2024 Winter Cattlemen's Edition Section A

2024

CATTLEMEN’S EDITION FEATURING WESTON COUNTY

a publication of

®

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

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Northeast Wyoming’s diverse landscape provides opportunities for quality ag production

• Flying J Ranch • Broken Arrow Farm • Wyoming Dinosaur Ranch • Full House Horse Sale • Robbers Roost Ranch • WC Sports and Western Wear • Sagebrush Marketing • Red Onion Museum • An American Welder • X Ring Ranch • Inyan Kara Grazing Association

• Ritthaler Cattle Company • Weston County Natural Resources District • Geier Ranch • Flying V Lodge • Skull Creek Studio • Triple T Land and Livestock • Berried Delights • Antlers Hotel • Anna Miller Museum

The Wyoming Livestock Roundup is happy to highlight farms, ranches and agribusinesses of Weston County in our 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition.

Situated in the northeast corner of the state, Weston County shares a border with South Dakota and sprawls over a total of 1.5 million acres of diverse landscape, making it Wyoming’s 18th largest county.

Pierre Shale Plains and Badlands, characterized by clay soils, rolling hills and river valleys, makes up one-quarter of the county, while the steep-sided ridges, rocky hills and large plateaus of the Black Hills make up another quarter.

The rest of the county is marked by vast, flat grasslands and sandy soils, encompassing a large part of the Thunder Basin National Grassland.

Elevation across the county’s varied topography ranges from 3,600 to 6,500 feet, and the climate is semi-arid with cold winters and hot summers.

On average, Weston County receives 10 to 19 annual inches of precipitation and has a 120-day growing season between midMay and mid-September.

From tree covered hills to wide open prairies and rolling plains, land in Weston County has many uses, including forestry, pasture and crops. The largest use by far is rangeland, which sprawls over a total of 1.2 million acres.

Weston County agriculture According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) 2017 Census of Agriculture, Weston County is home to 247 agriculture operations and land in farms totals 1,227,012 acres.

WESTON COUNTY STATS

Population – 6,745 Land Area – 2,400 square miles Founded – March 12, 1890 County Seat – Newcastle Elevation range – 3,600 feet to 6,500 feet Cover photo by Skull Creek Studio

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Of the county’s agricultural land, 94 percent is classified as pastureland, three percent as cropland and two percent as woodland.

The sheer amount of grazing opportunities has made Weston County a haven for livestock operations, and as of 2017, the county reported 44,627 head of cattle and calves; 2,685 head of sheep and lambs; 1,635 horses and ponies; 929 layers; 233 pullets; 123 hogs and pigs and 85 goats.

The number one crop grown in Weston County is hay and haylage at 21,234 acres, according to NASS. NASS also reports Weston County accounts for two percent of state agriculture sales, with the total market value of agriculture products sold topping $34,273,000. The majority of these sales come from livestock, poultry and product sales at $33,657,000 and the remaining $617,000 comes from the sale of crops.

State rankings Despite being one of Wyoming’s smallest counties, Weston County boasts a few top 10 rankings in the state.

According to NASS, Weston County ranks third in the production of cultivated Christmas trees, as well as short-rotation and woody crops.

Additionally, Weston County ranks seventh in milk from cows and 10th in poultry and eggs.

Information in this article was compiled from the Wyoming Historical Society, Weston County’s official website and USDA NASS. Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Diverse topography – From Pierre Shale Plains and Badlands to vast grasslands and the foothills of South Dakota’s Black Hills, Weston County is comprised of incredibly diverse topography. Pictured is the Thunder Basin National Grassland, which sprawls through the southwest corner of the county. Travel Wyoming photo

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Early Upton – This bird’s-eye view of early Upton shows houses and buildings that sprang up around the Burlington tracks. Weston County Historical Society, Alice Schuette Collection photo

Weston County’s boom-and-bust towns thrive through the ages For millions of years, northeast Wyoming has bustled with life. In fact, fossils found deep in the soil of present-day Weston County date back 110 million years to the Cretaceous Period, when the area was submerged and supported thriving sea life.

After the sea receded and prehistoric marine reptiles were long gone, Tribes of Kiowa, Crow, Cheyenne and Lakota inhabited the area, using the Black Hills of South Dakota as prime hunting grounds.

According to legend, these Native Americans also knew of gold in the area, but kept the location of the treasure a secret in order to preserve their land and lifestyle.

This worked for a time, and many westbound settlers and miners bypassed the area as they ventured along the Oregon, California and Mormon trails through present-day Central Wyoming from the 1840s through the 1860s.

Then, in 1874, a 1,000man expedition led by Col. George Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills, and not long after, all Native Americans in northeast Wyoming were forced onto reservations in Montana, Oklahoma and the Dakotas.

Agriculture and coal As the Wild West became increasing more populated, cattlemen began trailing herds from Texas to Wyoming, and cattle quickly became a critical component of the area’s economy.

Although the cattle industry thrived, it was notoriously expensive to break into, so many new homesteaders started raising sheep instead.

In the late 1880s, present-day Upton – known then

as Irontown – was born, and many historians believe the town was created as a place where cowboys, ranchers, homesteaders and sheep producers could get ahold of important supplies.

In 1887, John Weston – the namesake of Weston County – and Fran W. Mondell – Newcastle’s first mayor – discovered coal in a settlement known as Cambria.

Just three years later, in 1890, the camp was home to 1,500 people, representing 23 nationalities and the coal mine employed 750 individuals.

Becoming a county The year 1890 also marked the establishment of Weston County by the final Wyoming Territorial Legislative Assembly on March 12, naming it in honor of Weston’s coal deposit discovery.

Soon after, Territorial Gov. Francis Warren appointed George Purmort, Harry Hensel and Ralph Weston to the Board of Organizing Commissioners, and in April, voters selected Newcastle as the county seat.

Commissioners, county Continued on next page

coming soon!

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Main Street – Pictured is a snap shot of the early days of Main Street in Newcastle, the county seat of Weston County. Leonard Cash photo

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Sired by Sterling Confidence Plus 804, HIGH SELLING, HIGH EFFICIENCY bull at 2019 Snyder Bull Test in Nevada.

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$B +150 Top 35 %, $C +287 Top 15% Tested at Midland Bull Test he has a MBT overall Rating of 112, Efficiency Rating of 104, ADG of 3.49, WDA 3.87 and a super MBT -1.87 RFI for efficiency!

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Important industry – Weston County’s first bentonite plant at Clay Spur, near Osage, opened in the 1920s and was abandoned by the time this photo was taken in 1989. The industry is still important in the area.

Wyoming Tales and Trails photo

Continued from previous page

clerk officials, the county attorney, treasurer, sheriff, school superintendent, justices of peace and constables were elected on May 14, 1890.

Early oil industry Not long after its founding, Weston County drilled its first oil wells, marking a significant monument in the area’s history.

With the help of some of the largest oil companies of the time – the Mike Henry Oil Company, Illuminator Oil Company and M.J. Coyle – and the discovery of a big well near Osage in March of 1920,

BOOTH’S

Weston County saw its first big boom.

People began flocking to the area with the promise of work and wealth, and only two months later, a second large oil well was discovered.

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Cherry Creek Cherry Cherry CreekCreek BOOTH’S BOOTH’S

At the ranch in Veteran, WY 49 ANNUAL A N G U SLunch: Noon 49THANNUAL SNTHNT L A U A ANNUAL N GPerformance U S Bull Sale 49 Progress A Through Sale Time: 1 p.m.

Progress Through Performance BullFebruary Sale 10, 2022 Selling 150 Fall Bulls Sale Date: Thursday,

ANGUS

51 TH

Progress Through Performance Bull Sale

At the ranch in 10, Veteran, WY • Lunch: Noon • Sale Time: 1 p.m.

Sale Date: Thursday, February 2022

Sale Date: Thursday, February 2022 Selling 15010, Fall and Two-Year-Old Bulls OFAtinTHE BULLS HAVE BEEN PAP TESTED BY DR. TIM HOLT At130 the ranch Veteran, WY •ALL Lunch: Noon • Sale Time: 1 p.m. the ranch in Veteran, WY Lunch: Noon • Sale Time: OF• THE BULLS HAVE BEEN1 p.m.

