Country Christmas

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ountry hristmas

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Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

Contents

Cover art by Jack Sorenson.

6 Merry & Bright

BY RUTH NICOLAUS

28 Rustic Ranch Decorations

12 Christmas Around the World at Home

34 Hometown for the Holidays

BY AMY HADACHEK

BY RACHEL GABEL

BY MARIA TIBBETTS

40 Gift Guide 42 Bring on the Beef!

44 Coloring Pages 46 Ad Index

22 Make it Custom

BY DEANNA NELSON-LICKING

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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Merry & Bright Making the best of a dark situation for nursing home residents

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

Mr. and Mrs. Claus wish a Merry Christmas to Ridgewood Care Center residents in Seward, Neb. Nursing homes and care centers are trying to stick with as many holiday celebrations as they can, to keep the days normal for residents.

PHOTO COURTESY LORI GRESSLEY, RIDGEWOOD REHAB AND CARE CENTER

BY RUTH NICOLAUS

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OVID-19 might put the kibosh on some things, but it won’t stop Santa Claus from coming to nursing homes and senior living centers.

Most retirement homes across the country have faced lockdowns and restricted visitors due to the pandemic, which has changed how they will celebrate the holidays this year.

But the staff at various homes is committed to making Thanksgiving and Christmas as special as ever.

The food, the music, the lights, and the decorations can all take place, but with limited or no visitors.

At Ridgewood Rehabilitation and Care Center in Seward, Neb., Thanksgiving Day is usually celebrated with 150 to 200 guests, family members of residents who enjoy a meal together. That won’t happen this year, said Lori Gressley, life enrichment coordinator. But the Monday after Thanksgiving, when the center decorates for Christmas, will be the same. “We spend the entire day decorating for Christmas,” she said, with eight or ten Christmas trees, and other decorations being put up.

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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Staff at the Homestead Assisted Living in Kearney, Neb., dress in elf costumes to bring cheer to residents during the holiday season.

Photo courtesy of Gwen Jacobitz.

Santa and Mrs. Claus always deliver presents during the Christmas party at Ridgewood, and this year, due to COVID, the party won’t take place. But Santa will still make an appearance. He and the missus will social distance, wear masks, and, depending on what COVID restriction level the facility is at, can go from room to room, to greet residents. If need be, Gressley said, Santa has offered to walk past windows so residents can see him. He might even carry signs, she said, that say, “Merry Christmas,” or “Ho-ho-hope this year is over,” she joked, referring to the pandemic.

At Homestead Assisted Living in Kearney, Neb., Gwen Jacobitz, director of the facility, will do as much as she can to help residents celebrate the holiday.

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

Her staff has brainstormed a special Christmas treat for the residents, something they can do in spite of restrictions. In their main room, they will re-create the train in The Polar Express and seat residents in it, as if it were a real train. (Residents will be socially distanced on the train.) The maintenance man at the facility will dress up as the conductor and punch “tickets” as residents are served hot chocolate and cookies. Each “traveler” will get a train whistle to take on the “trip.”

Jacobitz and the staff will also host their annual “sweet treat day,” where family members brought in their resident’s favorite cookie or candy. This year, family cannot attend, but the party is still on. Usually Jacobitz’s church’s children do a shortened version of their Christmas program, with a

sing-a-long. This year, that won’t happen, but, like she always does, Jacobitz will dress up and read the Christmas story to the residents as they eat goodies provided by the facility.

In Wishek, N.D., at the Wishek Living Center, activities director Elaine Fahlsing is unsure what COVID restrictions will be in place in late November and December, but one of the Center’s holiday traditions will still happen.

Every November, a professional photographer is brought in to takes pictures of each resident, in their best clothes, with hair professionally done for the ladies and jewelry to match. Fahlsing makes the backgrounds holiday-like each year, with trees or poinsettias.

Each resident’s child gets a copy of the photo

as a Christmas card; Fahlsing estimates she addresses over 350 envelopes each year. The Center has its own beauty shop, so residents don’t have to leave the Center; the photographer will be screened for COVID before entering, will wear a mask and be more than six feet from the residents.

“We make sure the pictures are perfect,” she said. “We dress them up in the prettiest clothes they have, we match their jewelry to their clothes, we have their hair done, everything. It is special, very, very, special.” She noted that for some of the families, after their loved one has passed, the photo is used for the obituary.

ABOVE: Shepherds (in tennis shoes) kneel as angels sing and Mary holds baby Jesus at a Nativity played out at Ridgewood Care Center. This year, due to COVID-19, there will be no Christmas story done in person.

LEFT: Nursing home staff members make sure each resident is given a gift; at the Ridgewood Care Center in Seward, Neb., items are washed and labeled before being given so residents can use them right away.

For Halloween, Fahlsing’s facility used technology to celebrate. Usually over 200 kids Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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nursing home, or similarly restricted situation, plan ahead to be part of their holiday celebrations. Even if you don’t have a loved one in a nursing home, these are some ideas to brighten the long, dark days for those residents.

• Call the nursing home or visit their website to find out what restrictions are in place, and if they have suggestions for how to interact with your loved one.

• Ask if there’s anyone who doesn’t have family to visit with, and take a few minutes to visit with them. The nursing home staff will know immediately who needs (and would welcome) a virtual visitor.

• Consider gifts that will bring the family to them year-round, like a photo album of previous Christmas celebrations, or a photo calendar.

• Talk to the staff at the nursing home about scheduling a time to FaceTime or Skype with your family member.

Many nursing homes have iPads available for this. Schedule time during a family gathering, so several family members can visit with them, and they can see the decorations and festivities.

