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FALL CATTLEMEN' S EDITION 2025

FEATURING FREMONT COUNTY

FEATURED FREMONT COUNTY OPERATIONS

Fremont County Stats

• Population – 39,234

• Land Area – 9,183.6 square miles

• Founded – March 5, 1884

• County Seat – Lander

• Woolery Ranch

• Spratt Ranch

• Espinosa Family

• Lucky 7 Angus

• Carlson Equipment and BCM Sales

• T&T Cattle

• Ivan Laird and Glenda Hlavnicka

• Riverton Livestock Auction

• Ingalls Angus

• Rocky Mountain Agronomy Center

• Frank’s Butcher Shop

• Ruby Family

• SO Cattle, Inc. and Frank Ranches

• Cottonwood Creek Wool

introducing fremont county

Across pastures and peaks, agriculture in Fremont County prospers

The Wyoming Livestock Roundup is excited to highlight farms, ranches and agribusinesses of Fremont County in our 2025 Fall Cattlemen’s Edition.

Stretching across 9,183.6 square miles of mountains, valleys and rangelands, Fremont County boasts the secondlargest land mass of Wyoming’s 23 counties behind Sweetwater County.

With just under 40,000 residents, which equates to fewer than four people per square mile, Fremont remains one of Wyoming’s most rural counties, and this rural character drives much of the local economy – agriculture in particular.

Landscape and climate

Fremont County’s landscape can only be described as dramatic. Rising from the sprawling sagebrush steppes near Riverton at elevations of about 4,900 feet to Gannett Peak – Wyoming’s tallest summit at 13,804 feet – the county encompasses everything from fertile riparian areas to the snow-capped peaks of the Wind River Mountain Range.

Additionally, the Wind River and its tributaries snake through Fremont County, carrying snowmelt and glacial runoff to supply irrigation water for local farms and ranches, which is critical for producers in this semi-arid climate.

In fact, much of Fremont County receives just 10 to 15 inches of annual precipitation, and the growing season is short with just 100 to 150 frost-free days a year in lower valleys and even fewer at higher elevations.

Hot, dry summers and long, cold winters limit the types of crops which thrive in Fremont County, although these conditions also contribute to some of the highest-quality hay and forage grown in Wyoming.

Ranching dominates the agricultural landscape, with cattle and sheep operations dotting the rangelands. On irrigated lands, producers mostly grow alfalfa and grass hay, with smaller acreages planted with barley, oats, sugarbeets and dry beans.

Fremont County ag stats

Per the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Census of Agriculture, published in 2022, Fremont County is home to 987 farms, and land in farms totals 1,203,097 acres.

Of the county’s agricultural land, 1,052,549 acres are classified as pastureland, 109,749 acres are classified as cropland and 10,556 acres are classified as woodland.

Eight percent of land in farms – or 101,050 acres – are irrigated.

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According to the USDA, all hay and haylage, at 73,410 acres, is the number one crop grown in the area, followed by barley for grain at 2,591 acres, corn for grain at 2,149 acres, corn for silage and greenchop at 1,987 acres and sugarbeets for sugar at 1,160 acres.

At 85,784 head, cattle and calves dominate the county’s livestock inventory. Sheep are second in the running at 15,739 head.

The rest of the county’s livestock inventory includes 5,414 horses and ponies, 915 goats, 30 hogs and pigs, 2,899 layers, 222 pullets, 480 broilers and other meat-type chickens and 93 turkeys.

Additionally, USDA reports Fremont County accounts for six percent of the entire state’s agricultural sales, with the total market value of agriculture products sold topping $98.9 million.

The majority of these sales – 69 percent – comes from livestock, poultry and other animal products at $68.6 million, while the remaining 31 percent, or $30.3 million, comes from

the sale of crops.

State rankings

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Fremont County ranks in the state’s top 10 of nearly all agricultural products grown and raised here.

The county ranks first in production of fruits, tree nuts, berries, nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod; second in vegetables, melons, potatoes and sweet potatoes; third in milk from cows and fourth in hay, poultry and eggs.

Fremont County ranks fifth in the state for cattle, calves and all crops; sixth in livestock, poultry and byproducts and seventh in aquaculture and grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas.

Additionally the county ranks eighth in Wyoming for sheep, goats, wool, mohair and milk, as well as horses, ponies, mules, burros and donkeys.

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

Wide-open spaces – Ranching dominates Fremont County’s agricultural landscape, where fertile river bottoms and wide-open rangelands are home to large cattle and sheep operations. Adobe Stock Image photo

Dramatic landscapes – Nestled at the base of the Wind River Mountains, Fremont County offers some of the most dramatic views in the West. Adobe Stock Image photo

Fremont County History

Wyoming’s rich history beats strong in the heart of the state

Nestled in the heart of Wyoming, Fremont County is more than tall mountains, deep rivers and wide-open skies. It is a crossroads of rich culture, lofty dreams and ancient traditions that continue to shape modern life.

From the high peaks of the Wind River Range to the rolling fields of Riverton, Fremont County’s story is as colorful and diverse as its landscapes.

Ancient homelands

Long before the area was deemed Fremont County,

lands of Central Wyoming were home to thriving Native American populations.

In particular, the Shoshone Tribe had long wandered through the Wind River Valley in pursuit of plains buffalo and other wild game.

In the 1840-50s, the Tribe spent most of their time on the southwest side of the mountains in the Green River and Salt Lake valleys, but increasing conflict with white settlers encouraged them to seek out

a homeland they could call their own.

The Eastern Shoshone settled in the area now known as Fremont County under the leadership of Chief Washakie, a respected diplomat and impressive warrior, and in July of 1868 a treaty was signed to establish the Shoshone Reservation, which extended from South Pass to the Wind River Valley and over the Owl Creek Mountains to the Big Horn Basin.

A few years later, the

Arapaho Tribe, which had long roamed the mountains and plains across Montana, eastern Wyoming and southern Colorado, were pressured into settling in “Indian Territory” – now known as the state of Oklahoma – but only a portion of the Tribe made the move.

The Northern Arapaho Tribe branched off and continued to request a reservation in Wyoming.

With approval from the Shoshone, Arapaho were placed on the same reservation. The short-term arrangement eventually became permanent, and the reservation became known as the Wind River Reservation.

Today, the Wind River Reservation remains one of the county’s most defin-

ing features, preserving both Tribes’ cultures and sovereignty.

County namesake In 1884, Fremont County was officially founded and named in honor of famed Explorer, Politician and American Military Officer John C. Frémont.

While Frémont never actually took up residence in the area, his expeditions left a lasting legacy.

Nicknamed “The Great Pathfinder,” Frémont led mapping and surveying expeditions through the Rocky Mountains in the 1840s. One of the most notable was a major expedition in 1842 with legendary Frontiersman Kit Carson to survey the route to Oregon.

Supposedly, this trip

included a famous climb of what was then thought to be the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains – Fremont Peak – a defining geological feature of the county to this day.

Frémont’s extensive reports and maps ultimately helped lure settlers, miners and military interests westward, so when the Wyoming Territory began carving out counties in the 1880s, naming one after Frémont was a “no-brainer” and an honorable nod to his influence on Western expansion.

Striking gold In 1867, whispers of gold at South Pass set off Wyoming’s first gold rush. The story goes that a group of soldiers out of

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Rise of the railroad – Tie hacks for the Chicago and North Western Railroad were floated down the Wind River at high water each spring. Riverton Museum photo

Rowdy frontier – South Pass City is arguably one of the most famous ghost towns in Wyoming, rivaling rowdy frontier towns in Colorado and California during its peak. The settlement was established in 1867 during the Cowboy State’s first gold rush. Wyoming Tales and Trails photo

Fort Bridger heard tales of gold along the Sweetwater River and followed the drainages to a vein of quartz along Willow Creek. They set the first gold claim in the Dakota Territory in June of 1867, then returned to Fort Bridger in the fall to boast about their discovery.

Prospectors flocked to the region, and boomtowns like South Pass City, Atlantic City and Miner’s Delight sprang up almost overnight.