PAP TESTED BY DR. TIM HOLT Selling and THE Two-Year-Old Bulls AFTER SPENDING THE SUMMER AT 8,000’ IN WALDEN, Selling 150 Fall150 andFall Two-Year-Old Bulls AFTER SPENDING SUMMER AT 8,000’ IN CO WALDEN, CO ALL OF THE BULLS HAVE BEEN PAP TESTED BY DR. TIM HOLT

Featuring of: ALL OF THE BULLS HAVE BEEN TESTED BY DR. TIMsons HOLT AFTER SPENDING THE PAP SUMMER AT 8,000’ IN WALDEN, CO AFTER SPENDING THE SUMMER AT 8,000’ IN WALDEN, CO WXW Timberline W287 Sitz Stellar 726D Featuring sons of:

Featuring sons of:

WXW Timberline W287

WXW Timberline W287

Sitz Stellar 726D

Sitz Stellar 726D CED: +10 BW: +0.1 WW: +60 YW: +107 M: +21 Marb: +.67 RE: +.82 $B: +159 $C: +264

CED: +6 BW: -0.3 WW: +77 YW: +135 M: +24 Marb: +.45 RE: +.66 $B: +135 $C: +266

If you are looking for a phenotype standout with an extremely well

Powerhouse individual with a great maternal design and ranks #1

balanced further. cow maker on the CED: +10 BW: +0.1 WW: +60 YW: +107 M: trait +21 package then look no CED: +6Superior BW: -0.3 WW: +77 YW: +135 M:Main +24Sire list for combined Foot Score EPDs. Outstanding genetics solid+.66 calving maternal Marb: +.67 RE: +.82 $B: +159 $C: +264with a definitive end product advantage.

Marb:Offers +.45 RE: $B: +135 $C: +266pedigree and design with elite $Maternal and Foot Score

ease potential with accelerated growth while adding marbling and values. Super thick topped and deep sided bull that only improved If you are looking for a phenotype standout with an extremely well Timberline Powerhouse and ranks red meat yield.

PAP Testedindividual 38 at over with 8,000’a. great maternal design his power house #1 phenotype while breeding cows as a yearling. balanced trait package then look no further. Superior cow maker on the Main Sire list for combined Foot Score Besides EPDs. Outstanding his impressive muscle, the first thing you will notice about genetics with a definitive end product advantage. Offers solid calving maternal pedigree and design with elite $Maternal and Foot Score STELLAR is his outstanding foot quality and added depth of heel. ease potential with accelerated growth while adding marbling and values. Super thick topped and deep sided bull that only improved red meat yield. Timberline PAP Tested 38 at over 8,000’. his power house phenotype while breeding cows as a yearling.

Besides his impressive muscle, the first thing you will notice about CED: +10 BW: +0.1 WW: +60 YW: +107 M: +21 CED: +6 BW: WW:foot +77quality YW:and +135 +24 STELLAR is his-0.3 outstanding addedM: depth of heel.

Our 2021 Sires Include:

Advantage 6019 • Marb: Monumental • Patriarch Command • Ramesses • Crossbow • Achievement +.45 RE: +.66 $B: •+135 $C: +266 •Sires Timberline • Enforcer • Powerball • Thunderball • Complete • Advance 5016 Our Stellar 2021 Include: Plus many sired

by Cherry Creekand herdranks sires. #1 If you are looking for a phenotype standout with an extremely well Powerhouse individual with a great maternal design Advantage 6019 • Monumental • Patriarch • Command • Ramesses • Crossbow • Achievement balanced trait package then look no further. Superior cow maker on the Main Sire list for combined Foot Score EPDs. Outstanding Stellar • Timberline • Enforcer • Thunderball Complete • Advance 5016 genetics with a definitive end product advantage.

Offers solid calving • Powerball maternal pedigree and •design with elite $Maternal and Foot Score &Creek Diane 307-534-5865 boothangus@scottsbluff.net Plus many Shawn siredvalues.

by Cherry herdtopped sires. ease potential with accelerated growth while adding marbling and Super thick and deep sided bull that only improved red meat yield. Timberline PAP Tested 38 at over 8,000’. his power house phenotype307-532-1805 while breeding cows •asKacey a yearling.307-532-1532 Michael & Lindsy Besides his impressive muscle, the first thing you will notice about boothscherrycreekranch.com Shawn & Diane 307-534-5865 boothangus@scottsbluff.net STELLAR is his outstanding foot quality and added depth of heel.

Marb: +.67 RE: +.82 $B: +159 $C: +264

Lot 1

Cherry Crk Blue Collar K33

Refineries were built in Osage, Newcastle, Four Corners, Red Butte, Thorton and other nearby small towns, and land prices in Weston County skyrocketed to $1,000 per acre.

As oil demand increased, so too did interest in bentonite – a fine clay used for oil drilling – and since Weston County was also rich in this resource, several refineries were constructed, with the first at Clay Spur near Osage.

Oil demand fell after World War I, and the boomtown of Osage went bust.

Ag prices also fell, and local farmers and ranchers were not able to pay their debts. Workers who had flocked to Weston County with hopes of hitting it rich moved away, leaving the place empty and quiet.

The area saw its second boom after the Great Depression, when bentonite was the first resource to come out of the nationwide slump.

As demand for products like cement, plaster, cosmetics and insecticides increased, Weston County’s bentonite refineries started working 24-hour shifts to keep up, and by the end of 1939, Weston County bentonite was being shipped all over the U.S. and to Canada and South America.

This boom-and-bust cycle has continued throughout the decades, but oil remains crucial to the area’s economy. Today, Weston County’s rich supply of natural resources and diverse landscape make it a unique place to live, work and visit.

Information in this article was compiled from the Wyoming Historical Society and Weston County Tourism.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

Lot 8

Cherry Crk Incentive K124

AAA&20708385 AAA 20763632 Michael Lindsy 307-532-1805 • Kacey 307-532-1532 CED: 12 • BW: -.1 • WW: 72 •Sires YW:Include: 127 • $M: 60 CED: 1 • BW: 2.6 • WW: 73 • YW: 131 • $M: 96 Our boothscherrycreekranch.com 2021 141 • PAP: 39 •• Command WR: 102• Ramesses • Crossbow • Achievement $B: 155 • PAP: 36 • WR: 109 Advantage 6019 •$B: Monumental • Patriarch

Stellar • Timberline Enforcer Powerball • Thunderball muscle • Complete • Advance 5016 Lead off bull is out• of a first •calf heifer.Tremendous Herd bull alert! This guy covers all the bases: phenotype, structure, many

by Cherry Creek herd sires. pattern with performancePlus and eyesired appeal.

Highly recommended foot shape, performance, and pap. Dam is a donor cow that has for heifers at high elevation. posted 6 calves at 108 weaning ratio.

785-332-3344

Shawn & Diane 307-534-5865 boothangus@scottsbluff.net Michael & Lindsy 307-532-1805 • Kacey 307-532-1532 boothscherrycreekranch.com

Lot 14

Cherry Crk Alternative K244 AAA 20805870 CED: 10 • BW: .1 • WW: 67 • YW: 113 $W: 63 • $B: 164 • PAP: 39 • WR: 106

Heifer bull that adds muscle shape in a moderate package.

Dam is a donor cow for us after raising 6 calves indexing 112 at weaning.

Lot 96

Cherry Crk Patriarch K75

AAA 20760586 CED: 13 • BW: -1.6 WW: 77 • YW: 141 • $M: 93 $W: 85 • $B: 146 • PAP: 50+ WR: 99

Heavy muscled son of Patriarch and a young Stellar daughter.

Bull ranks in the top 10% or better in the breed for BW, WW, YW, $M, and $W.

Our 2024 Sires Include:

Sitz Resilient • Sitz Incentive • Cherry Crk Skyline • Cherry Crk Blue Collar • Cherry Crk Advance G248 Kesslers Commodore • Tehama Patriarch • Sitz Stellar • Heiken Broadview • Baldridge Alternative Plus many sired by Cherry Creek herd sires.

Shawn & Diane 307-534-5865 boothangus@scottsbluff.net Michael & Lindsy 307-532-1805 Kacey 307-532-1532

"The bottom line is that high-tension banding is faster, easier, and less traumatic for the animal than surgical castration. " Matt Sween, UC Davis

Animal Science Dept.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Glenn and Selina Materi run family’s cow/calf operation outside of Upton Glenn Materi and his wife Selina live on the ranch Glenn’s grandfather settled in the early 1900s.

“My grandfather’s parents were from Odessa, Russia, and they settled in Hanover, Kan. when they came to America,” Glenn says.

Glenn’s grandfather later relocated to Wyoming, nine miles south of Upton, where he raised cattle, sheep and pigs. Glenn’s father was born on the ranch in 1926 and spent the rest of his life there.

“I grew up on the ranch as well, but when I graduated from high school, I was thinking I would do something else,” Glenn shares.

“I went to Laramie for college for a few years but then my dad passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack.

So, I decided to come back to take care of the ranch and help my mother.”

Raising Angus cattle Although the Materi’s Flying J Ranch still raised sheep and pigs while Glenn was a boy, his father eventually sold them off and solely raised cattle.

“My dad had a cow/ calf operation, and then he started buying calves and raising yearlings,” Glenn notes.

