Cattlemen's Days

COLORADO'S OLDEST PROFESSIONAL RODEO EVENT

2010 Celebrating Celeb brating 110 Years

A CENTURY

IN THE SADDLE Through ups and downs and lots of changes, Gunnison Country stockgrowers still riding tall.

PAGE 18

MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE This year’s Cattlemen’s Days Queen, Molly Cannon, is comfortable punchin’ cows. Wearing a tiara? Not so much. PAGE 7

TRACTOR TALES PAGE 15

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Cattlemen's Days

2010

GET YOUR BOOTS ON

IT’S PINK TIME 2010 CATTLEMEN’S DAYS • TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK

BeneďŹ t Concert with Live and Silent Auction JULY 13 , 2010 TH

MOUNTAINEER SQUARE CONFERENCE CENTER

#!3( "!2 ,)'(4 (/23 $ /%562%3 !.$ 3),%.4 !5#4)/. !4 0- s #/.#%24 !4 0TICKETS: $60 GENERAL ADMISSION Tickets available at Interior Visions in Crested Butte and Western World in Gunnison.

DEAN DILLON

Dean makes both Nashville and Crested Butte home.

Living in CB a large part of the year with his beautiful wife Susie, Dean is a member of the Nashville songwriters Hall of Fame. With dozens of top 10 and 31 hits to his career, Dean has and is writing for some of Nashville’s top recording artists. Dean and George Strait have a string of #1 hits together, including “The Chair�, “Easy Come, Easy Go�, “She Let Herself Go�, and most recently a George Strait Single out on the Radio “Livin’ for the Night�.

SCOTTY EMERICK

Scotty returns to Crested Butte this year for his third TETWP concert.

Scotty has been working on an amazing volume of hits recently with Toby Keith, including “How Do You Like Me Now�, “I’m Just Talkin About Tonight�, “Beer for My Horses�, and “As Good As I Once Was�. Scotty was also NASI songwriter of the year in 2004.

TIM NICHOLS

Grammy, CMA and ACM award winning songwriter, Tim graciously, accepted our invitation to Crested Butte this year. With such hits for Tim McGraw as “Live Like You Were Dying�, for Terri Clark “Girls Lie Too�, Jo Dee Messina debut smash “Heads Carolina, Tails California� and “You’re Not In Kansas Anymore�.

BOB DIPIERO

Bob DiPiero has helped deďŹ ne the best that is Music Row. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

His ďŹ rst #1 hit with The Oak Ridge Boys’ “American Madeâ€? put his name on the music map. Through the years, DiPiero has crafted 14 No. 1 hits recorded by country music giants including Shenandoah, Ricochet, Faith Hill, George Strait and Brooks and Dunn.

DiPiero’s “Southern Voice�, recorded by Tim McGraw, hit # 1 on the Billboard charts in 2009.

Silent and Live Auction items

s 3OUTH 0OINT (OTEL 3PA #ASINO DAYS NIGHTS $INNER "REAKFAST OR ,UNCH FOR (EADLINER 3HOW 4ICKETS s #USTOM BELT BUCKLE MADE BY +IMM (AWKINS s /VERNIGHT HORSEBACK ADVENTURE IN THE 7EST %LKS 7ILDERNESS WITH $EAN $ILLON INCLUDES DINNER AND PRIVATE CAMPl RE SERENADE DONATED BY 4ENDERFOOT /UT l TTERS s #USTOM ,UCHESES BOOTS WITH 4%470 ,OGO s 'EORGE 3TRAIT CONCERT TICKETS TO ANY CONCERT EXCLUDING .ASHVILLE s #USTOM 4%470 4ROPHY BELT BUCKLE YOU DESIGN IT s 'IFT BASKETS

"-) AND 3ONY SURPRISE ITEMS LOCAL ARTISTRY AND MORE

All proceeds benefit Gunnison Valley breast cancer education, screening and victim assistance

TOUGH ENOUGH to wear

PINK Since October of 2006 through March 2010 local TETWP dollars have assisted (5) families of breast cancer survivors, provided (253) mammograms and ultrasounds, and supported (13) biopsies totaling $221,176. In 2007 TETWP presented the Gunnison Valley Hospital with a check for $27,000 to help upgrade GVH to a digital technology platform that will compliment and enhance mammography in our area. TETWP has also sponsored Public Health luncheons & seminars on breast cancer awareness and education. In 2007 TETWP sponsored a breast cancer education seminar for 300 young women attending a WSC volleyball clinic.

For more information about donations or to volunteer for this year’s activities, please contact Edie Gibson at 970-596-4458.

Please join and support our cause for our community at the July 16th Tough Enough to Wear Pink Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo in Gunnison, Colorado.

TOUGH ENOUGH to wear

PINK

www.gunnisontetwp.com

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2010

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Cattlemen's Days

110th Cattlemen’s Days, July 9-18

Cattlemen’s Days Royalty for 1960. Fifty years ago this year, Miss Cattlemen’s Days was Alice Carpenter (center). Her first attendant — who would automatically become the queen for 1961 — was Phyllis Cotton (right). Second attendant was Bonnie Hollenbeck (left).

Time file photo

The History of Cattlemen’s Days Name changes, organization and war made early day development difficult

by William C. Jacobson (This article first appeared in the July 14, 1966, edition of the Gunnison County Globe newspaper.)

A

s the middle of July once again descends upon us, the people of Gunnison are confronted with the spectacle of Cattlemen’s Days. This celebration has been held intermittently since the turn of the century. It is now firmly established as a part of the summer activities of the Western Slope of Colorado.

In 1901 it was not the elaborate celebration we anticipate today. Its origins were very modest. No elaborate rodeo grounds existed. No pioneer society sponsored a parade, and no young ladies rode up Main Street attired as the royalty of this gala event.

Instead, it was a local show for local fun.

