In the 21st snow report for Water Year 2025, the state’s snowpack telemetry data reads 81% of median, with a basin high of 109% and a basin low of 50%. Last year, the state was at 91% and at 118% in 2023. The report and a map displaying basin snow water equivalent percentages of median for the state may be found at wrds.uwyo.edu/ wrds/nrcs/nrcs.html
Rodeo
The 2025 Cow Country Rodeo will be held July 11-12 at 7:30 p.m. in Manila, Utah. On the first night, contestants and spectators are encouraged to wear a cancer awareness color to honor community members who have battled or are battling cancer. On the second night, individuals are encouraged to wear their best cowboy outfits. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit flaminggorgecountry.com/cow-country-2024/
Meeting
The Natrona County Predator Management District (NCPMD) is holding its 2025 Budget and Board Meeting on June 2 beginning at 6 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Wyoming Wool Growers Association headquarters in Casper. All producers, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wildlife Services representatives and the public are invited to participate. The purpose of the meeting is to review the 2025-26 proposed budget submitted to the Department of Audit and Animal Damage Management Board. For more information, contact the NCPMD office at ncpmd1@ charter.net.
Town Hall
On May 7, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office held the Inaugural Laramie County Sheriff’s Office Livestock Town Hall, which provided a venue for networking, information sharing on Wyoming fence and brand laws, tips and recommendations to protect livestock and an open community forum to speak with livestock enforcement deputies and investigators.
Department of the Interior develops four-year strategic plan
On April 10, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum appointed local Wyoming Attorney Karen Budd-
Falen as the temporary deputy secretary and his senior advisor to help with the four-year strategic plan which details the depart-
ment’s goals and priorities for 2026-30.
According to an April 29 WyoFile article by Angus M. Thuermer, Jr., the depart-
ment’s four-year strategic plan is to use natural resources across 19.9 million acres of national parks
SALUTING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
honors faculty and staff at annual spring awards ceremony
“Tonight we gather to celebrate the exceptional achievements of our faculty and staff in what we do best, which is teaching research and impacting communities,” stated UW CALSNR Dean Kelly Crane, who emceed the
Adventure awaits
Annual summit addresses conversations around outdoor recreation and tourism in Wyoming
On May 1-2, the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute and Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation partnered to host the 2025 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit, an event aimed to serve Wyoming’s outdoor recreation community with relevant and engaging educational programming.
Held at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center in Laramie, the event featured presentations, panels, discussions and breakout sessions, with the overarching theme of “Outdoor Recreation in Wyoming Communities: Building Partnerships, Developing Workforce and Accessing Resources.”
“Over the next few days, the summit is going to give those in attendance the chance to foster collaboration among stakeholders across the state, build new relationships and/or strengthen old ones, support workforce development in Wyoming’s outdoor recreation industries by exploring education and training knowledge and sharpen On April 30, the University of Wyoming’s (UW) College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources (CALSNR) honored outstanding faculty and staff during its Annual Spring Awards Ceremony, held at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center in Laramie.
WCHF announces Class of 2025
On May 1, the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) State Board of Directors announced their selections for the WCHF Class of 2025.
The 23 inductees will be honored during the 12th Annual WCHF Induction Ceremony, scheduled for Sept. 16 and 27 at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Casper. The ceremony is open to the public.
WCHF Hall of Fame
According to the board’s May 1 press release, regional committees across 10 different areas of Wyoming researched and scored over 50 nominations, then sent their top picks to the WCHF State Board of Directors, which selected this year’s class.
“Formed for historical, cultural, literary and educational purposes, WCHF’s chief goal is to preserve, promote, perpetuate, publish and document Wyoming’s working cowboy and ranching history through researching, profiling and honoring individuals who broke the first trails and introduced the culture to this state,” reads the release.
“WCHF plans to collect, display and preserve the stories, photos and artifacts of such individuals and anything else which will honor and highlight their contributions to our history,” it continues.
Class of 2025
This year’s WCHF inductees include Campbell County’s Earl “Tut” Camblin of Gillette, Crook County’s Dave Graham of Moorcroft and Weston County’s Samuel “Sammy” Everett Sewell of Newcastle from Region One, as
Brand bill passes general file
After hours of debate, Nebraska Sen. Teresa Ibach’s (R-44) bill LB646, Exempting feedlots from the Nebraska Brand Act, which makes significant changes to the fees for brand and electronic inspections and exempting dairy cattle, passed the general file on April 2 with a 26-to-two vote. Nineteen senators did not vote.
According to the bill, beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, fees could increase to $1.50 per head for cow/calf producers, while registered feedlots (RFL) would pay an initial registration fee of $1,000 and an annual renewal fee of $1,000 – a reduction of over 90 percent from their current fees.
Additionally, the bill would require exempt feedlots to maintain any brand
inspection paperwork arriving with the cattle and other paperwork accompanying cattle originating from outside of the inspection area.
The bill also calls for brand committee employees to audit the paperwork four times per year until 2029, but audits would sunset. Then, going forward, no third-party verification of brand inspection paperwork would occur unless probable cause for an audit exists.
Currently, Nebraska feedlots within the inspection area can apply for RFL status, allowing them flexibility to ship cattle to a terminal market without an inspection as long as the cattle are inspected and
Town hall scheduled
Gov. Mark Gordon will join local leaders and community members in Lincoln County for a Suicide Prevention Town Hall on May 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at the South Lincoln Training and Events Center in Kemmerer.
The community event will bring together educators, youth, first responders and concerned citizens to unite in action and direct their efforts towards community-driven solutions.
Joining the governor as featured speakers will be former Sen. Fred Baldwin; Dr. Kent Corso, internationally-recognized suicidologist and founder of Proactive Reduction of Suicide in Populations via Evidence-Based Research; Brittany Ritter and local voices sharing personal testimonies.
The event seeks to raise awareness about suicide prevention, mental health and the stigma surrounding seeking out treatment.
Parents, educators, first responders, mental health professionals, community volunteers and concerned citizens are encouraged to attend and engage in this important discussion.
The town hall is a continuation of Gordon’s Mental Health Initiative to advance Wyoming’s systemic approach to mental healthcare reform.
The Wy We Care Initiative is the culmination of extensive collaboration among all three branches of state government, local community teams and private sector providers. The initiative will improve access to behavioral health services and strengthen the state’s behavioral healthcare workforce.
For more information and to register, visit prospertogether.net/suicide-prevention-town-hall
BuREC meeting set
The Bureau of Reclamation (BuREC) will host its annual operations meeting to share information regarding the runoff forecast for the upper Snake River Basin, water supply outlook, projected reservoir operations for Jackson Lake Dam and other upper Snake River reservoirs, river flow management and snowpack conditions.
Agency representatives from the National Weather Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will join to provide attendees with relevant information.
The meeting will take place on May 15 in the Ordway Auditorium at the Teton County Library in Jackson from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A virtual option is available.
Current river and reservoir data are available at usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/uppersnake/
For more information about the meeting, visit usbr. gov/pn/snakeriver/index.html
NCBA hiring interns
On May 7, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced applications are open for three unique internship experiences for the fall 2025 semester.
New this year, NCBA has an exciting opportunity for a student to work as an organizational communications intern supporting NCBA’s social media strategy, TV production of “Cattlemen to Cattlemen,” producer communication and events promotion. This internship is full time and based in NCBA’s headquarters in Centennial, Colo.
NCBA, in conjunction with the Public Lands Council, has an opportunity for students interested in government and public policy to serve as public policy interns.
This internship supports NCBA’s Government Affairs team and will allow students to learn more about lobbying, government relations and advocacy on behalf of the cattle and sheep industries. This internship is full time and based in NCBA’s Center for Public Policy in Washington, D.C.
NCBA is also hiring a meetings and events intern to support the operations of large and small events, including CattleCon 2026. Interns will learn how to manage large-scale conventions and tradeshows, in addition to the logistics behind smaller meetings and conferences. This internship is full time and based in NCBA’s headquarters in Centennial, Colo.
To learn more about these internships or to apply, visit ncba.org
Applications are due by June 30.
Registration open
Individuals are invited to join industry leaders and over 10 sheep Extension specialists at the 2025 American Lamb Summit.
This premier event is a great opportunity to engage with all segments of the sheep industry to explore the newest trends and opportunities to boost the competitiveness of the U.S. sheep market.
Held this year at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, the summit combines dynamic presentations, handson experiences in the Meat Lab and Sheep Center and focused small group dialogues.
The registration fee is $150, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, refreshments and transportation from the hotel to the university. A young entrepreneur half-price discount is also offered.
For more information and to register, visit lambboard. com/lamb-summit
Workshop set
Join University of Wyoming Extension, Rooted in Laramie, the City of Laramie and more for the Albany County Tree Planting Workshop, set for May 17 from 9:30-11:30 p.m.
Proper tree planting is essential for establishing healthy, long-lasting urban and rural forests. This mid-May morning workshop will provide a thorough, hands-on introduction to tree planting.
Led by the City of Laramie’s arborist, the session will demonstrate best practices for selecting, planting and caring for young trees, ensuring their successful growth.
Attendees will learn about soil preparation, mulching and watering techniques for the unique conditions of Albany County.
To extend the workshop’s reach, a video featuring the demonstration will be created and distributed online, allowing those unable to attend to benefit from the training.
These efforts aim to enhance the area’s green spaces, promote environmental sustainability and inspire a shared commitment to conservation.
Location details will be e-mailed to those who RSVP within two weeks of the workshop date.
For more information or to RSVP, visit eventbrite. com/e/albany-county-tree-planting-workshop-tickets1245438884229?aff=oddtdtcreator
Mexican exports surge
U.S. food and agricultural exports to Mexico have surged 65 percent over the past four years, making it the fastest growing export market for a host of American agricultural commodities and products.
Mexico’s growth as a destination for U.S. exports has been spurred by the country’s booming post COVID19 economy and a rapidly growing manufacturing sector.
The economic upswing has allowed Mexican consumers to expand their traditional diet, and U.S. food and agricultural producers are helping meet the country’s growing demand for meat, poultry, dairy, processed foods and feed grains.
In 2024, U.S. food and ag exports to Mexico climbed to $31.4 billion, slightly below Canada, the top market at $32.4 billion.
According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, Mexico will likely surpass Canada to claim the top spot for the first time in 2025 despite some emerging headwinds.
Since 2020, Mexico’s share of all U.S. agricultural exports rose from 11.2 percent to 16.4 percent. On a volume basis, corn, pork, dairy products, soybeans and poultry products make up the top five U.S. commodities purchased by Mexico, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
NEWS BRIEFS
Tomato agreement terminated
According to an April 30 Farm Progress article by Executive Editor Brad Haire, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) terminated the 2019 U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement, and U.S. tomato farmers – particularly those in Florida – are happy about it.
The U.S. tomato industry has, for many years, complained the suspension agreement between the department and Mexico has led to unfair competition which threatened U.S. tomato growers’ businesses.
Since 1996, there have been five suspension agreements between the countries. According to Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE), Mexican companies continued to dump tomatoes into the U.S. market, undercutting American farmers.
Since the first agreement, Mexican tomato imports into the U.S. have grown to nearly 400 percent, capturing over 70 percent of the U.S. market. During this same period, the U.S. industry’s market share has dropped from 80 percent to 30 percent, according to the FTE statement.
The latest suspension agreement was spawned by an antidumping conflict in 2019, when the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled imported Mexican fresh tomatoes threatened the U.S. tomato industry. In October 2019, the DOC said Mexican tomatoes had been dumped in the U.S. market at an average margin of 21 percent less than fair value.
The suspension agreement termination will take effect on July 14, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection will require antidumping cash deposits on entries of Mexican tomatoes.
On April 17, the Court of International Trade agreed with the DOC’s recent decision, finding Mexicans dumped tomatoes at significant margins as high as 273.43 percent with most companies assigned a dumping margin of 17.09 percent.
Trona mine approved
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a record of decision (ROD) announcing approval of the Dry Creek Trona Mine Project south of Green River in Sweetwater County.