• Talk to local churches and the nursing facilities about figuring out a way to broadcast

church services or Christmas programs for the residents. Volunteer to run the camera, if necessary.

• Consider donating an iPad or tablet, or gifting one directly to your loved one, to allow more frequent contact.

• Take the kids to build a snowman on the lawn in front of the windows at a nursing home.

• Go caroling at the nursing home. Sing loudly!

• Plan a Christmas light parade to go past the nursing home.

• Make special treats for your loved one, that will bring back fond memories. Make sure such gifts are acceptable under the nursing home policies. If not, you can share favorite recipes with the nursing home staff.

• Write real letters, and send Christmas cards.

Get a variety of cards and send them often, so they get mail frequently.

Residents at Ridgewood Care Center make candy treats that look like turkeys for Thanksgiving.

A turkey, made from balloons, decorates the hall at the Ridgewood Care Center in Seward, Neb.

come through the facility, in costume, getting treats from the residents. This year, that wasn’t possible. So the facility set up three vehicles, decorating them for “trunk or treat,” and videotaped the trick or treaters as they got their pre-packaged goodies. They showed the video to residents, so they could enjoy the kids in costume.

The residents in each facility have a say in what is served for the holidays, and that won’t change with COVID restrictions.

For Thanksgiving at Jacobitz’s facility, family brought in special salads or desserts that their loved ones like. This year, her residents can request special dishes, and the staff will prepare them. The meal will be buffet style, with staff serving the residents. “We want to still make it special for them,” she said.

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All three women emphasized the compassion and love their staff has for the residents. “It’s impossible for one person to do it all,” Fahlsing said. “Our staff works together as a team, to make it all happen.” At Gressley’s senior center, staff buys gifts for each resident; no one goes without a gift. And if gifts need to be laundered before use, they are washed and labeled so residents can keep them as soon as they open them.

Jacobitz emphasized that the holiday celebrations, traditions and decorations are important for the residents. “You never know what will spark someone with dementia. Is it the twinkling of the lights, the rustling of the paper? We can still do those things.”

www.torringtonlivestock.com Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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BY AMY HADACHEK

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omfort food baked in special ethnic traditions will bring food and family together this holiday season, and include newer family members who have similar and also diverse ethnic traditions. Heartwarming memories keep joy lit for people with heritages deeply steeped in Czech, German, Swedish and Mexican cultures.

CZECH Czech history focuses on Christmas Eve, when the Czech traditional Christmas dinner is eaten. Fish soup (carp and fried carp) with potato salad is the traditional meal, particularly in “the old country.”

Pork and sauerkraut are a traditional Czech meal; sometimes with jaternice (pronounced Ith-er-Netsy; a Czech/Slovak sausage made from pork meat/offal and a filler of rice or barley, with garlic.) Kolaches (pronounced koh-lahtch; a round pastry with fruit in the middle) are always a treat.

Houska is a tasty braided Czech bread; baked with fruit, or nuts and a spice, and frosted.

“Regarding Christmas traditions, my husband and I visited the Czech Republic several years ago, in the town of Brno and we saw people fishing in horse tanks in the middle of street corners, with carps. Kids take the fish home to play with them in their bathtubs. Then, the fish are killed and eaten Christmas Eve,” said Doris Ourecky, president of the Wilbur, Nebraska Czech Museum. Wilbur, a quaint town with oldworld charm, was designated the Czech Capital of Nebraska in a Governor’s proclamation in 1963, and declared “The official ‘Czech Capital of the U.S.” by President Ronald Reagan in July 1987. Wilbur hosts a Christmas festival, and an annual Czech Days festival in early August with the National Miss Czech/Slovak U.S. Pageant, although both were cancelled this year due to COVID.

MIDDLE: The 2015-2016 Wilber Czech Royalty BOTTOM: Kroj display at the Wilber Czech Museum PHOTOS OF THE CZECH SLAVNOSTI NEWSPAPERy 12 COURTESY The Fence Post | Countr

Christmas

Christmas

AROUND THE WORLD

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Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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DIRECTIONS

Dissolve yeast in warm water.

Czech Christmas Hoska Prep: 1 hr

Cook: 45 mins

Additional: 3 hrs 45 mins

Servings: 30

Yield: 2 large loaves

In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add beaten egg and salt. Stir in cooled milk and then the yeast. Add 1 1/2 cups sifted flour; beat into a smooth batter. Cover and let rise until light, about one hour.

From allrecipes.com Total: 5 hrs 30 mins

INGREDIENTS

1 pinch ground ginger

1 (0.6 ounce) cake compressed fresh yeast

1 pinch ground mace

¼ cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

¼ teaspoon orange zest

½½cup white sugar

½ cup golden raisins

½ ½cup butter

½ cup candied mixed fruit peel

1 egg, beaten

½ cup blanched slivered almonds

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg yolk

2 cups scalded milk

1 tablespoon milk

6 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Stir spices and dried orange zest into the sponge. Add 4 1/2 cups of flour to make a soft dough. Place on a lightly floured board, and knead until smooth and elastic. Knead in raisins and candied peel. Put in a well oiled bowl, and turn once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover.

Set aside to rise until double in bulk, about 2 hours.

Divide dough into ten parts, roll into desired lengths, and let rise about 15 minutes.