All the activities were held on Main Street and Tomichi Avenue, and later on was held for a number of years on the Rodeo Grounds adjacent to Western State College. These activities ranged from a “ladies free for all,” which seems to have had some rather interesting implications, to a “wild horse race” down Main Street. There were enough activities to fill three days. All festivities

GCP Gunnison Country Publications, LLC

Publisher Stephen J. Pierotti Managing Editor Chris Dickey Editorial Dave Pinkerton, William C. Jacobson, Chris Rourke, Judy Buffington Sammons, Cassie Mielke, Eric McPhail, Eugene Blake Advertising Drew Nelson, Leia Morrison Production Manager Jennie Wren Online www.gunnisontimes.com

culminated with the “Grand Ball” held Saturday night at the La Veta Hotel.

Thus Cattlemen’s Days was born. Its life was not going to be easy though, and in the years ahead many rough periods were to be experienced.

In the early years of the celebration the Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association took upon themselves the responsibility of managing the festival. This they kept up until 1931 when it was decided to discontinue the event.

Up until that time the celebration was prone to fluctuate with the spirit and feelings of the people of Gunnison. In 1917 and 1918, for example, they had no celebration as the first world war was commanding the attention of most of the town’s citizens. Following the war it picked up again and roared through the “roaring twenties” until 1931, when the depression was making itself felt in the Gunnison Valley. In that year the Stockgrowers Association passed a resolution to discontinue Cattlemen’s Days indefinitely.

The people of Gunnison were not without a summer celebration during the ensuing years though, as in 1929 the Gunnison Pioneer Society was formed. Starting in 1929 they held a banquet, several dances and a parade in conjunction with Cattlemen’s Days, while it still existed, and then separately when it was discontinued.

This continued until 1936, when some of the local citizens, feeling the need for a bigger celebration, decided to revive the Cattlemen’s Days continued page 4

For more information regarding this publication or other special publications of the Gunnison Country Publications, call 970.641.1414, or write ads@gunnisontimes.com Copyright© 2010 No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Copyright© 2009. No part may be transmitted in any form by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission of the publisher. Any work (written, photographic or graphic) which the publishers 2010 MEMBER “hired-out” becomes the property of the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials lost, damaged or otherwise.

2010

The 10-day festival is all about celebrating Gunnison’s ranching heritage and Western spirit and will feature three Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos and many activities, most taking place at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center.

Through a partnership with the national “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” program, Cattlemen’s Days also is dedicated to providing local funding for breast cancer awareness, support, screenings and equipment. Since efforts began in 2006, Cattlemen’s Days has raised $278,000 and was recognized as the number one fundraising rodeo in the U.S. at the 2008 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

At the July 17 “Family Night” rodeo, kids 10 and under are admitted free for general seating with a paid adult and or pay only $5 for grandstand seating. In addition, the new “4-H-Cattlemen’s Days Cares, Gunnison Shares” food drive will take place at the rodeo and at various locations in Gunnison throughout the day.

Schedule at a Glance & Tickets • Cattlemen’s Days Kickoff Dinner & Dance – July 9 • Gunnison County Fair – July 9 – 17.

• Open Horse Show – July 10 • Cowboy Poetry – July 13 • Tough Enough to Wear Pink Concert & Auction in Mt. Crested Butte featuring Tim Nichols, Bob DePiero, Dean Dillon & Scotty Emerick – July 13 • Watershed Team Roping & Barrel Racing – July 14 • Carnival – July 14 – 17 • PRCA Rodeos – July 15, 16 & 17 • Tough Enough to Wear Pink Pre-Party/Auction & Post-Rodeo Dance – July 15 • Live Music & Dancing at the Elks Lodge – July 16 & 17 • Kiwanis Pre-Parade Pancake Breakfast – July 17 • Parade – July 17 • Junior Livestock Auction – July 17 • Cowboy Church/FCA Services – July 18 • Horse Race Meet – July 18

For a complete schedule of events, visit www.cattlemensdays.com, or see ad on page 22. Tickets for the rodeo will go on sale July 5 at the Cattlemen’s Days ticket booth located in the Gunnison Bank & Trust parking lot. Tickets also can be purchased at the door, with general admission priced at $12, and reserved grandstand seats available for $15.

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2010

(Left) Jessica Howard, Cattlemen’s Days Attendant, and (right) Madaline Redden, Cattlemen’s Days Junior Miss.

Cattlemen's Royalty

Photos by Chris Rourke

Jessica Howard and Madaline Redden

by Chris Rourke

A

ll the members of this year’s Cattlemen’s Days court have one thing in common: They all share a background of family ranching in the Gunnison area.

Jessica Howard, this year’s Cattlemen’s Days Attendant, is the fifth generation of Howards to ride the range in the Powderhorn Valley. When she’s not helping her family ranch, Jessica enjoys sports and played on this year’s Under-

continued from page 3 celebration. These citizens were interested in providing other activities to supplement the Pioneer Society’s parade. They encountered some opposition from some members of the community in their efforts to revive the celebration when they wanted to call it Cattlemen’s Days. This opposition prevailed and the celebration became known as “Helldorado Days” in 1936 and 1937. In 1938 the name was changed to the “Gunnison County Agricultural Fair and Rodeo,” largely because it was more appealing, and it now also included a stock show as well as the rodeo. This nomenclature existed for only a year and then was replaced by the name “Gunnison County Cattlemen’s Days.” This name has remained to the present, but it is usually

19 hockey team with Molly Cannon, this year’s queen. Their hockey team went to State Tournament. Jessica has been the queen’s “right-hand woman” this year, helping her make decisions on clothing and accessories for the court. “(Being on the court) is something different,” says Jessica. “I’m so not used to being ‘girly.’”

Still, she hopes to be queen someday.

Jessica has been active in 4-H and

enjoys barrel racing. In the fall she will be heading back to Gunnison High School as a sophomore.

Madaline Redden, 11, is this year’s Cattlemen’s Days Junior Miss. She too comes from a long line of Gunnison area ranchers. She is the fifth generation of Reddens to be a part of Cattlemen’s Days.

When she is not spending time with her horses and pigs, Madaline loves to ski and is on the Crested Butte ski team. But when summer comes, she

enjoys all the action of Cattlemen’s Days — in particular the rodeo. She is involved in 4-H as well.

