia Cranston, Moorcroft

Sunrise Through the Aspens Rory Roth, Centennial

Sunrise Over Mountain View Nikki Walker, Mountain View

Winter Sunrise Amanda Kaufmann, Buffalo

August Sunrise While in Flight Over Central Wyoming Jean Harm, Sheridan

 wren@wyomingrea.org

 214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001

 wyomingrea.org/wren-submissions

Please include your name, hometown and a title.

Please submit high-quality digital files* or an original we can scan, as well as details about the artwork, the artist’s name, and the co-op. *Use the highest quality setting on your camera, or save digital artwork as a .jpg or .tif file with at least 300 dpi resolution.

If you would like your work returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

SUBMIT A

PHOTO

FEATURED EVENT

PRONGHORN READS

2024

Info: lucas@thinkwy.org

Wyoming Humanities launched this statewide reading program for 2024 to encourage youth and adults to celebrate the written word all year long. Each month presents a different reading challenge, and participants are encouraged to share their thoughts about the works they’ve read. Prizes will be awarded all year long!

Already one of the organization’s most successful projects, people can still join the program at thinkwy.org/initiatives/pronghorn-reads

01 | SOUTHEAST

CENTENNIAL

THURSDAY-MONDAY

Nici Self Historical Museum: 12-4pm. Explore museum grounds and exhibits. Free. Info: niciselfmuseum.com.

CHEYENNE

SAVE THE DATE - MAY 1-2

Next Frontier Energy Summit: The Wyoming Energy Authority will host the summit, which provides energy innovators, researchers, developers and stakeholders a place to network, collaborate and champion the Wyoming energy industry. Info: Emily Sorenson, emily@em-poweredsolutions.com.

CHUGWATER

THURSDAYS

Acoustic Jam Session: Stampede Saloon & Eatery music venue open for jam sessions. Info: 307-422-3200, stampedefun@aol.com.

ENCAMPMENT

TUESDAYS-SATURDAYS

Grand Encampment Museum: 10am-4pm. Main Gallery and GEM store open. Info: 307-327-5308.

LA GRANGE

APRIL 26-27

Craft Fair: La Grange Memorial Building. Friday 12-7pm; Saturday 9am-4pm. Jewelry, home decor, baked goods, vintage items, Alison’s Pantry, LEGOs and much, much more. Info: peggyoedekoven@gmail.com.

APRIL 26-27

Spring’s New Life Craft Fair: 12-7pm on 26th, 9am-4pm on 27th. La Grange Elementary School, 100 D St. King-size homemade quilt raffle, silent auction, local groups and school performances, concessions, kids’ table for ages 10 and under where they can place items for sale. Info: Lillian or Rebecca Green, 307-715-0510 or Lynette Bye, 307-575-9317. Contact for vendor table: Wanda Kessler, 307-575-5562.

02 | NORTHEAST

BUFFALO

THURSDAYS

Bluegrass Jam Session: 6:30pm. Occidental Saloon. Free. Info: 307-684-0451.

GILLETTE

APRIL 4

Northeast Wyoming Career Fair: 9-10am for veterans, 10am-4pm for the general public. Gillette College Pronghorn Center, 3807 College Dr. Employer registration for a single booth $85, double booth $125. Late Fee after March 29 is an additional $10. No cost for job seekers to attend. We’re connecting people with careers. Info: Tammy, 307-682-9313, tammy.maxted@wyo.gov.

APRIL 11

The Murder of Allie Means: 7pm. Rockpile Museum. “Allie Means Shot!” blared the frontpage headline of the September 1, 1905 Gillette News. The cause of the shooting? A fight between Means and another cowboy over a women! Museum assistant Justin Horn will be presenting on the history of early cowtown Gillette. This presentation is part of the Wyoming State Archives “Evening Speaker Series,” and will be live in Gillette and livestreamed to the State Archives in Cheyenne. Info: Justin Horn, 307-682-5723, justin. horn@campbellcountywy.gov.