For a short time, South Pass City rivaled the rowdy frontier towns of Colorado and California. But the easy gold didn’t last, and miners were forced to turn underground, which required more time and money than surface mining.

By the 1870s, most miners had moved on, leaving behind a trail of ghost towns which remain preserved today as living museums of the boom-and-bust West.

Ranching and railroads

When the gold faded, ranching rose, and many miners moved down into the Wind River Valley to raise crops and livestock.

Vast open rangelands, abundant water and native grasses made Fremont County prime cattle and sheep country, and big cattle bosses and sheepmen began trailing their herds into the area.

By the late 19th century, large ranching operations dotted the county and big livestock drives were common.

Some of the most notable include Iowa Businessman John T. Stewart, who established the 71 Quarter Circle Ranch, famously known as Three Crossings by those traveling the Oregon Trail; James K. Moore, the first licensed Native American trader on the Shoshone Reservation who began running cattle with permission from Chief Washakie and Otto Franc, who ran a thriving cattle business on the Greybull River.

Additionally, wolf hunter John D. Woodruff is frequently credited with bringing the first sheep into the area, and his home was one of the first permanent residences in the Big Horn Basin.

Luther Morrison and his wife Lucy, who later became known as “The Sheep Queen of Wyoming,” trailed sheep from Idaho and set up a successful operation north of present-day Shoshoni.

In the 1890s, John Brognard Okie established the town of Lost Cabin and built a sheep and business empire rivaling some of the largest operations in Wyoming.

The early 20th century brought another big shift – irrigation – and government-backed irrigation projects, particularly around Riverton, turned dry sagebrush flats into fertile farmland.

One of the largest irrigation projects took place in Fremont County, constructed by the Wyoming

Central Irrigation Company, which was owned by Chicago Salt Baron Joy Morton.

The creation of the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1906 connected the county to larger markets, fueling the growth of the county as a regional hub.

While coal was mined in small quantities for many years near present-day Hudson, the railroad allowed several larger operations to pop up.

The first oil well in the Wyoming territory was drilled on the Little Popo Agie near Lander, and the arrival of the railroad made it possible to transport oil to distant markets.

Additionally, the railroad needed ties for tracks, jumpstarting the timber industry near Dubois. The Wyoming Tie and Timber Company was established, and the tie industry had a significant economic impact in both Dubois and Riverton.

Boom and bust

Mining in Fremont County wasn’t finished after the gold rush. In the mid20th century, uranium discoveries near Jeffrey City and the Gas Hills spurred another wave of excitement.

Initially home to a few cattle ranchers, present-day Jeffrey City was born, and at its peak in the 1950-60s, the town boasted nearly 4,000 residents.

But when uranium prices collapsed in the 1980s, so did the town. Within a few short years, Jeffrey City was essentially deserted, going from boomtown to near ghost town.

During the peak of the uranium boom, U.S. Steel developed an iron-ore mine near Atlantic City with a mill built to process and pel-

letize ore for shipment on the Union Pacific Railroad.

Most of the mine’s workers lived in Lander and commuted daily, but when the domestic steel industry took a hit, U.S. Steel closed the mine in 1983 and the railroad line was removed.

At the same time, drilling for natural gas in northeast Fremont County found huge new reserves, and technological improvements made it possible to reach these reserves. The small settlements of Lost Cabin and Lysite bustled with activity until they too suffered a bust.

Modern-day

Fremont County

Today, Fremont County is Wyoming’s second largest county by area and is home to nearly 40,000 residents.

The communities of Lander, Riverton, Dubois, Hudson and Shoshoni still carry pieces of its layered past. Tourism plays a growing role, with visitors drawn to the Wind River Range, Oregon Trail routes and cultural sites on the Wind River Reservation, and agriculture, energy development and small businesses keep

the economy diverse. What continues to set Fremont County apart from other communities across the Cowboy State is how the past still breathes in daily life. Here, history isn’t just preserved – its lived, celebrated and continually woven into the county’s identity.

Information in this arti-

cle was compiled from the Wyoming Historical Society, The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Wyoming Tales and Trails and Fremont County’s official website.

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

Famed chief – Pictured is Chief Washakie, arm outstretched on the left, with Shoshone dancers, U.S. troops and civilians at Fort Washakie in 1892. National Archives photo

rich ranching roots

Woolery family ranch boasts colorful history, six generations deep

Clyde Woolery, a generational rancher from Kinnear, has deep roots in the Wyoming ranching community, and the family ranch where he resides has a rich and colorful history.

In 1898, Clyde’s grandfather Gene Woolery moved to Wyoming from Steamboat Springs, Colo., where his dad ran a ranch.

“Gene was about 15 years old when he came up to Wyoming,” Clyde shares. “He worked for a big outfit called the M Bar, then he worked for Shoshoni Livestock with a lease on the reservation.”

When Gene’s father passed away, he returned to Colorado in 1927 for a short time, then returned to the Cowboy State where he and

his wife Hattie homesteaded the Whiskey Basin Ranch –now the Bighorn Recovery Center in Dubois.

“Gene bought the Kinnear ranch in 1930 when it came up for sale, with the idea he could lease reservation land to run cattle on. But in 1931, they quit leasing to those who are not Native American,” Clyde explains.

“Gene had to figure out somewhere else to go with his cattle. So, for about 15 years, my grandparents leased pasture in the Copper Mountain area by Shoshoni. Then in 1946, they bought range on Beaver Creek out by Sweetwater, and we still run cattle there.”

Family operation

Clyde notes his grandparents ran the ranch until Gene passed away in 1950,

and since then, the operation has been passed down through each generation of the Woolery family, gradually growing larger as they have had the opportunity to purchase nearby units.

“My dad Harvey Woolery came back to the ranch at the time, and he and my mother Violette ran it alongside my grandmother until the late 1980s,” Clyde shares. “I came back in 1969, and I am still somewhat active on the ranch.”

Additionally, Clyde notes his brother Dale worked on the ranch in the 60s, his brother Bruce worked on the ranch in the late 80s and his sister Carol has helped gather over the years.

“My mother, my wife Nancy and I have run the ranch for quite a while, but my son-in-law Shane Sanderson is now taking it over and making most of the decisions for the ranch,” Clyde says.

And, as the next generation of Woolery family takes over, the future generation isn’t far behind.

In fact, Clyde notes Shane and his daughter LeAnn have two daughters – Layne and Skye. Layne’s husband Cody Rowland also works on the ranch, and their two-year-old son Brecken marks the Woolerys’ sixth generation. Skye lives in Riverton and works for Central Wyoming College, making time to help gather when

Raising kids and cows – Throughout the years, the Woolery family has raised a host of kids and cows.

Courtesy photo

ranch work requires more cowboys.

“Our other daughter Rene lives in Denver, and she has two boys – Easton and Porter. They are quite involved with sports, and we go down there to watch them compete,” he shares.

Clyde continues, “Quite a few of my mother’s grandchildren have worked and helped on the ranch as well, including Jerry, Terry, Robert, Skye and TJ, who spent three years on the ranch and now has a thriving dude operation. This ranch has raised a lot of kids.”

In July, Violette turned 103, and although she lives in a retirement home in Riverton, she calls Clyde nearly every evening to talk about what’s happening on the ranch.

The Lazy V3

In the 1980-90s, the Woolery family began transitioning away from Hereford cattle. Today, the operation runs purely Angus cows, branded with the Lazy V3.

Cattle are summered in the Beaver Creek and Sweetwater area, then wintered on the ranch in Kinnear.

“We put up about 450 acres of hay each year to feed cattle during the winter. It’s all alfalfa and alfalfagrass hay, grown under two center pivots,” Clyde says.

“We put up second cutting on about two-thirds of it. We generally have a long enough growing season we sometimes have a third cutting, which we mow down for pasture.”

“We pasture the hay aftermath and lease some fall pasture close to our range,” he adds. “We bring the cattle down onto some meadows we lease, and we gather and wean at our cow camp on the mountain during the first part of October, then haul the calves home.”