Trona is a mineral used to produce soda ash – an essential raw material in baking soda, glass, chemicals, detergents and other key industrial products, including lithium-ion batteries. Its development aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order to Unleash American Energy.
The approved project authorizes Pacific Soda LLC to construct mine well fields, processing facilities, storage ponds, a cogeneration facility, landfills for salt and lime, transportation facilities, natural gas and water pipelines and powerlines to mine and process materials from underground trona beds located 2,300 feet below the surface.
The project is expected to employ up to 2,000 workers during construction and create about 300 full-time, high-paying jobs over the life of the mine.
Pacific Soda LLC estimates there are approximately 117 million tons of recoverable trona within the proposed project area which could produce approximately six million metric tons of marketable soda ash and more than 440,900 metric tons of baking soda annually.
BLM released the final environmental impact statement for a 30-day public comment period before making their final decision. The final environmental impact statement, ROD and supporting documents are available at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home
For more information, contact Kelly Lamborn at 307-828-4505 or klamborn@blm.gov.
finished at 1646 lbs. Pre-sorted from 178 head. Rep: Ty Thompson 307-340-0770. www.cattlecountryvideo.com
FEEDERS H & K Livestock 210 Blk/Bwf Strs, 850-900#, Been on a Grower Ration, Shots upon arrival: Bovi-Shield Gold 5 One Shot, Vision 7, Wormed w/Safeguard, Poured w/ Exit Gold, Booster Shot (2-4 weeks later): Bovi-Shield Gold 5, No Implants by this owner, Note: one load of these steers originated from Pat & Sherri Cullen ****225 Mostly Blk/Bwf (5 Red) Hfrs, 750-800#, Spayed, Been on a Grower Ration, Shots upon arrival: Bovi-Shield Gold 5 One Shot, Vision 7, Wormed w/Safeguard, Poured w/Exit Gold, Booster Shot (2-4 weeks later): Bovi-Shield Gold 5, Been Implanted w/Revalor G, Note: one load of these heifers originated from Nichols Bros. Padlock Ranch 84 80% Blk/ 20% Red Strs, 625-675#. Weaned a long time, Been on a Grower Ration, Full Vac. Program, Ivomec Pour On, Synanthic Wormer Dr. Brent Kaufman 63 Mostly Blk/Bwf Hfrs, 650-750#, Spayed, Weaned a long time, Running out on meadows supplemented with Hay and Protein Pellets, 2 Rounds of Shots: 7-way w/Somuns, Pyramid 5+Presponse, Dectomax Injectable Wormer, No Implants, Selling only due to drought conditions WEANED CALVES Boreen Hay & Cattle 70 Polled Hereford/Angus-x Strs & Hfrs, 400-500#, Weaned 28 days, Bunk Broke, Hay Fed, Mineral Lix w/BioMos, Hubbard 16% Pellets with BioMos, Salt, Pre-cond. Shots: Vision 7 w/Spur, Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot SubQ, Multi-Min, Poured John & Mandee Moore 60 Blk Hfrs, 575-600#, Weaned a long time, Bunk Broke, Been on a Light Grower Ration, 3 Rounds of Shots, Bangs Vac., Home Raised, May/ June Calves Bruce Schneider 14 Blk Strs & Hfrs, 400-500#, Weaned 3 weeks by sale day, Hay Fed, Branding Shots: 7-way, Ivermec Pour On
Bookmark and Beyond
Each year, to showcase their understanding and appreciation of Wyoming’s essential resources, second- through fifthgrade students from across the state create bookmarks illustrating a Wyoming resource message through Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom’s Bookmark and Beyond Program. This year, 12 winning designs were printed and distributed throughout the state.
For coming weeks, the Roundup will share photos of the 2025 Bookmark and Beyond finalists.
BLM seeks input
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public input on a proposal for exploration drilling in Fremont County.
If approved, Rush Uranium Wyoming LLC could drill up to 232 holes looking for uranium and construct associated infrastructure on public, state and private lands approximately 15 miles northeast of Shoshoni.
BLM posted Rush Uranium Wyoming LLC’s Plan of Operations at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanningui/project/2038045/510 and opened a 30-day public scoping period on an environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act. Public scoping is the public’s first opportunity to provide BLM comments and additional information to help the agency prepare the EA and address any concerns the public may have with the proposal. Public scoping comments can be e-mailed to blm_wy_lfo_nepa_projects@blm.gov or mailed to the BLM Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520. Comments must be submitted by June 4. For more information, contact Lander Field Office Geologist Tom Sunderland at 307-332-8400.
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Fifth-grade finalist – Created by Claire Camino, fifth grade, Cloud Peak Elementary, Buffalo, sponsored by Wyld Gear
People’s Choice Award winner – Created by Beau Weaver, fifth grade, Glenrock Intermediate School, Glenrock, sponsored by ANB Bank
As the U.S. closes in on a scrapie-free designation, the time has come to begin conversations about where the American sheep industry goes once it crosses the seven-year finish line established by the World Organization for Animal Health.
This conversation started in earnest on April 9 as the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) hosted the Scrapie Free in the U.S.: Moving from an Eradication to a Surveillance Program Forum during the National Institute for Animal Agriculture’s Annual Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Attended by a variety of state and national animal health officials, Extension personnel and sheep industry representatives, the forum took a closer look at the American sheep industry’s journey toward finally being declared scrapie free.
Only three states have yet to surpass the sevenyear window required for a disease-free designation – Arkansas, Indiana and Pennsylvania.
Barring any further cases, this window will close in 2028, but it doesn’t mean scrapie and the programs created to eradicate it will disappear completely. As the forum title suggests, surveillance programs will most likely still be in place moving forward.
Slaughter surveillance Sheep Producer Matt Benz remembers the start of scrapie eradication efforts in the U.S. more than 20 years ago, so he made the 100-mile drive to Kansas City, Mo. in hopes the forum would mark the beginning of the end for a disease which drastically changed the American sheep industry and the way it tracks sheep movement
around the country.
“The reason I came is because I was on the Board of Animal Health in North Dakota about 25 years ago, and the state vet said there was a U.S. Animal Health Association meeting in Little Rock, Ark.,” Benz recalled.
“They were going to be talking about scrapie, so he asked if I wanted to go.”
He continued, “I went down and we were talking about scrapie, and the cattle guys said they wanted to get rid of all of the sheep in the country. Only a few of them were totally serious, but some of them were. We were talking about all of the things we needed to do with scrapie, and the question was asked, ‘How prevalent is it?’
Nobody knew the answer. So, slaughter surveillance came out of that meeting.”
And slaughter surveillance won’t be eradicated anytime soon. At least this was the prevailing thought in Kansas City, Mo.
“It’s a beginning,” Benz said of the forum. “There’s a lot of confusion, but I think everyone here is on the same page that we need to continue doing slaughter surveillance for scrapie after we’re determined to be disease free. We’re a ways away from agreeing about how it’s going to happen and who’s going to pay for it.”
Scrapie tag requirements
ASI Animal Health CoChair and Small Flock Producer Dr. Cindy Wolf was on hand for the forum and participated in a panel discussion which included former ASI President Cindy Siddoway of Idaho as a large flock producer; Cindy Tews of the Fresno Livestock Commission in Fresno, Calif. representing sale barns; Dr. Rosie Busch of the University of
California-Davis (UC-Davis) Veterinary Medicine Extension team and UC-Davis Professor Emeritus Joan Dean Rowe as a representative of the goat industry.
One realization of the day’s forum is after all of these years of fighting scrapie, there are still sheep and goat producers who aren’t aware of the National Scrapie Eradication Program and scrapie tag requirements.
“I’m excited we had so many different representatives and stakeholders here. I thought everyone is really looking forward to what this can mean for them, even though it’s hard to visualize,” said Wolf.
“I’m excited because some of it is really tangible,” she added. “We can do more education, we can do more surveillance and we can learn what other pieces need to be put together in the next two years so we can be ready for 2028.”
Wolf has been a part of the scrapie discussion from the beginning, and she said during the panel discussion the industry was fortunate the genetic aspects of the disease are so straightforward.
“I think there are a lot of people and organizations that need to take credit for the fact we’ve come this far in our battle with scrapie,” Wolf said. “I’m thrilled, but I’m also concerned if we’ll have the leadership and commitment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and in the industry three years from now.”
She continued, “We’re all getting older – those of us who have been involved in this from the beginning. I’m hopeful the knowledge and tools are still available through funding and staff.”
One of the unintended
benefits of the program is the power of scrapie tags. While no producer enjoys having to tag animals, the tags became a powerful tool for producers – a tool which was enhanced exponentially with the development of electronic tags.
“I think when we started all of this, we didn’t realize how well received the scrapie tag could become as an ID component within a flock,” Wolf said. “We had producers show us they are using this tag for management purposes, and it still served its other purpose, which is to provide traceability.”
“There were hidden benefits none of us realized, and it works for the industry,” she reiterated. “Producers who have applied themselves through these tags have become more efficient, and their sheep have become more productive because they can keep better records. Now, they know who the star performers are in the flock.”
Therein lies the battle as scrapie efforts move forward.
The tags were never designed for identification purposes. They were designed to increase traceability in the event of a disease outbreak.
Whether they’re required or not after 2028, many producers will continue to use them as a means for improving their flocks.
Regardless of where the scrapie journey goes in years to come, the forum showed the importance of involving livestock markets in the process.
In addition to Tews, Mandy Geistweidt of Gillespie Livestock in Texas and Justin Tupper of St. Onge Livestock in South Dakota were on the agenda to talk about the role their industry plays in traceability, and it was apparent from comments by all three that many sheep producers show up at sale barns unprepared to meet the current tagging requirements.
“We are the gatekeepers to a lot of information,” Tews said during her panel discussion, noting most markets can help producers meet tagging requirements but charge extra for a service which can be a real strain on their limited labor force.
“We need to reach all of the industry, not just the people who are coming to our association meetings,” Wolf added.
Discussions on the future of the scrapie program and where it heads from here will continue in the months – and years – to come.
But with estimates scrapie costs American sheep producers between $10 and $20 million a year in lost exports and increased production costs, there’s no doubt the industry can’t afford to take a wrong turn this close to the final destination.
ASI is the national organization representing the interests of sheep producers located throughout the U.S. From east to west, pasturebased flocks to range operations, ASI works to represent the interests of all producers. This article was originally published in the May edition of ASI’s Sheep Industry News
“I’m constantly reminded of how much we need to have good information available to producers, and we have to get more creative about how we put information out to them,” said Wolf. While scrapie materials have been made available to sale barns in the past, the program ran into issues with keeping information current and assuring it was distributed to producers.
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and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property in Wyoming, and the internal document calls for opening new lands to oil and gas drilling, coal mining and other uses.
However, the fouryear DOI plan was leaked to Public Domain and is posted to the organization’s website.
The WyoFile article states, “The DOI blasted the leak and called its publication ‘irresponsible.’”
The draft plan, which the agency told WyoFile is not final nor ready for release, sets four goals and several objectives to accomplish them.
The goals include restoring American prosperity, ensuring national security through infrastructure and innovation and allowing sustainable enjoyment of natural resources.
It would do this through the fourth goal – collaboration with states, Tribes and local governments.
The draft The internal DOI document, dated April 21, lists the four strategic goals President Donald J. Trump has set for his second term, including a plan to restore American prosperity using American energy to lower costs and increase affordability.
According to Public Domain’s website, the DOI strategic draft plan is written as a string of bullet points, remaining broad and vague but as a whole, boosts oil, gas and coal production and opens lands to development.
“The nation’s largest land management agency is gearing up to squeeze revenue from the federal estate, opening up new lands to drilling and other extractive development while reducing federal land holdings and slashing environmental regulations, with its top goal being to restore American prosperity,” states the website.
The document calls
WCHF continued from page 1
well as Niobrara County’s A.D. Flores Kruse of Lusk from Region Two.
Selected from Region Three was Albany County’s Jerry Martin Kennedy of Rock River and Laramie County’s Angus McPhee of Cheyenne, while Converse County’s Lee Moore of Douglas was the lone inductee from Region Four.
