Wyoming Rural Electric News August 2023

ELECTRIFY AND SAVE

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VISIT US AT www.tristate.coop/BE

It’s been a busy month with wrapping up volunteering at Cheyenne Frontier Days and embarking on my family’s annual RV trip – this year through Canada.

I’d like to share a statement National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson issued in response to the EPA’s latest proposed rule to regulate power plant emissions.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS: EPA’S POWER PLANT PROPOSAL WOULD FURTHER JEOPARDIZE RELIABILITY

“This proposal will further strain America’s electric grid and undermine decades of work to reliably keep the lights on across the nation,” Matheson said. “And it is just the latest instance of EPA failing to prioritize reliable electricity as a fundamental expectation of American consumers. We’re concerned the proposal could disrupt domestic energy security, force critical always available power plants into early retirement, and make new natural gas plants exceedingly difficult to permit, site and build.

“Nine states experienced rolling blackouts last December as the demand for electricity exceeded the available supply. Those situations will become even more frequent if EPA continues to craft rules without any apparent consideration of impacts on electric grid reliability. American families and businesses rightfully expect the lights to stay on

at a price they can afford. EPA needs to recognize the impact this proposal will have on the future of reliable energy before it’s too late.”

Five issues are currently impacting the reliable delivery of electricity across the nation. They include:

• Increasing demand for electricity as other sectors of the economy are electrified.

• Decreasing electricity supply due to the disorderly retirement and insufficient replacement of existing generation.

• Permitting delays that prevent new electric infrastructure from being built and connected to the grid.

• Supply chain challenges.

• Problems with natural gas availability.

If you’d like to make your voice heard, I encourage you to submit a response on Voices for Cooperative Power at bit.ly/vcp-keepthelightson, so we can continue to tell the EPA we need policies that keep energy reliable and affordable, because keeping the lights on is essential.

SHAWN TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TAKING FLIGHT

Two ducks fly outside of Laramie in August.

THE WREN MAGAZINE WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS

The official publication of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association

The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 69, number 7, August 2023 (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 41,346 for 11 months ending September 2022. 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

Quinn

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

REA, Wheatland –Sandra Hranchak, Secretary/Treasurer

PHOTO BY TALENA RUNNER, RUNNER PHOTOGRAPHY

How to Be Cut Off From Civilization

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With our limited edition River Canyon Bowie Knife you’re getting the best in 21st-century construction with a classic look inspired by legendary American pioneers. What you won’t get is the trumped up price tag. This quintessential knife can be yours to use out in the field or to display as the art piece it truly is. But don’t wait. A knife of this caliber typically cost hundreds. Priced at an amazing $49, we can’t guarantee this knife will stick around for long. So call today!

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Town Tales

THE ONE MILE SQUARE ORIGINAL SURVEY

A SHORT HISTORY OF THERMOPOLIS, WYOMING

FROM WYOMING HISTORICAL SOCIETY WYSHS.ORG

SUBMITTED BY RICK HUDSON, PRESIDENT, HOT SPRINGS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Followingthe treaty and ceding of the portion of the Shoshone Indian Reservation known as the Ten Mile Square, that portion, now known as part of Hot Springs State Park, was designated the One Mile Square. The General Land Office issued a contract in 1899 to Deputy Surveyor Edward F. Stahle (pronounced ‘stay lee’) for the original survey of the boundary of the one square mile (640 acres) of public land.

The survey was performed on Saturday, July 22, 1899, the field notes stating “Pursuant to instructions, I proceed to the Big Horn Hot Spring and from the East side of the N. & S. center of the main Spring I run East 20.00 chains (one-fourth mile) to a point. Thence I run north ...” The crew, consisting of the surveyor and five assistants, set large marked stones at each of the four corners and four meander corners on the right and left banks of the Big Horn River. Using a brass solar compass with telescopic attachment and steel chain, the four-mile long boundary was completed late that day and the weary crew retired to their camp.

The field notes of the north line state they passed the “Extreme North edge of Devil’s Soup Bowl 70 lks. (46 feet) south. This is a circular depression 4.00 chs. (264 feet) in diam. and 75 ft. deep in centre containing a black fluid about 1.00 ch. (66 feet) diam. at the bottom.” At the southwest corner the notes state “The Town of Thermopolis lies West and South of this cor.” The town, then in Fremont County now in Hot Springs County, would not become official until 1901 when the government patent was received and the townsite was resurveyed.

The western portion of the One Mile Square, lying east of Springview Street and north of Arapahoe Street, is now within the town limits and contains numerous public and private facilities.

Photos clockwise from left: Big Spring; Devil’s Soup Bowl; Ridge east of the Big Spring.

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for Our Way of Life.

Stay Prepared

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It’s hard to predict an emergency, and in rural Wyoming, you can run into a variety of instances where you’re without cell phone service. Stay prepared and stay safe with an on-the-go emergency preparedness kit!

Flashlights

Radio and Clock

Batteries

Phone

Camera

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Better than cannabis, better than CBD

New Joint-Supporting “Miracle Oil” Capsule Delivers Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Comfort in Just Days

Thousands of Americans are rediscovering normal freedom of movement thanks to a “miracle oil” capsule that’s outperforming hemp in promoting joint comfort.

According to the official figures from the CDC, more than 58 million Americans are living with joint discomfort. This epidemic has led to a search for alternative approaches – as many sufferers seek relief without the harmful side effects of conventional “solutions.”

Anti-aging specialist Dr. Al Sears is leading the way with a new formula he calls “the most significant breakthrough I’ve ever found for easing joint discomfort.”

The capsule is based on a “miracle oil” historically treasured for its joint healthsupporting properties. Marco Polo prized it as he blazed the Silk Road. And to this day, Ayurvedic practitioners rely on it to promote optimal joint health.

Now, with a modern twist backed by science, Dr. Sears is making this natural solution for joint health available to the public.

Your Body’s Hidden “Soothing System”

Joint health research changed forever with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in 1992. Up until that point, research on cannabinoids focused on psychoactive effects. Now, scientists were looking at a new way to fight occasional aches and pains.

Your ECS serves as a central “signaling system” that tells your body how to react to things you do every day. It controls several critical bodily functions such as learning and memory, sleep, healthy immune responses –and your response to discomfort.

A recent study revealed a direct link between the ECS and creaky, sore joints. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied the aging of mice with endocannabinoid deficiencies versus “normal” mice.

As they aged, the deficient mice had a whopping 60% more joint degeneration than the mice with a healthy ECS.

As the name suggests, the ECS responds to cannabis. At the time it was discovered, scientists assumed that was the best way to support it. But thanks to Dr. Sears’ all-natural solution, you can power up your ECS without marijuana.

“Calling it the ‘endocannabinoid system’ was a misnomer from the very beginning,” Dr. Sears explained. “Modern research reveals that you don’t need cannabis to activate this incredible system. You don’t need to ‘get high’ to get joint relief.”

A scholarly review found that plants and herbs that don’t produce mind-altering effects can support the ECS and help it maintain its healthy functions.

The active ingredient in Mobilify soothes aching joints in as little as 5 days

This includes common foodstuffs, such as kava, chocolate, black pepper, and most significantly – the star ingredient to Dr. Sears’ own Mobilify formula - frankincense.

Modern scientists say this natural ingredient meets “cannabinoid tetrad” – the signs used to determine if something supports the ECS. While it doesn’t produce a “high” like cannabis does, it binds to the same receptors to support a healthy response to discomfort.

All the Benefits of CBD –Without Cannabis Indian frankincense, the chief ingredient in Mobilify, has been shown to provide all the benefits of cannabis without any feelings of sluggishness or sleepiness.

And studies show that users don’t have to wait long for the comfort they’re looking for.

In a study published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences, 60 patients with stiff knees took 100 mg of Indian frankincense or a placebo daily for 30 days. Remarkably, Indian frankincense “significantly” supported healthy joint function and relieved discomfort in as little as five days.

Additional research linked regular use to lasting comfort.