Clyde notes cows are left out on the range until Oct. 25, then brought down to leased pasture where they stay until the first of December, depending on weather conditions. The herd is then brought back down to the homeplace and pastured on hay aftermath.

“We can usually make it to January before we have to start feeding hay,” says Clyde.

In addition to running cow/calf pairs, the Woolery family also retains yearlings to market through Northern Livestock Video Auction in Billings, Mont.

“We’ve sold yearlings on the video for about 10 years and have been very pleased with the market,” Clyde says. “We use local auction barns to sell cull cows – Riverton Livestock Auction is just 20 miles

“I think it’s important to fit cattle to the range.”

Clyde Woolery

from our place.”

The Woolery family also keeps their own replacement heifers, which are better adapted to the tough range conditions of Fremont County.

Clyde comments, “I think it’s important to fit cattle to the range.”

When it comes to the bull battery, Clyde notes the family sources their genetics locally, and for

Sunday, October 12, 2025: 28th Annual Fall Colt & Yearling Catalog Sale - 10 a.m.

• 23 blue roan filly granddaughter of Streak of Fling-ranching heritage F&R, Royal Crown Roping eligible

• 21 sorrel gelding grandson of Playgun- gentle, ranch, started heading 22 red roan mare granddaughter of Grays Starlightstarted cutter

• 19 sorrel mare by Paddy Socks-heel horse, ranch

• 23 red roan mare- granddaughter of Once In a Blu Boon- Futurity eligible

• 19 dun gelding grandson of Fairfax Jay- ranch broke

• 20 dun gelding grandson of Fairfax Jay- ranch broke

• 20 gray mare granddaughter of Streak of Fling- broodmare broke to ride

22 bay gelding grandson of Paddys Irish Whiskeywell started

10 gray mare granddaughter of Smart Mate- in foal to son of Highbrow Cat

• 19 red roan mare by Royal CD- in foal to Malice In Chains

• 22 bay gelding grandson of Streak of Fling

• 16 grullo gelding by Ranger Cookie

• 22 bay gelding grandson of Shooter Cat- ranch horse

• 20 sorrel gelding grandson of Metallic Cat- ranch horse

• 23 sorrel mare granddaughter of Metallic Malicefuturity eligible

the past six years, they’ve bought bulls directly from a neighboring ranch. They also source seedstock from the Midland Bull Test in Columbus, Mont., which have been a nice fit for their herd.

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

Switching breeds – In the 1980s-90s, the Woolery family transitioned from raising Hereford cattle to raising Angus. Here, cattle trail out across Beaver Creek. Courtesy photo

Staying involved – Violette Woolery, part of the second generation on the family’s ranch, turned 103 in July. Although she resides in a retirement home in Riverton, she stays in touch and up-to-date on all things happening at the ranch.

Courtesy photo

These colts and yearlings will be paid up in the 2027 and 2028 F&R Cow Horse Futurity:

16 buckskin gelding grandson of Sun Frosthead horse

24 bay mare by Played

24 blk gelding by grandson of Dash Ta Fame

20 black gelding double bred

Two Eyed Red Buck- team rope

22 palomino gelding by grandson of Shining Sparkused on the ranch

Selling 250 baby colts and yearlings representing great bloodlines like: Smart Chic Olena, Peptoboonsmal, Dash Ta Fame, Dash For Cash, High Brow Cat, Playgun, Docs Hickory, Docs Oak, Paddys Irish Whiskey, Sophisticated Cat, Shining Spark, Metalic Cat, Dual Pep just to name a few. Come buy your next winner with us on October 12th

22 bay gelding grandson of Corona Cartelranch horse

Cattle and quarter horses

Spratt family embodies spirit of Wyoming ranching

TJ and Jennie Spratt are the fifth generation on their family ranch near Lysite, and their daughter

Andersen are the sixth.

Originally part of the old Matador Ranch – a huge, historic operation established in 1879 with loca-

tions in Texas, Montana and Wyoming – the ranch today boasts a colorful history and continues to thrive under the care of the Spratt and Andersen families.

According to Jennie, the Matador’s Wyoming ranch was massive, and the piece they run on today was just a small section known as the Linn Place.

TJ’s parents purchased the ranch – located about 60 miles from Riverton and 80 miles from Casper – in the early 1980s, and TJ and Jennie have resided here since they were married in 1989.

Cattle operation

Today, the Spratt and Andersen families run a herd of crossbred cattle and calve out about 250 heifers a year on the high-desert country of Fremont County.

Due to the rugged location, the family keeps all of their own replacement heifers, which seem to be better adapted to the tough environment, short grass and limited water.

“We keep all of our heifers, send them to the feedlot and sort them later,” Jen-

nie explains. “We turn out about 350 to 400 to be bred to Wagyu bulls, and we have some friends who buy the late calvers.”

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Jennie notes heifers are bred to Wagyu bulls leased from Agri-Beef of American Falls, Idaho.

“Wagyu are becoming

more popular, but we started doing it back when it wasn’t popular,” Jennie shares.

“We’d breed 200 heifers,

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Pasture dominated by Russian knapweed

Pasture dominated by native grass 3 years after treatment

Coralee and her husband Seth

Passion for horses – The Spratt and Andersen families are just as passionate about raising and training their own ranch horses as they are about running cattle. Here, Seth Andersen halter breaks a new addition to the saddle string. Courtesy photo

Spirit of the West – All ranch work on TJ and Jennie Spratt’s operation is done on horseback, embodying the spirit of the West. Courtesy photo

and back in those early days it was just my husband and I who calved them out. One year we had to pull more than half of the calves, even though we were using low birthweight bulls.”

“My mom was still working at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, Mont. at the time and she told us one of their studies showed more of the weight and size of the calf is determined by the dam than the bull, but if the calf is too big, the bull always gets blamed for it,” she continues.

Jennie notes her dad encouraged her to look into the Wagyu breed because they tend to throw smaller calves and are good to use on heifers.

“It sure solved our calving problems,” she admits. “We still occasionally have to pull a calf but not very often, and these little toughies are survivors. They get right up and will suck anything. I can’t remember what year we started using Wagyu, but it’s worked really well for us.”

The family also utilizes Black Angus and Hereford genetics.

“We have mostly Black Angus cattle, but I really like Herefords,” Jennie shares. “We started using Hereford bulls on the Angus cows many years ago, and it makes for a really good cross. Now we are moving back toward Angus a little more, because buyers always want black cattle even though they are all the same under the hide.”

Jennie notes she likes Herefords for their easygoing temperament and ability to get out and go. The first Hereford bull on the ranch was a Line One Hereford from Fort Keogh.

“Where we live, our cattle run on high-desert country, and they have to travel a lot – it’s a long way to water – so we generally don’t keep our bulls more than four years,” Jennie explains. “As they get older, they get so big they don’t like to travel as far, but that first Line One bull trotted everywhere. He was the best bull. The Herefords are so easy to get along with.”

Now, the Spratt and Andersen families source their purebred Hereford bulls from Tom and Marina Hadley of Wheatland and their Angus bulls from Bart Aby of Laurel, Mont. Quarter Horses

In addition to running cattle, the Spratt and Andersen families also raise and train their own ranch horses. In fact, Jennie jokes they only run cows because they like the horse side of ranching.

“We have 15 broodmares and raise and train our own ranch horses. TJ has never bought a horse except our stud, and heʼs 62 years old now so we’ve raised a lot of horses,” she says. “My father-in-law

started the breeding program and still has a say in breeding decisions. He’s been at it so long, he’s pretty good at it.”

Early on, the horse herd started out with Hancock and Blue Valentine bloodlines, then turned to Doc Bar.

“Later, we got a Freckles Playboy stud out of a Zan Parr Bar mare we loved. Then we used a Driftwood stud,” Jennie says. “We’ve had a Doc’s Hickory stud and a Blue Light Ike stud, and now we’ve got a Smooth Guy stud.”