On a heavily greased baking sheet, make a braid of three parts, beginning in the center and working braid loosely toward each end. Pinch ends together. Twist the remaining two pieces together, and place on the base of the braid. In a small bowl, beat together egg yolk and milk; brush the loaf with this mixture. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the loaf. Repeat process for second loaf. Let rise about 45 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Transfer bread to a wire rack, and cool completely. Cover while cooling with a tea towel to make a soft crust. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

TOP LEFT: 2015 All Contestants - The Miss Czech Slovak US TOP RIGHT: Wilber Junior Czech Dancers RIGHT: The Southeast Bohemian Bagpipe Band COURTESY OF THE CZECH SLAVNOSTI NEWSPAPER

Christmas trees are decorated on Christmas Eve in the Czech Republic, Ourecky said. “When we were in the Czech Republic, we learned about the tradition of hiding a glass pickle in the Christmas tree, and the child who finds the pickle, gets to open gifts first.”

Karen Baxa of Cuba Kansas, a Czech community, learned to speak Czech when she was young. “My grandmother on my mom’s side came from Czechoslovakia and never spoke English. She lived in the next town; Munden, so as long as she was alive, we had to speak Czech.”

As for food, “We always have duck and sauerkraut, or goose for Thanksgiving.

For Christmas Eve dinner, I made kolaches all the time.”

Czech family favorite meals include homemade bologna, and rohlíky – Czech Rolls with poppy seed served at many traditional Czech meals, also zelnicky – cabbage filled rolls.

As a three-time mayor of Cuba, Kansas, and the first president of the Cuba Booster Club, Joe Chizek organized Czech holiday festivals throughout the year at the local Czech-named Sokol Hall.

“My dad was full Czech. Mom made fruitcake and mince pie for all the holidays,” said Chizek, adding, “Czechs like duck.” His dad taught Chizek’s older sister to speak Czech and she spoke fluently.

“But he just taught us a few words.”

So, at age 70, Chizek and (his late wife) Dee who was full-blooded German, were energized about learning the Czech language, and got dictionaries. Chizek wishes everyone a merry Christmas “vitame Navoce” (pronounced: Veeta-may Nahvochay, in the Czech language.)

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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SWEDISH Cooking traditional Swedish dinners and pastries are a focal point for family and organized community festivals in Scandia, Kansas in north central Kansas.

“I make a lot of dishes that I learned from my mother and my mother in law. It’s too bad that a lot of younger kids don’t all carry on the traditions, although many families around here do,” said Jane Ann Carlgren, who runs the well-known Scandia Antique Mall in western Republic County. Carlgren’s parents are Swedish. Her husband’s parents are Norwegian.

“Two churches here used to do traditional Swedish dinners, which are very well attended,” said Carlgren. They featured Swedish potato bologna called potatis korv (fresh sausage with ground pork and beef; mixed with potatoes, onions, salt, pepper and allspice) and lutefisk, dried whitefish made from aged stockfish, traditionally part of the Christmas feast.

Ostkaka, known as Swedish cheesecake or curd cake, is a tasty Swedish dessert, Carlgren said. “The other thing we all really like around here is putting Lingonberries (sour/tart/slightly sweet) on top of the ostkaka. Other favorites are Swedish brown beans, Swedish rye bread, bond ost (farmer cheese) and the spritz cookies (almond extract, candied fruit, flour, eggs, milk.) All things we do for holidays,” said Carlgren. “Swedish meatballs with the brown sauce is very good, and the main ones in my family. Another tradition, which a lot of families here make all the time anyway, are Swedish pancakes, like a crepe, very thin which you roll and sprinkle powdered sugar.” Her Swedish friends enjoy making hardtacks, crackers that pioneers made. “On my husband’s side, date cakes, (with prunes and plums) are delicious. His grandmother and my mother-in-law made them, which was a tradition.”

Carlgren’s family is preparing to celebrate her mother in law’s 101st birthday in November. “She made all that food, and always made name-tags for them, so you would see the whole smorgasbord.”

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

DIRECTIONS

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in butter until onion begins to turn translucent, about 6 minutes.

Swedish Meatballs Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 35 mins

Additional: 1 hr

Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl. Add milk, eggs, bread crumbs, black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture; stir to combine.

Mix beef and pork into the bread crumb mixture.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Total: 2 hrs 5 mins

Yield: 6 servings INGREDIENTS

1 pound ground beef chuck

Meatballs

1 pound ground pork

2 tablespoons butter

Gravy

½ yellow onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons butter

1 ½ teaspoons fine salt

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

¼ cup milk

3 ¼ cups beef broth

2 large eggs

½ cup heavy cream

⅓ cup plain bread crumbs

½ teaspoon white sugar

¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground allspice 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; whisk flour into butter and cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly whisk beef broth into butter mixture.

Increase heat to medium-high, whisk cream into mixture and bring to a simmer. Stir sugar and Worcestershire sauce into gravy. Simmer until slightly thickened, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat foil with cooking spray.

Roll 2 to 3 tablespoons meatball mixture into a ball using wet hands; repeat with remaining meatball mixture. Place meatballs on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 20 salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 decooking spray grees C).

Transfer meatballs to the gravy and cook over medium-low heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes.

Country Christmas | The Fence Post 17

GERMAN Germany has a prominent Christmas cookie tradition.

With heartfelt memories, each Christmas, Peter and Ziva Behrman of Georgetown, Texas near Austin, looked forward to special traditional holiday packages arriving when Peter’s mother Beulah (Booie) Behrman yearly sent them gifts of pffeffernusse (pronounced feffer-noose; a spicy round cookie with ground nuts, spices and covered with powdered sugar) and lebkuchen; which Booie baked.

Lebkuchen is a traditional German spice cookie usually baked for Christmas. It’s similar to a soft gingerbread cookie, made with molasses, full of spices, with a glaze.

“My mother made the lebkuchen – They’re very good; we always looked forward to receiving them at the holidays,” said Peter. “You can also buy them at places,” added Ziva, “and they are so delicious.”