“They’re representing Cattlemen’s Days one-hundred percent, just like the queen,” says Margo Patton-Blair, an advisor to the Cattlemen’s Days queen and her court. “They are in the learning phase. The girls follow and learn and grow. They learn from the queen and get a lot of information from the queen and they depend on the queen.”

referred to in its abbreviated form as only “Cattlemen’s Days.”

The problem of naming the celebration was minor in comparison to the other problems faced by the newly developed corporation that was to be the backbone of the celebration. A rodeo grounds had to be built consisting of a race track, corrals, bleachers, stables and concession stands. Livestock had to be provided, and rules and prizes had to be established. Committees had to be organized, and many volunteer workers had to be solicited. And above all this the consideration loomed as to whether the celebration would be able to pay its own way.

In spite of all these problems the celebration proved to be a big success.

Local ranchers and merchants gave generously of their time, money and talents, and the detailed arrangements

seemed to fall into place. In 1939 they built the grandstand at a cost of $5,000 and in 1941 they expanded the celebration to include a carnival. Special acts were also developed out of local talent. Such acts as the “Helldorado Girls” and Iva Lehman’s “Quadrille on Horseback” became annual features of the celebration. It was on its way to becoming an outstanding celebration.

The event flourished in the latter part of the 1940s and the early 1950s, and much was done to improve the show and its facilities. The rodeo became associated with the “Rodeo Association of America.” The grounds were expanded to include more elaborate livestock facilities along with a onehalf mile race track. A judges stand was built, and new and better corrals and stock pens were added. This would not have been possible without

the help of the community minded county commissioners. All of this was enhanced by a visit to this annual celebration by the actor-comedian Bob Hope in 1951.

The show has continued to develop, until today it is considered a special attraction in the Western part of the United States. It can be considered an embodiment of what the “West” thinks of itself. Here can be found the citizens of Gunnison County in their own way expressing an opinion of themselves, an explanation of their existence, and an examination of their past. Many memories are stirred as the procession ambulates up Main Street, as the cowboy successfully rides a bucking bronco, and as the old-timers gather at their annual Pioneer Society Banquet. This is the “West” enjoying itself. ■

■

2010

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Cattlemen's Days

Have A Great Cattlemen’s Days!

#

Paid for by Jim Starr 2010 Duane Vandenbusche, Chair • Bookie Louise, Treasurer

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WE GREW UP TOGETHER

Early on, Cattlemen’s Days utilized a part of the Western State College campus, as in this photo from 1916.

While attending Cattlemen’s Days plan a visit to Western and check out our new College Center and the Ruby Cinema!

For more information: (800) 876-5309 • www.western.edu

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Cattlemen's Days

2010

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2010

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Cattlemen's Days

Cattlemen’s Days Queen Molly Cannon Photos by Chris Rourke

Cattlemen's Royalty

More than tiaras and sparkles

by Chris Rourke

W

hen it comes to the glitz and glamour of being this year’s Cattlemen’s Day Queen, Molly Cannon is all business.

The daughter of Steve and Maggie Guerrieri, Molly has grown up knowing firsthand the hard work that goes into ranching in the Gunnison Valley.

From the age of 7, Molly has worked beside her dad on the family ranch, learning how to put up hay by the age of 12 and working as a full-fledged ranch hand through high school. She’s done this while maintaining good grades at Gunnison High School, being a 10-year member of 4-H and playing hockey throughout the winter.

And Molly has taken that kind of hardworking attitude to the Cattlemen’s Days court. It was this time last year that a three judge panel picked Molly as the queen, to serve as an ambassador for Cattlemen’s Days for a full year. Although she attacks everything she does with great determination, there was one part of being the queen she was unsure about.

“Molly is not just a pretty face,” says Margo Patton-Blair, who serves as an advisor to the queen, the attendant and the junior miss. “She has that cowboy-ranch attitude, and one of the first things she said to me was, ‘Do I have to have really curly hair and do we have to wear sparkles?’ And I said to her, ‘That is not what Cattlemen’s Days is all about.’”

Soon Molly would see that she had something unique to contribute as the queen of Cattlemen’s Days. She changed the color of the courts’ hats

Molly isn’t too crazy about “fancy” and “sparkles.”

from black to chocolate and streamlined much more.

“I didn’t want fancy or sparkles. That’s not me,” Molly explains. “I’d rather show (everyone) the real me, instead of put on a show for them.”

“What it’s all about is showing your personality in your year and bringing your cowboy heritage into it all,” she continues. “It’s not all about being a beauty queen. It’s about representing the sport of rodeo and Gunnison’s Western heritage.”

And Molly has plenty of Western heritage in her genes. She prefers riding the open range to showing her horse in an arena. Her job responsibilities include feeding and watering cattle, rounding up and sorting bulls, helping the veterinarian do health checks and working in the fields. It’s work and a lifestyle that she loves.

“There’s just something about being outside,” she s says. “I like working with cows and I like riding.” i And when the bulls get too rough?

“You just gotta stay on your toes.”

So what will Molly be doing once Cattlemen’s Days is over? She’ll keep with the tradition that’s D been handed down through 11 decades of family b ranching. r “Probably on Sunday when they start the races, we’ll w be cutting hay,” she says.

Then this fall, Molly will head to Colorado State University U in Fort Collins, majoring in ... what else? e Animal science and farm and ranch management. ■

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Cattlemen's Days

2010

(Above) Elmer and Alva May Dunbar, and (right) Glenn and Melva George are the 2010 Cattlemen’s Days’ Parade Marshals.

Courtesy photos

Parade Marshals

Elmer and Alva May Dunbar Glenn and Melva George

by Cassie Mielke

I

t’s been a long time since Gunnison has seen snow so deep that even tractors couldn’t break through it.

It’s been years since the train engine sitting outside of the Pioneer Museum has blown its whistle. But there are still a few people in town who remember these things.

This year’s Cattleman’s Days Parade Marshals, Elmer and Alva May Dunbar and Glenn and Melva George, remember a slightly different Gunnison than that of present day.