Two Johnson County residents – Wayne Graves and Sonny Jarrard, both of Kaycee –were joined by Sheridan County’s Dave Claredon of Banner as the Region Five inductees, with Washakie County’s Eldon Leithead of Worland and Big Horn County’s Kay Bischoff Hopkin of Lovell as the inductees selected from Region Six.
Inductees selected from Region Seven are Carbon County’s James Felix Johnson of Encampment, as well as Sweetwater County’s Orson Nathan Behunin and Christena Isabela Slagowski Behunin,
PESTICIDES
both of Burntfork.
Three individuals were also selected from Region Eight, including two Fremont County residents – Jack C. Malmberg of Lander and John P. Finley of Dubois – and Hot Springs County’s Frank J. Rhodes of Cody.
While there were no individuals selected from Region Nine, Region 10 saw a large portion of this year’s WCHF Class of 2025 inductees, including five residents of Sublette County and one from Teton County.
These include Gerry Dean Endecott and Garland Swain of Pinedale, as well as Marvin Wardell, Jesse Earl Chase and Luke Algeroy Osterhout of Big Piney.
Rounding out the class and the six Region 10 inductees is Chris Feuz Young of Moran. Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
continued from page 2
Wyoming made a request to EPA to use the product Dimlin under a Section 18 label for control.
Most recently, WDA received approval for the use of a product called Goltix under Section 18. This product is for the control of Palmer amaranth in sugarbeets.
to open Alaska and other federal lands for mineral extraction, while mapping out all DOI-held lands for energy and minerals and quantifying their value.
“It is beyond unacceptable an internal document in the draft/deliberative process is being shared with the media before a decision point has been made,” an DOI’s spokesperson wrote in response to queries from Public Domain. “Not only is this unacceptable behavior, it is irresponsible for a media outlet to publish a draft document. We will take this leak of an inter-
nal, pre-decisional document very seriously and find out who is responsible. The internal document is marked draft/deliberative for a reason – it’s not final nor ready for release.”
While the DOI draft sets to increase revenues from grazing, timber, mining and other development on federal lands, it simultaneously aims to reduce the costs for grazing and other land uses.
The draft also calls for delisting some species from Endangered Species Act protections and streamlining the National Environ-
mental Policy Act.
The plan does promote conservation, Public Domain mentions, ensuring ecosystems are healthy, balanced and thriving, and the draft calls for cleaning up abandoned coal mines, ensuring aquifers are clean, promoting hunting and fishing and maintaining trails for public access.
The document also discusses the importance of ensuring sovereignty and self-determination for Tribal nations, while promoting comanagement of federal resources and supporting the Native com-
munity’s traditional use of lands, as the DOI is responsible for overseeing the government’s trust responsibilities to federally-recognized Tribes, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The draft also indicates DOI will pursue further cuts and mentions the reduction of unnecessary staff, canceled facility leases, a reduction in unnecessary vehicles and the removal of unnecessary assets.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Pesticides are not only an important tool for agriculture and other industries, they are also valuable to citizens of the state of Wyoming.
Those who find themselves in a situation where they may need to use pesticides should make sure to follow the label closely to ensure it’s effective and limits any unintended consequences.
Those applying pesticides outside of the home need to contact WDA to get a pesticide applicators license. WDA is dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of Wyoming’s agriculture, natural resources and contribution to Wyoming’s quality of life. For more information, visit agriculture.wy.gov
proper records are maintained and audited.
Debate
During the general file, Ibach explained she is open to additional amendments to her priority bill regarding the language of the fee structure and other technical issues lawmakers might have, as the bill faced opposition from State Nebraska Sen. Tanya Storer (R-43) who proposed an amendment to essentially kill the bill, but the effort failed.
On the floor, Storer expressed concerns about lawmakers making an uninformed decision about the agency responsible for investigating cattle theft and verifying ownership through branding when cattle are bought, sold or moved in and out of the brand zone established by state law, which essentially covers the western two-thirds of the state.
She also mentioned the agency could not fund itself after the change, as the bills fiscal note reports the Nebraska Brand Committee is funded entirely through fees and not by taxpayers, and if the bill passes, the committee would lose $1.6 million annually – roughly 25 percent of its operating budget.
“This is a major technical change to Nebraska’s Brand Act which addresses oversight and law enforcement for
our number one cash commodity,” Storer explained. “Cattle are an essential economic engine for the state.”
Ibach replied, “The current system is unfair to rural feedlots which are huge economic drivers in rural communities.”
She said feedlots in the brand inspection area pay annual capacity fees projected to total nearly $1 million in 2025 to address a problem she suggested does not exist.
Ibach offered an amendment, adopted in a 31-to-two vote, which she said was the result of negotiations with interested parties and would replace a pending Agriculture Committee amendment.
Amendment
Ibach’s amendment would require a $1,000 fee to operate a RFL in Nebraska and increase the cap on the physical and electronic inspection fee the Brand Committee may charge from $1.10 to $1.50 per head.
It would also allow for new inspection exemptions for cattle who are transferred to the care of another individual without transfer of ownership if proof of temporary possession is established while being transferred to or from a qualified dairy, transferred to an affiliated grow yard from an inspected RFL under certain conditions and
transferred from an affiliated grow yard to an RFL under certain conditions.
Ibach reported the amendment would level the playing field for Nebraska dairies and would maintain the integrity of the state’s cattle inspection framework.
“I think this is good legislation,” Ibach said. “This will be a good thing going forward.”
However, Storer opposed the amendment, expressing concerns about senators making changes to how the Brand Committee functions without a full understanding of the industry and the issues.
Storer also raised concerns regarding the Brand Committee’s ability to carry
out its duties under the amendment’s new fee structure, mentioning a feedlot with a 50,000 head capacity currently pays one dollar per head, or $50,000 per year, and under the amendment, it would change to an annual fee of $1,000.
“This is a drastic change in the funding structure of this committee,” Storer added.
She offered an amendment to instead require the Nebraska Brand Committee to develop a report recommending updates to fees and inspections in all aspects of the livestock industry which would be delivered to the legislature no later than Dec. 31. However, the
amendment failed on a vote of nine to 14.
During the floor debate, Nebraska State Sen. Mike Jacobson (R-42) agreed the “wholesale changes” in Ibach’s amendment would be a “big shock to the system” for the Brand Committee.
Debates over the future direction of the Brand Committee have hindered lawmakers in the past, but Nebraska State Sen. Ben Hansen (R-16) mentioned the cattle industry is too important to Nebraska’s economy to fail and they need to find a solution all parties can live with.
“I’ve listened to the same argument every year for seven years,” Hansen said.
“It is time we act.” Ibach reiterated she is open to further changes to the fee structure, as well as amendments needed to address technical concerns with the measure and mentioned if an agreement could not be reached, she would not ask for the bill to be scheduled for second-round debate.
However, following the 26-to-three adoption of the committee amendment, lawmakers advanced the bill to select file on a vote of 26 to two.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Adobe Stock photo
Master Gardeners provide communities with solutions
For over 50 years, the Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) program has been training volunteers across the nation who have a passion for horticulture and assisting with gardening education in their communities.
Today, EMG programs can be found in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) capacity funding.
Master Gardeners come from diverse backgrounds and are united by their passion for sharing gardening knowledge and experience with others.
Becoming a Master Gardener provides many benefits, such as greater gardening knowledge, opportunities for volunteering and educating others and the chance to connect with their community.
How it all started
According to USDA NIFA, the Master Gardener idea was established in 1973 in Washington and has grown to more than 77,000 experienced and 12,500 new EMGs.
The EMG program was created by two Extension agents looking for ways to meet the needs of backyard gardeners, as agents across the country were being overwhelmed with gardening questions.
The two agents realized they could multiply their resources by training motivated amateur gardeners who would, in turn, respond to the ever-increasing number of home gardeners seeking help.
EMG volunteers share their gardening knowledge by teaching workshops, managing demonstrations and community gardens, speaking at events and staffing garden information helplines.
According to the most recent USDA reports, more than 89,000 EMG volunteers contributed 4.9 million hours in community volunteerism in 2023, valued at $157 million in donated time nationwide and collectively reached 10 million people through their work.
EMGs also donated over one million pounds of produce to communities in need, estimated at $2.3 million in donations.
In many states, EMG volunteers work garden helplines, answering questions from the public, providing individuals with the opportunity to ask EMG volunteers gardening or landscaping questions and receive research-based answers specific to their location.
Becoming an EMG
To become an EMG, candidates must complete an in-person or virtual training program, volunteer their time and maintain certification through continuing education and volunteer services.
While certifications and
class specifics may vary state-to-state and even university-to-university, individuals will generally participate in 40 to 60 hours of course work, taught by local experts, EMGs or other educators.
Classes include basic botany, where students will learn fundamental differences between various classes of plants and plantlike organisms, as well as the various parts of plants and their functions, while gaining the ability to recognize the different roles plants play in a healthy ecosystem.
Additional classes may cover topics such as introduction to entomology, plant pathology, pesticide safety and pest management.
An essential part of becoming an EMG is volunteering, and as part of the EMG program, candidates must fulfill a volunteer hours requirement.
Volunteering requirements continue beyond certification. Individuals must fulfill an annual volunteer obligation and may also need to complete additional classes or training to retain their EMG status.
EMG programs typically require ongoing education to maintain certification, ensuring individuals remain informed about the latest research and techniques.
Master Gardener opportunities EMGs are dedicated volunteers who share their knowledge with the public through diverse and impactful activities, educating the public on gardening techniques, pest management and environmentally-sound horticultural practices.
According to USDA NIFA, across the U.S., EMG programs and other Extension efforts work to reduce food insecurity in communities. Katie Dunker, state Master Gardener coordinator for Colorado State University Extension, notes food insecurity and access to fresh produce is a concern among Masters Gardeners.
“I think nationally, EMGs are concerned about people in their communities facing food insecurity,” she states. “Look at what we as EMGs can do. Not only can we teach people to raise their own fruits and vegetables, but we can donate the fruits of our labors to our neighbors, as well as local food pantries and food banks. It’s more than food –it’s a gift of love.”
Feeding communities through EMG programs
Today, across the country, multiple Extension programs are promoting growing food for others, not only through Master Gardener programs but other programs as well.
Seed to Supper is a beginning garden course focused on reducing food insecurity and was co-created by the Oregon Food Bank and Oregan State University (OSU) Extension.
This program empowers novice gardeners with the essential tools they need to connect with others, build confidence and grow a portion of their food on a limited budget.
Although gardening alone cannot address all food security issues, having access to fresh food – and the confidence and skills to cultivate it – can significantly improve the situation.
According to OSU research, participants in Seed to Supper demonstrate increased knowledge of food gardening and feel more confident in their ability to grow some of their own food.
They also become better equipped to access gardening resources in their communities, and in the medium to long term, these participants implement food gardens, improve their nutrition, offset grocery costs, reduce hunger and become advocates who teach others about gardening and access locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
The free, comprehensive six-week beginning gardening course has been taught in partnership with many different community organizations, from food pantries and food banks, to places of worship and prisons.
Additional programs include Growing Together, a multi-state Extension effort to increase fresh fruit and vegetables available to food pantries and agencies.
Master Gardeners in North Dakota provide free vegetable seeds to home gardeners with the stipulation produce grown be donated to food pantries, and organized nine weekly collection sites to receive surplus homegrown vegetables and fruits from the public for delivery to food pantries.
In 2020, EMGs produced, gleaned and collected more than 38,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for local food pantries, and in the Cowboy State, Wyoming Hunger Initiative, the University of Wyoming Cent$ible Nutri-
tion Program and Master Gardener program joined the fight against food insecurity with its Grow A Little Extra program. For more information
Austin Snook • 307-290-2161
Taylor Snook • 307-290-2273
Craig Deveraux • 307-746-5690
Dan Catlin • 406-671-7715
Clint Snook • 307-290-4000
Cheyenne Seymour • 605-641-0638
visit ahsgardening.org
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
"From the ring, to the video, and in the country, we market your livestock the competitive way."
May 7, 2025
Weigh ups and bred market full steady. Thank you and we appreciate your business!