APRIL 18

Paul Horsted “Exploring with Custer”: Rockpile Museum. Free. Join us for an evening featuring author Paul Horsted talking about new information, perspectives, and discoveries about the first military expedition in what was then an unmapped area of the Black Hills, unknown to non-Native Americans. The book includes colorized versions of famous expedition images - bringing an exciting realism to photos of Custer with a grizzly bear, or the infamous “Champagne Supper” from 1874. Info: Heather Rodriguez, (307) 682-5723, heather.rodriguez@cambellcountywy.gov.

ONGOING

Ava Community Art Center: Exhibits and workshops. Info: 307-682-9133, avacenter.org.

HULETT

MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS (SEPTEMBER-MAY)

Adult 5-mile Walking Class: 4:45pm. GHCC Gym. Info: 307-467-5676.

TUESDAYS (SEPTEMBER-MAY)

Storytime: 10:30am. Hulett Library. Kids ages 0-7. Info: 307-467-5676.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

Hulett Museum and Art Gallery: 9am-5pm. Free. Info: 307-467-5292.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

Senior Exercise Class: 9-10am. Hulett Library. Info: 307-467-5743.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

MOORCROFT

WEDNESDAYS

Moorcroft Branch Library

Activities: 10am storytime, 4pm afterschool craft, 7pm AA meetings. Please use the downstairs entrance. Info: 307-756-3232.

THIRD THURSDAY OF MONTH

Adult Book Club: 1pm. Moorcroft Branch Library. New book each month. Stop by the library for your copy. Info: 307-756-3232.

MONDAY-FRIDAY

West Texas Trail Museum: 9am-5pm. Info: 307-756-9300.

ONGOING

Senior Center Events: 9am coffee and rolls on Wednesdays. 9am toenail clinic and 6pm dinner every fourth Thursday. Info: 307-756-9550.

NEWCASTLE

THIRD SATURDAYS

Weston County Democrats: 4pm. Weston County Library. Info: 307-941-1822.

FRIDAYS

Bingo: 7:30pm. VFW Hall. Free.

SHERIDAN

APRIL 2

WTP at The Buckshot Saloon: 6:3011pm. 719 Dayton St, Ranchester. Enjoy great food and drink options while competing in 100% free tournaments for points to earn your way to Tavern, Regional and National Championships with over $100,000 in prizes on the line! Info: 307-655-9061, buckshotwyo.com.

APRIL 5

FAB Women’s Conference: 11am-8pm. Sheridan College. Created for, about and by women to inspire and encourage women of all ages and walks of life. The conference begins with lunch followed by three sets of workshops geared toward personal, professional and creative growth and continues with cocktails and networking followed by the Woman of the Year ceremony and keynote address by Elyse Myers. Info: Sheridan Press, 307-672-2431, thesheridanpress.com.

Brubeck Brothers Quartet: 7-9pm. WYO Theater. Chris and Dan Brubeck have been making music together practically all their lives.

APRIL

Drummer Dan and bassist, trombonist and composer Chris cut their first record together in 1966. They’ve played a variety of styles in several different groups, as well as with their father, jazz giant Dave Brubeck. Guitarist Mike DeMicco and pianist Chuck Lamb complete this dynamic quartet. Info: 307-672-9083, wyotheater.com.

APRIL 12

Soiree: 6pm. WYO Theater. An evening of Wyoming craft cocktails with an array of the region’s finest musicians and visual artists. Join us for the exciting paddle raise and other fundraising games! Info: SAGE Community Arts, 307-674-1970, artinsheridan.com.

APRIL 13

2024 307 Riders Antelope Butte Hillcross: Antelope Butte Mountain Recreation Area. Hosted by the 307 Riders Snowmobile Club. Racers, start your engines! Info: Antelope Butte, 307-529-1052.

APRIL 16 AND 23

Explore History at TRVCC: All Aboard! Sheridan County’s Railroad History: 10:30am–12pm. Tongue River Valley

Community Center. SCLT History Program Manager Kevin Knapp will be your conductor as we ride the rails for a program all about the rich railroad history of Sheridan County. You’ll learn all about the water stops, corrals, and the towns that sprang up around them as the railroad made its way to our patch of the High Plains, bringing with it people, jobs and modernity. Free. Info: TRVCC, 307-655-9419, sheridanclt.org/events.