As lifelong ranchers in the Gunnison Valley, the Dunbars have seen their fair share of difficulties and good times.

“Ranching life is hard in this country,” said Elmer, who was born on a local ranch. The couple described years of short summers and long winters. And if you think the snow now is awful, Alva May remembers it as being a lot worse.

Despite getting a tractor stuck more than once, the Dunbars really enjoyed ranching life. The couple, who retired a few years ago, raised four kids and a bunch of livestock on what is now the Lost Miner Ranch. “You’re your own boss, but the cattle boss you,” said Alva May.

Aside from being heavily involved in their ranch life, the Dunbars have had their fingers in Cattleman’s Days for years. Elmer served on the board of directors from 1943 through 1990.

But he hasn’t always held a high-end job. “My first job (with Cattleman’s) was taking tickets and putting up banners,” he said.

“I was kind of the gofer,” Alva May added with a laugh.

She may have just been the gofer in that case, but Alva May has seen her fair share of fun with 4-H. She also served as the Gunnison County Treasurer from 1972 to 2002.

“I loved working with people,” Alva May said of that job. “If you help people, people will help you.”

As individuals who have been in Gunnison their whole lives, both agree that there have been some changes.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes in Gunnison, particularly in the people,” Elmer said, although he did add that the changes are not bad.

The two also witnessed as the college changed the town. Elmer’s father helped break ground for the campus while Alva May’s great-aunt taught there after completion. “I spent a lot of time at the college,” she said.

As another couple who has been

around the Gunnison Country their whole lives, the Georges have also seen changes, though they feel a lot has stayed the same.

Melva co-owned a business, a children’s clothing store called the Peanut Gallery, for several years. “It could sort of be called a hobby,” she said.

Glenn also knows a little something about business, being a longtime banker. He served on the gate committee and the board of director’s for Cattleman’s Days, and has been a part of the 4-H Livestock Sale. He has served an impressive number of years with each.

As part of the livestock sale for 40 years, Glenn observed that there are changes even there. “The number of steers has gone down,” he said. He added that now there are more hogs, lambs, goats and chickens, among other animals.

As far as the 26 years he served with the board for Cattleman’s Days, Glenn said they have always been heavily involved; it’s like a family tradition. “We wouldn’t miss it ... even in college,” he said of the past years with the rodeo.

Their daughter even served as Cattlemen’s Days Queen in 1982.

Despite the few transformations they’ve seen Gunnison undergo,

the Georges feel that not much has changed physically. “If you put a pencil to it, there isn’t much change,” said Melva. They remember the Toggery and the W Cafe as being nearly identical to what they are now. And most of the buildings are the same despite name changes.

As a couple, the two have biked through numerous areas of the country, including Oregon, South and North Dakota, Washington and Idaho. While they haven’t been on a bicycle ride in a long time, they do hope to once again strap up and head out.

When it comes down to being the parade marshals, the two couples agree that it is very exciting. “It was a complete surprise and a great honor,” said Glenn. Alva May couldn’t agree more.

“We are very pleased to be marshals,” she said.

The families of both couples will be in attendance to share the great honor with them. And as far as their job description goes, all they really have to do is look good. “We ride in the parade and wave,” said Alva May. This year’s parade marshals pack a lot of Gunnison history, and as the times have changed, so have they. “You just have to roll with the punches,” said Glenn. ■

2010

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Cattlemen's Days

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Cattlemen's Days

2010

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2010

11

Cattlemen's Days

Community Supports 4-H Cattlemen’s Days representatives Dan Zadra, Andy Dobie and Brett Redden hand a check to 4-H Council President Wyatt Lehmann. Last year the Cattlemen’s Days Committee donated $5,000 to the 4-H Forever Fund.

Courtesy photo

by Eric McPhail DIRECTOR, CSU EXTENSION OF GUNNISON COUNTY

S

ince 1943, 4-H has been making a positive impact in the lives of Gunnison County’s youth through hands-on education, leadership programs, community service activities and after-school programs. Through real-life experiences and projects, youth become more confident and better prepared to be tomorrow’s leaders.

The Gunnison County community has tremendously supported 4-H over the years. While Gunnison County provides generous support for program operations, it’s the community that goes above and beyond to make 4-H a true

success. When you think about the different ways people help this program, it really is overwhelming, and shows its genuine value.

One of the many ways the community has rallied and supported 4-H has been by donating to the 4-H Forever Fund, an endowment fund maintained by the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley. This past year included many gracious donations; a $5,000 gift from the Cattlemen’s Days Committee, a $2,400 gift from the Gunnison County commissioners, matching the amount the 4-H members raised, and a donation from the Gunnison Elks were highlights.

The program is starting to see some benefits from this fund. The Forever

Fund supports scholarships and supplements expenses to leadership and citizenship camps, conferences and livestock judging contests — as well as providing funding for innovative projects such as a new robotics project.

Who could overlook the Cattlemen’s Days Livestock Sale? What a sensational outpouring of support from people and local businesses. Every year buyers come to the 4-H Livestock Sale and purchase animals well above market value, not just to obtain a quality meat product, but to financially help the 4-H members.

Raising animals locally is much more expensive than commercially raising animals; but then again, most of these animals are treated like royalty. The

projects teach an incredible amount of responsibility, rural living, financial and husbandry life skills.

If there is ever a doubt about how valuable these skills are to youth, come to the Livestock Sale and witness how the community supports the 4-H members and their projects.

While the financial support for 4-H has been amazing, coming from many different sources for many different needs, equally as impressive has been the relentless efforts from volunteers.

Countless volunteers throughout the year offer their time to help the program succeed.

4-H is a program built by volunteer help and overseen by Colorado State University Extension. ■

Building better robots for 100 years Tristin White, Clay Sabrowski, Tyler Laudick and Rankin Brown testing their robot.

Courtesy photo

4-H started with corn and tomatoes, and has expanded just a bit since

2

010 marks the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Colorado.