In another study, 48 participants were given an extract made from frankincense for 120days. When the results came in, researchers determined the extract strongly supported joint comfort – especially in the knees.

These results were all achieved without marijuana. Research continues to back up the idea that you can support smooth, strong, and healthy joints naturally – without tiredness or sluggishness.

Get Moving Again with Mobilify

Mobilify has already helped thousands of Americans stay on their feet and breeze through their daily activities with ease.

One user even reported getting results the same day it was used.

“Mobilify really helps with soreness, stiffness, and mild temporary discomfort,” Joni D. said.

Larry M, another user, compared taking Mobilify to living a completely new life.

“After a week and a half of taking Mobilify, the discomfort, stiffness, and minor aches went away…it’s almost like being reborn,” he said.

Dennis H. said it helped him get back to his favorite hobby.

“I can attest to Mobilify easing discomfort to enable me to pursue my golfing days. Definitely one pill that works for me out of the many I have tried,” he said.

How to Get Mobilify

Right now, the only way to get this powerful, unique Mobilify formula that clobbers creaking joints without clobbering you is directly from Dr. Sears. It is not available in stores.

To secure your bottle of this breakthrough natural joint discomfort reliever, buyers should call with Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-6750473. “The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to customers.”

Dr. Sears believes in this product so much, he offers a 100% money-back guarantee on every order. “Just send me back the bottle and any unused product within 90 days, and I’ll send you your money back,” said Dr. Sears.

The Hotline will be taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number may be shut down to allow them to restock. Call 1-800-675-0473 to secure your limited supply of Mobilify. If you are not able to get through due to extremely high call volume, please try again! Call NOW to qualify for a significant discount on this limited time offer. To take advantage of this exclusive offer use Promo Code: MBWREN823 when you call.

Take the 2023 Outdoor Recreation User Survey

THE WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF STATE PARKS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES (SPCR), THE DIVISION OF STATE PARKS, HISTORIC SITES & TRAILS (SPHST), AND THE WY OUTDOOR RECREATION OFFICE ARE SEEKING INPUT ON RECREATION NEEDS AND PRIORITIES THROUGH THE 2023 OUTDOOR RECREATION USER SURVEY.

FROM

Questions about the project? Please contact Patrick Harrington with Wyoming State Parks.

PATRICK.HARRINGTON@WYO.GOV

People that complete this 15-minute survey by October 1 will be entered into a raffle for a FREE YETI Roadie cooler.

The user survey aims to gather input on wants, needs and priorities regarding outdoor recreation in Wyoming. The results of the survey will inform the 2023 Wyoming Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The 2023 SCORP aims to identify and address the outdoor recreation needs of Wyoming’s residents and visitors and will help secure substantial funding for local recreation projects.

This survey is meant to be taken by anyone who gets outside in Wyoming including residents, frequent visitors and travelers. You could be a dog walker, a mountain biker, a hunter, a softball player, a fitness class participant, a rock climber, a paraglider or anything in between. It does not matter what type of recreation you do or even if you don’t enjoy outdoor recreation; your perception and experience with outdoor recreation in Wyoming matters.

SCORPs are updated every five years by most states around the country. The

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF WYOMING’S OUTDOOR RECREATION LANDSCAPE:

WYOMING STATE PARKS, HISTORIC SITES, AND TRAILS

IN 2021:

8.7M State Parks Visitors

5.7M Historic Sites Visitors

State of Wyoming has hired a team of consultants from SE Group to support the 2023 Wyoming SCORP update process. The last Wyoming SCORP was completed in 2019. Since then, recreation activity has grown across the state; Wyoming National Parks saw 8.7 million visitors in 2021 and visitation to state parks and historic sites saw 5.7 million visits in 2021, a 25% increase over the five-year average.

SCORPs are imperative to gain important funding for outdoor recreation projects across the state. “The State of Wyoming receives approximately $2.3 million annually in Land and Water Conservation

Funds (LWCF) to create outdoor recreation opportunities in our great State,” said Louisa Lopez, Recreation Grants Manager with the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office and Division of State Parks & Trails. “In order to create user-based goals for this funding, we develop the SCORP, which identifies current resources and needed resources while providing an opportunity for private citizens, user groups and local governments to set priorities for acquiring, developing and protecting these recreation opportunities.”

Any and all interested parties are encouraged to visit 2023wyscorp.com to take the survey and learn more about the 2023 Wyoming SCORP process.

Survey results are strengthened by a robust response rate; we encourage everyone to help share this survey far and wide. We have created a survey promotion toolkit that includes files for digital sharing and a physical poster that can be printed and posted around the community. This flyer can go up in coffee shops, at trail heads, on community boards or anywhere else it is allowed. Access the toolkit at 2023wyscorp.com.

“The 2023 SCORP is a vital roadmap for local, state and federal agencies to create and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. The five-year SCORP aims to identify and address the outdoor recreation needs of Wyoming’s residents and visitors. The user survey is the best possible way to get involved, so please share it with your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors, because the more survey results we get, the better we can represent the citizens of Wyoming,” stated Patrick Harrington, Manager of the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office.

Greybull Greybull Greybull

BY GAYLE M. IRWIN

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES TO EXPLORE WYOMING

Outdoor recreation attracts visitors and provides a strong economic benefit to Wyoming. This year state officials put dollars behind the industry, passing a measure known as the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund, which allocates 6 million dollars for outdoor-oriented projects. They aren’t the only ones who see value in the state’s natural splendor – several organizations help Wyoming youth and families appreciate nature and enjoy activities found in the outdoors.

HELPING YOUTH GET OUTSIDE

The Wyoming Game & Fish Department is set to launch three outdoor-oriented programs for schools later this year — Hunter Education, Trout in the Classroom and National Archery in the Schools Program.

First is the National Archery in Schools Program, said Nish Goicolea, Game & Fish Communications and Education Division Chief.

The archery program is hands-on and allows youth to learn key life skills such as focus, self-control, discipline and patience.

“It’s very much a skill-based program,” she said. “It builds a lot of confidence. Kids love it!”

The second, Trout in the Classroom, developed by Trout Unlimited, is set to launch January 2024. Agency fish hatcheries will deliver trout eggs to the schools to place in an “aquarium-like setup,” Goicolea said.

“This is a great opportunity for Wyoming youth to participate in an interdisciplinary, science-based program,” Goicolea said.

“Raising trout in a classroom allows for a hands-on opportunity to learn valuable biological lessons and foster an appreciation for our state’s incredible fisheries.”

Students will learn about the life cycle of trout and take a deep dive into the importance of habitat and the prevention of aquatic invasive species.

Wyoming youth will also have the opportunity to learn about hunter safety and ethics as part of their education curriculum.

“The Wyoming Hunter Education curriculum encompasses a holistic, hands-on approach and teaches a broad range of topics including wildlife management and conservation, wilderness survival, wildlife identification, bear safety, field care of game meat, marksmanship and game laws,” Goicolea said.

Offering hunter education in schools allows us to foster a conservation ethic in our youngest citizens, Goicolea said.

“We’re piloting 20 schools for each of our programs this year,” she said.

Educators interested in participating in any or all programs can fill out an online form, available here: bit.ly/Game-FishRequestForm.

Five years ago, the Sheridan-based Wyoming Wilderness Association (WWA) helped launch Outdoor Clubs in area high schools.

“The percentage of students who have never mountain biked or cross-country skied is very high,” said Khale Century Reno, executive director of WWA. “You need someone engaged with the kids in the school … who are really passionate about teaching recreational skills along with stewardship and education,” she said.

For example, club members decided to go rock climbing. A member of a climbing organization taught the rock-climbing skills, the students engaged in “a stewardship project, picking up trash along the trail,” and the teacher taught a geology lesson, Reno said.

“Partnership and collaboration [with educators and organizations] is the name of the game,” Reno said.

A mentor teaching a kid how to pull back a bow properly.

PHOTO BY EMALEE ROTH

FELLOWSHIPS FOR OLDER STUDENTS

Wyoming Game & Fish also offers a fellowship program for young adults through a partnership with the University of Wyoming. “The fellowship program is for those interested in conservation careers,” Goicolea said.