APRIL 18

Borromeo String Quartet: 7-8:30pm. WYO Theater. Each visionary performance of the award-winning Borromeo String Quartet strengthens and deepens its reputation as one of the most important ensembles of our time. Admired and sought after for both its fresh interpretations of the classical music canon and its championing of works by 20th and 21st century composers, the ensemble has been hailed for its “edge-of-the-seat performances” by the Boston Globe, which called it “simply the best.” Info: WYO Theater, 307-672-9083, wyotheater.com.

APRIL 19-21

Big Horn Home Builders Home & Garden Show: Ramada Plaza. This is a free show featuring home and garden-focused vendors. Info: Big Horn Home Builders Association, info.bhhba@gmail.com, 307-752-1603, bhhba.org.

APRIL 21

2023-2024 Championship Double Nickel Bowling Tournament: 11am. Cloud Peak Lanes. Scratch Bowling Tournament that travels around Montana and Wyoming. Tournament open for bowlers 55 and older.

Info: Sheridan Double Nickel Scratch Association, 406-652-3104.

APRIL 30

Jentel Presents: 11:30am–1:00pm. Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library. Jentel Presents features an hour of readings and visual presentations by residents during each 3-week residency period. Informal and casual in setting, the activity is important to extending the spirit of Jentel to the cultural community in the area. The audience is welcome to bring their own brown bag lunch to the presentation. Info: Jentel Foundation, 307-737-2311, jentelarts.org.

SATURDAYS

Landon’s Farmer’s Market: 10am. Landon’s Greenhouse, 505 College Meadows Dr. Info: 307-672-8340.

SUNDANCE

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 10:30am. Crook County Public Library. Info: Tonia, 307-283-1008.

UPTON

FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Bingo at Senior Center: 6:30pm. $10 for 10 cards. Info: 307-468-9262.

ONGOING

Senior Center Activities: 1113 2nd St. 12pm lunch Monday-Friday for $4. Call for reservation before 9am at 307-468-2422 or 712-400-9056.

9am coffee and treats on Tuesdays. 9am exercise program every Tuesday and Friday. 5:30pm card elimination and potluck every third Monday. Info: 307-468-9262.

NORTHWEST

CODY

MONDAY-SATURDAY

Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9am-5pm. 836 Sheridan Ave. Info: 307-587-3597.

DUBOIS

FRIDAYS

Family Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library. Free. Songs, stories and crafts for ages birth to 5 years. Older siblings are welcome to join the fun. Stay and play in the Children’s Library after story time. No story time during May as we prepare for Summer Reading Programs. Info: 307-455-2992.

THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Wyoming Health Fairs Monthly Wellness Screen/Blood Draw: 7:30-10am. Dubois Medical Clinic. Appointments encouraged. Info: 307-455-2516, whf.as.me/dubois.

FRIDAYS

Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library, 202 N First St. Free. Stretches, story, songs, crafts and fun! Ages birth to 5 years. Info: 307-455-2992.

GREYBULL

SECOND SATURDAYS

Greybull Ladies Coffee: Greybull Library. Info: 307-765-2100.

LANDER

SATURDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 11am-1pm. Lander Bake Shop. Info: 307-332-3237.

ONGOING

First Friday: 5pm art show reception. 6pm music. Middle Fork Restaurant. New artist and local musician each month. Info: 307-335-5035, facebook.com/MiddleForkCafe.

RIVERTON

WEDNESDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 6:30-8:30pm. Holiday Inn Convention Center. Free. Join in or listen as musicians and dancers perform. Info: 307-856-8100.

PreK Tales & Tunes: 10:30am.

Riverton Branch Library. Ages 3-5. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

Starlight Storytime: 10:30am.

Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth to 2 years. Free. Info: 307-856-3556.

ONGOING

Fremont County Libraries Activities: 10:30am PreK Tales & Tunes on Wednesdays. 5:30pm Starlight Storytime for ages birth to 5 years on Wednesdays. 10:30am Toddler Move & Groove for birth to 2 years on Thursdays. 4-5pm LEGO Club grades 2-5 on Thursdays. Info: 307-856-3556, fclsonline.org.