Off of the ranch, Jennie and TJ like to compete in the arena, and Jennie specifically enjoys breakaway, barrel racing and team roping.

“TJ and I are very competitive and have enjoyed team roping together,” she says. “Here on the ranch, I

don’t ride any of the colts but the kids and my husband do. They ride them for the first 10 years, and I take them for the next 10.”

Additionally, Jennie notes all of the cattle work is done with horses, and the family particularly enjoys rope branding using a Nordfork.

She shares, “We have a branding trailer we set up in the middle of the branding corral, with two forks on each side. This year we did 640 head of calves in three hours.”

“We have a lot of ropers and fast folks on the ground doing the branding and vaccinating. Everybody knows what they need to do,” she adds. “With a good crew and good horses it all goes smoothly.”

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

Family traditions – Seth and Coralee Andersen, pictured left to right, are the sixth generation on the Spratt family ranch.Courtesy photo

Four generations on the ground

Espinosa

For Clay and Sally Espinosa, ranching isn’t just a livelihood – it’s a family tradition. As thirdgeneration ranchers near Lander, the couple raises cattle and hay, as well as the family’s fourth generation –their five-year-old daughter Kasey and their son Clancy, who will celebrate his first birthday in October.

Sally’s grandfather Stan Hovendick bought the place in the early 1990s, and Clay and Sally took over operations after they were married in 2017.

“We bought into partnership with Sally’s father on the cattle company, and we also run about 150 cows of our own,” Clay says.

Raising tough cattle

Today, the ranch’s herd is made up of Black Angus cattle, run on the homeplace in Lander and summered on South Pass.

Each year, the family keeps 80 to 100 replacement heifers to maintain a productive herd.

“We do a good job of keeping the herd current and productive, getting rid of any old cows or cripples,” Clay explains. “Right now, we are just maintaining our numbers, though we have aspirations of growing the herd.”

Clay notes he is in the business of raising tough cattle, and while some ranchers run their heifers on “easier country,” he believes it spoils them.

“Heifers make better

cows if they are kept where they are going to be for the rest of their life,” he says.

The couple calves at the end of January and into early February, and because this time of year is so cold, Clay says most of their calving is done in the barn.

“We like to calve this early because our breed-up is a lot better here at home where we can turn bulls out before the cattle go to summer range,” Clay says. “We have the cows down low in April and May on the homeplace for breeding.”

The family holds two or three brandings before pairs head to the mountain in early June. They return in mid-October when the weather turns and grass runs out at higher elevations.

While horses remain essential for calving and other cow work, Clay states the rugged terrain of Fremont County means motorbikes and ATVs are part of the program as well.

“I love the horses and there are places only a horse can go, but our range is big enough we don’t always want to ride a horse for miles just to get up there,” he states.

Making ends meet

In addition to raising tough cattle, the Espinosa family also raises their own grass and alfalfa hay.

“We are trying to put up our second cutting right now in between inclement weather and mechanical breakdowns,” Clay notes.

Like many ranchers, Clay balances ranch work with outside work, helping his father and uncle with their concrete company in Lander.

“I grew up working in the concrete business, but my heart has always been with the cattle,” he says. “I still help my dad and uncle when I can, but I spend more than half of my time on the ranch. We are trying to get things paid off and make ends meet.”

“It’s an unfortunate reality,” he continues. “I don’t mind the concrete work, though it’s hard physically. Hopefully within the next few years I won’t have to do it anymore. The cattle prices today are helping, but we can’t rely on good prices forever.”

Promoting youth in agriculture

Despite this, Clay and Sally remain optimistic about the future of ag.

One of Clay’s passions is encouraging youth to be more involved in the industry.

He notes the average age of U.S. farmers and ranchers today is 67 years old, so there is an urgent need for more young producers.

In his role as president of the Fremont County Cattlemen’s Association – his second year on the job –Clay is focused on promoting youth.

The association hosts a show at the local county fair for animals specifically born and raised within the borders of Fremont County.

“Participants have to weigh the animals in February and keep records until the sale at county fair. They can show a steer or a heifer. If the animal was born in Fremont County and has a Fremont County brand, it can be shown in our contest,” Clay explains. “This

is one way we are promoting local agriculture.”

The association also hosts a two-phase commercial cow contest, where youth track the progress of a bred heifer, then return

the following year with the cow and her calf.

“This is our way of promoting local agriculture and the responsibility of record keeping, which can help these kids later in life,”

Clay says.

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

Russell Ranch: Hot Springs and Fremont County, Wyoming. 4,504 + deeded acres, with accompanying 12,000 + acres in Federal and State permits. Three

Jim and Jamie Jensen are on a mission to raise and sell quality Black Angus cattle while spreading the word about sustainable agriculture through their seedstock operation, Lucky 7 Angus. For the Jensens, sustainability means making sure people eat while keeping ranching profitable.

A five-generation ranching operation, Lucky 7 Angus produces hardy, feedefficient cattle and “cow-

boy bulls” able to withstand tough environmental conditions with minimal input.

According to Jim, Lucky 7’s mission is to “keep the mom-and-pop rancher in business” by selling cattle that are more profitable, durable, healthier and capable of producing more pounds of beef per ranch.

These cattle also change the narrative about sustainability and public image when it comes to the cattle industry.

History of Lucky 7

The story of Lucky 7 Angus dates back to 1895 when James Jensen immigrated to Boulder from Denmark.

Jensen spent his first winter in America shoveling snow off the grass to feed his seven cows and three horses

in what is known today as the “Nation’s Icebox.”

In the years since, the Jensens have continued to prioritize hard work and perseverance in raising cattle in the same tough conditions. The program has developed into a profitable seedstock company.

Today, Lucky 7 Angus has over 2,000 head of registered Black Angus cattle spread out across three separate locations in Boulder, Riverton and Oklahoma.

Jim and Jamie oversee operations in Boulder with the help of their five children, while the Riverton farm is managed by Steve and Delayne Stadjuhar. Operations and clientele

As one of the largest seedstock producers in the U.S., Lucky 7 Angus sends

cattle all across the nation. Clientele is largely concentrated in Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado and Idaho, according to Jim.

“Our client base is basically the real commercial cattlemen – the ones who are out there trying to make a living and know the difference between a good one and a bad one,” says Jim.

Lucky 7 Angus cattle are “proven to work for ranchers in the real world” through a variety of real-world and scientific tests. Lucky 7 Angus conducts rigorous pulmonary arterial pressure testing at elevations above 7,200 feet, with a minimum of 100 days exposure.

They also track respiratory disease rates and other potential stressors in order to maintain a healthy, geneti-

cally-strong herd.

“Because of these tests and management practices, we actually have cattle that live longer, live healthier, produce longer and are dominant everywhere they go,” Jim says. “Taking care of business is the reason we do every one of the tests we do. Our number one priority is to make our customers money.”

Lucky 7’s annual bull sale is held at Riverton Livestock Auction on the first Saturday in March. Bulls are also sold over the internet, and Jim says clientele in person and online can buy with confidence, knowing quality is backed by proven genetics which have led Lucky 7 Angus to offer a unique fouryear guarantee.

Focus on feed efficiency

The Lucky 7 Angus website defines feed effi-

FIXED ANNUITY (FA)

Purpose: Income & safety

ciency as “the ability to either maintain or gain body weight on less feed than another animal in the same environment” and explains a properly executed feed efficiency program is about producing more pounds of beef with less input costs.

“Feed efficiency is like an economy car,” Jim explains. “Through our techniques, we’ve changed the engine in these cattle so they eat less grass to produce the same amount of beef.”

Jim says this method leads to wins for the producer and the environment.

“Once you start looking at feed efficiency and longevity, it mirrors cattle that would be considered more environmentally friendly to the city folks,” Jim says. “If we’re producing more pounds of beef with less grass, then more ranchers are putting more money in their pockets, and we’re producing less methane per pound of beef as well.”

In 2009, the Jensens became one of the first seedstock producers in the U.S. to install a GrowSafe feed intake monitoring system. Since then, Lucky 7 Angus has continued to invest in cutting-edge data collection systems to advance their program and keep them at the forefront of the industry.