Today, the ranch is home to nearly 100 pairs of Black and Red Angus cows and has some of the best summer range.

“The ranch is composed of deeded land and U.S. Forest Service grazing,” he says. “It has good grass and it cures well with a lot of nutrient quality, while putting good weight on our cattle.”

“Our summer pasture is about 1,500 acres and is not high elevation – only about 4,500 feet – and 700 acres of it is government land,”

“I think the future of ranching in our area looks pretty good, but a person has to be very dedicated to do it.”

Glenn Materi

he adds.

Glenn shares he now calves his cows in May, after previously calving them in late February.

“We slowly moved calving later, a few weeks at a time, to get into better weather,” he says.

Glenn further notes he chose the Black Angus breed, because traditionally, black cattle have been easier to market, and for the most part, he has seen continued success in marketing his calves over the years.

“I have a neighbor who has been buying most of my calves for the last 10 years or more,” Glenn shares.

“And, if it doesn’t work out or there are some he doesn’t buy, I take them to the livestock barns at Belle Fourche or St. Onge in South Dakota.

I generally sell my calves to our neighbor though because he always feeds a few extra cattle.”

Retiring early Ranching is no easy feat, and as Glenn and Selina grow older, they have started planning an early retirement for several different reasons.

First, Glenn notes winters in northeast Wyoming can get pretty challenging, with a large accumulation of snow, requiring the couple to feed quite a bit of hay during winter months.

“We put up our own hay for many years, but this past summer I finally went with a custom hay business ran by my cousin,” shares

Glenn. “He will probably keep doing our haying in the future. It makes it easier for us and our equipment.”

Glenn points out their haying equipment has gotten older and started to break down, and because he isn’t planning on staying in the ranching business much longer, it hasn’t been worth it to buy new machinery or invest in getting his fixed.

Additionally, Glenn and Selina run the ranch themselves without any hired help, and the two have no one interested in taking it over.

“It’s just me, though my wife helps me out. She didn’t grow up on a ranch, however,” he says. “We also have grandkids now to take care of. Our grandkids are a lot of fun, and we really enjoy them.”

Although the Materis have a second and third generation, Glenn notes none of his step-children are interested in taking over the ranch, so he and Selina are looking at selling the place sometime in the near future and retiring early to spend time with their family.

“I think the future of ranching in our area looks pretty good, but a person has to be very dedicated to do it,” Glenn says.

Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

The Materis – Glenn and Selina Materi run a cow/calf operation on the ranch Glenn’s grandfather settled in the early 1900s, located nine miles south of Upton. Courtesy photo

24 th a nnuaL p roduction s aLe Preserving the power of Scotch Cap genetics

Wed,

FEBRUARY 14 , 2024

At the Bull Center neAr ClArkson, ne

Selling 175 r egistered a ngus b uLLs • 50 r egistered a ngus h eifers L ot 35 - 20818697

Jindra Assurance x Jindra Megahit BW 87 • Adj. WW 802 • $C 294

L ot 5 - 20845218

Hollywood x Jindra Superior BW 74 • Adj. WW 790 • $C 333

L ot 26 - 20818690

Jindra Assurance x Jindra Rectify BW 83 • Adj. WW 806 • $C 287

L ot 123 - 20847971

Bohannon x No Doubt BW 80 • Adj. WW 828 • $C 256

L ot 101 - 20848145

Gratitude x Jindra Top Notch BW 81 • Adj. WW 804 • $C 220

L ot 126 - 20847973

Bohannon x Colonel BW 77 • Adj. WW 847 • $C 284

L ot 53 - 20818753

Jindra Xpansion 121 x Guinness BW 84 • Adj. WW 953 • $C 269

L ot 91 - 20818748

Jindra Superior x Resource 1441 BW 81 • Adj. WW 767 • $C 293

L ot 70 - 20499642

Domain x Jindra Manifest BW 78 • Adj. WW 873 • $C 285

L argest s ire g roups by Woodhill Domain • Jindra Superior • Jindra Assurance • Sterling Pacific • Tehama Tahoe Jindra Strategy • Hoover No Doubt • Jindra Cutting Edge • Jindra Megahit • Hoffman Thedford KCF Bennett Exponential • Jindra Xpansion • Smith Valley Gratitude • Connealy Bohannon Connealy Guardrail • Williams Hollywood • Connealy Clarity • Hoff Blockbuster

Call or stop by anytime! 82235 567 Ave. • Clarkson, NE 68629 402-920-3171 • nickjindra@hotmail.com • www.jindraangus.com Marketing black cattle – Glenn Materi mainly raises Black Angus cattle because they have been easier to market. Courtesy photo

Ad Design by Chrisman Cattle Services

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Broken Arrow Farm advocates for sustainable farming Paul and Bailey Eitel own and operate Broken Arrow Farm near Newcastle and are a passionate, hardworking couple, generating agricultural opportunities for their family.

Their passion for wholesome, farm-to-table food products has been the driving force of their operation, which raises fryer chickens, egg layers, meat rabbits and beef and dairy cows for their local community.

The family farm also harvests and processes the majority of their animals on the farm themselves.

The Eitels have a passion for producing local, qualitysourced products and take great pride in raising happy, healthy and high-quality animals, a tradition they are passing down to their boys.

Broken Arrow Farm ensures their animals have access to fresh forage and wide-open pastures, maintaining hormone-free diets and residing in stress-free environments.

“This is what makes for great-tasting, healthy and delicious products, the way nature intended it to be,” Paul states.

The Eitel Family – Broken Arrow Farm is a family business near Newcastle. Pictured from left to right are Bailey, Trey, Jace, Paul and Rhett Eitel. Courtesy photo

Farm-to-table food products When it comes to cur-

rent operations, Paul explains Broken Arrow Farm specializes in raising Cornish Rock fryers.

“At the Broken Arrow Farm, we start our chicks in a brooder, and all of our chickens are fed a chemicaland hormone-free diet,” Paul shares. “Once the chicks are old enough, we move them

outside to a movable electric netting pen.”

He further notes, “While on fresh pasture, the chickens benefit from eating green grass and insects, as they frequently move along to a new spot, giving them access to fresh forage.”

Paul shares this results in a juicy, tender and flavorful

“My ranching heritage instilled a deep passion for locally-sourced food, so I continue to advocate for agriculture and produce quality food for my family and nearby communities.”

Paul Eitel

chicken, bringing in repeat customers.

“Some customers have been purchasing fryers from us for over nine years and come from multiple states,” he says.

Another specialty product Broken Arrow Farm produces is quality meat rabbits.

The family operates a purebred and pedigreed rabbitry, consisting of New Zealand Whites, Black and Blues, along with Rex and Californian breeds.

“Right now, we are housing over 500 rabbits annually, and all of our rabbits are also fed a chemical- and hormonefree diet,” Paul remarks. “In the warm months, rabbits are supplemented with fresh greens.”

Broken Arrow Farm has branched out over the years and are now raising beef and dairy cows as well.

Continued on next page

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Continued from previous page

“Our small family farm has incorporated emus,” Paul notes. “A few years back, we purchased three emus, all of which turned out to be boys. So, we acquired some females to secure future breeding stock, and this fall was the first year they laid eggs.”

Most recently, Paul and Bailey built a large high tunnel and are experimenting with a winter wheat cover crop.

Paul notes, “We will be creating a multi-crop system to assist Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to meet the area’s need.”

By optimizing the use of space in a high tunnel through succession planting and intercropping, a grower can maintain continuous production throughout the market and CSA distribution season.

How it started Paul grew up on a family ranch in northwest Nebraska, where his family raised cattle and grew wheat and alfalfa.

“I developed a love for poultry during my years as an active 4-H competitor. I showed everything growing up,” Paul laughs. “But, I have been raising meat rabbits for over 30 years.”

Paul and Bailey both went to college to study rangeland management, but Paul spent his collegiate years at Chadron State College, minoring in ag-business. Bailey attended the University of Wyoming, placing her focus in botany and forestry.

“My ranching heritage instilled a deep passion for locally-sourced food, so I continue to advocate for agriculture and produce quality food for my family and nearby communities,” he shares.

Paul further notes the diversification of their program has multiple benefits.

“Our cows will hit wherever the chickens were due

to the increase of nitrogen in the grass from the chickens scratching up the ground and new growth coming up,” Paul explains. “Meanwhile, the chickens spread out the cattle manure, naturally fertilizing the soil.”

The future Much of the country remains disengaged or misinformed about the food system, which is a big problem since agriculture plays a major role in all individualsʼ lives, and Broken Arrow Farm is addressing this issue.

On a daily basis, Paul films different aspects of the farm – from the birth of new rabbit kits to collecting emu

eggs in the dark and facing the issues harsh weather creates when living in northeastern Wyoming.