In the early 1900s, a national movement to create corn clubs for boys and tomato clubs for girls gained popularity in many states. These clubs were designed to transfer new technology of the land-grant university system to the public, through young people who

were more receptive to the adoption of new technologies.

Faculty members launched Colorado 4-H during the spring of 1910. Faculty members visited schools and talked to more than 3,000 boys and girls about the organization of agriculture clubs.

4-H in Colorado and Gunnison County remains a predominantly an agriculture-animal husbandry youth program, with many exceptions.

One of those exceptions was started by four junior members (and their mothers) who took on a new technology project this year. Rankin Brown, Tyler Laudick, Tristin White and Clay Sabrowski are learning to build and

program robots.

Through the 4-H Robotics Project and the help of leader Christine Laudick and other parents, these adventuresome 4-H’ers are discovering that building a robot can be done quickly and easily. Programming the “bot” to do and react how they want is more of a challenge. They are definitely learning to problem solve.

Another unique characteristic about the 4-H Robotics Project is that it is a team effort rather than an individual project. They are also learning patience and how to recognize and appreciate the strengths of others.

These 4-H robotic engineers will be

exhibiting their two robots at the 4-H Project Revue on July 12 at 7 p.m. at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center.

The public is invited. The Gunnison County 4-H robotics team is excited to have the opportunity to demonstrate their original robots at the first Colorado State Fair Robotics Exhibition at the end of August.

4-H in Colorado is headed into its next 100 years offering many different kinds of science, technology and engineering opportunities from computers to Vet Science. It is always open to participation and welcomes new members in the fall. Contact the Extension Office at 641.1260 for more information. ■

12

Cattlemen's Days

2010

Sewing: Madeline Dickey hard at work on her sewing project.

Michelle Arnett says all dogs need is a little love. She’s been instilling that attitude through her dog obedience classes to local 4-Hers for many years.

Courtesy photo

A walk in the park Veteran 4-H volunteer has led dog program for more than 25 years; ready to turn over leash

Baking: 4-H baker Maia Harrison works on her lemon tarts as part of the 4-H baking project.

I

Courtesy photos

Hard work on display at youth’s ‘Project Revue’

T

here are more 4-H projects than you can imagine. Members who have been working hard on their photography, shooting sports, baking, sewing, robotics, leather, woodworking, cake decorating and much more will show off their projects at the 2010 Project Revue at 7 p.m. July 12 in Multi-Purpose Building at Fred Field Heritage Center. Many of

these 4-H members are willing to sell their projects. Food items will be auctioned live at the revue and all others are sold through a silent auction, which closes the following Saturday morning. The public is cordially invited to attend the revue, bid on a project, and check out all the youth projects on exhibit all week during Cattlemen’s Days. ■

magine 15 young dogs of various sizes, breeds and temperament.

Add 15 young dog trainers of the average age of 10.

Put them together in a space the size of the basketball court. Watch the wiggling and barking begin with the potential of churning into a chaotic dog, leash and kid twister.

But it doesn’t, because of a veteran 4-H dog training leader.

Michelle Arnett has been a 4-H dog obedience leader for more than 25 years (20 of those working with Gunnison County youth). Each spring she volunteers with kids and their dogs every week until the 4-H Dog Show at Cattlemen’s Days — at which time it is anything but a dogand-kid twister. In fact, that transformation is her motivation.

“It is so cool to see the anxieties on the first day and then see how far the kid-dog relationship has come in eight weeks, when 4-H members compete in Dog Obedience and Showmanship,” says Michelle. “The kids are in control of their dogs.”

Michelle started in 4-H when she was 9. Her first project was horse but she then got into dogs. She loves all dogs, pure breeds as well as the pound mutt.

“All dogs are great dogs. You just have to love them and they will do anything for you,” she explains. She was leading other 4-H dog members while she was in 4-H. She figures she has been training dogs and helping others for more than 30 years.

One testament to a great volunteer is their ability to keep older 4-H members going in the project. Michelle has developed several great junior leaders. She has always had several older members who, like herself, have grown into leading dog training.

Jessie Steele has served that role for several years.

Michelle is also very appreciative of all the parent help she receives.

Sometimes it is very tough to know when to help and how much to help.

Michelle is adamant about having the youth train the dog.

Michelle has been an ideal volunteer leader because she coordinates every aspect of her project from orientation, demonstrations, fundraising, awards, the dog show and more. However, Michelle is hoping that someone else will take over the Dog Program; she would like to retire.

“We really don’t want to see Michelle retire because she has consistently led one of our most successful 4-H projects,” stated Nadine Henry, 4-H agent. “So I’m hoping someone will take over.” ■

Colorado State University 2010 Wool Judging National Champions

H

olly Mask, a 2009 Gunnison High School graduate who recently completed her freshman year at Colorado State University, was a member of the Ram’s Holly Mask wool judging team that brought home championship banners from two major

competitions — the National Western Stock Show and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

That marked the first sweep of the two events by any major college or university since 2003 and the first ever in CSU history.

The CSU Wool Judging Team claimed the title of 2010 National Champions by winning both the National Western Stock Show, or NWSS, and Houston event.

The team is coached by Travis Hoff-

man, research associate in the Department of Animal Sciences, and Heather Pierce, a CSU junior, majoring in animal sciences.

“This is an extremely talented group of young people,” said Hoffman. “They proved their dedication to being successful as they worked harder than anyone to reach their individual and team goals. I am very proud of them.”

The team is judged in several different areas, all contributing to the overall individual and team scores. Scores

are earned by evaluating six classes of four fleeces broken down by commercial value and breed criteria; physically grading 15 fleeces individually for fineness, yield, staple length and character; and the presentation of oral reasons to defend their evaluations.

Mask will return to CSU in the fall to continue pursuit of a degree in animal science. During here days in Gunnison, Mask was heavily involved in the local 4-H program and Cattlemen’s Days. ■

2010

13

Cattlemen's Days

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Cattlemen's Days

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2010

15

Cattlemen's Days

Phyllis Guerrieri and her son, Burt, with her trusty old John Deere ‘H.’ Coutesy photo

Of tractor tales and tucked in shirts Reflections on a life lived in the field

by Eugene Blake

C

attlemen’s Days is a good time to reflect on the legacy of Gunnison’s early ranch families. Phyllis (Spann) Guerrieri is a fourth generation rancher and mother of fifth generation rancher Burt Guerrieri. Phyllis and her husband Richard were given the honor of being parade marshals for the 2009 Cattlemen’s Days.