The agency pays part of students’ tuition for two to four years. In return, they do extensive volunteering with the agency every year.

“The goal of this is ‘grow your own.’ We want to inspire the students to come work for us eventually,” Goicolea said. “You can be in all types of occupations and work for Game & Fish. We’ve had some who were interested in law school and working in wildlife law and others were engineers, interested in building wildlife crossings. This year we have someone working in fiscal, and two who assisted at summer camps. They all share the commonality of love of the outdoors.”

The fellowship accepts 10 to 15 students each year, she added.

Goicolea sees a connection between working with children and the fellowship offering.

“My hope is that these [educational] programs all tie together and that someday, the elementary student we’re teaching is working for us,” she said.

CAMPS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES

Nature camps are offered by Game & Fish and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF), providing outdoor recreation opportunities and nature-watching and learning activities. The department’s Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp, located near Dubois, features cabins for lodging and, during camps for boys, girls and families, three meals a day, Goicolea said. Camps are held during the summer for youth ages 12 to 15 and for families with children 6 years of age and older.

Campers engage in activities like archery, fishing, backpacking, telemetry, bird watching and hiking.

Lander-based WWF also offers summer camps for youth. The program

started in 2020 for children 3 ½ to 13 years old.

“Our program for small children is called Tiny Explorers. It’s fun because they are excited to do almost anything,” said Andrea Barbknecht, WWF’s education director.

The half-day camps, which last five days, are offered in Lander, Riverton and Jackson.

Additionally, WWF provides Class Outside, which also started in 2020. The program offers a unique approach to learning, interspersing ecology-based education with child-directed free play, “which has shown to be developmentally important” for critical risk-management skills and fine motor coordination, Barbknecht said.

“We are a supplement for what happens in the school systems,” she said. “When we do create something for a school, we see that it’s aligned to Wyoming state standards to fit into the classroom instead of them having to do something extra.”

A mentor teaches proper firearm handling and safety.

PHOTO BY EMALEE ROTH

Just as children need good nutrition and adequate sleep, they may very well need contact with nature.

– Richard Louv, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder”

MORE THAN CAMPS AND CLUBS

Other outdoor experiences youth and families can enjoy are found on Game & Fish lands. The agency manages nearly 40 wildlife habitat management areas that offer opportunities to view and photograph Wyoming’s wildlife, and to camp, picnic, fish and hunt.

“They’re beautiful areas that are open for exploration and outdoor fun,” Goicolea said.

WWF helps schools develop native gardens. The organization currently assists elementary schools in Sheridan with this program.

“Sheridan has been our pilot city,” Barbknecht said. “The plants are just coming up this year, and they’re looking really great!”

Native seed mixes, with grasses such as Idaho fescue, and a variety of annual and perennial flowers, such as sticky geranium and lupine, are used.

“The kids do the planting and a lot of the preparation. They enjoy being outside,” Barbknecht said.

She hopes to expand the program to other schools around the state.

Both Game & Fish and WWF provide educational resources for teachers, including lesson plans, speakers for the classroom and educational boxes. For example, WWF offers downloadable lesson plans for elementary, middle school/

junior high and high school, and the Game & Fish Department provides Conservation Crates as well as online lesson plans. All agency education programs are umbrellaed under the Inspire A Kid initiative, Goicolea said, which seeks to connect children and families to nature through activities, camps and other opportunities.

Engaging youth in the outdoors benefits their health.

“It is well known that time spent outdoors is beneficial for a child’s social-emotional health and critical thinking abilities, and allows them to build life skills through exploration and hands-on experience,” Goicolea said.

“Everyone benefits in terms of mental health from time outside,” Barbknecht said. “Additionally, kids need that interaction [with nature], climbing trees or going under things – that really helps with gross and fine muscle coordination. Also, risk management … our brains [need opportunity] to accurately access and respond to risk.”

HELP AVAILABLE WHEN RECREATING

Spending time in the outdoors can lead to dangerous situations, including accidents. Whether rock climbing, riding a snowmobile, skiing or backpacking, knowing help is available brings greater confidence and comfort. Be 307 Aware provides that relief and assistance.

“It started out with a small group of us,” said Jim Mitchell, Sublette County Emergency Management Coordinator and a member of Tip-Top Search and Rescue, the county’s search and rescue team. “We worked on a logo and a catchphrase and started a Facebook page. We created some posts, and one post got some 40,000 views from all over the nation.”

Every sheriff in Wyoming is “responsible for search and rescue efforts,” he said.

Most rescues are conducted by volunteers “under the sheriff’s authority,” he said. More recreationists are using radios to maintain contact with one another and when they need help.

“More and more, we’re hearing that 307 was used,” Mitchell said. “It’s a neat thing, a very neat thing.”

Learn more about Be 307 Aware at bit.ly/Be307Aware.

HIDDEN GEMS DRAW FAMILIES OUTSIDE

Wyoming offers additional ways to explore the outdoors, including visiting places many people don’t experience. A few of Wyoming’s “hidden gems” are the numerous paleontology and cultural areas, said Piper Singer, Communications Senior Manager, Wyoming Office of Tourism. Such a place is Fossil Butte National Monument near Kemmerer, “one of two national monuments in Wyoming,” she said.

“They have a fantastic interpretive center,” Singer said. “At one point, Wyoming was a huge ocean bed, so you would find alligators, snakes and fish that they’ve discovered at this particular site.”

A fossil quarry nearby, called American Fossil, is also a must-see, she added.

“Families can go dig up fossils for a day, and you can keep what you find. You can take a little piece of history home with you at the end of the day,” she said.

Family-friendly paleontological museums can be found around the state. In fact, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis was once credited “one of the best kidfriendly places by the New York Times,” Singer said.

From the Wind River Reservation to the Bighorn Medicine Wheel, and from Castle

Garden Petroglyphs Site to the Vore Buffalo Jump, numerous cultural sites allow families and other visitors to gain a better understanding of ancient and modern Native American life.

Museums also bring families together, whether in large communities like Casper or smaller ones like Worland. One of the newest museums to open in Wyoming is the National Military Vehicle Museum near Dubois, said Singer. This interactive space features a private collection of military vehicles.

“This is a museum you would think would be in New York City – it is absolutely phenomenal!” she said. “It tells a different side of Wyoming and U.S. history in general.”

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Engaging youth in outdoor experiences and learning about culture and history means helping conserve Wyoming’s resources for future generations and establishing family legacies.

“The future is really what the focus is on,” Goicolea said. “We want people to be as passionate, as concerned and aware about the outdoors as we are. We’re so blessed [in Wyoming] with some amazing resources, with the outdoors and abundance of wildlife we have. We want to make sure we have that legacy, that it continues, and that people are as involved and aware and care as much as we do going forward.”

“The goal is to get students out there,” WWA’s Reno stated. “What a person knows, they appreciate more. Public lands are for all Americans, and that’s really important, especially for our Wyoming kids to know that and really recognize how amazing that is. The kids will be advocates [for public lands] in the future.”

WYOMING STATE PARKS OFFER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES

Another hidden gem in the state can be found in central Wyoming, according to Piper Singer from the Office of Tourism. That site is Sinks Canyon State Park.

Children and adults can observe “the rise and fall of the river as it goes in and out of caves,” she said. “You can stay in a yurt at the park, a very unique experience, and you can stargaze at night with unobstructed views, and that’s true for most of the state, including Devil’s Tower where there are ranger-led star gazing programs.”

There are 12 state parks in Wyoming, one archeological site (Medicine Lodge), and one state recreation area (Hawk Springs). Each location offers a variety of outdoor recreation experiences, from hiking and fishing to boating and camping. Medicine Lodge offers picnic sites, a playground, and opportunities to see petroglyphs, among other activities. Hawk Springs State Recreation Area offers swimming, boating, fishing, camping and additional activities.

Many state parks now provide cabins and yurts for lodging, offering these facilities for those who don’t own an RV or tent.