“I utilize multiple social media platforms, but the most rewarding avenue of broadcasting is filming and posting to our YouTube channel,” he declares. “We want to share our agricultural lifestyle and tutorials on how to run a small family farm, letting viewers see what dayto-day life is like, along with educating people about agriculture and how important it is.”

Broken Arrow Farm’s YouTube channel has around 1,600 followers and over 300 videos to view.

For more information

Thank You

Wyoming Livestock Roundup, Dennis & Crew for

38 years of excellent agricultural reporting

on Broken Arrow Farm, visit brokenarrowfarm307.com or check out their YouTube channel @BrokenArrowFarm307.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

ABOVE: Emu production – Paul Eitel raises emus and incubates eggs for future breeding stock. Courtesy photo LEFT: Making a living – Broken Arrow Farm’s main goal is to produce quality meat rabbits.

Courtesy photo

A8

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Sagebrush Marketing helps Wyoming’s businesses grow

Downtown Newcastle – Sagebrush Marketing supports local businesses in Weston County. Courtesy photo

Big Sky Bull Sale

Orion Beef Group

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ENERGIZE X CHARTER X DEEP & WIDE 75PRO, 16HB, 59GM, 14CED, -3.2BW, 73WW, 125YW, 30MILK, 13HPG, 6CEM, 10ST, 0.49MB, 0.34RE, $15,896$P, $62$R, 1.48FERT One of the best Energize sons to sell anywhere!

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QUARTERBACK X CHARTER X GOLDEN ERA 169PRO, 76HB, 94GM, 14CED, -3.9BW, 65WW, 116YW, 33MILK, 11HPG, 8CEM, 20ST, 0.84MB, 0.27RE, $15,615$P, $44$R, 1.54FERT Well balanced bull at the top of the heap for HB!

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CHARTER X DEEP&WIDE X PROMISE 161PRO, 63HB, 99GM, 12CED, 1.3BW, 80WW, 132YW, 30MILK, 11HPG, 6CEM, 17ST, 0.77MB, 0.35RE, $12,976$P, $36$R, 1.39FERT Big time growth bull that still maintains a great ProS!

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MERLIN X CHARTER X REDEMPTION 138PRO, 70HB, 67GM, 11CED, -0.9BW, 81WW, 133YW, 36MILK, 12HPG, 6CEM, 18ST, 0.48MB, 0.64RE, $12,198$P, $53$R, 1.64FERT Great maternal power with a 104 MPPA DAM and GDAM!

Sagebrush Marketing’s slogan is “Pro Wyoming Small Business,” and their goal is to work with businesses and lodging tax boards to help Main Streets across Wyoming flourish.

Jen Womack and her husband Chris created Sagebrush Marketing, LLC in April of 2008, and in 2020 they added a retail component to their business.

Sagebrush Marketing is a full-service marketing agency, helping clients with everything from radio to print ads and online materials.

In 2022, they were able to purchase a building in downtown Newcastle and moved their marketing business and retail store to one location.

“Small businesses are great at what they do, but when it comes to telling their own story, they may struggle due to lacking skills or time. We hope to fill that gap,” says Jen. “Our clients are primarily in Wyoming, but we do travel to South Dakota for some projects.”

Company projects On a monthly basis, Sagebrush Marketing manages social media accounts, produces radio ads, sends print materials to press and more.

Sagebrush Marketing creates content for the Crook County Tourism

Promotion Board under the “Devils Tower Country” brand and has created content for the Wyoming Pioneer Association.

Recently, Jen completed a term on the Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association Board of Directors, doing what she can to get Wyoming on travelers’ itineraries.

The retail portion of the business features items created by nearly two dozen different Wyoming makers and creators.

Jen notes, “We order in some items, but we also make items in house. The store is another way for us to put our graphic design skills to a good use, and at times, we make shirts and apparel for the local sports teams and businesses.”

Looking back Jen graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1999 and went to work for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup the same year.

“I spent 10 great years there, traveling around Wyoming and meeting ranch families from across the state,” she explains. “It was a fantastic experience.”

While Jen was working for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, her and Chris worked on growing their business in the evenings and on weekends.

Continued on next page

FARM SUCCESSION Navigate The Transition Succession coordinators work with families and

operations to navigate the transition of the ag operation to the next generation.

2767K • #4740615 • 9/10/22

COMPLETE X SAGA X HOBO DESIGN 141PRO, 70HB, 71GM, 14CED, -1.2BW, 79WW, 127YW, 30MILK, 14HPG, 8CEM, 17ST, 0.70MB, 0.41RE, $18,158$P, $39$R, 1.61FERT Stacked pedigree for excellence and breed longevity!

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FOUNDATION X WATCHMAN X PRIDE 131PRO, 68HB, 62GM, 21CED, -6.0BW, 63WW, 111YW, 28MILK, 13HPG, 11CEM, 17ST, 0.61MB, 0.15RE, $9,891$P, $22$R, 1.13FERT Biggest spread bull in the entire offering!

The coordinators work in tandem with

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Call or email for a catalog! www.ludvigsonstockfarms.com

attorneys and accountants to make sure that the succession plan is feasible.

Succession coordinators are available as a service of the Wyoming Agriculture & Natural Resource Mediation Program.

Ryan Ludvigson Cody Mathison (406) 601-9192 Bull Development Manager rl_ludvigson@hotmail.com (406)696-6509

Justin Beeson Donor Herd Manager (712)577-0445

For more information, contact Lucy Pauley at 307-777-8788 or email lucy.pauley@wyo.gov.

Succession coordinators work with the family to identify: • Where is the operation now?

• Where do you want it to be?

• How do you get there?

A9

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

“When I went to work for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup in 1999, I was the editor and Matt Roberts did the layout work and was my proofreader,” she remarks. “Every Friday we helped with the mailing, and I can still tell you the zip code for nearly every town in Wyoming.”

“Shortly after I started, Tracy Alger joined the team doing sales and learning graphic design. She was extremely talented and took to it quickly,” she continues. “At the time, Del Tinsley owned the paper, and we had a great team. We worked together extremely well, and to this day, I still consider all of them as friends.”

Jen notes Tracy was instrumental in helping her start Sagebrush Marketing, and when Tracy passed, Jen found herself at a crossroads.

“It took me quite a while to decide whether to continue Sagebrush Marketing,” Jen admits. “But luckily, Matt and I had kept in touch over the years, and I reached out to him to see if he could help me wrap up projects Tracy and I had pending. This was nearly 10 years ago, and the two of us are still working together.”

“Occasionally, I still find myself referring back to one of Tracy’s designs for information or inspira-

tion,” Jen notes. “I’m glad we didn’t close Sagebrush Marketing, and Tracy will forever be a part of our team.”

Today’s business Beyond Jen and Chris, Matt is still assisting Sagebrush Marketing, and the company employs three part-time employees who work various hours in the retail portion of their business.

Currently, Pam Brackett, Dilly Marchant and Becky Owens help with customers, create displays and handle the bulk of the front end of the business so Jen can work in the back room doing the creative work she enjoys.

“Fifteen years later, I am lucky to work with a great group of people again,” Jen concludes.

Jen and Chris have two grown sons – Bryce is an electrician with 21 Electric in Newcastle and Josh is attending Northwest College in Powell where he is studying to be an engineer and competing on the wrestling team.

For more information on Sagebrush Marketing, visit sagebrushmarketing.net or SagebrushMarket.net.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Adding flare – Sagebrush Marketing prides themselves on helping clients market their products. Courtesy photo

st WY Angus Associatio hwe46 t r th o n Annual Sale N

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 • 1:00 PM Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, WY PAP, BVD & SEMEN TESTED For more information contact Fred & Kay Thomas at 307-868-2595 or e-mail fkdramsrus@gmx.com

A10

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Deveraux family dedicates daily life to training good, honest, versatile horses

Satisfied buyers – The primary goal of the Full House Horse Sale is to ensure each and every buyer leaves the sale pleased, proud and satisfied with their purchase. Pictured is South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Blondie, a mare Craig Deveraux ranched and roped on and Cooper Deveraux hauled to rodeos and ropings. Courtesy photo

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Newcastle resident Craig Deveraux’s life has been a whirlwind of chasing his biggest dreams and living out his greatest passions.

Unlike many Wyoming cattlemen, Craig wasn’t born into a ranching family, but this didn’t stop him from achieving his lofty ambitions. In 1995, Craig obtained some leased land and bought some cattle because they were cheap.

“The first cattle I ever bought were 650 weight steers that cost 50 cents,” he shares. “It looked like we might get a spike in the market, so I started leasing as much country and buying as many cattle as I could.”

“I started buying real cheap bred heifers. At the time, a bred heifer was around $500 to $600, so I kept purchasing leases and wound up taking care of the place we have now for the people who owned it,” he continues. “I ran half of the cattle and they ran the other half.”