John Roland Ellis, age 81, passed away on May 2 at the Niobrara Community Hospital in Lusk after a valiant battle with Amyotrophis Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
John was born on Feb. 29, 1944 in Hanna to John and Florence Ellis.
John, also known as Andy or Swede to his close friends and family, attended school at the ranch with his
siblings Charlie and Bill and his neighbor Bob Palmer. They were a spunky group and gave the young teachers some stories to tell.
John stayed with the Schmale family in Medicine Bow to attend his senior year of high school and graduated from Bow Basin High School. He returned to the ranch and began his lifelong career of ranching. In 1964, John met Pat Middaugh at a country dance in Leo. They married in July. In 1966, they had Sherry, and in 1969 Annie came along.
John was very active in the community and was always more than willing to help the neighbors. He spent many days branding, shipping and doing any work that was needed. He especially enjoyed his time helping his lifelong friend Martin Sulli-
Scott Wiley Talbott
April 7, 1962 – April 25, 2025
Scott Wiley Talbott was born on April 7, 1962 in Monte Vista, Colo. to Jim and Janet Talbott. He was raised on the Talbott family ranch west of Laramie, where he developed a lifelong love for the outdoors. His childhood was filled with hunting, trapping, exploring the surrounding plains and mountains and working alongside his family. Even from a young age,
van at the Q and Shamrock. They all had many good days together and enjoyed what they did.
In the winter, gathering wild horses with the Jarrards and Jim Irene was exciting and fun. They would gather them to the ranch and trail them to Medicine Bow. Many evenings were spent with a lot of laughing, blackberry brandy and good stories.
John was very musical and could play almost any instrument by ear. He, Darlene Herman and Karen Hiatt had a band. The Shirley Mountain Trio played at many country dances at the Leo Community Hall, The Virginian Hotel and many other places. They had a grand time entertaining people.
John enjoyed his music and played his guitar and accordions up until the ALS made it so he couldn’t.
During the tough times of the 1980s, John went to work at Arch Coal in Hanna and worked the night shift, then did all of his ranch duties dur-
Scott displayed a tireless work ethic – cutting timber, shearing sheep with his brothers and, in true bigbrother fashion, harassing his sisters.
He attended Sheridan College and earned his degree from the University of Wyoming before embarking on a remarkable 34-year career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Over the course of his tenure, he served in nearly every role within the Wildlife Division – except biologist – and ultimately retired
ing the day. He did this for two years. He made many very good friends while there.
The family continued to ranch at Difficulty Creek until 2004. Then, they sold the ranch and purchased a ranch at Prairie Center.
John continued with his community-minded ways and always helped anyone who was in need. In Carbon County, he was chairman of the Wyoming State Grazing Board for many years and a very active member of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA).
He, along with his good friend John Cowdin, produced the rodeo held in Medicine Bow for many years.
After moving to Goshen County, John continued in WSGA for many years, as well as the Goshen County Hospital Board, Goshen County Airport Board and Prairie Center Fire Department and served two terms as county commissioner.
John enjoyed his airplane and flying for many years. He soloed and acquired his pilot’s
as the second-longest-serving director in the agency’s modern history.
Scott was particularly proud of his leadership in the recovery and delisting of wolves, the resurgence of the Yellowstone grizzly bear population and the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret.
A strong believer in public trust and transparency, he worked to make the agency “the people’s game and fish department,” achieving a 95 percent credibility rating and 91 percent public satisfaction during his tenure.
His vision and commitment earned him numerous awards and recognitions, and he served on the boards of several national and regional wildlife organizations. He was a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Leadership Academy and Leadership Wyoming and served as president of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Following retirement, Scott continued to share his deep knowledge and passion for conservation as a guide and outfitter liaison
license on May 26, 1975 in a Citabria. His good friend Les Larson was his instructor.
He built and flew a Kit Fox and Heath Parasol and rebuilt a Bowers Fly Baby. He could be found buzzing around in his Super Cub or his Cessna 172 checking water and enjoying flying in general.
He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association since 1972.
In 2016, John was inducted into the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Federal Aviation Administration awarded John the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2025, and he also received the Experimental Aircraft Association Award for supporting their mission and programs.
John lived his life with honesty, integrity and a large amount of grit. He had a huge zest for life and encouraged everyone around him to enjoy every moment.
His girls will think of him every time they swing on their horses and see him
for Safari Club International. His work took him around the globe – from Canada to New Zealand to Africa – but his heart always remained in Wyoming.
Scott knew every corner of his beloved state. A skilled horseman, he traversed countless trails, creeks, hunting camps and summits on horseback, always eager to share those places with the people he loved.
He cherished the meadowlark’s song, the rise of a trout, sunrises and sunsets, hot peppers, cribbage and hitting his mark. Whether navigating remote wilderness or gathered around a fire, Scott was a fierce competitor, a loyal friend and an adventurer at heart – devoted to the land and people he held dear.
Of all his accomplishments, Scott was most proud of being a father and grandfather. His sons Payden and Luke were his companions in life’s many adventures, and time with his grandson Quincy was, in Scott’s words, “the culmination of everything I’ve worked for.”
His family, friends, faith
in every sunset.
John was preceded in death by his parents, brother Don and sister Jean. He is survived by his wife Pat of 61 years; his daughters Sherry (Scott) White of Oelrichs, S.D. and Annie (Joe) Campbell of Torrington; two brothers, Hank “Charlie” of Torrington and Bill of Medicine Bow; lifelong friend Martin Sullivan of Marietta, Okla. and many loved nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on May 14 at the Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church with Pastor Nate Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery, and the casket will be closed.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to Gracie’s Promise, 1437 Road 70 L-A, Torrington, WY 82240.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home, and condolences may be sent to colyerfuneralhome.com/
and love of the natural world defined his life. He found joy in cooking for those he loved, tending his garden, collecting historical oddities and being the keeper of stories and family lore. Scott passed peacefully on April 25 surrounded by loved ones, with a heart full of gratitude for a life welllived, the joy and love that surrounded him and his relationship with God.
He was preceded in death by his parents and will be laid to rest beside them on the family ranch. He is survived by his sons Payden Wiley and Luke Branson Talbott and his grandson Quincy Tripp; his brothers Jay and Cody Talbott; his sisters Amy Clay and Betsy DeBolt and their beloved spouses and children – all of whom he loved deeply.
In honor of Scott’s generous spirit, memorial contributions to your favorite charity or a wildlife conservation organization would be a fitting tribute.
A memorial service will be held on May 30 at 2 p.m. at the Albany County Fairgrounds in Laramie.
OBITUARIES
Cynthia Lee (Fenster) Youtz
Feb. 23, 1961 – May 2, 2025
Cynthia Lee (Fenster) Youtz passed peacefully at her home surrounded by family on May 2 after a five-year journey with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Cindy was born in Ainsworth, Neb. on Feb. 23, 1961 to her parents Don-
ald Lee Fenster and Theresa Ann (Rothermel) Fenster. She was raised on ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills where she attended oneroom schoolhouses and rode horses to school. Her family moved to the Diamond Ring Ranch west of Alcova in 1971. Cindy attended Alcova Elementary School, Dean Morgan Junior High School in Casper and graduated from Natrona County High School. She received her agri-business associate degree from Sheridan College. While working full time and going to college full time, she earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Wyoming Extension Office
Dr. Donald “Don” Vernon Cobb
Sept. 10, 1942 – May 2, 2025
Dr. Donald “Don” Vernon Cobb was born on Sept. 10, 1942 in Boulder, Colo. to Vernon Cobb and Elizabeth (Clayton) Cobb. He died on May 2 in Casper. His early life was spent in Jamestown, Colo. and Boulder, Colo. until the
death of his father in a mining accident, and the family moved to Casper in 1956.
Don graduated from Natrona County High School in 1960 and Casper College in 1963. His love of agriculture and animals led him to Colorado State University, graduating as a Doctor of Veterinary Medi cine in 1967.
Don practiced in Walla Walla, Wash., and then in Casper in 1968. He was a partner in the large animal practice on Fairgrounds Road for many years. In 1980, he chose to venture out as a lone practitioner in establishing Cobb Veter inary Services until semiretirement in 2018.
SALE REPORTS
in Casper.
Cindy worked at the Wyoming Boys School in Worland and Wyoming Girls School in Sheridan before moving to Flagstaff, Ariz. to take a position with Girls Ranch.
She met her husband, James Allan Youtz, while working at Girls Ranch. They were married on Aug. 11, 1990 in Flagstaff, Ariz. Jim’s work took them to Show Low, Ariz., where Cindy began work as a probation and parole officer for the State of Arizona Probation and Parole Division. Their two sons were born here.
Jim’s work then took them to New Mexico, where they made their home at Edgewood, N.M. Cindy continued her career as a probation and parole officer with the state of New Mexico. She admirably served her communities as a probation and parole officer for
In his final weeks of life, he was still willing to serve, offering health certificates and Coggins Tests for a friend. During his years of practice, he developed and highly valued many relationships and friendships with clients. He believed in affordable vaccinations for all animals and held a regular clinic at the Humane
over 30 years
Cindy was warm, thoughtful and inquisitive and made it a point to know everyone in the community. Cindy enjoyed spending time outdoors admiring her flowers and tending to her bird feeders, sharing stories of her childhood and work adventures and playing fierce games of Gin Rummy with her family and friends.
Throughout her life, she would take long walks in any weather with neighbors and friends, and together they would solve the world’s problems.
Cindy was a dedicated mother who taught her children the power of hard work, and she was extremely proud of their accomplishments, from 4-H county fair ribbons to college graduations.
She faced her ALS diagnosis with grace and was involved in several clini-
Don is preceded in death by his parents, his son Mike Cobb, spouse Juanita Cobb, spouse Mary Cobb, brother Guy Cobb, Butch Moore, Mike Moore and grandson Liam Cobb.
Don is survived by many family members including his sister Zoe (Leonard) Madsen of Casper; children Anna Cobb, Scott (Dana)
cal research trials to help find a cure for others battling the disease. Her kindness, laugh, outcries of “holy buckets” and practical advice will be deeply missed by all.
Cindy is preceded in death by her parents, brother Mike Fenster and in-laws Bob and Sandy Youtz.
She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Jim Youtz; her son Joseph Andrew Youtz and his wife Rosario Sarahi (Tapia) Youtz and her grandson Grayson Nolan Youtz, all of Baton Rouge, La., as well as her son Matthew Phillip Youtz of Austin, Texas.
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor May 1, 2025 Belle Fourche Livestock, Belle Fourche, S.D. Auctioneer: Seth Weishaar 80 Yearling Angus Bulls Avg. $6,553
Lot 9 – JSA Testament 4002 – Price: $12,000 DOB: 1/31/24 Sire: Tehama Testament Dam’s Sire: SUA Capitalist 9237 EPDs: BW: -1.6, WW: +69, YW: +127 and Milk: +28 Buyer: Edgar Brothers Angus, Rockham, S.D.
Lot 10 – JSA Growth Fund 4364 – Price: $12,000 DOB: 3/28/24 Sire: Deer Valley Growth Fund Dam’s Sire: S A V Recharge 3436 EPDs: BW: +0.1, WW: +72, YW: +133 and Milk: +32 Buyer: Don Fish, Buffalo Gap, S.D.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to Cindy’s team of hospice caregivers and nurses who supported her and her family with kindness and compassion in her final years. A rosary prayer service will be held on May 17 at 10 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Edgewood, N.M. with a funeral mass to follow at 11 a.m. A celebration of life and internment will take place later this summer in Casper.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to the Barrow Neurological Institute, 2910 N. 3rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013 or ALS New Mexico, 2309 Renard Pl SE Unit 105, Albuquerque, NM 87106 in Cindy’s honor.
Cindy was one of eight children – Dick and his wife Joan of Alcova; Tim and his wife Nancy of Evansville; Bud and his wife Sally of Maricopa, Ariz.; Jeff and his wife Jody of Wright; Dan and his fiancée Jennifer of LaGrange; Jo Grady and her husband Tom of Hico, Texas; sister-in-law Colette Fenster of Buffalo and brother-in-law Todd Youtz of Payson, Ariz.