Find out about all the different state parks, recreation areas, historic sites and archeological entities, including their amenities and fees, at bit.ly/WYOparks.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Find more information on educational programs and resources and cultural/historical sites and outdoor recreation opportunities on these websites.

Wyoming Game & Fish – Inspire a Kid Program: bit.ly/Game-FishInspireAKid

Wyoming Game & Fish Education Program: bit.ly/Gane-FishConservation and bit.ly/Gane-FishLearning and bit.ly/Game-FishEducation

Wyoming Office of Tourism: bit.ly/WYTourism

Wyoming Wilderness Association: bit.ly/WildWY

Wyoming Wildlife Federation: bit.ly/WY-Wildlife

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.

AUG 26

ALL DAY

Medicine Lodge Kids Outdoor Day, hosted by the Wyoming Game and Fish, Cody regional office, and Wyoming State Parks, and sponsored by Big Horn Rural Electric Company – Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site in Hyattville. Pre-registration fee charged and space is limited.

Learn more here: bit.ly/KidOutdoorDay

AUG 26

5 TO 9 PM

Lander Wild Game Cook-Off, presented by the Wyoming Wildlife Federation with special guests, the Houlihan Narratives (storytelling): Celebrating wild foods, wild places, and conservation.

Learn more here: bit.ly/WY-WildlifeCook

SEP 5

9 AM Big Sandy Solitude Monitoring, Bridger Wilderness, hosted by Wyoming Wilderness Association. Hike and stewardship outing.

Learn more and sign up here: bit.ly/StewardshipOutingRSVP

SEP 23

5 AM

“Run the Red” Race, hosted by the Wyoming Wilderness Association in collaboration with the Wyoming Outdoor Council (WOC) and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) – Starts at South Pass City State Park.

Learn more here: bit.ly/WYRunTheRed

Gayle M. Irwin is a freelance writer based in Casper.

― Rachel Carson, “Silent Spring”

BORN LIVE WYOMING

RATTLESNAKES!

RATTLESNAKES ARE GREAT MOTHERS SSSSS

When we imagine what a nurturing mother looks like, the first image that comes to our minds probably isn’t that of a rattlesnake! But rattlesnakes, including Wyoming’s prairie rattlesnake and midget faded rattlesnake, deserve three shakes of the tail for being great mothers.

All rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous. This means that they don’t lay eggs; rather, eggs develop and hatch within the mother’s body, and the babies are born live. Rattlesnake clutch sizes depend on the size of the mom, with larger mothers having more babies per clutch. Prairie rattlesnakes can have clutches ranging in size from four to 20 babies, while the much smaller midget faded rattlesnake usually has only three or four babies in a clutch.

A MOTHER’S SACRIFICE

Looking for food puts a mother rattlesnake at risk of getting eaten, so she may not eat at all while she’s pregnant. By the time her babies are born, a mother rattlesnake may lose almost 50% of her body weight! She must spend the next year or two eating as much as she can to rebuild her fat reserves. Because pregnancy takes such a toll on mother rattlesnakes, she only has babies every two to three years.

CUDDLE PUDDLE

Baby rattlesnakes are born in late summer near their hibernation dens. Rattlesnakes are born venomous and independent, but they still benefit from having their mother around. Baby rattlesnakes are less than 6 inches long when born. Because they are so small, they lose body heat very quickly. In order to stay warm enough to survive and grow, they must spend most of the day soaking in the sun’s rays. Mother rattlesnakes are much bigger and retain heat for much longer, so her babies will huddle on her body to keep warm in the cool morning or evening hours!

CAMPING

BY GINA LUTTERMAN SIGEL

When Wyomingites recreate, there is no better place than the great outdoors … which we have a lot of here in our beloved state. Camping was not something I grew up with — my dad joked that he didn’t go on vacation to sleep on the ground and heat up his food over a makeshift fire like a “hobo.”

Ironically, the homecoming celebration at South Dakota State University was known as “Hobo Days” and it was probably my dad’s favorite time of year where he grew up in eastern South Dakota. But I digress.

When I was a sophomore in high school, my parents bought property in the mountains to build a cabin. They knew we needed a home base while they built it in phases, so they also bought a camper. In 1994, they got a 1965 Red Dale single-axel trailer. Either I wasn’t old enough or the camper wasn’t old and cool enough to be considered “vintage,” but the

brown-colored appliances worked. And when you folded down the table, there was enough room for all of us. It was a hearty shelter from the spring snowstorms and a great place to sit and have lunch. We were grateful for the respite it delivered.

When I first started camping on my own, both as a young adult and with my own kiddos, I had a tent. I was out there roughing it with my whole family and a cooler full of well-planned (and not easy) meals to prepare with the best of them. It was fun and novel, but there was nothing luxurious about it.

I always thought camping was camping, plain and simple. When someone asked me to differentiate whether I went “car camping,” I felt a little defensive. Car camping sounds weak. I still feel like the term is a misnomer, although I do understand that it needs to be differentiated from backpacking and fully respect the increase in difficulty. I’ve never been backpacking, despite it being on my bucket list before I turned 40. My oldest son participated in a backpacking program a few summers ago for two weeks and my husband backpacked fairly regularly, until he met me and his life got busier with three kids, later an additional baby, and a dog.

Where you camp is at least as important as what you are camping in. Here is how I understand the degree of difficulty: dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or national forest land (undeveloped areas of public lands, typically free of charge with limited or no facilities), primitive campground (designated campsites with basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, basic vault

lands: national parks, national forests, state parks, BLM land, private campgrounds and RV parks, and wildlife refuges and recreation areas. In fact, there are established campgrounds in Wyoming that can only be accessed via hiking: Lonesome Lake Campground (Shoshone National Forest), situated in the Absaroka Mountains; Cirque of the Towers Campground (Bridger Wilderness), located in the Wind River Range; and Leigh Lake Campground (Grand Teton National Park) are just a few examples. In these instances, the names are as remote as the locations.

toilets, may require a small camping fee), developed campground (in a national park, state park or recreational area, designated campsites with defined parking spots and tent pads, camping fees required, varying based on location and amenities), and RV Park or luxury campground (paved sites with level parking pads and hookups for water, electricity and sewage; facilities such as restrooms, showers and laundry; amenities like Wi-Fi, playgrounds, swimming pools and convenience stores). Glamping falls somewhere in the middle of all the camping choices. The kids and I stayed in a teepee outside of Yellowstone National Park one summer and it had a dresser, a bistro table, a king bed with a log footboard and headboard and a futon couch. A good night’s sleep is a dealmaker when you travel and we were snug as a bug in our beds, despite the unusual cold rain and fog outside. It was magical.

Wyoming offers a wide range of camping options due to its beautiful landscapes and abundance of public

When my husband and I got married a few years ago, my parents gifted us the old, black-and-white 1965 camper as a wedding present. The kids were over the moon. We had watched the solar eclipse in that camper, had adventures on Sandy Beach at Glendo and would even just pull it up to nearby Vedauwoo for a couple of nights when the mood struck. I have an entire design book devoted to restoring and redecorating our adorable—and now truly vintage— trailer. The vision is still to be realized. Which, perhaps, encapsulates camping as a whole. Sleeping under the stars sounds dreamy but it might not be your best night’s sleep.

We recently stayed for several nights at a softball tournament in Steamboat, Colorado. When offered the luxury of her best friend’s hotel room, our daughter, Lucy, opted to stay in the camper. She didn’t want to miss out on any camping time (though I suspect she just wanted to play at the outdoor pool at the campground where we were staying). But no matter what kind of camping you like to do, the basic tenants remain the same: quality time, outdoor adventures, life away from the hustle and bustle. Lucy wasn’t wrong. And our family has no regrets. W

Originally from Laramie, Gina Lutterman Sigel draws inspiration from five generations of agriculture to tell the stories of rural living.

I always thought camping was camping, plain and simple. When someone asked me to differentiate whether I went “car camping,” I felt a little defensive.