Craig explains the couple decided to sell out the following year and he was able to make a deal on the property.

“I sold all of my cows to make the down payment,” he laughs. “And now I run a little bit of everything – a few hundred cow/calf pairs, some yearlings and other cows we’ve taken in – on about half and half privateleased ground, a forest service permit and two deeded lots.”

Living out a passion For Craig, owning and operating a ranch has been a dream come true, but over the years he has found an even deeper passion in horses and has now been in charge of the Full House Horse Sale for over a decade.

“I got started with the

Leo Perino Horse Sale, and my old partner was Leo’s granddaughter Jill Pischke,” Craig explains. “When Leo passed, his boys took over and I was selling horses and helping out. The boys phased out of it, so Jill and I picked it up and changed the name and a few other things about it.”

Craig notes life got busy for Jill as well, and eventually the sale was turned over to him and his family.

Today, he and his wife Jolene, along with their three kids Abi, Cooper and Jake eat, sleep and breathe all things horses.

“The family doesn’t separate the horse sale from daily life. The horse sale is daily life,” reads the Full House Horse Sale website.

“This is not the family’s job or a pastime hobby. Training good, honest horses is an obsession, a passion, and the sale is a dream that has come to fruition and an opportunity to live out this passion.”

“This isn’t anything we wouldn’t do if we didn’t have a sale because we are horseback every day anyway,” Craig states.

Building a legacy The Deveraux family’s dedication is evident in the impressive collection of rope, rodeo and ranch horses offered through the Full House Horse Sale, which boasts some of the most versatile mounts in the region.

“There are some other good, grassroots ranch horse sales in Wyoming, but what sets us apart from those is the performance end of our sale,” Craig states. “We offer extremely experienced ranch horses that are also seasoned as rope horses, barrel horses and performance horses.”

“And, what sets us apart Continued on next page

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Visit our website at www.boothfamilyangus.com Females for Sale Privately Every Fall

The A-string – Craig Deveraux’s three children are an integral part of the Full House Horse Sale training regimen, as many of the sale horses double as everyday ranch and A-string rodeo horses. Pictured is Jake Deveraux and Captain, his current calf horse that was purchased as a two-year-old. Courtesy photo

A11

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

from other performance horse sales around is the versatility and ranch horse end of our sale,” he adds.

“None of these horses are going to be surprised when you go out and rope a big mama cow, gallop across a creek or wade through a deep pond.”

Craig reiterates the versatility of horses offered through the Full House Horse Sale, noting it wouldn’t be possible without returning consignors who are some of the area’s best horsemen and women, as well as each and every member of his family.

“Jake was going to school in Gillette so I would shuffle him horses back and forth. I would ranch on them here for a few years and then send them over to him so he could haul them to ropings,” Craig shares. “Now he is up in Dillon, Mont. He has a four-horse trailer so he can only take four horses, but he will be back in the spring to help us get ready.”

With Jake so far away, Craig notes he and Cooper have taken on a heavier work load.

“We saddle horses every morning to gather calves and we have an indoor barn that we can rope or work cattle in,” he says. “Cooper will probably take some horses down to Arizona to rope on as well.”

Additionally, Craig notes his daughter Abi lives in town and works full time at the bank, but on weekends and in her free time she can be found back on the ranch.

Maintaining a high standard According to Craig, the Deverauxs offer between 50 and 60 high-quality horses

during their Full House Horse Sale, held at the Weston County Fairgrounds in Newcastle every spring.

“We have changed the dates a few times throughout history because it conflicted with some things we couldn’t miss, but right now and for the past three years, we have held the sale every third Saturday in May,” he says.

Additionally, the family holds two fall sales – a breeders prospect sale and a second Full House Sale.

“Next year, our plan is to combine these two sales,” Craig shares. “We want to have a big two-day sale some time around the third week of September where we host a preview and loose horse sale on Friday morning; then the riding, performance and ranch horse sale on Friday afternoon and a colt sale on Saturday at noon.”

Regardless of the sale format, customers of the Deveraux family can be sure the horses they purchase are sound, honest and versatile.

“It is important our horses learn to move and perform correctly and at an extremely high level,” reads the family’s website.

“Excellent horsemanship is a pillar of the Full House Horse Sale. It’s a standard we hold ourselves to and we deeply pride ourselves in bringing to the Full House Horse Sale offering.”

For more information on the Deveraux family and the Full House Horse Sale, visit fullhousehorsesale.com.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

A firm foundation – Each horse offered through the Full House Horse Sale is exposed to a variety of situations to instill a firm foundation.

Pictured is Craig Deveraux doctoring a cow on Riddle, a five-year-old horse currently in the family’s saddle string. Courtesy photo

Serving you since 1923 Specializing in energy, agronomy, and livestock supply.

Daily life – The Deveraux family’s daily life isn’t separate from the horse sale, as their good ranch and rodeo horses are also sale horses. Pictured is Cooper and Big Shot, a five-year-old currently being used in the family’s ranch and rope string. Courtesy photo

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A12

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Cooksey carries on family ranch with a vibrant history Robbers Roost Ranch sits on the banks of the Cheyenne River near Mule Creek Junction, a location boasting a wild and vibrant history straight out of an old John Wayne movie.

Years before Don Cooksey’s grandpa Mose settled on the place, an old stagecoach stop called Robbers Roost Station – the namesake of the Cookseys’ ranch – was in operation.

Stagecoach lines brought news, mail and passengers to distant and isolated Western towns during the late 19th century and had stations along the way where drivers could switch out fresh horses.

This particular station, on a route connecting Cheyenne to the gold fields in the Black Hills of South Dakota, derived its name from the many robberies that took place during the gold boom beginning in Deadwood, S.D. in 1875.

By the end of 1877, gold

seekers had removed more than $10 million worth of gold from the Deadwood, S.D. area – much of it transported on weekly stage runs to Cheyenne.

Located near the Cheyenne River crossing, Robber’s Roost Station was built in 1877 on a new shortcut, but the crossing was dreaded by stage drivers. Steep riverbanks slowed coaches to a crawl and provided concealment for lurking bandits.

Later, Robber’s Roost Station was burned twice by Native American Tribes and rebuilt only once.

Early days The Cheyenne-Deadwood Stage Line, though not in existence for long, went right through the Cooksey’s ranch.

“This is why I call it Robbers Roost Ranch,” notes Don. “We have a little box of things we’ve picked up along the stage line over the years – old bottles and

Robbers Roost Ranch – Pictured is a birds-eye view of Robbers Roost Ranch, located on the Cheyenne River near Mule Creek Junction.

Courtesy photo

things people threw out of the stagecoach. No one was worried about littering in those days.”

“I haven’t found Buffalo Bill’s gun,” Don adds, “But there are some interesting things in that box.”

Don explains the ranch was started by Mose, who moved to Edgemont, S.D. from southwest Iowa with his family.

“A company called Kirkpatrick and Collins brought in a bunch of people but it didn’t last very long, so my grandpa, his brothers Continued on next page

Raising livestock – After phasing out of farming operations, Mose and Irene Cooksey raised registered Corriedale sheep, a small herd of cows and Appaloosa horses. Courtesy photo

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A13

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

and sisters and their father all moved to Wyoming to homestead,” Don shares.

“Grandpa homesteaded this place around 1919 and paid $25 for the filing fees.”

Don notes Mose had to travel all the way to Douglas to file the papers – a fairly big stint back then.

“And, $25 was a lot of money,” states Don. He adds, “Grandpa then married Irene Bennett. She had a homestead a little farther west, but she abandoned it to throw in with grandpa. Together they started the place where we are now while raising their two children – my dad John and my aunt Jeanette.”

Diverse operation As a young couple, Don’s grandparents started by farming potatoes and a few other crops and raising sheep.

“They farmed for several years,” Don notes. “The climate must have been different back then, because today we can hardly grow weeds as dry as it is.”

After Mose and Irene quit farming, they decided to expand their flock.

“They nearly lost the place during those years,” shares Don. “They’d borrowed money from the Land Bank and it seemed to have a policy of letting people over-borrow and then foreclose on them when they couldn’t make payments.”

“My grandparents hung in there, however, and began to be more successful when they started rais-

ing registered sheep,” he continues. “Grandpa raised Corriedale and sold breeding stock to other sheep ranchers, which he continued doing into the 1970s.”

In addition to the sheep, Don notes Mose and Irene always had a few cows and horses around.

“He raised Appaloosa horses alongside the registered sheep, but it wasn’t a very big horse operation. He had two mares and a stallion and raised foals every year,” Don says. “He gentled the foals and got them halter broke, but he didn’t break them to ride.”

Changing hands Following Mose’s passing in the early 1970s, Don’s father moved back to the ranch.