Douglas; Kaleb Cobb, Kyle Cobb, Maygen (Kenneth) Strawn Cobb of Tomball, Texas, Jeremy Dziewit of Charleston, S.D., Anthony Cobb and Chad Cobb of Casper and four greatgrandchildren.
Don firmly believed in mental health work, especially after the recent loss of his grandson Liam.
tal health and those around you. Consider researching stayanotherday.com/. Use or pass along the 988 lifeline when needed. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a favorite youth organization or the Converse County Bank Drawer 689 Douglas, WY 82633 – LJC, What’s Your Story?
Lot 18 – JSA Fairnsquare 4087 – Price: $12,000 DOB: 3/4/24 Sire: Myers Fair-N-Square M39 Dam’s Sire: Diamond Peak Tour Duty 4521 EPDs: BW: +2.8, WW: +78, YW: +155 and Milk: +27 Buyer: Gary Wendt, Newell, S.D.
Lot 3 – JSA Commerce 4009 – Price: $11,500 DOB: 2/1/24 Sire: Connealy Commerce Dam’s Sire: S S Niagara 229 EPDs: BW: -0.2, WW: +83, YW: +150 and Milk: +30 Buyer: Don Fish, Buffalo Gap, S.D.
Wyoming
WEED & PEST COUNCIL
Drones Used to Help Prevent the Spread of Invasive Plants
In years past, the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) has relied on their staff to spray and protect areas of the state which have seen or are susceptible to non-native plants and weeds.
Without treatment, invasive plants such as cheatgrass and Palmer amaranth could cost Wyoming taxpayers millions of dollars in damage every year.
At the Sublette County Weed and Pest District, it fell to team members to spray infected areas by
hand, a timely and often less than perfect method.
“When backpackers or a guy with a four-wheeler go out and spray part of an affected area, they’re going to have to refill their pesticide, then go back out to where they left off,” said Lars Anderson of the Sublette County Weed and Pest District. “They might accidently skip an area or don’t start exactly where they left off. There are little things which allow invasive weeds to sneak between the cracks.”
This is why Sublette County, along with 11 other weed and pest districts across the state, have begun deploying some of the newest, innovative technology in their fight to keep Wyoming wild and beautiful.
Utilizing drones
The Hylio AG-130 drone, which is the model specifically used by Sublette County, is built to hold eight gallons of pesticide spray and can be programed to spray large fields with precision accuracy in onethird of the time it would normally take.
“Typically, we would have an eight-man backpack crew to do these spraying projects,” said Anderson. “This frees them up to do other things, and we can now get more done countywide than we could before.”
The drone also comes equipped with radar sensors which detect terrain and adjusts accordingly to avoid obstacles and provide an even spray across the desired area, reaching
places weed and pest crews could not access before.
A path is mapped out on the drones GPS before it takes off, allowing the crew to specify which areas to spray down to the exact inch they desire. The drone then takes off and automatically guides itself through the path, completing its task in a quarter of the time it would take to spray on foot.
“There are some limitations we’ve had to learn,” Anderson admitted. “If there is a really steep, rugged hillside, it won’t always spray as effectively as it could. These drones are used on crops for flat farms, and it doesn’t always do well over some of the rocky terrain we have here in Wyoming. So it isn’t a miracle tool, but it is saving us a lot of time, money and manpower.”
Statewide collaboration
To prepare for the arrival of the AG-130, the Sublette County Weed and Pest team spent time with other weed and pest districts that were already deploying their own
drones. Not all districts use the same type of drone, and the time spent observing and learning allowed them to develop their own strategies for transporting, deploying and storing the new drone.
In the end, the team outfitted a truck to work as a mobile command center, allowing them to easily transport the drone and all of the supporting tools to any of their spraying sites.
They hope their strategies are shared among other districts to better improve their drone programs, just as they did when their drone was launched.
“We all have a close working relationship, and we bounce things off of each other,” said Anderson. “Things will grow. We’ll share ideas. If we can make anything better in our district, we’ll share it with
the others, and this is what makes WWPC such a great organization as a whole.”
The Sublette County Weed and Pest Team says they hope to continue expanding on their program and look for even more ways to efficiently keep Wyoming wild and beautiful.
WWPC is comprised of 23 weed and pest districts in the state of Wyoming. The council works closely with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and the University of Wyoming to keep current with the latest technology and research available in the ongoing management of noxious weeds and pests. The overall mission is to provide unified support and leadership for integrated management of noxious weeds and pests to protect economic and ecological resources in the state.
Adobe Stock photo
tools to help our communities grow sustainable outdoor recreation initiatives,” stated Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute Director Dr. Dan McCoy during opening remarks on the first morning of the event.
Additionally, McCoy noted slow growth in the state’s outdoor recreation sector compared to neighboring states – a topic that dominated many of the conversations at the event.
“I’m not standing here saying we should strive to be number one in every growth chart. Growth really isn’t the goal,” McCoy said. “But what I am saying is we owe it to ourselves to choose the future we want, not to let it happen to us by accident.”
“Over the next two days, I challenge everyone to wrestle with some big questions,” he continued. “What does the future of outdoor recreation look like for Wyoming? What opportunities are we prepared to seize? And how do we balance growth with stewardship, quality of life and authenticity?”
Controlling Wyoming’s destiny
Dave Glenn, director of the Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails and the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Office, also spoke during the opening session and reiterated this sentiment.
“Really, the three basic candidates are where we are, where we want to go and how we get there,” he started.
While Glenn admitted outdoor recreation has come incredibly far since the 1970s – with a surge in popularity of off-road Jeeps,
four-wheelers, side-by-sides, mountain bikes, GPS devices and cellphones – he reiterated economic contributions from outdoor recreation in Wyoming is far behind other states in the West.
“I would actually argue, however, that this puts us ahead, because states like Utah and Colorado are getting overwhelmed with people coming into their states and we’re not there yet,” he stated. “We are uniquely situated to control our own destiny with outdoor recreation.”
Glenn pointed out a common issue brought on by beautiful open spaces – the desire for enjoying the peace and quiet and the opportunity to bring in more revenue.
“If we attract more people, we take away from what we’re trying to do,” he said. “This is the big question, right? How do we thread the needle to bring in more revenue, to bring more people here and to grow more business, but not to kill the values we live here for?”
Glenn then offered a few suggestions on how to tackle these big questions.
“One more night, one more cheeseburger – tourism gets them here, but let’s find ways to keep them here,” he said. “One more night means one more raft trip, one more mountain bike ride and one more cast of the fly. All of these things help grow our economy and keep us from paying taxes. It’s a good thing.”
Second, Glenn recommended educating visitors and residents alike on how to recreate appropriately and finding ways to disperse recreationalists across the
state to communities promoting their type of outdoor recreation.
He added, “Collaborate and build the army. The way we are all going to win and the way this is going to move forward is through collaboration with industry, transportation, etc.”
Glenn also mentioned the importance of being flexible and using available tools.
“I think we have an obligation to create outdoor recreation infrastructure in communities that want to share their brand of outdoor recreation,” Glenn said. “Educating, dispersing and concentrating these folks across the state is going to be critical.”
Worldwide conversation
To wrap up the morning session, Keynote Speaker Luis Benitez noted similar conversations are happening worldwide during his presentation titled “Can Outdoor Recreation Save the World.”
Benitez, vice president of global government affairs for Lululemon, is a former international mountaineering guide who has led more than 30 expeditions to the highest peaks on every continent.
“When I talk about the outdoor industry saving the world, really what I am talking about is how it drives physical and mental wellbeing, economic development, education and workforce training,” Benitez said.
But, throughout all of his travels, Benitez has found communities across
the world are asking themselves the same questions as those at the 2025 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit – how to protect natural resources so they don’t become overrun while simultaneously utilizing them to create revenue and feed families.
“I continued to ask these questions everywhere I went,” Benitez shared. “The mountains got bigger, the countries got further away and the expeditions got more spectacular but, really, I just wanted to answer these questions for everybody.”
The answer, he noted, is
to look outward and connect global dialogue to understand which best practices are coming out of the same conversations being had across the world and what kinds of things are originating in different cultures and communities that could be shared across the board. Keep an eye out for more from the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Summit in future editions of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Adobe Stock photo
May 13-14
Wyoming Animal Damage Management Board Project Application Meeting, Thyra Thomson Building, Casper. For more information, visit wyadmb.com/
May 14 Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration Virtual Workshop, 8:30-11:30 a.m., online. For more information or to register, visit westoncountynrd.org/ltpbrworkshop
May 15 Bureau of Reclamation Annual Operations Meeting, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Ordway Auditorium, Teton County Library, Jackson. For more information, visit usbr.gov/pn/snakeriver/index.html
May 15 Montana Wild and Domestic Sheep Commingling Project Public Meeting, 5:30-6 p.m., Elks Lodge, Thompson Falls, Mont. For more information, visit animalrangeextension.montana.edu/wildlife/index.html
May 16-18 7 Triangle 7 Artificial Insemination Spring Training, Akron, Colo. For more information or to register, visit 7triangle7.com or call 307-481-3921.
May 16-18 Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show, Sheridan. For more information, visit leathercraftersjournal.com
May 17 Albany County Tree Planting Workshop, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Location TBD. For more information or to RSVP, visit eventbrite.com/e/albany-county-treeplanting-workshop-tickets-1245438884229?aff=oddtdtcreator
May 17-18 59th Annual Colorado Gun Collectors Association Gun Show, Island Grove Event Center, Greeley, Colo. For more information, visit cgca.com, e-mail CGCAShow@cgca.com or call 720-482-0167.
May 20 Montana Wild and Domestic Sheep Commingling Project Public Meeting, 12-1 p.m., 4-H Building, Beaverhead County Fairgrounds, Dillon, Mont. For more information, visit animalrangeextension.montana.edu/wildlife/index.html
May 20 Montana Wild and Domestic Sheep Commingling Project Public Meeting, 5:30-6 p.m., Jeffers Building, Madison County Fairgrounds, Twin Bridges, Mont. For more information, visit animalrangeextension.montana.edu/wildlife/ index.html
May 20-21 Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration In-Person Workshop, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Weston County. For more information or to register, visit westoncountynrd.org/ltpbr-workshop/
May 22 Lincoln County Suicide Prevention Town Hall, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., South Lincoln Training and Events Center, Kemmerer. For more information or to register, visit prospertogether.net/suicide-prevention-town-hall
May 25 21st Annual Hyattville Cowboy Carnival, Hyattville Community Center, Hyattville. For more information, visit hyaattville.org
May 26 Wyoming Livestock Roundup Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day. Wishing all of our readers a very safe and happy holiday.
May 29 Montana Wild and Domestic Sheep Commingling Project Public Meeting, 5:30-6 p.m., Emigrant Community Hall, Emigrant, Mont. For more information, visit animalrangeextension.montana.edu/wildlife/index.html.
May 31-June 1 Colorado Breed Bash, Morgan County Fairgrounds, Brush, Colo. For more information, visit facebook.com/ColoradoBreedBash
1755# $18050
1 Blk Bull, 1675# $17650 River Valley Land & Livestock - Lovell
1 Blk Cow, 1685# $13900 Shumway, Eddie - Thermopolis
1 Hrfd Cow, 1230# $13850 Vacher, Kurt - Basin
1 Blk Cow, 1310# $13650 Wilkinson, Kurt - Basin
1 BWF Cow, 1715# $13500 Sage Creek Land & Cattle - Worland
1 Blk Cow, 1315# $12800 HEIFERS
Orchard Ranch LLC - Ten Sleep
15 Blk Hfrs, avg. 445# $40400
27 Red Hrfrs, avg. 458# $39900 Friesen, Kenneth - Moscow
29 Blk Hfrs, avg. 623# $33550
Verona Cattle LLC - Wyarno
16 Blk Hfrs, avg. 627# $32950
Lyman Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep 12 Blk Hfrs, avg. 791# $27150 George, Luke - Powell 13 Blk Hfrs, avg. 818# $26400 HEIFER CALVES Orchard Ranch LLC - Ten Sleep 7 Red Hfr Clvs, avg.