The Dutch believe pfeffernusse (or pepernoten) are linked to the feast of Sinterklaas (similar to Santa Claus,) celebrated on Dec. 5 in the Netherlands and Dec. 6 in Germany and Belgium. Also called Saint Nicholas Day, or the Feast of Saint Nicholas, children sing songs about Sinterklaas and put shoes outside their bedroom doors or hang an empty stocking by the fireplace on the evening of Dec. 5. St Nicholas comes during the night, and the next morning children’s eyes widen upon seeing the shoes/ stockings filled with gifts and sugary treats.

Made-from-scratch German specialty breads are immensely popular at Wimberger’s Old World Bakery and Delicatessen in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which celebrated it 50th year in Colorado Springs in 2020.

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

“We bake stollen, which is more like a bread than a cake; it’s the original. We do carry pffeffernusse and lebkuchen but they are sent in from Germany,” said Ulrike Wimberger, owner. Christmas Stollen is a favorite German holiday treat; a jewel-like brandy-soaked fruit in an enriched dough.

With German Christmas traditions so close to the heart that she has intently shared them with her younger family, Wimberger reminisced about Christmases while growing up in Wertheim, German on the Main River (the longest tributary of the Rhine.) “We celebrate the gift giving on Christmas Eve. We don’t decorate the tree prior to that, and that was always a big secret,” she said. “My dad would get the tree, the bell would ring, and we came out to see the tree, sing songs and get our presents. We ate and went to Mass. I continue traditions for my own family here in Colorado.”

DIRECTIONS

P feffernusse Cookies Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Additional: 2 hrs 30 mins

Stir together the molasses, honey, shortening, and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the eggs.

Total: 3 hrs

Yield: 3 dozen cookies INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ cup molasses

1 teaspoon ground cloves

¼ cup honey

1 teaspoon ground ginger

¼ cup shortening

2 teaspoons anise extract

¼ cup margarine

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 eggs

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

¾ cup white sugar

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Combine the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, anise, cinnamon, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Add the molasses mixture and stir until thoroughly combines. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Roll the dough into acornsized balls. Arrange on baking sheets, spacing at least 1 inch apart.

Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes. Move to a rack to cool.

Dust cooled cookies with confectioners’ sugar.

1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

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MEXICAN In Mexico, Christmas Eve is also a special time when Mexican families gather for homemade dinners of tamales and pozole (a traditional soup or stew from hominy with meat, shredded cabbage, onion, garlic, chile peppers, radishes, avocado, and salsa or limes).

“I remember when I was little, it was pozole and tamales, and ponche Navideño (Christmas punch) which has real fruit and you drink it hot,” said Jose Palomino, Manager of Los Primos Mexican Restaurant in Belleville, Kansas, who goes to Mexico most years to see his family.

“We all celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve,” said Palomino.

A favorite gift-giving tradition in Mexico is the intercambios, meaning exchange (of gifts.)

“People do a lot of putting names in a cup, you pick one name, and give a gift to that person. It’s a surprise when you open your gift,” he said. Palomino’s family, and many others, enjoy piñatas. “Then Christmas Day, Dec. 25, it’s normal; it’s quiet,” Palomino said.

That’s because, for a solid 30-days prior, festivals are held every day to celebrate the spirit of the holidays from November leading up to Christmas Eve. “In Mexico, it all starts Nov. 27 for 12 days and ends Dec. 12. People go see the (image of Mary) Virgin of Guadalupe Dec. 12.” Festivals with children in costumes celebrate ta man encountering the Virgin Mary, Mexico’s patron saint, in Mexico City Dec. 9 and 12, 1531.

Nochebuena, Christmas Eve, features a festival commemorating the birth of Jesus.

“When I’m there, festivals are held every single day through Dec. 31,” said Palomino. “That’s a lot of festivals.”

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

INGREDIENTS 1 1⁄2 lbs pork shoulder 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 tablespoon cumin powder

Pozole

1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 2 tablespoons oil 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne 2 tablespoons California chili powder 1 tablespoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon oregano 4 cups canned white hominy, drained and rinsed 3 –5 cups pork broth, from cooking pork shoulder 1 cup canned diced green chiles (optional) salt 2 whole fresh jalapenos, chopped (optional) 3 whole ancho chiles, seeded and stemmed (garnish, optional) DIRECTIONS

Rinse and drain the hominy.

Place the meat in a large saucepan and just cover with lightly salted water.

Add 1/2 chopped onion, the 2 cloves peeled garlic, pepper, cumin, and oregano.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, skim off any foam that rises, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.

Remove meat and broth, reserving both.

Sauté the remaining chopped onion and garlic in oil until translucent.

Add the remaining spices, stir for a minute.

Cut the reserved pork into 1-inch cubes and add to the pan.

Stir in the canned hominy, pork broth (if there is not enough pork broth, add chicken stock, about 2-4 cups, eyeball the amount you like), green chiles and jalapenos (optional).

Cook at a simmer, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes until the meat and hominy are tender.

If necessary, cook for up to an additional 60 minutes until the chiles and onions are well blended into the broth.

Degrease the stew, taste for salt, and serve in soup bowls.

Garnish with lime/lemon wedges, sliced radishes, chopped cilantro, shredded green cabbage, fresh/ packaged fried corn tortillas.

Boil the ancho chilies in a separate small pot for the garnish. When ancho chilies are soft from boiling (takes about 15 minutes), put them in the blender with 1 ½ cups of water, 1 clove of garlic, 2 tablespoons diced onion and about 1 tablespoon of salt and pepper. Blend this thin, then strain it to get the liquid separated from the pulp.