BEARS: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future

BY GLORIA DICKIE

A

Bears have always held a central place in our collective memory, from Indigenous folklore and Greek mythology to nineteenth-century fairytales and the modern toy shop. But as humans and bears come into ever-closer contact, our relationship nears a tipping point. Today, most of the eight remaining bear species are threatened with extinction. Some, such as the panda bear and the polar bear, are icons of the natural world; others, such as the spectacled bear and the sloth bear, are far less known.

In “Eight Bears,” journalist Gloria Dickie embarks on a globe-trotting journey to explore each bear’s story, whisking readers from the cloud forests of the Andes to the ice floes of the Arctic; from the jungles of India to the backwoods of the Rocky Mountain West. She meets with key figures on the frontlines of modern conservation efforts―the head of a rescue center for sun and moon bears freed from bile farms, a biologist known as Papa Panda, who has led China’s panda-breeding efforts for almost four decades, a conservationist retraining a military radar system to detect and track polar bears near towns―to reveal the unparalleled challenges bears face as they contend with a rapidly changing climate and encroaching human populations.

Weaving together ecology, history, mythology and a captivating account of her travels and observations, Dickie offers a closer look at our volatile relationship with these magnificent mammals. Engrossing and deeply reported, “Eight Bears” delivers a clear warning for what we risk losing if we don’t learn to live alongside the animals that have shaped our cultures, geographies and stories.

ORDERING INFORMATION:

2023 | 272p. | $24.76 hardcover

ISBN: 1324005084

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Available to purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Name: Phone: Address:

global exploration of the eight remaining species of bears— and the dangers they face.

Wyoming is known for its untouched natural beauty, friendly people and real western adventures. Can you spot ten differences?

Trek over to page 37 for the answers.

BY BECKY FREISMUTH

That sums up why Charles “Chuck” Reynolds spent his working life outdoors, running cows on ranches in northeast Wyoming.

Reynolds was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2022 after being nominated by his daughter, Bonnie Sullivan.

BY ILENE OLSON

The Ranch Don’t Run by Itself

“If you like work, it’s no work a’tall.”

Chuck Reynolds and Eddie.

WYOMING COWBOY HALL OF FAME

Reynolds grew up on the Old Reynolds Ranch run by his father, Clark Reynolds, at Rocky Point, Wyoming. He attended the Trail Creek School until he left to pursue his cowboying career. He left the ranch in 1957 and moved to Parks Land and Livestock, where he remained until 1968.

According to Sullivan, most of Reynolds’ youth was spent on the Pavlovich Ranch, where he broke horses and rode cattle on the creeks. The summer months were spent tending sheep and fixing fences.

Reynolds went to work for the Daly Land and Livestock Ranch in 1963. That’s where he met and married his wife, Sandra Gleason. The couple moved to the Little Missouri for a short time before moving back to Wyoming, where Reynolds took a job at the Keeline Ranch. There, he gained more experience working with large cattle ranches.

From the Keeline, the couple jumped from ranch to ranch, helping Reynolds gain skills and experience with each move. Along the way, they had three children, two boys and a girl.

“They’re all hard workers,” Reynolds said with pride.

They’re also the reason he kept ranching.

“It was going to try to raise my three kids and try to put them through school,” Reynolds said. “I liked being horseback, running cattle, and I was a pretty fair mechanic.”

Between 1967 and 1974, Reynolds worked on five ranches: the Ted and Mary Norfolk Ranch in Campbell County, the Joe Watt Ranch in Crook County, the Kona Ranch in Missoula, Montana, the Peggy Davis Ranch in South Dakota and the William P Parks 3rd Ranch in Campbell County.

At one point, he was feeding a total of 700 head of livestock, along with other ranch duties.

“They kept me pretty busy,” he said. “If you apply yourself, it’s not easy. The ranch don’t run by itself.”

“He worked hard every day, rain or shine,” Sullivan told the WREN magazine. “It was about his horses and his cows.”

In her nomination, Sullivan said Reynolds also provided community service. “Chuck enjoyed judging horses at the surrounding county fairs and helping the kids with horsemanship,” she said.

“All of his kids were in 4-H and FFA, and he was always

lending a hand to help with the animals, welding projects or even the occasional fashion show at the fair.”

Reynolds said he worked at Bill Parks’ Sunnyside Ranch for eight years, but moved on after a difference of opinion. From there, the Reynolds family moved to the ranch belonging to Reynolds’ sister, Janet K. Evans, in Campbell County.

“I stayed there 29 years,” Reynolds said, from 19832012. “I had a house in town. I was too old to find another place and not rich enough to buy a place, so we moved into our house here in Gillette.”

Then his brother, John Reynolds, invited Chuck

Reynolds to work at his feedlot in Campbell County.

“He said, ‘You going to just lay around, or come work with cows?’ I said, ‘I’m willing to work!’ I worked there for 10 years, from age 68 to 78.”

Besides running cows, Reynolds helped put in fences, lay in irrigation pipes, build fences and put in braces.

“Now, I just kind of help them when they need somebody to ride,” Reynolds said. “I like to ride a horse. I’ve been riding since I was 4 years old. You get old whether you sit around or get around and do something.” W

Ilene Olson is a freelance photographer, writer and editor in Powell.

Chuck Reynolds at a branding.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WYOMING COWBOY HALL OF FAME

FISH

COD AND VEGETABLE BAKE

2 LBS COD FILLETS

3 TBS LEMON JUICE

1 1/2 TSP SALT

1/8 TSP PEPPER

1/2 CUP BUTTER, MELTED

1/2 TSP GROUND SAGE

1/2 TSP GROUND THYME

5 SLICES BREAD, CRUSTS REMOVED AND CUT INTO CUBES

2 MEDIUM CARROTS, COARSELY SHREDDED

1 LARGE STALK CELERY, FINELY CHOPPED

MACADAMIA ENCRUSTED MAHI-MAHI

1 MEDIUM ONION, CHOPPED (ABOUT 1/2 CUP)

3 TBS DRY BREAD CRUMBS

2 TBS SNIPPED PARSLEY

1/2 TSP PAPRIKA

If cod fillets are large, cut into 6 serving pieces. Arrange fish in ungreased rectangular baking dish (12x7½x2 or 8x8x2 square). Sprinkle with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix butter, sage, thyme, bread cubes, carrots, celery and onion. Spread evenly over fish. Mix bread crumbs, parsley and paprika; sprinkle over vegetables. Cover and bake in 350° oven until fish flakes easily with fork, about 35 minutes.

SUE FUHRMANN SUNDANCE

2 MAHI-MAHI FILLETS, DEFROSTED

1/4 CUP BUTTER, SOFTENED

3 TBS DIJON MUSTARD

1/4 CUP HONEY

1/3 CUP PANKO BREADCRUMBS

2 TBS ITALIAN SEASONING

3 TSP OLIVE OIL

1/3 CUP MACADAMIA NUTS, FINELY CHOPPED

Preheat oven to 425°. Spray an 8-inch glass baking dish with oil-based spray to prevent sticking. Pat each defrosted fillet with paper towel until dry. In a small bowl mix the softened butter, Dijon mustard and honey until well-blended. Spread this mixture over the top and sides of both fillets.

In a separate small bowl mix the panko breadcrumbs, italian seasoning and olive oil. Then spread this mixture over the top of the butter, Dijon, honey mixture. Spread the chopped macadamia nuts on the fillets last. Bake the fillets for 13-15 minutes until the fish is flaky.

This recipe can also be used on Walleye fillets.

SUSAN MCDONALD LARAMIE

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

(4 PIECES FRESH OR FROZEN DEBONED AND SKINLESS COD FILLETS; IF FROZEN, THAW AND USE PAPEr TOWELS TO SQUEEZE OUT EXCESS MOISTURE)

SALT PEPPER

1 TBS OF BUTTER

1/4 CUP DRY WHITE WINE

1 TSP LEMON JUICE

1/2 CUP HEAVY CREAM

1 TBS DILL, MINCED FRESH OR DRIED

Drizzle about a teaspoon or so of oil in your pan, just enough so the fish doesn’t stick. Season the fish with salt and pepper (to taste) and add to the pan. Cook on a medium-low temperature for about 5 minutes or so and then flip. Add the butter, white wine and lemon juice and continue to cook until the cod is almost done (the fish will have an internal temp of 140° and be flaky and white throughout). Add the heavy cream and dill and cook until the cream is hot. Serve with sauce over fish.