Daughter of Aubrey and Ernestine Spann, Phyllis was born in 1932 just north of Gunnison in a house still standing today. As children and teenagers, she and her sisters helped their father with the summer haying operation. One of the meadows she helped harvest is northeast of the junction of Ohio Creek Road and Hwy. 135.

In about 1942, during World War II with many of the local young men in the military, Aubrey was in dire need of labor for his haying crew. Phyllis, 10, and her sister Gerrie Lou, 12, were recruited.

Phyllis shares this childhood memory: “One day Gerrie Lou was operating a dump rake when Shortie, the saddle horse pulling it, ran away. She fell into the rake but escaped when the rake went over a small ditch. However, one of the rake tines left a gash in her scalp.

Right then my dad decided horses were too dangerous for his daughters and got

tractors.”

Aubrey bought two used John Deere “Hs” and a new John Deere “A.” “Mowing with one of the ‘Hs’ was my job,” Phyllis recollects. “I mowed from dawn till dusk. I liked it because there was no one around telling me what to do. I’m still rather independent.”

With its seven-foot mower bar and a fast third gear, the little “H” and Phyllis were able to keep up with those doing the raking and stacking.

“One day I almost killed myself,” she recalls. “I had jumped off the H (ahead of the rear wheel) to clean the sickle bar and my shirt tail caught on the hand clutch. The clutch engaged and the tractor started moving. I had a scary time staying ahead of the tire, disentangling my shirt, and pushing the clutch back.

From that day on I made sure to work with my shirt tail tucked in.”

Even though she enjoyed haying, Phyllis confesses with a wry smile, “When I was a teenager, my sisters and I always hoped it would rain on Friday or Saturday so we could go home early and get ready for Saturday night dances.”

In all, about nine or 10 people worked on each year’s crew: •one mowing •two operating side delivery rakes •two running horse-drawn sweeps, •two stacking behind an overshot stacker

•one pulling up the stacker with a team of horses (later a truck) •one operating a dump rake, picking up the scatterings of hay.

Besides family members, the haying crews were made up of hired hands.

Because of the war effort, men from Gunnison would often help out evenings and weekends. Aubrey also hired some American Indians. “They came from New Mexico,” Phyllis explains.

“I think they were Navajos. Early in WW-II Indians weren’t allowed to serve in the military.

“My dad always had a good working relationship with them and, since they were skilled with horses, he would have them work with the younger animals on rainy days. They would bring us girls little sacks of candy when they went into town on Saturday night.”

She tells about a troubling incident with one of the better young horses.

“The Indians put the horse in a working chute unaware of a hornet’s nest.

As the hornets began to sting the horse it thrashed around and the more it thrashed the more the hornets stung.

The poor horse was so traumatized it could never be used and had to be sold.”

The stories are endless: “After haying was over each fall we would have to build fences around the 20-ton stacks of hay to keep the cattle

away from them. When snow covered the ground the men would load hay onto large horse-drawn sleds with pitchforks, transport it to the cattle, then pitch it off again. It was a lot of work.”

She’s also quick to point out that Burt has continued the family tradition of mechanization. He cuts hay with two mower-conditioners with disc cutters — not sickle bars. One covers a ninefoot swath, the other, 12. In addition, he has a rake and two round balers, and does his hay harvesting with a crew of five.

Some local ranchers use self-propelled swathers to cut, condition and windrow their hay. Big round bales, which are now almost universal, have replaced a lot of pitchforks.

Today Phyllis still likes to show off her 1939 John Deere “H” — the one with which she mowed a lot of hay as a youngster. Both Phyllis and the Deere are retired from haying, but she is still an active member of the community. She’s a member of the Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, League of Women Voters and Gunnison Valley Cattlewomen.

Phyllis figures she’s taken part in more Cattlemen’s Days parades than she’s watched; for years having ridden side saddle or on one of the floats. As she has for the last 79 years, Phyllis plans to be in attendance this year. ■

16

Cattlemen's Days

2010

When it comes to the vagaries of flood irrigating, Dave Pinkerton aims to do more watching and remembering than fixing and re-fixing.

Courtesy photo

Random acts of irrigation

by Dave Pinkerton

I

stood in the middle of our leech field and looked down at water up to my shoelaces. Not good. Whatever the problem was, I knew I had better fix it fast.

A flooded leech field could mean renting a port-a-potty, or even worse — redoing our septic, neither one of which we could afford right now. Besides, I was supposed to meet friends at the fairgrounds, so we could help with Cattlemen’s Days.

Fifty yards upgrade, my eyes focused on a gush of water. It was streaming out a new cut I made in one of our irrigation ditches, flooding more field than I’d bargained for. Clearly, yesterday’s fix had become today’s trouble, and I was responsible. Now what?

I fetched my sharp-nosed spade, slogged toward the cut and stood on the ditch berm. Undoing what I had done seemed simple enough, so I stomped the shovel into some thick sod and cut out a plug.

About that time, my side vision caught Beth walking up the driveway.

My wife paused just a few feet away and helped me problem solve.

“Didn’t you make that cut just yesterday?” she asked with honest curiosity. I could see her head tilt at the slurping sound as the sod broke free.

“Yes,” I grunted, lifting the soaked sod. I managed to mask my annoyance.

“Then why are you plugging it up again?” she asked guilelessly. She was the straightforward type — no hidden agendas. That’s reason enough to love a woman. But an out-of-the-blue layoff had activated my defensive side of late. At least that’s the excuse I was using at the moment.

“Because water’s coming out of it,” I droned. My boot heel tamped the sod into place with an extra measure of irritation.

“But isn’t that why you made the cut in the first place?” she pursued.