Add the pulp to the soup for flavor, but discard if it’s too spicy. Put the remaining y Christmas The Fence Post liquid in a serving dish for guests to add Countr to their soup, if they like it| HOT.

21

Silver horn caps are a way to customize a saddle with a brand or initials.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES GULLION.

A leather handbag or tote bag is a great gift and can be easily customized.

m o t s u C t i Make

Spurs offer a great way to show off your brand. PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY GARRETT.

Taking gift giving to a new level

PHOTO COURTESY OF WRANGO CHAP BAGS.

BY DEANNA NELSON-LICKING

G

iving a custom gift or gift certificate can take your gift giving to a whole new level. From a tooled leather handbag to a fully carved saddle, the options for western gifts are unlimited and will fit most budgets. Maybe silver spurs or a bit with initials or a brand for a special cowboy or a personalized gift for an anniversary. There are even Facebook groups dedicated to connecting buyers with American made products.

22

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

It is wise to check the creditability of the maker and if purchasing online make sure PayPal or your credit card company will cover it. The internet makes searching for reviews and leaving reviews quite easy and makers appreciate a nice comment about their work. Most custom craftsmen and women require half the money down before they start a project and some do have contracts. Asking friends and relatives can also be helpful in finding talented local makers.

Gift certificates are a great option if you are looking at custom hats, since the hatmaker needs to measure the head and build the hat to fit well. The same is true for bootmakers with

Custom bits often help your horse perform better than their mass-market counter-parts.

handmade boots built specifically for each foot.

Gift certificates don’t have to just be a boring envelope; one for custom jewelry could be wrapped around a vase of flowers. Maybe hidden in a jar or sack of the recipient’s favorite candy or coffee, or tucked inside a new wallet.

Take a little time and thought to make it special.

Wyoming engraver James Gullion of Gullion Bits from Jeffrey City, can build just about anything, bits, spurs, horn and cantle plates, jewelry, buckles and knives. He likes the old-fashioned way of maintaining credibility. “I like a personal check, they can mail it to me, they know when I cash it and if it gets lost in the mail they can

cancel it. I try to keep my list short, about six months out. I put your name on a list and when I get ready to build it then I take the money.”

Engraved silver offers many ways to customize and is well suited for gifting.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAMES GULLION.

Wrango Chap Bags are custom leather bags handmade by Shannon Wrango and Tuffy Flagler in Dawn, Texas. They offer many different styles and sizes with options for customizing. For last-minute giving they have a nice selection of bags already made up for purchase.

They offer layaway for their more expensive bags and will accept check or card payments.

Gift certificates are another way to give a nice bag but allow the special person to make it their own. The best method is to visit their Facebook

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

23

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

Bags can be built in many different shapes and sizes. PHOTO COURTESY OF WRANGO CHAP BAGS.

Jewelry can be easily customized with some hunters using their own elk ivories as stones.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY GARRETT.

Personalized belt buckles are a great gift for someone who has it all. PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY GARRETT. Silver spurs, both useful and as a collector item. PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES GULLION.

A spur in the raw, handcrafted items take a long time to build, with many makers being months to years out. PHOTO BY DEANNA NELSON-LICKING.

24

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

page, Wrango Chap Bags or Instagram to look through their photo albums and take notes of the descriptive text with each photo. “From there we modify, customize the bag they liked. Prepaid once we find the leather and secure the hardware, theirs or ours. Time frame is anywhere from two to six weeks,” Shannon Wrango said.

Randy Garrett of Randy Garrett Custom is a talented, largely self-taught silversmith and gear maker from Alliance, Nebraska. “Basically I make one of a kind stuff so there isn’t much made up to look at. They can call and tell me what they want and I give them a price but I like to meet in person, each thing is individual so they have to decide what they want.”

With just a wrist measurement, custom bracelets are a great way to surprise a loved one.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY GARRETT.

Garrett builds spurs, bits, belt buckles and jewelry. Each piece is unique; he can add brands, names and even will build matching jewelry sets, bracelets, pendants, earrings and rings, items that can be ordered all at once or over a period of time. “Some of the men I deal with tend to forget

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Country Christmas | The Fence Post

25

Tuffy Flagler working in his shop, with one of his feline assistants trying on a bag for size.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WRANGO CHAP BAGS.

things so I try to help them out. I do require fifty percent down to start a job and the balance at the end. I have PayPal but I still take a check, if it clears then I send them the stuff,” he said.

Garrett offers gift certificates since many items require sizing and measurements, such as spurs, bracelets and rings. He uses quite a bit of German silver (Nickle) since it holds a polish and won’t scratch as easily as true silver, especially on spurs. Garrett freehand engraves and has been crafting items for twenty years; rodeoing is how he got his start.

James Marshall of Marshall Custom Hats in Arthur, Nebraska offers gift certificates with half the money required before he starts building. Hat makers are typically six months to a year out on their orders so if you are wanting a custom hat for a certain event plan well ahead of time.

Rick Linneman is a Wyoming collector of custom, unique cowboy and western gear and art. He is a strong advocate for buying handmade items. “Not every bosal out of the feed store will fit a horse, spend

26

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

a little more and get the good quality, something that will work. You don’t need a hundred bits, just spend a little more on higher quality.”

Linneman is a true connoisseur; he studies and reads books on gear and makers. “Leather (carving) is art, it brings it to life. Something catches my eye and makes my heart smile; I look for the wow factor, and the one of one.”

He takes the time to learn about makers and develop personal relationships with the craftsmen before he buys. “I follow them, they are my friends, and I check the quality. With bits and spurs, the flow of the silver. I look at it a long time unless something catches my eye. They are there to help you, call the makers and most will even work with you on payments. You don’t get the stuff until you pay for it.”