“If you put all of these things together, every one of them equals more money for

• What it is: An insurance product where you deposit money and earn a fixed or declared interest rate, often with an option for guaranteed lifetime income.

• Primary Use: Retirement savings and income security.

• Growth: Fixed interest or based on insurer-declared rates.

• Risk: Low risk-backed by insurer guarantees.

• Liquidity: Limited. Withdrawals may have surrender charges in early years, plus possible IRS penalties before age 59½.

• Taxes: Growth is tax-deferred; withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.

• Death Benefit: Typically just account value, not leveraged.

II Best For: Conservative investors seeking steady, predictable growth or lifetime income guarantees.

the rancher and less greenhouse gases per pound of beef,” Jim says.

Changing the narrative

In addition to raising quality cattle, the Jensens are on a mission to change the negative narrative surrounding agriculture and the environment.

“We’re working on telling the whole wide world agriculture and cattle ranchers are not the problem –they’re the solution,” Jim says.

In 2024, Jim shared the benefits of feed-efficient cattle during an international speaking tour in the United Kingdom. Their story is also the focus of a four-part documentary called “Lucky 7

“Feed efficiency is like an economy car. Through our techniques, we’ve changed the engine in these cattle so they eat less grass to produce the same amount of beef.”

Jim Jensen

Angus: An Art of a Cowboy Story” which is available on Amazon Prime and ExploreFlix.

“Agriculture is the only industry on Earth that is absolutely essential for human survival,” Jim emphasizes. “If we want to stay alive, we need to invest in agriculture.”

Investing in agricul-

ture is exactly what Lucky 7 Angus continues to do – in Wyoming and beyond. For more information on Lucky 7 Angus, visit lucky7angus.com/ or e-mail cowboybulls@hotmail.com. Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

INDEXED UNIVERSAL LIFE (IUL)

Purpose: Protection & growth flexibility

• What it is: A type of permanent life insurance with a cash value component linked to an index (like the S&P 500).

• Primary Use: Life insurance protection and tax-advantaged wealth accumulation.

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• Risk: Moderate-no market loss risk (due to floor), but returns depend on caps and crediting methods.

• Liquidity: Flexible access to cash value through withdrawals or loans (tax-advantaged if managed properly).

• Taxes: Cash value grows tax-deferred. Policy loans/ withdrawals can be tax-free if structured properly.

• Death Benefit: Income-tax-free benefit to beneficiaries, often larger than premiums paid.

~ Best For: Individuals who need permanent life insurance coverage and want the potential for higher growth with tax-advantaged access to funds.

International impact – The Lucky 7 Angus story has made waves around the world for its connection between feed efficiency and eco-friendliness. Pictured above to the far right is Jim Jensen during an international speaking tour in the United Kingdom in 2024. Courtesy photo

Five generations – The Jensen family has been ranching in Wyoming since 1895. Lucky 7 Angus has grown into a successful seedstock operation with locations in Boulder, Riverton and Oklahoma. Courtesy photo

Carlson Equipment and BCM Sales

Family business caters to Fremont County’s agricultural needs

Father-daughter duo Brad and Brook Carlson have spent the better part of three decades managing Carlson Equipment in Riverton, providing a range

of essential agricultural services to farmers and ranchers throughout Fremont County. Located on Zuber Road just across the fence from the Carlson family farm, Carl-

son Equipment has a variety of new and used equipment in stock, as well as a line of livestock supplements, fencing supplies and a little bit of everything in between.

Early years

Brad opened Carlson Equipment in 1991 after spending several years running a custom farming and trucking business called Carlson Brothers.

Brook grew up on a farm just down the road from the store, along with her three sisters – Bobbi, Bridget and Becky. The Carlson girls were heavily involved with farming, ranching, 4-H and FFA while growing up.

Brook began working

behind the parts counter in the spring of 1997, originally intending to provide some part-time help after graduating high school. The situation became permanent when the employee she was filling in for passed away during a medical operation.

“The business owners and people of Fremont County are very accommodating. We try to help each other and look out for each other.”

Brook Carlson

Brook had only been on the job for three days when she got the news. Things were particularly hectic in the middle of haying season.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” Brook recalls. “I’d been around farm equipment my whole life, but I didn’t know anything about the shop or how to look up parts.”

Brook admits the first summer was difficult, but she credits the patience and good nature of the surrounding community with her decision to keep going.

“There were such good clients, good customers and good people, including the people who were working for us,” Brook says. “I just fell into it and decided it was what I was going to do.”

Continued community

Brook has been at the helm of Carlson Equipment ever since.

In 2020, she purchased the business from her father and added BCM Sales. Brook continues to prioritize community and customer service in daily operations.

“Those old guys who used to come in when I was a kid are still coming in, and they hardly even want to talk to anybody but me,” Brook says. “They know I’ll look everywhere to try and find what they’re searching for.”

Carlson Equipment specializes in selling used equipment and aftermarket parts other competitors find difficult to source.

“Equipment nowadays is so hard to work on, which is why we sell a lot of used equipment,” Brook says. “With the older stuff, you don’t have to have a computer degree to drive your tractor.”

The shop’s official hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but Brook has been known to make exceptions. As a farmer herself, she knows how costly a breakdown can be in terms of both time and money.

“Hours are weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but everybody has our phone numbers,” Brook says. “So sometimes we’re there on the weekends.”

Brook says she and her father are proud of the cus-

tomer base Carlson Equipment has built up over the years and grateful for the community they’ve grown along with it.

“A lot of it has to do with trust,” Brook says. “If you’ve been around the community for a while, you know who you can trust. You know who is going to be willing to swing in on a Saturday night at four a.m. to get you a part for your baler.”

“The business owners and people of Fremont County are very accommodating,” Brook says. “We try to help each other and look out for each other.”

Services offered In addition to used equipment and parts, Carlson Equipment carries a selection of new short-line products and livestock supplies.

The store is an authorized retailer of New Generation Supplements like SmartLic, and it carries a variety of fencing supplies from freestanding panels to post-hole diggers.

Carlson Equipment recently added a line of Arrowquip chutes to their inventory, and some products like Ritchie Livestock Waterers are available for special order.

Brad is semi-retired nowadays, but Brook has enjoyed the help of Katie Winfield behind the parts counter for the past three years.

With a business ethic prioritizing relationships, customer service and community, Brook says it’s easy to maintain a good business.

“You’ve got to be kind, and you’ve got to be helpful,” Brook says. “And you’ve got to at least halfway know what you’re doing most of the time. With that, it’s easy.”

Carlson Equipment is located at 77 Zuber Rd., Riverton, WY 82501. For more information, visit carlsonequipment.com/ or call 307-856-8123.

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

Family business – Brad Carlson started Carlson Equipment in 1991. Now owned by his daughter Brook, the shop is located at 77 Zuber Road in Riverton, across the fence from the Carlson family farm. WYLR photo

Supplements and supplies – In addition to an extensive inventory of used equipment and aftermarket parts, Carlson Equipment is an authorized retailer of SmartLic supplements and a variety of farming and ranching supplies. WYLR photo

XLAR

Bob and Kate Ballew

PO Box 989, Evansville, WY 82636 307-258-0107

SLED RUNNER CATTLE CO.