May 16-17
May 16-17
Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Commission Ranch Horse Competition and Spring Spectacular Catalog Horse Sale, Salina, Kan., 785-825-0211, 785-826-7884, fandrlive.com
Colorado Horse Sale, Adams County Fairgrounds, Brighton, Colo., 970-7448989, coloradohorsesale.com
May 24 16th Annual Full House Horse Sale, Weston County Fairgrounds, Newcastle, 307-746-5690, 307-746-8592, 307-746-8536, fullhousehorsesale.com
May 30-31
June 16-21
June 17-19
July 1
July 7-11
July 7-13
July 11-12
July 14-16
July 24
July 28-Aug 1
Aug. 12-13
Aug. 18-19
Aug. 18-22
Leachman Cattle – Hobble Diamond Ranch Partnership Dispersal, Leachman Cattle’s New $Profit Center, Meriden, 970-568-3983, leachman.com
2025 National Rambouillet Sheep Show and Sale, CAM-PLEX, Gillette, 409-256-3687, rambouilletsheep.org
Superior Livestock Auction Corn Belt Classic, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
Cattle Country Video High Plains Showcase Sale, UW Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center, Laramie, 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com
Superior Livestock Auction Week in the Rockies, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
Colorado Horse Sale Saddle Horse Sale, online at coloradohorsesale.com, 970-744-8989
Mile High Summer Classic Sale, Adams County Regional Park, Brighton, Colo., 970-381-3649, 970-381-3547, joshwhiteauctions.com
Western Video Market, Silver Legacy Casino Resort, Reno, Nev., 530-3473793, wvmcattle.com
Stellpflug Cattle Company “New Frontier” Female Sale, at the ranch, Guernsey, 307-351-1712, stellpflugcattle.com
Superior Livestock Auction Video Royale, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
Cattle Country Video Oregon Trail Classic Sale, Gering Civic Center, Gering, Neb., 888-322-8853, cattlecountryvideo.com
Western Video Market, Little America, Cheyenne, 530-347-3793, wvmcattle.com
Superior Livestock Auction Big Horn Classic, 800-422-2117, superiorlivestock.com
Aug. 23 Memory Ranches Third Annual Foal Sale, at the ranch, Wells, Nev., 208412-6156, 208-695-0399, memoryranches.com
Aug. 23
Aug. 23-26
Aug. 30
Aug. 30
Sept. 9
Colorado Horse Sale, Adams County Fairgrounds, Brighton, Colo., 970-7448989, coloradohorsesale.com
Lauing Mill Iron L Ranch 20th Annual QH Production Sale, online auction only, prohorseservices.com, 605-347-6193, 605-280-0698, 605-280-0398, lauingmillironlranch.com
Proffit Ranch 24th Annual Labor Day Horse Sale, Diamond X Barn, Evanston, 307-723-5857, proffitranch.blogspot.com
97th Annual Wyoming State Ram Sale, Wyoming State Fairgrounds, Douglas, 307-265-5250, wyowool.com/ramsale
Walker, Eric - Burlington
3 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 627# $32000 HEIFERETTES
Stoffers, Shawn - Greybull
1 Red Hfrette, 935# $23500
River Valley Land & Livestock - Lovell
3 Blk Hfrettes, avg. 1050# $23500
Whitlock, Robert - Lander
1 Blk Hfrette, 1150# $20500 STEERS
Orchard Ranch LLC - Ten Sleep
13 Red Strs, avg. 464# $47000
92 Red Strs, avg. 540# $42660
17 Blk Strs, avg. 575# $40500
22 Blk Strs, avg. 680# $35200
6 Red Strs, avg. 1067# $25000
Dewey, Jesse - Otto 1 Lnghrn Str, 405# $30000
Linebaugh, Dustin - Powell
3 Mxd Strs, avg. 688# $27300 George, Luke - Powell
11 Blk Strs, avg. 942# $26600 STEER CALVES
Klamert, Gene - Billings
23 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 514# $41600
Shryack, Steve - Worland
1 Blk Str Calf, 480# $40500
Friesen, Kenneth - Mosow
3 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 558# $39900
Rogers, Don - Boulder
6 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 592# $35000
Bennett/M&M Live Trust - Manderson
3 Hrfd Str Clvs, avg. 618# $34000
Marchant, Lee - Burlington
6 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 703# $33600
Roush, James - Vernal
1 Blk Str Calf, 670# $24000
Ewes and lambs on pasture in the early spring bespeak a new cycle of life – a promise though winter comes again and again, it will always be followed by spring.
Folk in Biblical times, closer to the natural order of things than many people today, sensed the dignity of tending flocks so all might have food and clothing. Shepherds were revered men among them, and the sons of kings watched over their fathers’ beasts.
It was not by accident the paschal lamb was the most worthy of sacrifices to God. It was a recognition of economic and spiritual value, and the lamb, as
a symbol of purity, has survived the ages.
Today, we look upon cities, homes, machinery, etc. vastly different from those viewed by our forebears. But men and their stomachs are much the same, and the man who supplies food has a high place in society.
War has served to emphasize the essential worth of foodstuffs. There are people in starving Europe today who would part with the savings of a lifetime for one good meal for themselves and their children.
Every American doughboy knows the difference food can make in the
morale of a fighting man –how a man’s whole being can be concentrated upon the desire for food.
The man tending flocks today is one of the few fortunate enough to view the world as did those men who laid the first foundations of civilization by gathering and caring for flocks so the food supply of their tribes might be more stable. They find scarification in seeing animals growing fat on nature’s bounty, just as those who tended herds at the beginning of time did. Those who live in the West are especially blest. They raise their eyes from their daily tasks to see high mountains accented by white snow or green trees, according to the season – to blue skies and bright sunshine, and natural beauty unmarred by man’s activities. Even as it was described in the Bible as a full life, so it is today. Blessed words and exceptional photo from the 1944 annual edition of The Record Stockman.
Compared to last week slaughter lambs traded sharply higher, Slaughter ewes mostly firm. Feeder lambs not well tested. Equity Cooperative Auction had a auction. All sheep sold per hundred weight (CWT) unless otherwise specified. Slaughter Lambs: Choice and Prime 1-3 San Angelo: wooled and shorn 60-70 lbs 298.00-304.00; 70-80 lbs 290.00-303.00; 100-110 lbs 250.00-268.00; 110 lbs 255.00; 120 lbs 210.00.
Ft. Collins: wooled and shorn 50-60 lbs 300.00-325.00; 60-70 300.00-320.00; 70-75 310.00-325.00; 120-130 lbs 255. South Dakota: wooled and shorn 50-60 lbs 285.00-310.00; 60-70 lbs 290.00-305.00; 70-80 lbs 255.00-295.00; 80-90 lbs 278.00; 90-100 lbs 267.50-300.00; 100-110 lbs 245.00. Billings: No test.
Equity Coop: Medium and Large 1-2 90 lbs 249.50. Slaughter Ewes San Angelo: Good 2-3 110-150 lbs 120.00-155.00; 160-180 lbs 118.00-119.00.
Ft. Collins: Good 2-3 115.00-135.00; Good 4-5 80.00-130.00. South Dakota: Good 2-3 90.00-110.00; Good 4-5 100.00105.00; Utility 1-2 80.00-105.00.
Billings: No test.
Feeder Lambs: Medium and Large 1 San Angelo: 30 lbs 292.00; 45 lbs 345.00.
Billings: No test. Replacement Ewes: Medium and Large 1-2
San Angelo: no test.
Ft. Collins: no test.
South Dakota: no test.
Billings: no test.
Sheep and lamb slaughter under federal inspection for the week to date totaled 33,000 compared to 32,000 last week and 41,000 last year.
Source:
Merino Clippings
Source: USDA- CO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Greeley, CO
Wyoming Hay Summary As of May 8, 2025
Compared to last week, movement has been about steady. Most of the hay being sold is in small loads at a time as animals need feed waiting for grass to green up. Quite a few tons of hay left to sell in various areas of the state. According to the U.S. drought monitor website, all of Wyoming is under abnormally dry to moderately dry soil moisture with Southeast Wyoming having extreme dry soil moisture. According to the Wyoming crop progress report, as of May 4th, hay supplies were reported to be 51% adequate, pasture and range conditions are 25% good condition, winter wheat is 5% good condition, alfalfa hay is 48% good condition, other hay is 62% good condition, with barley being 80% good condition. Central Wyoming
Alfalfa - Supreme Cubes 480 Eastern Wyoming
Alfalfa - Supreme Pellets 15% Suncured 260 Western Wyoming
Alfalfa - Supreme Cubes 380 Small Square 250
Alfalfa - Premium Small Square 3 Tie 225
Alfalfa - Good Large Square 3x4 120 Grass - Good Large Square 3x4 155
Compared to two weeks ago, alfalfa hay sold fully steady, grass or meadow hay trading 5.00 higher. Spot load of old crop dehy pellets 20.00 higher, sun-cured pellets steady. Ground and delivered hay steady. Demand has improved in the last two weeks with most contacts stating phones have been busy with producers looking for hay to buy. Several livestock owners remember the 200.00 plus per ton of hay a couple years ago and are willing buyers at today’s price levels. Will the price go up this growing season and how high it will get is the million-dollar question. Standing hay price for first cutting 2025 is starting out at
Montana Hay Summary As of May 2, 2025
Compared to last week: Hay sold fully steady. Demand for feeder hay is starting to slow as we approach summer, however a few sales continue to be seen. Demand from Canadian buyers was moderate to good this week as several loads a week over the last few weeks are selling to buyers north of the border. Most of this hay is lower quality feeder hay. Canadian buyers have also been become interested in press hay to try to export to pacific rim countries. Many producers report very good interest in good to supreme quality hay, however limited supplies of this quality of hay remain available. Supplies of hay have lightened some, but remain light to moderate. Some carry over is expected but drastically less than the last two hay seasons. Dry conditions are noted across the far eastern and far western portions of the state and across the Highline. Some producers remain optimist hay demand could improve later in the summer if conditions remain dry. Some producers are ripping out hay and opting to plant a different crop. Hay barley has been at the top of many producers lists as input and labor costs are lower and feed values remain relatively similar to alfalfa. Market activity was mostly slow to moderate this week. According to the drought monitor 56.80% of the state is in Moderate drought or worse, up 6.58% from last week. 13.25% of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, 0.77% lower than last week. 1.72% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, unchanged from last week. 0% of the state is in Expectational drought, unchanged from last week. Notably, 73.62% of the state is abnormally dry, down 1.28% from last week.