Custom items make wonderful gifts both for a special person and for yourself, just spend some time researching before you order so that it makes your heart smile for many years to come.

Leather goods are a great way to show off your colorful side.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WRANGO CHAP BAGS.

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

27

This wagon wheel is decorated with a Limonium wreath with texture from other foraged elements.

PHOTO BY CECILIA GRYDE

Wagon garland- Gryde decorates this wagon with a simple garland and adds purchased red berries for color.

Rustic ranch decorations

PHOTO BY CECILIA GRYDE

BY RACHEL GABEL

C

fit their env ironment

ecilia Gryde lives on a historic ranch south of Castle Rock. Nestled near a creek with hay fields that attract herds of elk in the cold months, the original home has been renovated with

28

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

her keen eye for original details.

The inside of the red barn that has welcomed visitors for a century has been transformed as well and serves as part of Gryde’s Twin Creek Blooms business, an outlet for her extensive flower crop.

Now that the growing season is over and the nights are cold, the red barn is filled with drying elements Gryde will use in her winter and Christmas decorations, all foraged from her garden, pastures, and the nearby creek.

With so much attention to the natural beauty around her, it only makes sense that her holiday decorations also pay homage to their surroundings.

With high winds and lack of access to electrical outlets a consideration for many, bringing Christmas dĂŠcor to the ranch gate and beyond can be challenging, but Gryde said sticking to basic elements, many from the ranch, can make simple decorations fit their environment and be beautiful.

Gryde said her most recent fascination is foraging all of the design elements for her wreaths, including the base itself. Using hops vine, dried in her barn, to make the base, Gryde then adds other found elements including juniper branches, eucalyptus (she grows it in her garden), cattails (cut early and then sprayed with hair spray), Artemisia, goldenrod, Limonium, wormwood sage, and prairie cord grass. Some plants, like the eucalyptus and Limonium, must be preserved in a solution of glycerin and water for five days, she said, and others are simply dried in her barn.

Cecilia Gryde adorns the historic barn with lights and keeps the ranch’s other decorations rustic and organic to match the beauty of the ranch itself.

PHOTO BY CECILIA GRYDE.

Gryde used all materials found on the ranch to assemble this wreath and then added a simple ribbon to add color.

PHOTO BY CECILIA GRYDE.

“This is what is so appealing to me right now because I like the natural, heavy

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

29

Purchased red berries add color to this garland.

PHOTO BY CECILIA GRYDE

30

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

textural look,” she said. “For out here, you can get a wreath from the Christmas tree lot and add to it and it makes it so much more dimensional, and cool than the flat evergreen with a bow.”

This is the direction Gryde has been taking with her decorations but said purchased and simple elements can be added as well, to create an elevated decorative piece.

Whether a garland is purchased or handmade, she recommends adding dimension to it. Simple red berries purchased at the craft store and a bow are an option. To add other elements, she said she makes small bouquets or bundles of dried plants and grasses and wires them to the wreath, each overlapping the previous one, making her way around until the look is full of dimension and interest.

Grapevine wreaths available for purchase can also be cut apart and used to add texture.

“I like the look of rustic, organic, with lots of texture,” she said. “It’s nothing spectacular but it looks odd if things

are out of keeping with its environment. There’s so much you can gather and add it with the evergreen or juniper and it’s beautiful.”

Other places to add festive decorations include a window box beneath a barn window or a wagon that is decked with garland. Burlap bows or a bow fashioned from a particularly pretty ribbon can add texture, color, or both.

Gryde recommends replacing bows on purchased wreaths to freshen the look.

With the wreaths, garlands, and other organic elements, the only other touch is lights on the hay barn. Gryde’s husband, Stan, created a star from PVC that is also lighted, and she uses the large, warm white bulbs on the outline of the barn and a few icicle lights on the cupola.

Festive, simple, and foraged decorations, she said, can fit with the environment, be beautiful, and withstand the weather on the ranch.

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This wreath includes cattails gathered in the fall and sprayed to keep them intact.

PHOTO BY CECILIA GRYDE.

32

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

This is a simple burlap and ribbon wreath with the bow attached. We also added a metal pickup ornament.

PHOTO BY RACHEL GABEL.

Beautiful Bows Step-by-Step

BY RACHEL GABEL

To make a bow from wire-edge ribbon, first twist in the middle.

Then, make a loop and add another twist in the middle.

Measure the loops to keep them evenly sized.

Continue to loop and twist to make evenly sized loops.

Using a piece of floral wire, wire the twisted centers of the ribbon tightly.

Fan the loops out from the center and fluff the loops. The bow can now be wired to a wreath, garland, or whatever needs a festive bow.

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

33

n w o t e m o H for the Holidays

BY MARIA TIBBETTS

W

hether you are eager for the upcoming holiday shopping season or dreading trying to find the right gift for the right person, look no farther than your local Main Street. Small towns have a lot to offer, and a more personal approach to helping you find the perfect present.

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

It may be tempting to travel to a larger city with malls and department stores, but small towns have a lot to offer, and they make an effort to encourage local shopping and support their small businesses. Whether it’s an open house, a parade, a selfie contest or a giveaway, they get creative with ways to draw people back to Main Street. Chamber of Commerce members work hard to spread the word about what

Small Towns Encourage Communities to Shop Local

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

35

their Main Street businesses have to offer to the community year-round, but especially during the holiday season.

Billie Jo Pew, executive director of the Glendive, Montana Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, said they plan an early November open house. “We also have plans in place for a light parade, provided the COVID situation does not worsen.”