Kailey Barlow

PO Box 1223, Big Piney, WY 83113 307-260-6409

sledrunnercattle@gmail.com

M DIAMOND ANGUS

Brad Boner

PO Box 1345, Glenrock, WY 82637 307-359-1162 brad@mdiamondangus.com

M DIAMOND ANGUS

Trent Boner PO Box 1587, Douglas, WY 82633 307-359-2708 trent@mdiamondangus.com

DOUG BOOTH FAMILY ANGUS

Doug and Carolyn Booth 7618 Road 41, Torrington, WY 82240 307-532-5830

DOUG BOOTH FAMILY ANGUS

Dudley and Jennifer Booth 4156 Road 82, Torrington, WY 82240 307-532-7179 dbooth@scottsbluff.net

BOOTH’S CHERRY CREEK RANCH

Michael and Lindsy Booth 2162 Road 60, Veteran, WY 82243 307-837-0164 lindsybooth23@gmail.com

BOOTH’S CHERRY CREEK RANCH

Shawn and Diane Booth 2749 Road 60, Veteran, WY 82243 307-837-2994 boothangus@scottsbluff.net

BOWMAN CATTLE

Lyle Bowman 3410 County Road 163, Pine Bluffs, WY 82082 307-246-3281

LB FARMS CATTLE

Lance, Shelley, Wes and TJ Brown 140 Lane 15, Powell, WY 82435 406-240-4879 lb3539@aol.com

BULINE ANGUS

Jim Buline

623 Old Yellowstone Highway, Crowheart, WY 82512 307-486-2330

K-BUTTERFIELD LIVESTOCK

Kim and Janet Butterfield 2925 Road 54, Veteran, WY 82243 307-575-7340 kbutterfieldlivestock@gmail.com

LAZY GT RANCH

Don Cox

4024 I-25 Service Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009 307-630-0400

C C ANGUS

Curt and Diane Cox 1835 Willow Creek Road, Casper, WY 82604 307-630-4604 curt@wylr.net

DALLES RANCH

179 Dalles Lane, Laramie, WY 82070 307-760-6323

DAVIDSON ANGUS

Peter and Susan Davidson 208 South Main, Burlington, WY 82411 307-762-3612 davidson82411@yahoo.com

DEENEY CATTLE

Joe and Nicole Deeney PO Box 1502, Wheatland, WY 82201 307-630-1593 joseph.deeney@fsbwy.com

DENIZ FAMILY RANCH

Conrrado Deniz 2509 Angus Lane, Cheyenne, WY 82009 307-431-5652 deniz@dfrangus.com

FLYING M ANGUS

Larry and Jackie Dobrenz

6566 Clarton Highway, Gillette, WY 82718

307-660-5755

EARHART FARMS

Andrea Earhart 1373 Road 8, Powell, WY 82435 307-754-3535

LABONTE CREEK ANGUS RANCH

Neil and Clarice Forgey 193 K-Field Road, Lost Springs, WY 82224 307-358-9232 labontecreek@hotmail.com

HORSE CREEK ANGUS

Dan and Bobbie Frank 5396 Road 236, Meriden, WY 82081 307-421-4022 horsecreekangus@gmail.com

CLAY CREEK ANGUS RANCH

Jim and Lori French 3334 Road 14, Greybull, WY 82426 307-762-3541

GARDNER HEART DOT ANGUS Bret Gardner

720 Missouri Valley Road, Shoshoni, WY 82649 307-857-4444

CWDR ANGUS

Joe Giemza 329 Petz Road, Lusk, WY 82225 608-863-3959 giemza.joe73@gmail.com

GODLEY ANGUS RANCH

Gary Godley PO Box 304, Kaycee, WY 82639 307-738-2683 godley@rtconnect.net

GM LIVESTOCK/MCDONNELL ANGUS

Victor and Darcy Goni PO Box 334, Buffalo, WY 82834 307-217-3437 307angus@gmail.com

GRANDSTAFF G-WING ANGUS

Curtis and Cheryl Grandstaff PO Box 155, LaGrange, WY 82221 307-834-2459 granny@prairieweb.net

GRAY’S ANGUS RANCH

Rod and Laura Gray 4281 Henry Road, Harrison, NE 69346 308-668-2520

DOUBLE LAZY A

Daniel Greet

1728 State Highway 434, Ten Sleep, WY 82442 307-366-2062 dlgreet@gmail.com

B & D CATTLE CO.

Bill and Dana Haas 2312 Road 60, Veteran, WY 82243 307-837-2925

KEN HAAS ANGUS

Kenneth Haas

4766 State Highway 151, LaGrange, WY 82221 307-834-2356

HANCOCK LIVESTOCK

Charles Hancock PO Box 435, Basin, WY 82410 307-250-6900 hanstock76@gmaill.com

HERRING ANGUS RANCH

Kal and Vickie Herring PO Box 275, Encampment, WY 82325 307-327-5396

BOONE AND MELANIE HERRING 5440 Road 27, Veteran, WY 82243 307-575-5520 gbarh@bbcwb.net

MARNIE HERRING 5878 Road 23, Veteran, WY 82243 307-575-9338

HISER FARMS

Wesley Hiser PO Box 882, Casper, WY 82602 307-262-1410 whiser@wyoheart.com

HOGG’S ANGUS

Ronee Hogg

5423 State Highway 120, Meeteetse, WY 82433 307-868-2431 hoggsangus@tctwest.net

INGALLS ANGUS

Jasper Ingalls

760 North Pavillion Road, Pavillion, WY 82605 307-349-3097 jasper@bigwest.us

LUCKY 7 ANGUS

Jim and Jamie Jensen PO Box 1445, Riverton, WY 82501 307-850-2514 cowboybulls@hotmail.com

JENSEN ANGUS

Justin and Renee Jensen PO Box 316, Boulder, WY 82923 307-360-9136 rjj@wyoming.com

DEER CREEK ANGUS RANCH

Bill, Jo and Katie Keith 9250 Zero Road, Casper, WY 82604

307-457-2314

katie.keith.827@gmail.com

2K CATTLE CO.

Russell and Sheila Kilts 1675 Sussex Road, Kaycee, WY 82639 307-437-6466 shekilts@rtconnect.net

KILTY ANGUS

Kyle Kilty PO Box 88, LaGrange, WY 82221 307-575-7116

KLEIN ANGUS

Bill Klein

256 Brookside Road, Wheatland, WY 82201 307-331-0136 bill82201@yahoo.com

RAFTER T ANGUS

Kale and Kim Kretschman 721 Middle Prong Road, Gillette, WY 82716 307-736-2415 raftertangus@gmail.com

KRETSCHMAN ANGUS

Kelby and Lacey Kretschman 1336 Lower Powder River Road, Arvada, WY 82831 307-736-2327

SCOTT LAKE

80 Brittany Lane, Laramie, WY 82070 307-460-8129

LTJ ANGUS

Tim Latham 390 Highway 14A, Powell, WY 82435 307-202-1356

LINFORD ANGUS

Colin Linford 94 Green Mountain Road, Sundance, WY 82729 801-520-0658 colin54ducks@gmail.com

LISCO ANGUS

Dick Lisco 554 Tank Farm Road, Douglas, WY 82633 307-358-3810 liscoangus@vcn.com

LITTLE GOOSE RANCH Chad Bradshaw, Manager PO Box 770, Big Horn, WY 82833 307-751-1535 chad4lgr@yahoo.com

SS RANCH CO. Andy Malm PO Box 128, LaGrange, WY 82221 307-834-0128 mrc3mt@aol.com

MCCLUN’S LAZY JM RANCH

Jim, Jeff and Kody McClun 1929 Road 60, Veteran, WY 82243 307-534-5141 mccluncattle@gmail.com

MCCONNELL ANGUS Roger, Ryan and Royce McConnell 5740 Road 52 North, Dix, NE 69133 308-682-5615 mcconnellangus@msn.com

SO CATTLE INC. Diane Frank or Mike and Anjie McConnell 420 Lyons Valley Road, Lander, WY 82520 307-332-5969 socattle@wyoming.com

RANCH COUNTRY ANGUS Delaney McGowan PO Box 178, LaGrange, WY 82221 308-631-5568 ranchcountryangus@gmail.com

TRAVIS AND MANDY MCINTOSH PO Box 1587, Wheatland, WY 82201 307-331-2727

COW CAPITAL LIVESTOCK, LLC Doug McLean 63 Signal Butte Road, Miles City, MT 59301 307-462-1683 cowcapital61@gmail.com

PAINT ROCK ANGUS RANCH

Martin and Kelli Mercer 1926 Highway 31, Hyattville, WY 82428 307-469-2206 paintrockangus@gmail.com