MEETEETSE

MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS

Yoga: 10:30am. Meeteetse Recreation District. Info: 307-899-2698, meetrec.org.

MONDAYS

Toddler Storytime: After school. Meeteetse Library. All kids grades 1+ not in school. Legos, board games, crafts, stories, songs and more. Info: 307-868-2248.

POWELL

SECOND SUNDAYS

Community, Conversation, and Crafts: 12-4pm. Homesteader Museum. Info: 307-754-9481.

THERMOPOLIS

SECOND SATURDAYS

Great Until 8!: 4-8pm. This event showcases the businesses who are staying open until 8p or later in town. Shop after 5pm and enter in for a chance to win $100 gift certificates valid at the business with the winning receipt. Info: 917-589-7852, mainstreetthermopolis@gmail.com.

04 | SOUTHWEST

LYMAN

THURSDAYS

Storytime: 11am. Lyman Branch Library. All ages welcome. Free. Info: 307-787-6556, uintalibrary.org.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

MONDAYS

Cub Scout Pack 7798 Meeting: 3:45pm. Presbyterian Church on 3rd Street. We are always accepting new boys who are in grades 1-5. Info: MarNae, 307-677-2566.

WEDNESDAYS

Storytime: 11am. Uinta County Library. Info: 307-782-3161.

WREN CLASSIFIED ADS ARE $0.75 PER SIX CHARACTERS

CONTACT:  SHAWNA@GOLINDEN.COM  970-221-3232

FOR SALE

New & Used Coal Stokers, parts, service & advice. Available for most makes. Thanks. 307-754-3757.

MISCELLANEOUS

Soon Church/Government uniting, suppressing “Religious Liberty” enforcing “National Sunday Law.” Be Informed! Free materials. TSBM, PO Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540, tbsmads@yahoo.com, 1-888-211-1715.

WANTED

We Pay Cash For Mineral & Oil/Gas Interests producing & nonproducing. 800-733-8122.

WANTED CJ or Wrangler reasonably priced. Any condition but rusted.

Frontier Auto Museum Looking For Oil Company Gas Pumps, Globes And Signs. Also looking for general antiques for our antique shop. Please go to our website FrontierAutoMuseum. com. Located in Gillette WY, our passion is to preserve Wyoming history and the nostalgia of the past, especially Parco, Sinclair, Frontier, Husky and any car dealership along with all brands. We are also always looking for neon motel or store signs, WY license plates and WY highway signs and State Park signs. Please call Jeff Wandler 307-680-8647 wandlerfrontier@gmail.com or daughter Briana Brewer 307-660-2402 relics@frontierauto.net.

Your Best Soup Recipes. 3398 Rd 26, Greybull, WY 82426.

OFF-THE-GRID

BY GAYLE M. IRWIN

OFFERS PEACE AND SELFSUFFICIENCY

The cabin and part of the land owned by Gayle and her husband Greg, located on Casper Mountain.

Gayle’s parents’ cabin which they owned in western Montana in the 1980s and 1990s. PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF IRWIN’S MOTHER, MARCIA MANSFIELD

Forty years ago, a small cabin stood amid a pine and aspen forest in western Montana. Overlooking the verdant Bitterroot Valley, the little log house offered a welcoming porch from which one could also view the snow-capped western mountain range, a towering wall of rock and trees separating Montana from Idaho.

Inside the three-room cabin stood a wood-burning heater and a woodpowered cookstove. Small lights, powered by kerosene and solar panels, adorned the log walls. A couple made their home on the 20-acre parcel near Forest Service lands that sheltered various wildlife species, including elk, black bear, mountain lion, grouse and bluebirds.

Those people were my parents.

They quit their jobs in 1982 while in their 40s and embraced a selfsufficient, off-the-grid lifestyle. Their income came from two properties they sold, although about six years into their life change, my father took a seasonal job with Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks. They raised a large garden annually, and my mother canned food to last until the next season. They used a root cellar to keep the produce and meat cool. My dad hunted every fall; they also raised chickens and rabbits to sustain themselves.