Source:
The Natrona County Predator Management District is holding its 2025 Budget/Board Meeting on Monday, June 2nd, beginning at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will be held at the Wyoming Wool Growers, 811 N. Glenn Road, Casper. All producers, Wyoming Game and Fish representatives, Wildlife Service representatives and the public are invited to participate. The purpose of this meeting is to review the 20252026 proposed budget submitted to the Department of Audit and Animal Damage Management Board (ADMB). For additional information, please contact the NCPMD office at ncpmd1@charter.net
financial information to an
vertiser. If you have questions or believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact the Wyoming
NATIONAL RAMBOUILLET SHOW AND SALE: June 1621, CAM-PLEX, Gillette, WY. For more information, visit www. rambouilletsheep.org 5/17
UP IN ARMS, LLC FLEA MARKET AND GUN SHOW JUNE 7-8, Thermopolis, WY at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds. Open to the public. Sat., June 7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., June 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Giving away a .22 pistol Sunday at 2 p.m., must be present to win, 21 years of age and able to pass background check. Buy, sell, trade. Adults $6, children 12 and under free (when accompanied by an adult). For more information, contact Lisa, 208-420-2295 5/31
WASHAKIE COUNTY IS SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR A FULLTIME EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WITH THE ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT. CDL is required. For more information, please contact Road and Bridge Superintendent, Stuart Bower at 307-388-4848 5/31
BAR K CATTLE, ALSO KNOWN AS MID-AMERICA FEED YARD, IS LOOKING FOR QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED FULLTIME PEN RIDERS WITH HORSES AND TACK PREFERRED AND YARD CREW HELP WITH A CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND. Hours
7 a.m.-5 p.m., M-F with every other weekend. Seven holidays observed. Call 402-295-2216 for an application 5/24
PEEGEE RANCH NEAR ARVADA, WY IS LOOKING FOR A FULL-TIME FARM/RANCH EMPLOYEE: This position is open immediately. Applicant must be self-motivated, reliable and responsible with knowledge of haying and farming. Mechanical skills are a must. Farming duties include swathing, baling and raking hay, etc. This is not a cowboy position, but applicant will need to assist in all aspects of cattle work as well. Those duties include calving heifers, feeding hay, branding and gathering, etc. Nearest big town is 60+ miles and nearest K-12 school is 30+ miles away (location of the ranch is remote). Housing is provided and on a school bus route. Please send resume with references by mail or e-mail to: PeeGee Ranch, 1251 Lower Powder River Road, Arvada, WY 82831, pgranch@rangeweb.net. Call 307-736-2461 5/17
CONSTRUCTION BY OATES ENTERPRISES: Offering custom welding and dirt construction: Livestock pens, feeders, pipe fencing, road work repair, pad building, excavation for mechanical into homes and businesses, pond reclamation, NRCS registered vendor. Free estimates, www.constructionxoe.com. Call Levi Compton at 254-433-3434, Casper, WY. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/24
WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: RRC, RSS, RHH. Expires Jan. 1, 2029. Electric iron included. $2,500. Call 307-575-6589 5/10
our website at Call Brandon Furr at 402-257-7769 or 402-746-2222 for more information.
Serving the agriculture community and beyond! Please contact Sara Rankin at 307-290-2336, for more information!! 5/24
AGRI-ONE FINANCIAL: Farm/ ranch and all commercial loans. RATES AS LOW AS 5%. We have been helping with all aspects of agricultural, commercial financing and management for years. LET US HELP YOU on a consulting level with management to increase profitability, deal with and fix credit problems and for all your financing needs. WE CARE AND HAVE WORKING PROGRAMS designed for the farmer/rancher and not the banker. Please call Steve, 303-773-3545 or check out our website, www. agrionefinancial.com. I will come to you and get the job done!! 5/17
WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LSC LBH. Dues paid to January 2035. Does not come with irons, $2,000 OBO. Call 307-5277288, leave a message if no one answers 5/31
WYOMING HORSE BRAND FOR SALE: ID A1616100, LSC, LTH, registered until Jan. 1, 2035. No horse with brand, branding iron included. $3,500, Call after 5 p.m., 307-388-2456 5/10
HISTORIC WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: Lazy PN has been a registered brand since 1912. LRC, BS, LSH. Renewed to January 2033. Two sets of irons available. SELLER WILL PAY transfer fees. $2,500. Call 307-2724215 5/10
REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: RHC, RJH, renewed to Jan. 1, 2031. Electric and hot iron available. $5,000. Call 307331-9092 5/10
AUSSIEDOODLES (25 lbs.) AND COCKAPOOS (15 lbs.), potty trained and crate trained. Raised in our home with our children. Ready for homes. Montana Beartooth Doodles, call 406-633-1660 or visit www. montanabeartoothdoodless. com 5/31
TIMBERLINE STOCK RANCH/ BROWN FAMILY FARMS: Two male blue heeler puppies, ready to go. Call 406-855-2211 or 406855-6237 5/10
OLD FASHIONED WORKING RANCH BRED AUSSIES (no show lines), guaranteed to work stock. Father heads, mother heads/heels, gritty enough for pairs, lots of drive, biddable, sweet, extremely smart, works with relatively little training. Capable of trialing or fetching stock out of fields and corral work and capable of getting brushed up cattle out. Pups are showing interest now on goats. Quality lines, Pincie Creek, Los Rocosa, CCK, Hangin’ Tree (Aussie) lines. Ready for homes now. Health tested parents, had his shots and wormed. One male, black bi, 20 weeks. $100 OBO. Can potentially deliver. Accepts texts, or call and leave a message, Lacey, 801-721-8620, southwest Wyoming. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/10
BASSETT HOUND PUPPIES: Exceptional temperaments and bloodlines. Sweet, gentle, great with kids and other dogs. AKC registered, shots, wormed. M/F available. Ready to go now. Call 719-309-8864. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/10
SIMANGUS BULLS FOR SALE: Yearlings and 18-montholds. All bulls have GE EPDS, are homozygous polled, most are homozygous black. Bulls can be inspected at Dilka Cattle, pictures available by request. All bulls guaranteed for first breeding season. Information on the bulls may be requested by email at thedilkas@aol.com
ROYLANCE ANGUS, REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS BULLS: These bulls come with explosive growth, fueled by breed topping genetics. Calving ease, excellent feet, great dispositions. Sired by Coleman Rock 7200, Coleman Marshal 7170 and Coleman Navigator 614. Competitively priced. Semen tested, vaccinated. One breeding season guarantee. Sold private treaty on the ranch in Charlo, MT. Call or text, Adrian, 406-214-4444 5/17
YEARLING AI SIRED BLACK ANGUS BULLS: Will work on heifers. Sires include Johnny Walker, Sterling Pacific and Myers Fair-N-Square. Semen tested. Minatare, NE. Please call Byron Miller, 303-818-8152, leave message 5/31
YEARLING ANGUS BULLS: These bulls are grown, not fattened, will get out and cover cows. Many will work on heifers. We will deliver. Call Joe Buseman, 605351-1535 5/31
SPENCER & SONS ANGUS: Offering yearling Black Angus bulls. Sons of Sterling Pacific, Crawford Guarantee and Shefelbien Showman, plus Raven Powerball son. Thirty-one years AI breeding, reasonably priced. Fromberg, MT. Call 406-425-3814 5/10
REGISTERED BLACK ANGUS YEARLING AND 2-YEAR-OLD BULLS: For sale private treaty. Performance and fertility tested. Delivery available. REPLACEMENT HEIFERS available. TRANGMOE ANGUS RANCH, Glendive, MT. Call 406-6873315, 406-989-3315 or 907-2326093 6/28
REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND: LHC, BS, LHH. Current through Jan. 1, 2033. $3,500 OBO. Contact Gene at 307-331-1049 5/17
REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND: LHC, LBH. Current through Jan. 1, 2033. $3,500 OBO. Contact Gene at 307-331-1049 5/10
REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND: LRC, LSS, LSH. Current through Jan. 1, 2033. $3,500 OBO. Contact Gene at 307331-1049 5/10
WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: RRC, RSS, LTH, registered until Jan. 1, 2035. Irons and electric iron, $2,500. Call after 5 p.m., 307388-2456 5/10
WYOMING BRAND FOR
SALE: RRC, RSH. Registered until Jan. 1, 2035. No horse or cattle with brand. No irons available. $2,200 includes transfer fee. Contact Ronnie at 303-913-2493 5/24
WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: RRC, BS, RSH, one iron brand. Electric irons available. Fees paid to Jan. 1, 2035. $4,000 OBO. Call Al, 307-575-1314 5/17
REGISTERED WYOMIING BRAND FOR SALE, lazy RM. RRC, RHH, renews in January 2027, 2 sets of hot irons and 2 sets of electric irons. $3,000. Calls only, 307899-3737 5/10
BEST LAST CHANCE SALE!!
LYTLE RED ANGUS is offering via private treaty yearling bulls from their grazing developed herd of consistent, efficient and proficient cows. Bulls have passed breeding soundness exams and are ready to work for you!! Visit www. lytleredangus.com or call Zeb, 605-441-7658. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/31
RED ANGUS HIGH-ELEVATION YEARLING BULLS FOR SALE IN NORTHEASTERN UTAH: Out of AI and bull-bred sires. Will be trich, semen tested and fed for free until May 1. $2,700/head. Bar Lazy TL Ranch, David, 435-828-1320, barlazytlranch@ gmail.com 6/14
Hereford
TWENTY RED ANGUS PAIRS: Second calvers, Beckton genetics. Located in Torrington, WY. Call 307-2312883 5/24
STICKS & STONES RANCH
Red Angus
Red Angus
Hay & Feed
Classic Vehicles
CLASSIC: 1983 JEEP CJ8
COUNTY, WY RANCH NEAR CODY, WY IS AVAILABLE
A
The ranch has over 50,000 acres and supports an irrigated hay base with BOR water rights. Carrying capacity is 700 animal units yearround with hay production. Willing to split the hay ground and grazing. Please e-mail Honora Beirne (hbeirne@ acpg.com) and Melanie Giliati (mgiliati@acpg.com) for details 5/17
Horses
Wagyu
WAGYU/AKAUSHI BULLS FOR SALE: Red/black, yearlings, 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. Call 406-860-7085, Little Powder Wagyu 5/31
CUSTOM FEEDING AND FINISHING FOR CATTLE AND SHEEP. Cactus Hill Ranch Company, Fort Collins, CO. Contact AJ Nelson, 970-3728273 5/10
LINGS OR 530 PAIRS: Available May 15. North and west of Medicine Bow, WY. Would be split in two groups of 250 and 910. Full care, fenced and great water. Excellent care. Salt provided. ALSO willing to entertain cattle on shares of profit. We also have ground load scale for shipping off grass. Lots of experience and historic 1.7-2.0 lbs. daily gains on these ranches. reGen LLC, call or text Sage Askin for more information, 307-351-4875 or e-mail saskin12@gmail.com 5/10
WIGGINS FEEDYARD, FEEDING CATTLE OF ALL CLASSES: Drylot cows; yearlings or calves to background or finish. Call Steve, 308-279-1432 or Sue, 308-2790924 (cell) 5/17
WANTED: Sugar Bars and nonSugar Bars-bred saddle horses for the 23rd ANNUAL SUGAR BARS LEGACY SALE SUN., SEPT. 21 Held in Sheridan, WY. NEW ONLINE BIDDING option thru Frontier Live. Please contact Jim, 406-812-0084 or e-mail deerrunranch@gmail. com for consignment and sale information 5/10
HORSE TRAINING: Will train horses to drive, single or double. Call Joe @ 701-851-0357 5/17
Saddles & Tack
CINCH UP SPRING with new, quality MOHAIR CINCHES, WOOL SADDLE pads and BLANKETS!! Over 300 BITS in stock!! GREAT selection of QUALITY GLOVES. $AVE on BOOTS: HONDO, BOULET, JUSTIN WORK BOOTS, TWISTED X (boots and shoes) and more!! Ride, work, rope or play!! WE CAN ship!! Shop Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack, 4648 West Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY; 307-472-1872. Our family serving yours for 50 years!! Check us out on Facebook or our website 5/10
Leatherwork
LS CUSTOM LEATHER: Belts, tack, cell phone cases and much more!! Contact Lester, 307-631-1053, leave a message. Located in Riverton, WY 5/10
Sheep
ARE YOU IN NEED OF A NEW HERDER CAMP OR A PERSONAL RANGE CAMP FOR YOUR FAMILY? Contact us at Western Range Camps and see what we can build for you. We specialize in quality, handcrafted camps built to your specifications. Contact us today to design the camp just right for you. Western Range Camps, 435-4625300, heidi@wrcamps.com, 1145 S. Blackhawk Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647 5/10
Swine
BUTCHER PIGS FOR SALE: Located in Hardin, MT. Call 406679-1136 5/24
WEANER PIGS FOR SALE, located in Powell, WY. For more information, call 307271-1014 1/17
SEED FOR SALE: Conventional alfalfa, sorghum sudan grass and a full line of forage products available. "If it's GREEN and GROWS, we probably can supply it!" Dealer inquiries welcome. Call Koerperich Seeds, 970-580-5438, 308-697-4848, e-mail alankoerperich@yahoo.com 5/10
Hay & Feed
WIGGINS FEEDYARD, FEEDING CATTLE OF ALL CLASSES: Drylot cows; yearlings or calves to background or finish. Call Steve, 308-279-1432 or Sue, 308-2790924 (cell) 5/17
HAY FOR SALE!! Delivery available!! Call 307-630-3046 5/17
CERTIFIED WEED-FREE PURE ALFALFA HAY: Small squares, covered. 2023 first cutting available for a reduced price. 2024 first, second and third cutting available. Will load trucks and any open trailer. MONIDA OATS, $16/cwt. Combine run. Will auger into truck, trailer or large totes/ag bags. Located between Powell and Cody, WY. Call or text Knopp Farms for details, 307-254-0554 6/21
HAY FOR SALE: 2023 milo and grass/alfalfa. 2024 first and second cutting alfalfa, grass/alfalfa. ALSO, haybet barley and oat hay, low nitrates, good protein, call for feed analysis. GRINDING HAY also available. All in net-wrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, ask for Klint, 701-2904418, send a text if no answer or keep trying 5/24
VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Representing 40 of the best growers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. Call now for your summer/fall needs, Barry McRea, 308-235-5386, www. valleyvideohay.com 5/24
54 3X3 BALES OF THIRD CUTTING, certified weed free, tested alfalfa hay. Been covered. RFV 204.7, crude protein 21.2, nitrates 0.44. Riverton, WY. Call 307-851-4634 5/24
ROUND-BALED GRASS: 2024 crop $40/bale. 1,000 lb. net-wrapped bales. Cody, WY area. Call, don’t text, Anthony at 307-254-2645 5/24
BARLEY STRAW: Certified weed-free small squares, $4/ bale. ALSO, 5x6 round bales, $125/ton. GRAIN OATS, wheat and barley, $20/cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307762-3878 or 307-899-4714, leave message 5/17
90 NET-WRAPPED ROUND BALES, 1,500 lbs. grass/alfalfa mix, 2024 crop, $125/ton. Located in Cody, WY. Calls only, 307-899-3737 5/10
SCRAMBLER PICKUP, frame off restoration, custom half cab, 258CI inline 6 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual transmission, 12,000 lb. winch, very clean, runs great, garage kept, car show ready, 10,000 miles on rebuilt engine, $43,750 OBO Call 406-498-1830. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/17
LODGEPOLE OUTDOOR FURNACES, 307-223-2046. Your authorized Central Boiler Dealer. Get your outdoor wood furnace today!! $2,000 tax credit on qualifying models!! Efficient wood heat. Heat multiple buildings. Invest in your heating, don’t just pay for it!! See us at www.cb.lodgepoleproducts.