MICHELI CATTLE CO. Tony Micheli PO Box 111, Ft. Bridger, WY 82933 307-747-7786 tmicheli5@yahoo.com

MILLS CATTLE CO., LLC Doug and Dena Mills PO Box 3, Hulett, WY 82720 307-756-2030 millscattleco@gmail.com

MITCHEM RANCH Stan and Karen Mitchem PO Box 1115, Glenrock, WY 82637 307-436-2504 stan@stanmitchem.com

LUCAS AND JESSICA MOORE 5574 State Highway 92, Torrington, WY 82240 307-534-6704 lucas.moore@fsbwy.com

J BAR M ANGUS John and ManDee Moore 4095 Ross Road, Douglas, WY 82622 307-464-6222 jjcattleco@gmail.com

NEIMAN CATTLE CO. Sonnie Neiman 541 Mona Road, Alva, WY 82711 307-259-6810 neimancattle@gmail.com

NICKEL CATTLE CO. Kevin and Jackie Nickel 3148 State Highway 154, Veteran, WY 82243 307-837-2279 kjnickel@zimbracloud.com

NOLKE ANGUS Calvin Nolke Jr. 2949 Four Corners Road, LaGrange, WY 82221 307-477-0029 nolkeangus@gmail.com

OCHSNER ROTH CATTLE CO Blake Ochsner 10672 Van Tassell Road, Torrington, WY 82240 307-532-3282 ochsnerranch@gmail.com

OEDEKOVEN ANGUS

Cynthia and Teresa Oedekoven PO Box 502, Sheridan, WY 82801 307-763-3789

PINGETZER’S SIX IRON RANCH Robert and Paige Pingetzer 11882 Highway 789, Shoshoni, WY 82649 307-856-4401

ROCK LAKE ANGUS Todd Platt 714 Grange Road, Wheatland, WY 82201 307-331-1175 rlangusranch@yahoo.com

REDLAND ANGUS Kendrick and Sharon Redland PO Box 167, Worland, WY 82401 307-250-8625 ksredland@gmail.com

M.R. ANGUS RANCH Juan and Joni Reyes 98 Olson Road, Wheatland, WY 82201 307-322-4848 mrangusranch@gmail.com

5-5 ANGUS Colton and Tanna Rodeman PO Box 837, Douglas, WY 82633 307-351-4275 tannarodeman@yahoo.com

ELK ANGUS Tyler and Meg Scales 227 Muddy Creek Road, Buffalo, WY 82834 970-462-1557 meg@scalescattleco.com

POPO AGIE ANGUS Ted Seely PO Box 569, Lander, WY 82520 307-332-2839

G G ANGUS

Greg and Kim Selin 3788 Road 215, Cheyenne, WY 82009 307-631-8814

BROKEN DIAMOND T ANGUS

Deb Simon and Allen Roush 581 Highway 20 North, Thermopolis, WY 82443 307-921-2900

POWDER RIVER ANGUS Neal and Amanda Sorenson 7241 Highway 14-16, Arvada, WY 82831 307-736-2260 nasorenson@rangeweb.net

WYOMING LIVESTOCK ROUNDUP Dennis Sun PO Box 850, Casper, WY 82602 307-234-2700 roundup@wylr.net

TEICHERT ANGUS

Mark Teichert PO Box 327, Cokeville, WY 83114 307-279-3179

OBSIDIAN ANGUS

Fred and Kay Thomas PO Box 346, Meeteetse, WY 82433 307-868-2595 kfdramsrus@hotmail.com

P\T LIVESTOCK Pete Thompson 345 Missouri Valley Road, Shoshoni, WY 82649 307-709-8351

JL FARM

Jordyn Wagner 3752 Little Creek Lane, Billings, MT 59101 406-672-5553 jordynlynnwagner@gmail.com jenalee.wagner@gmail.com

WEAVER RANCH Susan and Mourine Weaver 3000 West County Road 70, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-568-3898 weaverrch@aol.com

BEAVER CREEK RANCHES Pete and Lucy Widener 568 Beaver Creek Road, Sheridan, WY 82801 307-674-6947 doublew@fiberpipe.net

WEBO ANGUS

Buttons York PO Box 848, Lusk, WY 82225 307-334-3006 weboangus@gmail.com

ZUMBRUNNEN ANGUS

Jason and Shirley ZumBrunnen 1174 Kirtley Road, Lusk, WY 82225 307-216-0198 jszumbrunnen@gmail.com

Bobby and Erica Thoman of T&T Cattle raise registered Red Angus cattle on a ranch 20 miles northwest of Riverton, with help from their seven children.

An engineer by trade, Bobby is constantly seeking new enterprises and competitive advantages in ranching in order to maintain profitability and quality in his program.

His ranching philosophy prioritizes going back to the basics while maintaining modern strategies in order to make passing on the ranching way of life to the next generation an attractive and attainable goal.

Early lessons

Growing up on a ranch

near Kemmerer, Bobby spent most of his childhood raising cattle in tough, highelevation conditions. After the cattle market crashed in the early 1990s, Bobby’s family sold their livestock and converted to a farming operation in Fremont County.

As one of 12 children, Bobby says there was always an unspoken rule about pursuing careers outside of agriculture, rather than coming back to the ranch.

“My parents were generous and hardworking people, but it was always implied the ranch would not support us forever,” Bobby says.

After graduating from the University of Wyoming with an engineering degree and working in consulting for several years, Bobby turned his attention back to ranching.

“I think agriculture is in the blood,” Bobby says. “It doesn’t take too long for it to start pulling you back.”

Grass-fed genetics

Bobby’s venture back into ranching took off with the establishment of Lost Wells Cattle Company –a grass-fed beef program formed in partnership with his brother Brendan. What began as a way to sell beef from extra 4-H steers quickly developed into a thriving business.

“We started from the marketing end and worked our way backwards,” Bobby says.

From the start, the brothers prioritized profitability and quality. Their desire to market a “known product” led to the decision to build up a herd of registered Red Angus cattle with proven genetics and pedigrees.

To stay profitable, the

Thomans knew they needed their livestock to be hardy and efficient in order to thrive on grass with no grain inputs. They focused on achieving these goals through genetics.

Recognizing another opportunity for growth, the Thomans began developing their genetics program –T&T Cattle – from the registered herd.

Brendan left the partnership a few years ago, but Bobby and his family continue to raise breeding stock on the family ranch northwest of Riverton.

Today, T&T Cattle markets their bulls as a cooperative producer in Pharo Cattle Company and utilizes Lost Wells Cattle Company on the marketing end for

Thoman family raises grass-fed beef with proven genetics

T&T Cattle – The Thomans market registered Red Angus bulls as cooperative producers in Pharo Cattle Company. Courtesy photo

Grassfed genetics – The Thomans raise hardy and efficient registered Red Angus cattle with an emphasis on genetics and sustainability. Courtesy photo

culls and steers.

Staying competitive Bobby believes there are several ways to “hack the system” in ranching and emphasizes doing so is essential to success. His business philosophy is a careful balance of going back to the basics while weighing considerations for the future.

T&T Cattle prioritizes working with nature to produce functional cattle requiring minimal input. Improving soil health through rotational grazing, calving in sync with nature and culling for fertility are all ways the Thomans have improved their herd.

“I’m a firm believer in form follows function,” Bobby says. “When you start raising cattle unsuited for your environment, you get away from what nature intended.”

Success is proven by the presence of fertility and longevity in breeding stock, according to Bobby, who maintains extensive records each calving season on traits like calving ease, maternal ability, udder conformation, calf vigor and birthweights. Anything falling short of expectations is culled.

“The cow works for me, not the other way around,” Bobby says. “A lot of things work when you have cattle that work.”

Additionally, Bobby recognizes staying competitive means keeping up with

the times while implementing practices to keep ranching attractive to the next generation.

“We’re trying to ranch the way our grandparents did, but input costs are 10 to 20 times higher than they were back then,” Bobby comments. “It’s not feasible anymore.”