DEBRA DOWELL GUERNSEY

3 SLEEVES SALTINE CRACKERS

2 CANS CANNED OYSTERS BUTTER

DILLED COD OYSTER DRESSING

1 PINT HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM

Grease baking dish well. Crush a sleeve of crackers in the pan. Layer a can of oysters, undrained, on top of the saltines. Repeat layers. Top with final sleeve of crackers. Slice a half stick of butter on top. Pour whipping cream over all. Cover and bake at 350° until crackers are brown. Even people who don’t care for oysters (my wife) like this dish.

KEN METZLER RIVERTON

Salmon on the Grill

1 SALMON FILLET

1/4 CUP BUTTER MELTED

1 1/2 TSP SOY SAUCE

1 TBS LEMON JUICE

1 TBS WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE

1 TSP GARLIC POWDER

Cut a piece of foil slightly larger than the fillet and fold up the edges to make a foil tray. Combine all ingredients, except fish. Place fish on piece of foil. Brush butter mixture over fish. Grill fish over medium heat 375-400° until done.

My aunt lived in Alaska for a few years and this became her favorite recipe for salmon.

ANNA LAMBERT GILLETTE

BAKED COD PARMESAN

4 4OZ COD FILLETS, PATTED DRY WITH PAPER TOWEL BLACK PEPPER

1 LEMON

2/3 CUP MAYONNAISE

1 SMALL ONION, MINCED

1/4 CUP PARMESAN CHEESE

Preheat oven to 400°. Place cod fillets in an oven-proof dish sprayed with Pam spray. Sprinkle fillets with pepper and then the juice of half of the lemon. In a small bowl, mix 2/3 cup mayonnaise, minced onion and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Spoon over the four fillets using all the mayonnaise mixture. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. May be served with rice, noodles and fresh steamed vegetables.

NANCY DENK RIVERTON

PATTERNS HARVEST

 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.

FEATURED EVENT

01 | SOUTHEAST

CENTENNIAL ONGOING

Nici Self Historical Museum: Museum grounds and exhibits open Thu-Mon 12-4p. Free. Info niciselfmuseum.com.

CHUGWATER

THURSDAYS

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

ONGOING

Live Music: Stampede Saloon & Eatery music venue open for Thursday night jam session and weekend performances. Info 307-422-3200, stampedefun@aol.com.

ENCAMPMENT

ONGOING

Grand Encampment Museum: 8Main Gallery and GEM store open Tue-Sat 10a4p. Info 307-327-5308.

MEDICINE BOW

ONGOING

GOTTSCHE BOOTS AND BLING FALL FUNDRAISER

THERMOPOLIS  SEPTEMBER 16

Join us for dinner, wine tasting, live music, a chance to win BIG MONEY through the reverse raffle, and so much more to benefit William H and Carrie Gottsche Foundation.

Location: HSC Fair Building

Time: 6p • Cost: $40

WALK AWAY WITH EXCITING ITEMS SUCH AS: Cruise to the Caribbean or Bermuda •

1 week condo in Las Vegas • 4-night stay at Encanterra Resort in Queen Creek, Arizona •

Sabatti 300 Win Mag Rifle • Wildlife print • University of Wyoming football tickets • Botox session • and many more exciting items!

Buy your tickets at any Gottsche location, Storyteller at the Thermopolis Chamber or by calling 307-864-2146.

NORTHWEST

Museum and Gift Shop: Open daily 8:30a-4:30p. 405 Lincoln Highway. Info 307-379-2383.

WHEATLAND

SATURDAYS (THROUGH SEPTEMBER)

Farmer’s Market: 8-10a. Historic downtown Wheatland on 700 block of 9th Street. Baked goods, frozen beef, crafts, floral arrangements, produce and seasonings available for sale. Info bit.ly/WheatlandMarket.

02 | NORTHEAST

BUFFALO

THURSDAYS

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

GILLETTE

ONGOING (THROUGH 2023)

No Time For Tears: The Life & Art of Dixie

Lynne Reece Exhibit: Campbell County Rockpile Museum. Features nearly 70 works of art from Campbell County artist Dixie Reece (1936-2018). Info 307-682-5723, rockpilemuseum.com.

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

HULETT

ONGOING

Hulett Museum and Art Gallery: 8a-4p Mon-Fri. Free. Info 307-467-5292.

Senior Center Events: 145 Main Street. Carry-in dinner 12:30p third Sun. Rolls and coffee 9a Thu. Info 307-467-5743.

MOORCROFT

SEPTEMBER 9

Historical Society Heritage Round Up: 5p. Moorcroft Museum.

SEPTEMBER 18

Historical Society Meeting: 6p. Moorcroft Museum.

SEPTEMBER 19

Chamber of Commerce Monthly Meeting: Noon. Moorcroft Town Center.

WEDNESDAYS

Moorcroft Branch Library Activities: Storytime 10a. Afterschool Craft 4p. AA meetings 7p. Please use downstairs entrance. Info 307-756-3232.

THIRD THURSDAY OF MONTH

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

ONGOING

West Texas Trail Museum: Now open year-round 9a-5p Mon-Fri. Info 307-756-9300.

ONGOING

Senior Center Events: Coffee and rolls 9a Wed. Toenail clinic 9a fourth Thu, dinner 6p fourth Thu. Info 307-756-9550.

NEWCASTLE

FRIDAYS

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

SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS

Gigi’s Closet: 9a-1:30p. First United Methodist Church. Gently loved clothing available for babies to adults. Info 307-746-4119.

SHERIDAN

SEPTEMBER 2-4

Hang Gliders Fly-In: 10:30a-3p. Bighorn Mountains (Sand Turn west of Sheridan). Enjoy watching and photographing hang gliders from across the nation soaring above the Bighorn Mountains’ Sand Turn, weather permitting. Info Johann Nield 307-751-1138, wyomingwings@wyoming.com.

SEPTEMBER 3-4

35th Annual Don King Days: Big Horn Equestrian Center. 35th anniversary “Old West” rodeo events featuring match bronc riding, steer roping and end-of-season polo cups. The Big Horn Equestrian Center provides open space and no fence setting in the majestic mountain foothills south of Sheridan. The family-oriented celebration honors renowned saddle maker Don King. Info Cecile Pattison 307-751-5454 or pattison@wavecom.net, Vicki Kane 307-752-0567 or vicki@kemperodell.com, donkingdays.com.

SEPTEMBER 8-10

Flying Cowboys Annual Fly-In: 90 Keystone Rd. Pilots from five states with 200 remote-powered planes for display and flight from dawn to dusk! See all types of planes from small electric powered flyers, up to 10’ wingspan giants powered by large gasoline engines. Free. Info 307-763-1467.

SEPTEMBER 9

Annual Wine Fest: 12-8p. Grinnell Plaza. More than 100 wines and beers to taste, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction held on Grinnell Plaza. Info 307-672 8881, downtownsheridan.org.

SEPTEMBER 15-17

Born in a Barn Creative Sale: 415 US-14. Born in a Barn was founded with six vendors in 2011 as an outlet for Shelley Kinneson’s serious addiction to all things upcycled, refurbished, vintage and unique. Nowadays it’s a community staple with live music, a field of food and 90+ vendors. Info borninabarnwyo.com.

SEPTEMBER 21

3rd Thursday Street Festival: 5-8pm. South Main St. Enjoy family fun, food, live music and fabulous vendors on the 3rd Thursday of each summer month in Downtown Sheridan. Free. Info 307-672-8881.

SEPTEMBER 23

The Mane Event: 2023 Gravel Grinder Bike Ride. Held in the foothills north and east of Sheridan. Info 307-763-4481, maneeventgravel.com.