“We have a fun holiday season here,” said Meseret Tegenu, interim director of the Buffalo, Wyoming Chamber of Commerce.

“Our biggest goal is to get people to shop locally. Our holiday theme is Heritage Holiday this 2020 season.”

A “Button Strut” event is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

36

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

Shoppers purchase a button for $5 that can be used at participating businesses for whatever special discounts or coupons they are offering. “Reverse Bingo” is another fun way that the Buffalo Chamber encourages hometown shopping; folks who spend a certain amount at participating businesses bring their receipts to the Chamber office to get gift certificates for different amounts.

Businesses participate in a window decorating contest and community members get to vote on their favorites. The first Saturday in December, the Chamber hosts a free chili feed and a lighted Christmas parade following the meal.

“We have some great businesses here that offer unique items,” Tegenu said. “Our goal with these events is to get rural people in

town and try to keep our local people in town to do their shopping and have fun. Our board members are very proactive about going out into the community to encourage participation in these events.”

With COVID restrictions in place in many areas, shoppers concerned about staying healthy still have options to shop locally.

“We have a lot of businesses that have web pages or links to click to order and they offer shipping options as well,” Pew said. “Most are trying hard to be accommodating under the circumstances. There are a few that are not to the point of fully promoting their business online but most are still sharing posts about their business on social media. It’s still possible to shop local and support local businesses.”

Tegenu says that the Buffalo Chamber is proactive about helping local businesses maintain an online presence.

“We have a weekly e-blast that goes out to 5-6,000 people,” she said. “Word spreads fast to family and friends.

We’re also proactive with Facebook posts and promotions to spread the word about what our local stores have to offer. Many businesses that don’t have a website still have a Facebook page.”

“We regularly hold shop local promotions and the holiday season is no exception,” said Dean Jacobs, executive director of the Valentine, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. “We’re keeping an eye on the COVID situation but currently going forward with plans for our Holiday Preview on Nov. 22.

We’re constantly reminding people how important it is to shop locally. These are the businesses that support our kids, be it a Little League team, a 4-H club or whatever. People need to understand that we need to support our Main Street businesses to be a thriving community.”

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The town of Valentine is still considered a small town, even though it’s the largest town in well over a hundred-mile radius.

“I encourage people to give local businesses a chance,” Jacobs said. “Find out if we have it here. See if your local businesses can take care of your needs before you go elsewhere. We have a pretty solid downtown and a lot of great businesses here.”

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South Dakota Retailers Association executive director Nathan Sanderson says that in spite of COVID’s impact on South Dakota’s small businesses, most of which are in small towns, business owners are optimistic about the last two months of 2020.

“A lot of small-town businesses are taking the opportunity this year to expand what they are doing online,” he said. “With community events being changed or canceled due to COVID, they are trying to reach out in other ways.”

Sanderson said that many businesses are reaching out to customers online more than in the past.

“Facebook is a great place to look for local businesses,” he said.

“You don’t need to go to Amazon to order Christmas gifts. We’re seeing a shift from offering seasonal items to businesses focusing on comfort-related items such as coffee and blankets, things that make people feel good. We’re also seeing a shift toward items that are geared toward a shared experience for families, such as board games or camping equipment.”

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

Sanderson says one of the real advantages of small-town South Dakota shopping is that customers and business owners know each other personally in many cases.

“People love personal attention,” he said. “They get that from small town business owners. They will find it if you need it and they are happy to special order things on request.”

COVID has had an impact on South Dakota’s small businesses and shoppers alike, but Sanderson says the South Dakota Retailers Association is seeing some positives too.

“COVID has refocused the way many people think,” he said.

“The real value of looking to local businesses and communities is being realized. If there’s a silver lining to COVID, it’s that people all across South Dakota are coming back to the importance of family and togetherness.”

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The Fence Post | Country Christmas

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41

A special time of year calls for a special meal. In ranch country, we prefer to put beef on the table, so here are some tips for serving prime rib this holiday season.

Recipes and cooking directions from beefitswhatsfordinner.com

COWBOY STEAK AND ROAST RUB INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; press evenly onto beef steak(s) or roast.

1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

Grill, pan-broil or broil steaks; place roast in oven and cook according to chart. Cook to medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness.

b i R e m i r Cook ing P 1/2 teaspoon pepper

The best way to cook Prime Rib, or the Ribeye Roast, is by roasting it in the oven fat side up to your desired doneness and allowing it to rest, tented by aluminum foil for 10-15 minutes before slicing. This will ensure that the juices have a chance to settle before cutting into the roast. It’s also important to remember the temperature will continue to rise 10 to 15 degrees when it comes out of the oven.

Roasting times may vary depending on the size of the roast and if it is boneless or not. These roasting guidelines can offer a general rule of thumb. But, it’s always best to follow the individual recipe or packaging for specific times, and use an accurate meat thermometer to keep an eye on the internal temperature.

Prime Rib oven temperature weight (pounds) Approximate Internal (preheated) TEMPERATURE* Ribeye Roast, 350°F 3 to 4 Boneless 4 to 6 (small end) 6 to 8

Ribeye Roast, 350°F 3 to 4 Boneless 4 to 6 (large end) 6 to 8

Ribeye Roast, 350°F 4 to 6 (2 ribs) Bone-In 6 to 8 (2 to 4 ribs)

8 to 10 (4 to 5 ribs)

42

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

Total Cooking TIme

Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F

1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours 1-3/4 to 2 hours 1-3/4 to 2 hours 2 to 2-1/4 hours 2 to 2-1/4 hours 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours

Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F

1-1/2 to 2 hours 2 to 2-1/4 hours 2 to 2-1/4 hours 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 hours

Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F Medium Rare: 135°F Medium: 145°F

1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours 2-1/2 to 3 hours 2-1/2 to 3 hours 3 to 3-1/2 hours

* Remove Roast from oven when internal temperature reaches

Tips for

! f e e B e h t n o g n i r B

How to Carve a P rime Rib

To get delicious, even slices from the Prime Rib, first turn the roast on its side and remove the ribs.