“Early on, he and grandpa tried to work together on the ranch but it didn’t work out. They were not very likeminded about anything, and there was not enough cash flow to support two families,” Don admits.

“Dad went into the airplane business in Central Wyoming but later came back to the ranch to take care of his mother after grandpa died. She had some hip and knee operations by that time and was having trouble getting around,” he shares. “Dad was only there for about 10 years until 1986, before he passed.

My mom was there on her own for a long time – until 2008.”

Don notes his father didn’t have much interest

Father’s footsteps – Like his father, Don Cooksey acquired a passion for aviation. Courtesy photo

in the livestock – he had acquired a passion for aviation – and when he passed away, Don’s mother sold the livestock and started leasing pasture out to the family’s neighbors.

“Dad had developed an aerial pipeline patrol business and just used the ranch as his base of operation. There is a little airstrip at the ranch that he used to fly around the country for his pipeline business. However, he did have about 20 sheep and a few cattle,” Don says.

At the end of her life, Don’s mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, so Don dropped what he was doing and moved to the ranch in 2008 to take care of her.

“Mom died in 2009, and after she passed, I stayed on at the ranch but I don’t have any livestock. I still just lease the pasture to the neighbor,” Don remarks. “I am like my dad – still working with airplanes.”

Despite this, Don expresses pride in his family’s resilience to hold on to the historic operation and looks forward to passing it on to future generations of the Cooksey family.

“I have two children, Jared and Kelsey, and three grandchildren. My son

Jared and his wife Robyn have two daughters, Riley and Jacy, and I am very proud of them. Their son’s middle name is Mose after my grandpa, and he will turn one in early 2024,” Don shares. “Perhaps I will get him a stick horse, and he will become a rancher.”

He adds, “The place has been the Cookseys’ since its inception 105 years ago, and it would be nice to see it keep going.”

“The place has been the Cookseys’ since its inception 105 years ago, and it would be nice to see it keep going.”

Don Cooksey Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock

Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

Original homesteaders – Mose and Irene Cooksey were the original homesteaders of Robbers Roost Ranch. Courtesy photo

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A14

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Debra Carr selflessly serves local community and the Lord above

Pre-Prom Party – Every year, Deb and a few other members of the community selflessly volunteer their time to help local girls get ready for prom, free of charge. Courtesy photo

In her 63 years on Earth, Debra “Deb” Carr has weaved an incredible story of thrilling adventure, heartbreaking loss and welldeserved success, and humbly, she attributes it all to the Lord.

“I rely on the Lord a lot to give me good wisdom, and he is the one who has gotten me where I am today,” she says.

Deb owns and operates WC Sports and Western Wear, a popular one-stop shop proudly perched on Main Street in Newcastle.

Growing up in ag Deb grew up the oldest of six girls on her family’s pig farm in Iowa, where she

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as a nurse and a vet tech, before starting up her business in Sioux City, Iowa in 1993.

In 1997, she unexpectedly lost her father to a heart attack when he was only 56 years old, so Deb decided to leave her home state and settle on the border of South Dakota and Nebraska in Yankton, S.D. “In 2004, I met my husband. He was a correctional officer in the Springfield Unit. We got married and moved out to Newcastle so he could pursue his career as a wildland firefighter,” Deb shares.

“At first, it was quite the culture shock,” she laughs.

“I grew up in a town the size of Newcastle, so that wasn’t the issue. But where I came from, there was humidity and everything was a lot closer together. We are really far apart out here – Rapid City, S.D. is an hour and half from us, and so is Gillette.”

But, Deb has grown accustomed to northeast Wyoming and her store continues to thrive in the Newcastle community.

“I changed my store from a bridal shop when I moved out here,” she states.

“The ‘WC’ in our name stands for ‘Wedding Closet,’ but I don’t do much of the wedding stuff anymore.”

Instead, Deb has adapted her store to fit the needs of the local community, offering everything from National Football League jerseys and shot glasses to flame retardant jeans and steel-toed boots.

“The best thing I ever put in my store was Cinch and Cowgirl Tuff – it has Continued on next page

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was responsible for every aspect of raising piglets.

“At the age of eight or nine, I was delivering piglets, cutting off their tails, notching their ears, taking their needle teeth out, giving them shots, all of that stuff,” she shares. “I did everything up to the point where we would kick them out of the farrowing house when they were around six weeks old.”

When she was old enough to attend high school, Deb wanted to go into vocational agriculture, but the aspiration was shot down by her father.

“My father wouldn’t let me because I was the only girl in the program, and he didn’t think it was proper,” she points out.

However, Deb was resilient, and by the time she was a senior, she had convinced her father to join the program, eventually enlisting in her local FFA chapter as well – the only girl in a group of 80-plus guys.

This didn’t slow her down at all.

When it came time to sell fruit around the holiday season, Deb was the chapter’s top salesman, and at the end of the year, she received bronze, silver and gold honors.

“Getting into management on the farm as a little girl and being involved in vo-ag throughout high school helped me learn a lot,” Deb notes. “I really believe this is where I got my management skills to run my store, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without my background in agriculture.”

Establishing the store After her years as a student, Deb went on to work

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A15

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

really made the store come alive,” she remarks. “I also sell American-made candles sourced from Pennsylvania, which is incredible because there isn’t a lot stuff made in the U.S. anymore.”

Giving back to the community During the 13 years WC Sports and Western Wear has warmly invited Wyoming shoppers through its doors, Deb has also selflessly volunteered her time to give back to the community, particularly to youth in the area.

“After my husband passed, I was a single mother of two girls, and in 2004, my youngest child graduated from high school.

The dear Lord has blessed

my store for a very long time, so in 2005, I decided to take care of one senior girl and one senior guy on their prom night. I would take care of their dress and tuxedo, but they had to be less fortunate,” notes Deb. Upon moving to Newcastle, Deb took her project a step further, getting the local flower shop to donate a boutonniere and corsage and one of the restaurants in town to feed the couple before their big dance.

“Then I went even further yet, because I got mad about something. And usually something good comes from getting mad,” states Deb. “I got upset because if it wasn’t for one young man’s parents, his prom date

wouldn’t have been able to get her hair fixed or her nails done. She couldn’t afford it, so her date’s parents took care of it for her.”

In response, Deb decided to enlist the help of several volunteers and invite more girls into her shop to do their hair, nails and makeup, free of charge, prior to the prom.

“I was still trying to target the less fortunate girls in the area, and the Lord said to me, ‘Who is really less fortunate – the girl who has everything or the girl who has nothing?’ This was a big statement to me,” Deb shares.

Today, Deb invites all girls to her shop for her “Pre-Prom Party,” where she spoils them with trays of vegetables, fruits, meats and cheeses; an assortment of

One-stop shop – WC Sports and Western Wear, a one-stop shop nestled in downtown Newcastle, is owned and operated by Deb Carr and has served the local community for 13 years. Courtesy photo

Giving back – On Labor Day Weekend, the town of Newcastle hosts Madness on Main Street, and Deb raises funds to help community members with cancer pay their hospital bills during her Let’s Beat Cancer Together event. Courtesy photo

beverages and royalty glam treatment in preparation of their big night.

Later in the year, on Labor Day Weekend, Deb hosts a Let’s Beat Cancer Together event during Newcastle’s Madness on Main Street.

“Someone donates a car to me, and I have Minute Man take out all of the fluids and glass,” explains Deb. “Adults pay $10 to choose their size of sledgehammer, and then they get five whacks on the car.”

Deb explains the event is done in memory of a fallen firefighter – her husband, who lost his courageous battle with cancer – so donations are given to community members to help pay

their cancer bills.

During the holiday season, Deb hosts Painting of the Hands during Newcastle’s Parade of Lights.

“We paint a child’s hand and squeeze it around a shatterproof Christmas bulb,” she shares. “It is an everlasting handprint that a parent can never get back in that size. For the babies, we do a footprint.”

Deb points out, “I do a lot of things for kids because kids are the future – if you treat them well, they will come back.”

With community events held throughout the year and the fact she is the only employee in her store, Deb stays incredibly busy, but she wouldn’t have it any

other way.

“When I was 10 years old, I spent the summer with my great-grandfather on his farm in Anamosa, Iowa, and he told me, ‘Debra Lee, if you ever find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life,’” she shares. “And you know what? It’s so true.

I love my business. Even though it has given me some headaches over the years, it has all been worth it.”

For more information on WC Sports and Western Wear, visit their Facebook Page @W.C.Sports&WesternWear.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Rounupd.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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A17

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Mike and Jake Harris ranch where the cows and triceratops roam Mike Harris and his son Jake have owned their ranch outside of Newcastle for 27 years. Prior to this, they ranched outside of Custer, S.D. Running cows has always been a way of life for the two Harris men, and their cow/calf operation thrives on the short, highprotein grass of northeastern Wyoming.