“We’ve got to find better ways to get the next generation excited and interested in ranching,” he continues. “The measure of any operation’s success is being able to pass it on to the next generation.”

The next generation

Each of the Thomans’ seven children are involved with agriculture at varying levels.

The youngest three –Gabriella, Genesis and Giana – enjoy spending time with animals on the ranch during weekends, while the oldest four – Cole, Caden, Talon and Averee – grew up helping out with calving, selling beef at farmers markets, keeping records and working cattle alongside their dad, uncles and cousins.

Cole and Caden both live and work on ranches in Wyoming, and Talon is attending college while continuing to help out at home.

Averee is a senior at Riverton High School where she serves as vice president of the Riverton FFA Chapter. Averee says showing cattle and working alongside her family has given

her unique perspectives on the value of hard work and perseverance.

“Agriculture has been the base of so many lessons in my life,” Averee says.

She plans to attend nursing school following graduation but says the value of growing up in agriculture will always remain with her.

The Thomans are committed to finding ways to ensure the ranching tradition stays sustainable and profitable for generations to come.

For more information on T&T Cattle, visit lostwellscattle.com/genetics/ or e-mail Bobby at rthoman@ wyoming.com.

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

DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF A LENDER THAT WORKS FOR YOU.

The Thomans – Pictured is the Thoman family, from left to right, including Talon, Gabriella, Bobby, Erica, Genesis, Averee, Gianna and Caden Thoman. Not pictured: Cole Thoman. Courtesy photo

Ag involvement – The Thoman children grew up learning practical skills by helping out on the ranch and selling beef from the family’s grass-fed beef company, Lost Wells Cattle Company. Pictured are Talon and Averee Thoman at a local farmers market. Courtesy photo

passion and purpose

Ivan Laird and Glenda Hlavnicka focus on flock quality, while fostering strong community ties

In the heart of Fremont County, two babbling creeks carve out a quiet stretch of ground where Ivan Laird has been raising sheep for more

than three decades. While his flock might not be the biggest in the state – one Ivan refers to as a “hobby flock” – it’s one

he has shaped with passion and purpose, chasing a balance of quality and productivity, while supporting his local community and giving back to Wyoming’s sheep industry.

A good balance

Ivan’s journey began in January 1992 when he purchased 10 head of bred commercial Rambouillet ewes from local Sheep Producer Jim Calvert who was getting out of the business due to predator concerns.

“I started out crossing these ewes with Columbia rams borrowed from John Barber. At the time, John and his wife Margarie were wellknown for having outstanding Columbia sheep. I used the Columbia rams for several years and built my herd up to about 30 head,” Ivan shares.

When this cross started throwing larger frame sizes than Ivan wanted, he transitioned to Rambouillet and Merino-Rambouillet cross rams about 10 years ago.

Today, Ivan and his significant other Glenda Hlavnicka run 50 head of Rambouillet-Merino cross ewes.

“We were drawn to the breed due to wool quality and their moderate frame size,” Ivan explains. “My goal is produce two 100pound lambs on a 180-pound ewe, with good wool quality of 20 microns and good staple length.”

While fine fleeces are no doubt a priority, Ivan is quick to make note of the economic balance required in the sheep industry.

“I continue to balance wool quality with pounds of lamb marketed. I can’t chase wool quality only when

pounds of lamb pays the bills,” he states.

To this end, Ivan says he will continue to evaluate genetics, and he plans to enroll in the National Sheep Improvement Program to better track his flock’s performance.

His long-term goal is to build up a market for his ram lambs. A quality flock

When it comes to current operations, Ivan says lambing occurs in March, and he markets lambs in late August.

The flock is wintered on eight acres at the homeplace and summered on three leased pastures in the Lander Valley. To help with predator control, Ivan and Glenda utilize the help of their three llamas – enough for one in each summer grazing location.

“The leased pastures are small – about 10 acres – and are grazed to control noxious weeds, leafy spurge specifically,” Ivan points out. Wethers are sold to Miller’s Feedlot in Worland, and

Continued on next page

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Being a good cattleman goes hand in hand with being a proper steward of the land

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You’ve got to know how to lead a team and here at University of Wyoming’s Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program we can help you achieve your dream.

You’ve got to know how to lead a team and here at University of Wyoming’s Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program we can help you achieve your dream

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Balancing traits – As far as breeding decisions go, Ivan Laird and Glenda Hlavnicka are focused on balancing wool quality with pounds of lamb marketed. Here, Glenda checks out this year’s lamb crop.

Courtesy photo

Pursuing a passion – Although Ivan Laird describes his operation as a “hobby flock,” his passion for, knowledge of and influence on the sheep industry ring through Fremont County and the state of Wyoming. Courtesy photo

Continued from previous page

ewe lambs that don’t make the cut as replacements are sold to a young producer who is just getting started in the sheep business.

Additionally, the pair feed out some lambs for their growing customer base, and about three years ago, they started retaining a few ram lambs to put through the University of Wyoming’s (UW) White Face Ram Test.

“Surprisingly, they have been doing really well this year. We have the top-indexing ram of the test,” Ivan shares.

He also notes his wool clip makes its way to UW as well, as he sells it to be used in the university’s various judging programs.

A strong influence

Although Ivan describes his flock as a “hobby operation,” his knowledge of and influence on the sheep and agricultural industries stretch throughout Fremont County and beyond. Presently, Ivan is finishing his third two-year term as the small flock representative for the Wyoming Wool Growers Association.

He is also an active member of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Fremont County Cattlemen’s Association, Fremont County Historical Society, Wyoming Historical Society and Lander Senior Center Advisory Board.

Additionally, Ivan serves as the vice chair and sheep industry representative of the Fremont County Predatory Animal Board, ditch manager of the Cemetery Ditch Company, which he has been involved with since 1988 and president of the Fremont County ATV Association, which promotes ethical ATV and UTV riding.

Arguably most importantly, Ivan is a strong believer in supporting the next generation of ag.

He has served two threeyear terms on the Fremont County 4-H Council and five more as council treasurer. He is also a strong supporter of Lander Valley High School FFA and UW’s Lamb-AYear program.

“I have been involved in this program since it was started,” he notes. “The information I have received is a true measure of what I am producing, but the most important aspect of the program is giving students hands-on exposure to the sheep industry.”

A bright future ahead

Although the sheep business comes with plenty of challenges – inconsistencies in the lamb market, lack of processing capacity and low wool prices, for instance –Ivan remains committed to bettering his flock and enjoying a “slower” lifestyle in ag.

“My operation really is a hobby for me,” he says. “I have worked many jobs in my career, so I haven’t needed my sheep to pay the big bills. As long as my sheep pay their feed expenses, the property taxes and maybe for a new gate, I am happy to continue.”

Ivan has certainly found success with his flock, racking up accomplishments and praise, although he admits his proudest accomplishment has nothing to do with the sheep.

“My greatest accomplishment has been to raise my four kids – Carrie, Jeramie, Rob and Jason,” he says. “They are all successful in their different life paths, and they all live in the Lander area. And I can’t forget about the grandkids –they are pretty neat too.”

Although the ag industry isn’t where Ivan has made his living, he expresses deep gratitude for the opportunity to be involved.

“Ag has given me a reason to slow down and look around at the grass

“I

strongly believe in our 4-H and FFA programs and the youth participating in them. Our future is going to be in their hands, and I think we will be okay.”

Ivan Laird

and lambs growing into what we always hope for,” he says. “My favorite part about being involved in the ag industry are the people I have had the privilege of meeting, working with and being around. There are too many to name, but they know who they are.”

Ivan is also steadfast in his belief that the agriculture industry has a bright future ahead.

“I strongly believe in our 4-H and FFA programs and

the youth participating in them,” he states. “Our future is going to be in their hands, and I think we will be okay.”

He adds, “To the younger generation, my advice is to set goals and work to achieve them. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and direction. Put the electronics down and go to work.”

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

Teamwork – Ivan Laird and Glenda Hlavnicka raise 50 head of Rambouillet-Merino cross ewes in the heart of Fremont County.

Courtesy photo