To do this, follow the curve of the ribs as close and you can, making sure to hold the roast steady with a serving fork or tongs. Once the ribs are removed, turn the roast with the fat side up and carefully slice pieces to the desired thickness.

Buying P rime Rib

roast. It can be found in the meat case with both boneless and bone-in options. The ribeye roast comes from the rib primal which gives it the rich, beefy flavor everyone loves. It is savory, fine-textured and typically has generous marbling. If you’re having your own beef butchered, make sure you specify that you want a prime rib roast, and tell the butcher the size.

Pairing Wine with P rime Rib

When cooking for 4 people or fewer, it might be better to purchase steak or call ahead to your meat counter to order the size of roast you prefer. For bone-in prime rib, plan one rib for every two people.

With a prime rib, the meat is tender, savory and rich with a good amount of marbling. This translates to big flavors. This is when the young, bold wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, come in. The marbling in the prime rib interacts with the harsh tannins of the young Cabernet bringing out the great fruit taste.

At the store, prime rib can go by different names including standing rib roast, holiday roast or ribeye

Some other excellent wines to pair with a prime rib include a Syrah, Rhome Valley, Rioja or Barolo.

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

43

Bringing some Color

44

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

to the holidays!

Illustrations by Jan Swan Wood

Country Christmas | The Fence Post

45

Advertiser Index

46

Agpro ........................................................................................... 3

Johnstown Clothing ................................................................. 41

Agri-Enterprises, Inc. .............................................................. 10

Liechty Homes .......................................................................... 31

Bryan Jones ............................................................................... 41

Linnebur Auctions ................................................................... 37

Centennial Livestock Auction .................................................. 3

Pete’s Clothing .......................................................................... 10

Clark & Associates Land ......................................................... 48

Pinnacle Trailer Sales ............................................................... 18

Cowboys Too! ........................................................................... 41

Poudre Valley Coop ................................................................. 38

Cross Five Cattle Coolers, LLC. ............................................. 40

Rusty’s Reading Remuda ......................................................... 40

Curvey Ranch Girl Clothing & Tack ...................................... 16

Schroeder’s All American Homes .......................................... 38

Fair-Cattle-Markets.................................................................. 47

The Fence Post........................................................................... 25

Grossenburg Implement ......................................................... 46

Torrington Livestock ............................................................... 11

High Plains New Holland ......................................................... 2

Tri-State Livestock News.......................................................... 39

IC Construction Solutions ...................................................... 37

Twombly Arena ........................................................................ 27

Iseman Homes - RC ................................................................... 3

Warm Hugs ........................................................................ 4 & 41

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

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$4,000,000

Contact Ron Ensz at (605) 210-0337 or Denver Gilbert at (406) 697-3961

9,246± total contiguous acres: 8,566± deeded, 640± State lease, 40± BLM lease acres.

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Mark McNamee at (307) 760-9510

MULESHOE LAND & CATTLE

KAYCEE LAND � LIVESTOCK RANCH

$5,100,000

Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming

4,606± deeded acres. 5 center pivots irrigate 693± acres plus 3,913± acres of pasture.

$5,000,000

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Logan Schliinz at (307) 575-5236

RIDGE VIEW RANCH

SOURDOUGH RANCH 2,321.89± total acres: 2,001.89± deeded, 320± State lease acres. Live water, 100 head feedlot, 250± dryland hay ground, improvements.

Contact Denver Gilbert at (406) 697-3961 or Ron Ensz at (605) 210-0337

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025 or Denver Gilbert at (406) 697-3961

PRAIRIE CENTER FARM

Hawk Springs, Goshen County, Wyoming

Reduced to $5,500,000

Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming

BOLLN RANCH

Oehlrichs, Fall River County, South Dakota

21,810± total acres: 9.348± deeded acres & 12,462± Buffalo Gap National Grasslands permit acres.

7317.44± deeded acres of native grassland with 500± dryland hay ground. 12 miles of pipeline and numerous dams.

Prairie City, Perkins County, South Dakota

Hulett, Crook County, Wyoming

$3,850,000

RL RANCH

$10,000,000

Kaycee, Johnson County, Wyoming 12,356± total acres: 11,315± deeded, 921± BLM lease, 120± State lease acres. Live water.

13,025,000

Contact Scott Leach at (307) 331-9095

LONETREE RANCH

Upton, Weston County, Wyoming

42,558± acre ranch: 31,551 deeded, 1,920 State, 3,400 USFS permit acres. Owner-rated at 1,400 head of mother cows.

$18,945,000

Contact Clark & Associates at (307) 334-2025

BLACK THUNDER CREEK RANCH

515± total acres: 420± irrigated by 3 pivots.

Well maintained improvements.

3915.2± total acres; 2875.2± deeded & 640 State lease acres.

400± irrigated acres.

Improvements.

Newcastle, Weston County, Wyoming 20,333± total contiguous acres. Two sets of improvements.

Contact Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025

Contact Ryan Rochlitz at (307) 286-3307

Contact Mark McNamee at (307) 760-9510 or Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025

$1,800,000

48

GREER RANCH

Lance Creek, Niobrara County, Wyoming

The Fence Post | Country Christmas

$3,900,000

$5,500,000