“Yes,” I responded with a lilting, sarcastic tone.

“That’s kind of random, isn’t it?” she offered.

My jaw tightened. I inhaled slowly, rolled my neck and then stabbed the spade downward again. I wasn’t about to speak. But Beth broke the silence.

“I’ll get the mail,” she said, a perceptive calmness in her voice.

She was right. Since moving here, I had been applying advanced trial and error to figuring out how to water our hay fields. That’s because I lived most of my life in the predictable sameness of suburbia, where I could turn water on and off like a light switch. I figured everything worked that way.

But here, there was a naturally irregular cycle to learn, one that was more about head gates and snowpack than sewer mains and water rates.

And I hadn’t figured it out yet, something my science training made hard

to admit.

Two more shovelfuls dammed the cut and I stood there thinking about my response to the uncertainty of flood irrigation. When ditches ran low, I constructed dams, cut extra channels and complained to the ditch manager.

When there was lots of water, I tore down dams, plugged cuts and complained about too much water. It was goofy. What was I doing?

Beth returned with a few letters tucked behind the newspaper. She stood close to me, reading a headline. “Economic Impact Committee Commissions Study,” she read. Her eyebrows knotted as she turned to me and said, “Won’t they just say we need more jobs, more growth and more help from the state?”

“Yep, that seems to be the pattern,” I said.

“But in good times, won’t they want less population, slower growth and still more help from the state?” she queried. She tucked her shoulder against my chest, and then looked up to me for an answer.

“That’s the way folks respond to things that feel random,” I said. “We try to control uncertainty with overmanagement.”

Beth leaned on me a tiny bit more.

I felt myself standing a bit taller. “But control is high maintenance,” I continued. “We spend most of our time doing and undoing things we think will solve our problems.”

“Why don’t folks just figure out how to live with what comes their way?” Beth wondered aloud.

I had to think about that one. Was it because too much is never enough?

Or were people convinced that random is worse than living with natural ups and downs?

Just then, a robin fluttered to a landing where the water had receded from my problematic ditch cut. It cocked its head, eyed the wet ground and then speared a fat earthworm. I felt an answer to Beth’s question trying to escape from my mouth.

“It’s sort of like irrigating,” I began, not knowing exactly where I was going. “If I had spent more time watching and remembering than. ...”

I hesitated. Beth put her arm around my waist.

“Fixing and re-fixing,” she finished.

I let go of the shovel handle, scaring the robin away. Beth followed the bird with her eyes. “I wonder where she’s going next?” she asked.

“Maybe she doesn’t know for sure,” I said.

“Is that okay?” She leaned her head against my chest.

With a finger, I lifted her chin and peered deeply into her eyes. I saw something — something I knew would carry us through the random twists and turns of life.

“With you it is,” I said. “With you it is.” ■

2010

17

Cattlemen's Days

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6Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;°Â&#x201C;iĂ&#x192;>Ă&#x203A;>Â?Â?iĂ&#x17E;}Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Ă&#x2022;°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C; Â&#x2021;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â?\Ă&#x160;Â&#x201C;>Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;iĂ&#x17E;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x203A;}JÂ&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â?°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C; Ă&#x17D;äĂ&#x17D;Â&#x2021;nn{Â&#x2021;xĂ&#x201C;{Ă&#x201C;

Out of Gunnison & Hinsdale counties: STANDARD SUBSCRIPTION:

6 month ($34)

1 Year ($44)

2 Years ($74)

SENIOR (AGE 55+):

6 month ($31)

1 Year ($40)

2 Years ($67)

Part-time Gunnison & Hinsdale county residents (The snowbirds): STANDARD SUBSCRIPTION: SENIOR (AGE 55+):

6 month ($33) 6 month ($30.50)

1 Year ($40) 1 Year ($37)

2 Years ($69) 2 Years ($62.50)

Please make your check payable to the Gunnison Country Times.

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________________________________________________ State: Zip: ________________________________________________________ MC or VISA number: Exp: __________________________ Mail payment to: Gunnison Country Times 218 N. Wisconsin â&#x20AC;˘ Gunnison, CO 81230 call (970) 641-1414 â&#x20AC;˘ email subscribe@gunnisontimes.com

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18

Cattlemen's Days

2010

The Old West-style cattle drive has been a Gunnison Country tradition for 130 years.

This photo was taken along Hwy. 135, just north of Gunnison, in March 1988.

Times file photo

A century in the saddle

by Judy Buffington Sammons

C

attle ranching is Gunnison’s oldest continuous industry. The late 1870s saw the first ranchers arrive in the valley, and they have been going strong ever since.

The following is a look back at some of the significant events that highlighted more than a century of ranching in the Gunnison Country.

The pioneer ranchers in the area must have been a hardy crew indeed. The early homesteaders came to as raw and uncivilized a place as exists. Unsurpassed in beauty but unforgiving in climate — as well as inhabited by the unwelcoming Utes — the country seemed an unlikely place for agriculture to develop. But develop it did.

In the late 1870s the pioneer ranchers began to trickle into the Gunnison Country. Most of these newcomers had little or no experience in ranching, but some had at least a limited knowledge of farming. Many were miners who turned to ranching on the side.

By 1880 much of the valley bottom land had been taken up by the first homesteaders. They brought in large numbers of livestock — which did well, surviving a string of mild winters. The severe winter of ’79 taught them all a lesson when they suffered great losses from starvation and cold, and vowed thenceforth to “put up” hay in the summer to keep livestock through the winter.

The pioneer spirit burned strong and early ranching started, steadied, grew and prospered. The dishonest, the impatient, the inept and the unlucky of the pioneer ranchers did not make it in the business for long. Nor did the faint of heart.

It was a hard business that would make a man’s body hard and his mind too, if he wasn’t careful, and age his wife before her time. Those who made it work had to be tough and persistent. But toughness alone wasn’t enough.

Know-how about high altitude ranching was yet to be developed and knowledge of the climate and soil was new and sketchy. Intelligence — innate or improved upon by education — was essential. And whatever other qualities the pioneer possessed, a gambler’s courage was needed to start out in the first place.