SATURDAYS

Landon’s Farmers Market: 9a-12p. Landon’s Greenhouse, 505 College Meadows Dr. Info 307-672-8340, info@landonsgreenhouse.com, landonsgreenhouse.com.

SUNDANCE

WEDNESDAYS

UPTON

FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS

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

ONGOING

Senior Center Activities: 1113 2nd St. Lunch is served at noon Mon-Fri for $4. Call for reservation before 9a at 307-468-2422 or 712400-9056. Coffee and treats at 9a on Tues. Exercise program at 9a every Tue and Fri. Card elimination and potluck every third Mon at 5:30p. Ask about medical equipment loans. Info 307-468-9262.

WOLF

SEPTEMBER 6

Wolf Creek Wrangle: Eatons’ Ranch, 270 Eaton Ranch Rd. Take a step back in time and run or hike where the settlers of the west once walked! These trail runs are hosted by the historic Eaton’s Ranch, the country’s oldest operating dude ranch located at the base of the Bighorn Mountains. All runners start on the lawn of the ranch, flow through a beautiful meadow, and then quickly change to single track where only horses, cattle, and trail runners roam!

If you are looking for a true trail run experience, this is the race for you! Trails are primitive, runners need to pack their own nutrition, and wildlife is abundant. Info sheridanhabitat. org/wolf-creek-wrangle.

NORTHWEST

CODY

SEPTEMBER 16

Mustang Rendezvous: 5-8 p. Holiday Inn. Benefits the wild horses of the McCullough Peaks. Info friendsofalegacy.org.

ONGOING

Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9a-5p Mon-Sat. 836 Sheridan Ave. Info 307-587-3597.

DUBOIS

THIRD WEDNESDAYS

Wyoming Health Fairs Monthly Wellness Screen/Blood Draw: 7-10a. Dubois Medical Clinic. Appointments encouraged. Info 307455-2516, whf.as.me/dubois.

SEPTEMBER

FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS

Farmer’s Market: 2:30-4:30p. Headwaters Arts & Conference Center. Featuring local produce, baked goods and bread, dairy products, jams and jellies, herbs and salves. Info 307-455-2027.

FRIDAYS

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

GREYBULL

SEPTEMBER 9

Wine & Walk Shopping: Crazy daze shopping, but with wine! Info townofgreybull.com/visit-greybull.

SEPTEMBER 16

Send complete information by OCTOBER 15!

Please send events occurring in the month of December by October 15, and February by November 15 for inclusion in the WREN. (WREN does not print a January issue.)

Also, be sure to include the date, title, description, time, cost, location, address and contact information for each event.

Photos are always welcome.

Aviation Expo Day: South Big Horn County Airport. Info townofgreybull.com/visit-greybull.

SECOND SATURDAYS

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

LANDER

SEPTEMBER 9

Lander Area Petroglyphs: 10a1p. The Pioneer Museum will host this Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek. Visit a unique site with many examples of Native American rock art. There is about 1.5 miles of hiking over uneven ground to reach the site. Meet at the museum to take a bus to the site. $12 per person; 15-person limit. Reservations required. Info 307-332-3339.

SEPTEMBER 21

34 AUG 2023

Look for more events at wyomingrea.org/news.

QUESTIONS & SUBMISSIONS:

 wren@ wyomingrea.org

 [307] 286-8140

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

 wyomingrea.org/ wren-submissions

DNA Testing for Genealogy: 7p. The Pioneer Museum will host Jeffery Herbig as part of the Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series. Come hear a talk on modern scientific tools to trace genealogy. Free. Info 307-332-3339.

SEPTEMBER 23

The Historic Ed Young Apple Orchard and Ranch Trek: 1-2:30p. Join the Pioneer Museum on the Little Popo Agie for this Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek to see the site of the apple orchards that made Lander “The Apple City.” $12 per person. Meet at the museum to take a bus to the site. Reservations required. Info 307-332-3339.

mobility scooter with anti-tip technology

Like millions of older Americans, I struggle with mobility. For years, I watched my quality of life slip away, as I was forced to stay home while friends and family took part in activities I’d once enjoyed. I thought I’d made some progress when I got a mobility scooter, but then I realized how hard it was to transport. Taking it apart and putting it back together was like doing a jigsaw puzzle. Once I had it disassembled, I had to try to put all of the pieces in the trunk of a car, go to wherever I was going, and repeat the process in reverse. Travel scooters were easier to transport, but they were uncomfortable and scary to drive, I always felt like I was ready to tip over. Then I found the So Lite® Scooter. Now there’s nothing that can hold me back.

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a scooter that’s designed with seniors in mind. They created Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that makes it virtually impossible to tip over. If you try to turn too quickly, the scooter automatically slows down to prevent it from tipping over. The battery provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the So Lite®

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Scooter is the most portable scooter ever—but it can hold up to 275 pounds—yet weighs only 40.8 pounds without the battery! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat, trunk or even on an airplane. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. Best of all, it’s designed with your safety in mind, from the newest technology and superior craftsmanship. Why spend another day letting your lack of mobility ruin your quality of life? Call now and find out how you can get a So Lite ® Scooter of your very own.

Please mention code 120112 when ordering.

SEPTEMBER 30

3rd Annual Apple City Festival: 1-3p. The Pioneer Museum hosts this event in honor of Lander’s long history as a hub of apple orchards. Lander was known as the “Apple City” for the high number of orchards and the apples that were produced here. Apples were an important part of the agricultural economy in this area for many years and the Apple City Festival pays tribute to this wonderful part of our history with Speakers programs, an apple pie contest (cash prizes), local apple cider and apple samples, kids crafts and a petting zoo. This program is part of the Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series. Info 307-332-3339.

SATURDAYS

Acoustic Music Jam: 11a-1p. Lander Bake Shop. Info 307-332-3237.

ONGOING

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

RIVERTON

SEPTEMBER 16

Gas Hills Uranium Adventure Trek: 9a-2p. Join the Riverton Museum for a Wind River Visitors Council

Adventure Trek to the Gas Hills led by historian Zach Larsen. Come to the Gas Hills almost 70 years to the day that uranium was first found there on September 13, 1953 for a tour of the historical sites that shaped Wyoming’s uranium industry. Participants should meet at the Riverton Museum. This trek requires a good amount of walking so please dress accordingly. Everyone is responsible to bring their own sack lunch and water. $10 per person; 13-person limit. Reservations required. Info 307-856-2665.

SEPTEMBER 20

The Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp by Aura Sunada Newlin: 6p. The Riverton Museum will host this Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers program. Come and learn from the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Interim Executive Director Aura Sunada Newlin about what life was like for Japanese Americans at the Heart

SUMMER & GATHERINGS

Mountain Incarceration Camp in Wyoming during World War II. Free. Info 307-856-2665.

WEDNESDAYS

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

PreK Tales & Tunes: 10:30a.

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

Starlight Storytime: 5:30p. Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth5. Free. Info 307-856-3556.

THURSDAYS

Toddler Move & Groove: 10:30a. Riverton Branch Library. Ages birth2. Free. Info 307-856-3556.

SATURDAYS

Farmer’s Market: 9-11a. Little Wind Center at the Fremont County Fairgrounds. Info 307-851-7562.

ONGOING

Library Activities: PreK Tales & Tunes Wed 10:30a; Starlight Storytime for birth-5 Wed 5:30p; Toddler Move & Groove birth-2 Thu 10:30a; LEGO Club grade 2-5 Thu 4-5p. Info 307-856-3556, fclsonline.org.

METEETSEE

SEPTEMBER 2-4

110th Labor Day Rodeo: Come celebrate this event-packed weekend planned for you! Info 307-868-2454, meeteetsewy.com.

MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS

Meeteetse Recreation District: 10:30a yoga. Info 307-899-2698, meetrec.org.