A spring and creek served as their water sources. A few years after purchasing the property, Dad built a pipe system that brought the fresh water into the cabin. My mother used a hand pump, much as her mother had done on an Iowa farm where Mom grew up. She also cooked on and baked in a wood cookstove, as her mother had done.

My father grew up in a similar fashion, only his childhood was spent in Louisiana on a dairy farm. It, too, was off-the-grid. Both my parents used their childhood experiences to live a homesteader-type of life successfully for nearly 15 years.

I visited often during late spring (after “mud season”), summer and autumn (winters were extremely cold and snowy, making transport into and out of the property difficult). I still recall candles in the windows and on the kitchen table, flames flickering as we ate and later read books. I can still smell bread and cinnamon rolls baking and meat bubbling in the Dutch oven and feel the course hair of my dad’s horse and the soft fur of Mom’s rabbits. I also can recall the morning crow of the rooster and the clucking of the hens as I helped Mom gather eggs. So many delightful and diverse memories!

Today, amid the lodgepole pines atop Casper Mountain stands a small log-sided cabin. Wyoming’s wildlife abounds, including black bear, mountain lion, turkey, grouse, hummingbirds, chickadees, pine squirrels and mule deer. This place belongs to my husband and me. We’ve owned the land since 2003, and we added the cabin five years later. Solar panels generate electricity for lights, and we use wood to heat the structure. We cook via propane. We rarely use the cabin during the winter months due difficulty reaching our property. We remain “off the grid,” not even using a generator so as to keep our space noise-free and keep more money in our pockets. (Casper has no rural cooperative – only Rocky Mountain Power, and the company wanted more than $10,000 to bring in electricity more than 15 years ago!) We also don’t pay a county or city water bill – we haul water from town. Our property lies only 20 minutes from our house in Casper, therefore, we can

easily take water to the cabin and then store it in containers from May through October, our general time of using – and enjoying – the place. Simple tranquility … and a small investment for solar panels, propane tanks and water storage vessels.

I’ve crafted many stories in this peaceful setting. Whether inside the cabin or sitting on the deck my husband crafted, I’ve written articles, books and short stories as the breeze whispers through the pines, mule deer munch on grasses and songbirds trill from nearby branches. I relish the beauty of nature, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of life within a pinecovered forest. The serenity found in lack of neighbors, vehicle and siren noise, blare and smell of diesel, barking dogs and squealing tires culminates in sheer joy of stillness. The landscape is simply pure nature with its fragrance of wildflowers and pine, the darting and flitting of hummingbirds and butterflies, and the crispness of mountain air. Such an environment calms a racing mind.

In many ways, the property my husband and I own mirrors the small cabin and mountain land once occupied by my parents. Certainly the tranquil setting reflects that space and triggers memories of times spent on that particular western Montana highland with few “modern conveniences.” Their experiences with off-the-grid living parallels my enjoyment of a similar homesteader-type lifestyle.

I often reflect back four decades to how my parents lived their dream of modern pioneers. I will always respect them for that life-changing era and also be grateful my husband and I made the decision to keep our cabin and land “off-grid.” We may not be fully self-sufficient as my parents were, but our small endeavor continues to give us peace and positive perspective, which I savor in this ever-racing world. W

Gayle

When is a fence not a fence?

NATURE

SET UP:

Using the painter’s tape, attach the Con-Tact paper to a fence or the side of the house, sticky-side facing out. Show your kids how to place something on the canvas: choose a flower, leaf, or anything else that’s easy to find. Attach it to the sticky canvas by applying just a little bit of pressure.

LET YOUR KIDS EXPLORE!

They can choose anything they find outside for their artwork. Plants, pebbles, small sticks, whatever they can pick up. Some things your kids try to attach might not stay because they are too heavy. Talk with your kids about what’s happening and encourage them to experiment with items of different sizes!

When it’s a canvas! Grab some Con-Tact paper and painter’s tape, then head outside with your kids and start creating!

TAKE IT FURTHER:

Help your kids make shapes and patterns!

Next time you go for a walk together, pick up items you find along the way to bring back and add to your nature canvas.