WANTING TO
WYOMING: Enough for 20 to 50 pairs. Call 605-252-8156 5/24
CERTIFIED BARLEY STRAW FOR SALE, 3x4 bales. Cody, WY. Call 307-899-1952 TFN
Trucks & Trailers
2001 CHEVY 2500, 4x4, extended cab, 6.0 Vortec gas engine. Camper special. New batteries, transfer case and power steering pump. Fluids all changed, 170,000 miles. $5,000 OBO. Good ranch truck. Call 307-6858213 (home) or call/text 303472-0954 (cell), if no answer please leave message. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/24
2020 GOOSENECK
KAUFMAN TILT FLATBED TRAILER, 8’x30’ with dovetail ramps, dual tandem axles with 14 ply tires, good shape, torsion suspension. Title in hand, asking $14,000. Call Larry Carlson, 605-224-6100 (home) or 605-280-3879 (cell), if no answer leave message 5/24
chuckwagons with John Deere running gear and bunk feeding extensions. 12’ HD box scraper with tilt. All in very nice condition!! Call 605999-5482 5/31
Livestock Equipment
Hydraulic calf table with tub and alley, completely portable. ALSO, calving pens and loading chutes available. Call or Text Mike 605-842-6653
MONTANA RAILROAD SERVIC-
ES: Railroad ties, switch ties and other railroad materials for fencing and landscaping. Best pricing and quality in the region. Call 406-9623514, Silesia, MT. Located 10 miles south of Laurel, MT (off of Clarks River Rd., the old highway). Visit our website www. mtrrservices.com 5/10
MANUFACTURER OF HEAVY
DUTY CONTINUOUS FENCE:
Corral panels, farm gates, free standing panels and more. Call for pricing and delivery, Rocky Ridge Welding, Nevada, MO, 417-549-1077 8/9
LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING
AGRI-BUSINESSES SINCE 1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buck-and-rail, western rail, fence stays, rough-sawn lumber, bedding. SEE US at www.lodgepoleproducts. com and click our “Picking A Fence Post” tab to see why folks choose our posts!! TFN
Pipe
PIPE FOR SALE!! 2 7/8”, 3 1/2” tubing, 4” drill pipe, 4 1/2” casing, 5” casing, 7” casing. Rods 3/4”, 7/8” and 1” located in Montana, can ship anywhere. Call Mike, 602-758-4447. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 7/26
OILFIELD PIPE: PRICE REDUCED!! RPJ Enterprises, Inc. 2 3/8”, 2 7/8” and 4.5” is available, pricing is coming down. Used for fencing, corrals, cattle guards, etc. 2 3/8” and 2 7/8” are on average 31.5’ long per joint. Pierce, CO. Call for details, 970-3244580 6/28
Irrigation Irrigation
tems. Hydrostatically powered, T-L’s simple design gives you the low maintenance time, cost, safety and reliability to let you manage your farm instead of calling electricians or replacing gearboxes.
and make irrigation easier on
CUSTOM-BUILT LOG HOME ON 40 ACRES NEAR FORT LARAMIE, WY, 1,352 sq. ft., 2 bedroom, 2 bath home. Beautifully set among trees and natural rock outcroppings. Stunning views, including Laramie Peak. Thirty acres fenced, ideal for horses or livestock. Horse shed included. For more details, visit www.ranchworldads.com under Horse Properties. Price, $475,000. Shown by appointment only. Call Neil, 260-413-0626 5/31
55,136 ACRES, METZGER RANCH IN CHERRY COUNTY, NE: One of Nebraska’s crown jewels. This historic multi-generational, 2,500 cow ranch. Traversed by the Snake River and Gordon Creek. Over 4,000 acres of sub-irrigated hay meadow. Ranch headquarters with 6 homes, facilities, airplane hangar and grass runway. Call John Childears, 308539-4450. Marshall Land Brokers & Auctioneers, Miles Marshall, broker. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 5/10
LOOKING TO BUY ANTIQUE COWBOY, INDIAN AND OLD WEST ITEMS: Saddles, spurs, bits, chaps, horsehair bridles and pre-1930 bead work. Willing to buy entire collections. Contact Matt at 308637-3300 5/24
Long Ears by Lee Pitts IT'S THE PITTS
Some acquaintances accidentally attended the big Mule Days celebration in Bishop, Calif., and after watching these marvelous beasts of burden in races, obstacle courses and packing competitions, they came home with the idea they were going to chuck their good-paying jobs and start breeding mules.
I guess no one told them mules are sterile, and they have as much chance of giving birth to offspring as Bruce Jenner.
After they got back from Bishop, Calif., they told me all of the wonder-
ful ways a mule is the most magnificent animal on Earth, and they were under the impression there’s a shortage of them.
I pleaded with them not to do anything rash, but they sold their beautiful home and bought a 20-acre ranchette near Death Valley which should have been their first clue this would not be the best investment they ever made.
Somehow, I became their unpaid consultant on their new venture, and my phone rang off the hook with questions.
Their first question was,
“If the mule is sterile, how do we actually go about having baby mules?”
“To get a mule, you must cross a male donkey with a female horse,” I explained. “The male donkey is often also referred to in historical documents as a wild ass jack.”
This should have been their second clue this would not end well.
“So if we understand you correctly, we can’t get another mule by breeding two mules?” they asked somewhat belatedly.
“That is correct,” I answered.
About two months later they asked, “We did what you suggested and bought a male donkey and a female horse, but how do you physically get a three-foot donkey to breed a six-foot tall horse?”
“First of all, I never suggested you buy either
Funding nears deployment
State-backed grant funding to aid in landscapescale wildfire restoration and recovery efforts is nearing deployment. The effort, undertaken by Gov. Mark Gordon, will deliver nearly $50 million in legislativelyallocated funds for on-theground projects to prevent the spread of invasive annual grasses and restore resilient grass and rangelands.
The support for the wildfire restoration grants came through Senate Enrolled Act 62, which appropriated $49,479,564 to the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resources Trust (WWNRT) account. The funds were autho-
rized to provide grants to conservation districts, weed and pest districts and the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for projects which directly address restoration of habitats on both state and private lands. Funded projects must be habitat restoration focused and/or related to wildfire response – no funding may be used for equipment or structures.
WWNRT solicited grant applications beginning in mid-March from eligible entities. Applications were discussed regionally with meetings held in Wheatland, Gillette and Buffalo which included project proponents,
state agency and governor’s office representatives and legislators.
In coming weeks, a multi-agency committee will convene to review proposals and make final award recommendations. Announcements are projected for midMay.
Grant funding for wildfire recovery was one of the governor’s top priorities during the 68th Wyoming Legislature. In addition to grants, the legislature also made $25 million available in a loan program through Senate Enrolled Act 50, Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program.
a donkey or a horse,” I stated. “But now that you are already in over your heads, I see two ways you might get your donkey to breed your mare. You could either build a three-feet tall mounting platform or you could find a steep hill, face the mare in a downhill direction and place the donkey on top of the hill from whence he could mount his attack, so to speak.”
Two months later, I received my last call.
“We’ve decided breeding mules is just too hard, so we’re moving to Texas. Would you take our donkey and our mule off of our hands for free if we delivered them to you this Saturday?” they begged.
I felt sorry for them, so in a weak moment, I agreed to take the ass family off of their hands.
“But I’ll be at a bull sale this weekend so just leave
them in my old horse trailer at the ranch,” I instructed them.
On Sunday morning, I went to see the latest members of my menagerie. The donkey was shaking like a Chihuahua trying to pass a peach pit and hiding in the manger of the trailer, but the only evidence of the mule was the kicked-out tailgate.
I sold the Methodist Church on the idea they needed a real, live donkey in the nativity scene at their Christmas pageant, and they agreed to take the donkey off of my hands. But I’m told dealing with the donkey really tested the Methodist’s faith and vocabulary.
I never did see or hear about the missing mule.
I figure he’d departed for Amish country 2,000 miles away where he’d be more appreciated or he escaped into the big state park where he’s done great work
in reducing the mountain lion, bear and rattlesnake populations.
But he still could be in the vicinity and might cause a wreck on the highway, and because at this point the legal ownership of the mule is not crystal clear, I figured the relatives of anyone killed in a car wreck would go after the deepest pockets, which would be me after my ex-friends lost everything trying to get mules to breed So, I tightened the biosecurity at the ranch by putting in a more substantial entry gate with a padlock the size of a dinner plate so the mule could not reenter the ranch – and to discourage my former friends from adding to what they now perceived as a sanctuary for long-ears and so the Methodists couldn’t offload a donkey they were now praying to God to be rid of.
Angus Foundation seeks donations
The Angus Foundation will host its annual silent auction during the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Tulsa, Okla. Proceeds from the silent auction help to grow the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted support for the foundation’s mission of advancing education, youth and research in the Angus breed. Items donated to the foundation for the silent auction may come from individual Angus supporters, farms, companies or state junior Angus associations. Donation examples include paintings, gift baskets, books, cattle supplies,
jewelry, clothing and Angus collectibles.
The state junior association with the highest-selling item will receive a $250 donation.
Past silent auctions have featured a mix of one-of-akind items. From vintage publications to framed artwork, wine and outdoor accessories like fire pits and cornhole sets, there’s something unique each year and a special item for every type of bidder.
At the 2024 NJAS in Madison, Wis., the silent auction raised nearly $16,000 in unrestricted funds to aid the Angus Foundation’s mission
and support numerous scholarships, conferences and research projects.
For the fourth year, the silent auction will be hosted online at anguslive.com/ auctions with bidding opening on June 30 and closing July 4. Lots will be available to view online prior to the auction and in person at the National Junior Angus Show.
To donate an item, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.
For more information about the silent auction, visit angus.org/foundation/ get-involved/events/silentauction