MONDAYS

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

THERMOPOLIS

SEPTEMBER 16

Constitution Day Dinner: 5:30p. Community Church Fellowship Hall. Keynote speaker Rebecca Terrell on the diabolical origins of the great reset. $12 per plate. Children under 12 free. Silent auction. Info 307-921-9863, 307-532-6065.

SATURDAYS (THROUGH SEPTEMBER)

Red Dirt Master Gardeners Farmers Market: 8a. Downtown Thermopolis. Info Kim 405-443-7560.

SECOND SATURDAYS

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

04 | SOUTHWEST

THURSDAYS

Storytime: 11a. Lyman Branch Library. All ages welcome. Free. Info 307-7876556, uintalibrary.org.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

MONDAYS

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

WEDNESDAYS

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

ONGOING

Community Classes: Fitness, computer, workforce and kids’ classes are available. Valley Learning Center. Times and prices vary. Info 307-782-6401, valleylearningcenter.coursestorm.com.

CLASSIFIEDS

WREN CLASSIFIED ADS ARE $0.75 PER SIX CHARACTERS

CONTACT:  SHAWNA@GOLINDEN.COM

 970-221-3232

FOR SALE

Aermotor Windmills and parts, cylinders, pipe, rod, submersible pumps, motors, control boxes, Hastings 12 ga. bottomless stock tanks, Shaver Outdoor Wood Boiler Furnaces and more. In business for more than 77 years. Herren Bros., Box 187, Harrison NE. 1-308-668-2582.

For Sale! Goulds 3ST1H1A4 Centrifugal Water Irrigation Pump 1-1/2” x 2” Never used. 3500 RPM. Internet cost: $3K to $3500. Asking $1500. Bought for house but pumps 175 Gal/Minute. Way too big! Have stats and wire diagram. Call John (307) 752-7028, Sheridan, WY.

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.

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.

WANTED CJ or Wrangler reasonably priced. Any condition but rusted. 512-797-1664.

PUZZLE ANSWERS

BY BREN LIESKE

COUNTRY 101

Ilike to share this information as a courtesy to people new to country living. I, too, was a newbee about 30 years ago, and these are a few things I’ve learned and experienced along the way. These shared ideas may help new people fit in at the feed store and other businesses around our lovely, but fairly tight knit, rural community. The folks around here are mostly friendly, but they are a bit cautious of newbees.

To get off to a good start, I strongly recommend that you give people a wave when you drive along our country roads. Staring straight ahead and never lifting a finger in acknowledgement kinda gets their goat. And don’t drive real fast, that really irritates the locals. They have critters out along these dirt roads and they also don’t like all the dust you stir up. Just remember you aren’t in the city anymore. It’s important to try to fit in if you plan to stay here and enjoy the lifestyle.

Also, it might just help when you slide off the road in a snowstorm one of these winters. Oh, the locals will stop to help you anyway, but they will remember you better if you are friendly and haven’t made them too mad driving past their place like you’re rushing to work on the freeway.

Now, here’s a few terms and suggestions that should help you out with life around the area. When you see a herd of cattle, don’t call them cows because cows are the females of the bovine world. Cattle is a collective word for a bunch of bovines. Heifers are young virgin females, cows are the matrons of the herd, steers are neutered (cut) males, bulls are intact (uncut) males. Calves are the little ones, the babies of the cattle herd, and you will see a lot of them, bouncing and running across the green pastures, come early spring. You might use a little caution while hiking around cattle if there are bulls about. They can tend to be a bit touchy, and territorial, and they can run pretty darn fast…

Horses, ah the horses, beauty and grace on the prairie. A stallion is an unaltered male while a gelding is a neutered male. A foal is a baby horse, a filly a young female horse and a colt a young male. A mare is a female over 5 years old.

There isn’t much to say about sheep and goats other than it is a collective word for a bunch of ruminants. Ewes are female sheep, does are female goats, lambs are baby sheep and kids (not to be confused with children) are baby goats. A buck is an intact male goat or sheep, or a goat can be called a billy and a ram a male sheep. That is more of a regional difference in describing the uncut male sheep and goats. Wethers are neutered male goats or sheep. You may see a few llamas and alpacas out there but they are pretty new to the region, so I won’t go into any of those terms. This has been cattle and sheep country for a long time and the ranchers around here sure hope that to be lasting.

Something else to be aware of when you are driving along our country roads is a cattle drive, or a big flock of sheep strolling along with a few riders directing them, either on horseback or four wheelers, heading them forward. If you are unfamiliar with what to do, here are a few suggestions to help you out. First off, slow down, those animals have the right of way. If they are all traveling along in a fairly leisurely manner, and seem to be going in the same direction, then you can slowly proceed right through them. If you don’t see other vehicles coming your way, you might go into the other lane to pass the herd or flock. If the critters are unruly and going all over the place just pull over and stop until they settle, and pass by. Oh, by the way, wave at the rancher if he looks up. Sometimes, if the critters are heading for an open gate, you can just stop and that may help with the rancher’s herding because you are making an additional barrier along the road. I recommend you let your instincts kick in, and they will get better the longer you live out here. In fact, if you get to know some of the local ranchers, they might invite you to help out on a cattle drive or branding. It is a special event to observe and participate in. It reminds one of older times, long ago, and provides the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the country life.

And last, but not least, is a basic list of things that will let people think you know what you are talking about when it comes to living the rural lifestyle.

Poles are the wooden timbers that go across to make a fence. Posts go into the ground and that is what the poles attach

to. This is confusing because telephone and electric poles aren’t called posts. I do believe that the facts show that anything long can be called a pole but, overall, anything stuck in the ground to make a fence, or snowbreak, is considered a post. Of course there are also items called tee-posts in which wires are attached to make a fence. There are lots of different things used to make fences around here: railroad ties, pipes, aspen trees. People are pretty innovative at keeping their property safe for and from critters. Now, gates are fastened to a post and if the land is posted “no trespassing” or “stay off my property,” don’t enter. If you do open a gate, then close it after you pass through. If it was already open, then you can leave it that way. When you do fasten the gate, do it just like it was. Sounds simple, I know, but overdoing the tightness or making more loops with the chain just irritates the property owner.

These are just a few basic guidelines to help you fit into the country lifestyle. If you have questions about building windbreaks, water, fences and such, ask the locals. Most of them appreciate sharing their knowledge, and you might just form some lasting friendships. Remember, they were here first, and change comes about slowly. You made the transition and moved from the city to, hopefully, enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle. Now, you can take time to smell the breeze, look at the multitude of stars, and enjoy your surroundings. W

Bren Lieske enjoys living out on the vast prairie near Laramie. She writes about, observes and loves nature.

I recommend you let your instincts kick in, and they will get better the longer you live out here.

AFTER PICKUP SNACKS

Ingredients:

Bananas

Peanut Butter

Rice Cereal

Wax Paper

Ingredients:

Fresh Blueberries

Vanilla Yogurt

Parchment Paper

Baking Sheet

Instructions:

Banana Sus hi Rolls Tomato Lad y bugs

1. Use a toothpick to dip each blueberry in yogurt

2. Place dipped berries on parchment-lined baking sheet

3. Freeze for about an hour

4. Store in freezer-safe container

Instructions:

1. Peel bananas and cut them into thirds

2. Dump cereal onto the wax paper

3. Smear peanut butter onto the bananas

4. Roll peanut butter bananas in the cereal

5. Slice bananas into bite-sized rounds

frozen bl ueberrybites

Instructions:

1. Slice mozzarella into small flat rounds

Ingredients:

Cherry Tomatoes

Mozzarella

Basil

Sliced Black Olives

Balsamic Glaze

REMEMBER:

2. Slice tomatoes in half

3. Make a slit in the tomato halves about halfway up

4. Place one basil leaf on each piece of mozzarella

5. Add one tomato on top of each basil leaf

6. Slice a black olive in half and place it in front of the tomato

7. Create ladybug dots with balsamic glaze using a squeeze bottle or a toothpick

“FLOWER SOUP”

Kids are always hungry when they get home from child care, preschool, and kindergarten. Try these fun and healthy snacks to get them from pickup to dinner time!