“There is a lot of short grass around here, but it’s pretty powerful,” explains Jake. “It packs a punch. We try to rotate a lot in the summer – every four days or so.

We try to do some rotational grazing, and it sure keeps the flies low. We’ve found when we move out of a pasture, the pasture grows back really well, especially if we get some rain after.”

Natural innovations Throughout the ranch, one will find dugouts in many of the draws. With the help of an excavator, Mike strategically dug watering holes to collect precipitation and runoff.

With the help of these additional water sources, the water pipeline throughout the ranch is more of a tool than a necessity.

“If we get decent moisture in the summertime, we really don’t have to rely on the pipelines. So, the cows just mosey about a quarter mile to water at the dugouts,” Jake says.

“We split our pastures up small enough they don’t have to walk a mile or a mile and a half to water, which we think has had a huge impact on the health of the calves too, because the calves aren’t trailing behind the cows as they kick up dust over long distances,” he adds.

Nature’s gifts Jake knows the secret to happiness can usually be found on the back of a horse.

“Being horseback is so great because you can just experience nature,” says Jake. “You hear the rattle-

snakes and the birds. You can hear cows bellering from a mile away.”

It was on horseback about 20 years ago Jake noticed a bone sticking out of the bank. Little did he know, it would change the trajectory of the ranch forever.

“There was actually a guy from California we were leasing a place from, and the only reason he bought the place was specifically for dinosaurs. He told us we probably had dinosaurs on our place too,” explains Jake. “Turns out, they’re pretty much all over. We’ve found probably 20-plus representations of triceratops alone, from juveniles to adults.”

Since the discovery of the dinosaurs, the Harris’ have dug up thousands of fossils, including the fourth most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex in the world and the most complete Denversaurus in the world.

Those who are interested in paleontology and dinosaurs, might recognize Mike and Jake from “Discovery Channel’s” show “Dino Hunters.”

“The dinosaurs have definitely been a supplement to the ranch, and they’re very much a part of the ranch now. When we’re rotating pastures, if we have dinosaur digs going on, we just put panels around them so the cows don’t stomp on them,” says Jake.

The Wyoming Dinosaur Ranch is now set up to host dinosaur enthusiasts. People come from across the country to get a taste of the real West while getting their hands dirty as they dig for fossils.

“I love sharing what we do with people,” explains Jake. “We take a lot of people out to our microsite – our friends from town; kids; people from church; cousins, aunts and uncles and hunters who have been coming out for years. I do a lot of presenting at our local schools,

“The dinosaurs have definitely been a supplement to the ranch, and they’re very much a part of the ranch now. When we’re rotating pastures, if we have dinosaur digs going on, we just put panels around them so the cows don’t stomp on them.”

Jake Harris

from Buffalo to Casper to Chadron and everywhere in between.”

At the end of the day, the ranch is still a cow/calf operation dealing with the same problems as everyone else, from leaky pipelines to fixing fence.

“We’re just trying to stay ahead of the game,” says Jake.

For more information on

First find – This dinosaur bone, a Hadrosaur humerus, was the first bone Jake Harris dug out himself on the ranch. Courtesy photo

Wyoming Dinosaur Ranch, visit wyomingdinosaurranch.com/.

Tressa Lawrence is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock

Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

WBC teamed up with the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, 307 Meat Co. and the Wyoming Stock Growers Association to provide beef sticks to children with food insecurity.

The Beef for Backpacks program is now in 20 Wyoming counties and is projected to provide over 200,000 beef sticks this school year.

If you are interested in donating beef, please contact Olivia Sanchez at the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, (307) 638-3942 or Trista Ostrom at the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, (307) 777-7398.

A18

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

Step back in time – Discover the rich culture of Weston County at The Red Onion Museum. Courtesy photo

Upton’s Red Onion Museum is a cultural attraction The Red Onion Museum in Upton offers a peak into the city’s rich history and is part of the Weston County Museum District, a nonprofit organization operating two local museums.

The Weston County Museum District serves as a depository and provides professional conservator care of the artifacts of Weston County, while maintaining and creating historical exhibits, which are a significant part of Weston

County history.

The Weston County Museum District sold the home of the Red Onion Museum to purchase a large site in June 2023, and the newly renovated Red Onion Museum was relocated to Old Town, which is open daily and free of charge.

The museum hosts several events each year, including living history days, an old-fashioned bike tour featuring old motorcycles and Continued on next page

Antique sheep wagon – Museum spectators can imagine herding sheep across the Wyoming plains in this unique mode of transportation. Courtesy photo

A19

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

several coffee events targeting different interests in the community.

Red Onion Museum District Director Cindy Dysart states, “We offer wonderful events, and one special event is Pioneering on the Patio, which teaches lost skills of the past, such as wool spinning, making jerky, making biscuits in a Dutch oven and foraging for wild foods.”

A story waiting to be discovered The mission of the Red Onion Museum is to preserve the area’s rich history and educate the public about the historical past of Upton, Weston County and the state of Wyoming.

Walter “Jarbo” Poulson brought fame to the name “Red Onion” in the Upton community when he opened the Red Onion Saloon, which operated for several years before the Prohibition.

When the Prohibition resulted in the closure of the Red Onion Saloon, Poulson moved his business to the Red Onion Ranch.

The Red Onion Museum was reorganized in 1996, and the historic name was again put to use when the museum moved to Old Town.

“The new location provides great foot traffic for the museum and enough room for the exhibits and parking,” Cindy remarks.

“The Red Onion Museum has many different artifacts collected over the years, and the artifacts and collections at the museum put visitors in touch with lifestyles and ways of life from previous years in Upton.”

The museum’s exhibits depict the lives of early settlers in the region, the history of Upton and surrounding areas, Native American artifacts and arrowhead collection and features art-

work by local artists.

At the Red Onion Museum, numerous items are on display, like an original switchboard, which was brought in when telephones were introduced in Upton.

“Additional items on display are a hand-drawn map of Upton, an old-time piano and several old cavalry saddles,” Cindy notes.

“The Red Onion Museum’s exhibits share the story of life in Wyoming for pioneer women and the great lengths they went to in order to care for their families,” she adds.

Upton history comes alive in Old Town “Upton is a small-town community where people pull together to support each other,” Cindy shares.

“The Red Onion Museum reflects our local history, which showcases how resourceful people were back then, just as they are today.”

Old Town represents life in the region over 100

years ago, as it supports a collection of old homesteads and buildings which have been relocated to Upton from around northeast Wyoming.

The preserved buildings and local stockyard were essential to the area’s development in the late 1800s and the old Irontown settlement.

“A significant draw to

the museum is the collection of wagons from the era – sheep wagons, covered wagons, buggies and more,” Cindy explains.

Visitors can also tour Old Town cabins, log houses, Upton’s old fire hall and water tank, barns, corrals, a blacksmith shop and more.

Cindy concludes, “Old Town is a favorite backdrop

Hand-drawn map – Upton resident Don Gose’s hand-crafted map resides in the Red Onion Museum.

Courtesy photo

“The Red Onion Museum has many different artifacts collected over the years, and the artifacts and collections at the museum put visitors in touch with lifestyles and ways of life from previous years in Upton.”

Cindy Dysart

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for wedding and graduation pictures, and groups decorate the wagons with their unique Christmas decorations.”

For more information on the Red Onion Museum, visit westoncountymuseums.com.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

A20

Randy Bock’s craftsmanship can be seen across the West

Custom cow cake bins – An American Welder, LLC prides itself on high-quality work at a reasonable price. Courtesy photo

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The welding industry is not for everyone – it is a physically demanding and challenging occupation, but it’s an essential skill to fabricate various products and infrastructures.

However Randy Bock, owner of An American Welder, LLC in Newcastle, has been up for the challenge, manufacturing high-quality products for over 35 years and playing a critical role in the agricultural industry.

Randy supports ranchers across multiple states with a variety of ag products but specializes in creating overhead cake bins.

How it all started Randy is no stranger to Weston County, as he grew up in Newcastle, and today he and his family live only three miles from where he was born.

“It all began back in 1988,” Randy states. “I had two cousins who were much older than me and they were welders, which piqued my interest.”

He notes, “I attended Northwest Community College in Powell and competed on their wrestling team, while obtaining an applied science degree in welding technology at the same time.”

“I broke out into the welding industry when I was working on oil rig derricks during the day and welding all night for a company out of Canada called Co Rod,” he explains. “They called me and said they needed my business name to pay me for my welding services, but at the time, I did not have one.”

“Our coveralls had a Canadian flag on one shoul-

der and an American flag on the other, so I told them to make the check to An American Welder, LLC and it stuck,” he adds.

An American Welder, LLC was established, and since then, Randy has been doing numerous side jobs where he designed and crafted a variety of products over the years.

He comments, “I worked for the local coal mine for over 33 years, but I left at the end of last year. I am welding full time now, and I enjoy building good-quality products to help individuals, making their lives easier and being able to do it faster is what I enjoy the most.”

An American Welder, LLC also creates artwork with a plasma cutter and can custom build steel ranch signs.

Overhead cow bins Randy has been crafting overhead cow cake bins since 1992, when local rancher Dennis Patton, who has since passed, came to his shop and inquired about getting a bin built.

“Patton asked me if it was possible to make a cow cake bin for him locally or he would have to travel to Nebraska to get one. So, I went to work building one for him, and two weeks later, it was delivered,” Randy chuckles. “It was my first one. I learned from it and have been building them ever since.”

“I have had help over the years in the shop building bins. My son Nick has been helping me since he was 10 years old,” he adds. “Nick is Continued on next page

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A21

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

now a certified welder and went on to become a mechanical engineer after graduating from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He now lives in Texas.”

An American Welder, LLC creates standard overhead cow cake bins out of 10-gauge steel but can be customized for customers.

Randy points out his customers have the choice to select a color for the bins but he recommends tan, covert green or white, as the paint adheres better with these colors. Customers also have the choice to have the Wyoming bucking horse logo placed on them as well.

Today, Randy can craft an overhead cow cake bin in about four to five days, depending on the weather, and he does 90 percent of deliveries.

“We have delivered cow cake bins all over Wyoming and even into Colorado,

Montana and South Dakota,” he adds. “Since I opened the doors of An American Welder, LLC, we have crafted 672 bins.”

Randy’s passion for welding can be seen in the quality of his work, and he expresses welding has been really good to him and his family.

“We would like to thank everyone who has purchased from us, and we look forward

to serving new customers,” Randy says.

Randy has been married to his wife Jamie for 33 years, a teacher at the Newcastle Elementary School, and they also have a daughter, Kellar, who lives in Sheridan and is studying to be a registered nurse.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

“We have delivered cow cake bins all over Wyoming and even into Colorado, Montana and South Dakota. Since I opened the doors of An American Welder, LLC, we have crafted 672 bins.”

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A22

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

ABOVE: Birds eye view – The X Ring Ranch has been nestled on the creek bank since 1913. Courtesy photo

Justin and Myla Mills continue tradition as the fourth generation on the X Ring Ranch

RIGHT: The next generation – Justin and Myla Mills and their children are the next generations taking over the family ranch. Courtesy photo

Where the timber of the Black Hills meets the rolling plains of the prairies, one will find the X Ring Ranch. Located southeast of Upton, the X Ring Ranch has been operating for over 100 years.

The ranch was established in 1913, when Henry P. and Clara Martens homesteaded where Beaver Creek and Soda Creek converge.

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returned to Myla’s family’s ranch 10 years ago and are the fourth generation on the ranch. They have five children – Ethan, Chase, Maddie, Paige and Olivia – and they lease the ranch from Myla’s parents Jim and Kathy Martens.

Cow/calf legacy “For the most part, the ranch has always been a cow/calf operation,” explains Justin. “We do take some cattle in the summertime – pairs or yearlings – depending on the grass.”

Like others in Wyoming, the Mills’ have adapted their grazing plans as a reflection of the moisture for the year.

“We’ve kind of fluctuated our herd numbers based on drought and grass availability,” explains Justin.

“My in-laws worked on the development of water and pipelines, which has helped bring capacity up on the place in terms of the amount of cattle they could run.”

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page

years ago, we fluctuated back and forth between taking in cattle on grass – more than probably was ever done before – depending on grass and good years,” he adds.

Cows thrive on the hardy grass growing in the heavy clay soil on the ranch.

The Mills’ have worked on breaking their pastures into smaller paddocks, and through rotational grazing, have been able to manage their grazing in a way that leaves plenty of grass for the winter months.

“We’re in an area where we can get through a pretty good chunk of the winter without having to feed a whole lot of hay, and we try not to,” says Justin.

“From our management standpoint, we try to graze the grass as much as we can throughout the winter.

There might be some times where we get pretty heavy snow so we have to dip into the hay pile, but we really don’t try to get too carried away if we can help it,” he continues.

Growing the next generation Both Justin and Myla come from large families, which luckily means there are always helping hands around. Their nephew Triston Roberson grew up on the ranch and is working there now.

When asked what advice Justin would give the next generation of agriculturalists, his advice is to spread one’s wings and see what’s out there.

“I’ve had this conversation with my oldest son.

I think it’s important to continue education beyond

high school in some way, whether it’s a vocational school or a two-year or four-year degree. I think it’s important,” says Justin.

“And then, the next element is to go and get some experience somewhere else,” he adds. “Leave. Get away from the ranch you grew up on. I think there’s a lot of value to that.”

Working Ranch Podcast Some may recognize Justin’s name from his years working with the Northern Broadcasting Network or from the Working Ranch Podcast, which he has been hosting for the last two years.

“The podcast covers issues a lot of us deal with in agriculture, and I think one

of the advantages I have is I ranch for a living,” he states.

“So, a lot of the issues we talk about on the show are relevant to those who run ranches, whether they’re like us and have a cow/calf outfit or yearling deals or farm feeders or whatever they may be, there’s some issues that are pretty applicable.”

The Working Ranch

Podcast is a production of Working Ranch Magazine and can be found wherever readers listen to podcasts and airs on RFD-TV’s radio channel 147 on Sirius XM. Tressa Lawrence is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

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A24

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition

The Inyan Kara Grazing Association marks 85 years of community grazing In the 1930s, President Roosevelt was implementing New Deal projects to help provide economic relief to depression-stricken Americans. Included in his programs were various attempts to provide relief to farmers and ranchers across the countryside.

By the late 1930s, the government started buying

back land from homesteaders who couldn’t afford to stay, which is how the Inyan Kara Grazing Association came about in 1939.

“The government was buying back some homesteads that were going belly up, putting blocks of land together and then leasing it out to ranchers who were hanging in there in better

shape,” explains Jim Darlington, director of the association. “This enlarged their places so they could run more livestock and make a better go of things.”

While the New Deal reformation was successful in the long run, putting together enough land to maintain a successful grazing association eight

decades later, wasn’t always met with open arms.

“It did work out in the long run, but there were some hard feelings,” says Jim. “Neighbors got their arms twisted pretty strongly if they happened to be in the middle of a block that was being put together. The government told them ‘Well, here’s your two dollars an

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60 BULLS SUITABLE FOR USE ON FIRST CALF HEIFERS

AI SIRES:

 S WRANGLER 830

 ELLINGSON UPLOAD 1004  COLEMAN TRIUMPH 9145  S RIGHT TIME 7861

 U2 COALITION 206C

 DEER VALLEY GROWTH FUND

acre, load up your stuff and get out of here.’”

How a grazing association works The government still owns the land the Inyan Kara Grazing Association exists on, however, permittees do not have to work directly with them.

“The association is the government’s permittee, and individual ranchers are the association’s permittees,” explains Jim. Aside from administering the grazing permit, the Inyan Kara Grazing Association works on conservation practices. Over the years, the association has implemented water management systems, originally with dams and windmills and now solar pumps and pipelines.

Jim has been with the Inyan Kara Grazing Association since 1982, outlasting many of the U.S. Forest Service rangers he has worked with through his years with the association.

He has been involved with multiple land exchanges over the years and has subsequently become very familiar with the long processes tied to government work, in hopes permittees do not have to jump through the hoops.

Association members When the grazing association was started 85 years ago, there were about 120 ranchers who had permits.

Now, this number is closer to 75. Many of the ranchers involved with the grazing association today are descendants of the original association’s members.

In order to be granted a permit with the Inyan Kara Grazing Association, an individual has to already own base property the Adobe Stock photo

equivalence of 50 percent of the amount of land they would like to have under permit, and of this, 50 percent of land needs to be deeded acres.

“For example, if a person has 500 acres of base property, 50 percent of it has to be deeded land. So, if they had 250 acres of deeded land and 250 acres of leased land, they would qualify for 1,000 acres,” says Jim. There are both individual allotments, as well as community pastures.

The individual allotments can be utilized year-round, whereas community pastures are usually only for summer use.

Community pastures are typically all grassland, with some of the pastures having multiple grazing permittees running alongside each other.

Lay of the land The Inyan Kara Grazing Association covers a wide variety of country – approximately 150,000 acres of national grassland, private and state leases primarily in Weston County, with some acres in Niobrara County.

Between all of the grazing allotments, the Inyan Kara Grazing Association is permitted 35,500 animal unit months.

“The people who run on Inyan Kara Grazing Association are good, salt-of-theEarth people,” says Jim. “It’s an efficient program which allows people to run more cattle than if they were just making a go of it on their own.”

Tressa Lawrence is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.