At least the pioneer rancher’s gamble was staked by the government. He or she was offered a homestead of 160 acres for a small filing fee and five years residence and improvements. Another quarter section was possible to obtain by preemption — or first right of purchase — and another 160 acres by a timber claim.

Success was made more likely because of the ready availability of water for irrigation and because of the additional employment that was often obtainable in nearby mining camps.

Another advantage was that the first homesteaders could easily find excellent

grass and pasture and in the beginning even wild hay to sustain the stock over the winter.

The pioneer, having staked out his 160-acre claim had in fact also established grazing rights — unwritten rights on unfenced range — understood by his neighbors who were surviving by the same methods. Their cattle and horses intermingling as their numbers grew.

Ranching was soon well on its way.

Meadows were producing three tons of hay per acre. By 1885 the cattle being wintered on the excess hay and summered on the superb high altitude range grass were being shipped out by train to markets east — Denver, Kansas City and Omaha.

By the turn of the century ranching was well established in the Gunnison Country. However, it was at this time that a major problem for the cattlemen raised its head — that of sheep. The West’s infamous sheep and cattle wars were to visit the area in a major way.

Local cattlemen were convinced that the “trespassing” sheep would overgraze and destroy the range and, as a result, three major sheep killings occurred in the area. Sheep were bludgeoned to death, shot and run over cliffs. Members of the local cattlemen’s association were suspected of these crimes but proof was never provided and they steadfastly denied any participation.

The years following the end of the sheep and cattle wars and World War I

were stressful ones for the local cattlemen as well. War inflated grain and livestock prices fell by 60 percent. The economic depression of the ’20s and ’30s was worsened by drought. Gunnison’s ranchers, already feeling the effects of the hard times, watched the stock market crash in 1929. Locals saw the subsequent failure of many businesses, the closing of banks, the loss of jobs, and they hardened themselves for what was likely ahead.

In general low prices were the norm; for example, hay was being sold for $7 a ton. Steers sold for 2 to 6 cents a pound.

Many ranchers could no longer afford the oil and gas needed to run machinery and went back to using teams of horses.

They used their own ranch products — cream, eggs, butter and vegetables — to barter with neighbors and storekeepers.

An offshoot of the Depression in the Gunnison area was that cattle rustling greatly increased at this time.

As the nation moved out of the Depression and into the World War II years, Colorado’s livestock industry slowly recovered and was well on its way to becoming the largest industry in the state.

The look of Gunnison’s countryside was still very much a pastoral one, with ranches scattered out somewhat sparsely and teams of horses still in great use. By then a second and third generation had endured in many families from the pioneering years. Things were looking good and cattle from the area were regularly

2010

19

Cattlemen's Days

Cattle need hay to survive in the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harsh winters. Here, family members are seen distributing it to the cattle on the Vader Cloverleaf Ranch along Quartz Creek in February 1988.

Marija Bocovich photo

Oklahoma rancher Roy J. Turner (1894-1973), who served as governor of his state (1947-51), was a frequent visitor to the Gunnison Country. He is seen here with his prize Hereford bull.

topping the market.

Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement in World War II in December 1941 immediately brought pressure on the local rancher to produce more beef to feed the troops. At the same time, the war took away the sons of ranch families, who were just coming of age to provide the main labor force.

Around this time the old Hereford stronghold, which had held on so long from the early days, began to give way as a few breeders of Black Angus came into the state. A handful even came into the Gunnison area, trying their luck with the new breed.

At the end of World War II, the ranching segment of the community passed the half century mark in Gunnison â&#x20AC;&#x201D; having weathered quite a few storms, built up considerably and sometimes even prospered. They had gone from crude and primitive methods into the day of labor-saving machinery. They had survived healthy and were looking ahead with confidence. With the war over, they were eager to get on with their work of raising good beef.

The late 1940s on through the 1950s, even though the cattle industry was still in somewhat of a post-war slump, brought about a very memorable time to much of the local ranching community. It was the heyday of the prestigious registered Hereford business.

Times file photo

continued page 20

20

Cattlemen's Days

2010

Daniel I.J. Thornton (1911-76), a Gunnison cattle breeder and governor of Colorado (1951-55), is seen here with his ranch crew, circa 1950.

Author’s collection

continued from page 19 Many local ranchers were involved in this aspect of the cattle industry at the time, either in a small scale or a very large scale way. For these ranchers, times were prosperous and exciting.

The Hereford had been the breed of choice in the West, from the late 1800s until then, and considerable show ring promotion had added to the glamour.

One local breeder, Dan Thornton, achieved remarkable success in the Hereford business and then developed political ambitions. He ran a whirlwind campaign for the governorship of Colorado from his home ranch in Gunnison and handily won the election. Colorado’s new “cattleman governor” served in office from 1951-1955.

The late ’40s and the early ’50s could almost be considered the beginning of a new era in the cattle business. The demise of the railroad brought trucking to the forefront as a permanent means of transportation. For the first time in 73 years the cattlemen no longer heard the whistle of the friendly little Denver & Rio Grande huffing and puffing through the valleys.

By the ’60s ranching was becoming more and more complicated, with more involved than ever in the production of beef. A rancher needed to be a businessman, scientist, salesman and politician as well as having his grandfather’s more basic knowledge of cattle

and grass. He was operating on a much slimmer margin of profit than his grandfather had and land values were increasing steadily. Costs of machinery, as machinery became more sophisticated, were going sky high while beef prices remained stable. The rancher had to buy more land and increase his herd in order to break even; but with land values and taxes going so high, this move was not always practical.

The two decades following the 1960s were a strange mix for ranchers all over the West. The science of the beef industry was making great strides and

market evaporated and property values dropped 40 percent. Some ranchers had borrowed on inflated land values in the late ’70s and then experienced the bottom falling out of the cattle market and were now in serious trouble — a few even went under.

The ’80s and ’90s saw more critical issues face the ranchers. Foremost among these issues were conflicts on leased public lands and private land brought about by continued and increased recreation and development interests. Water became another issue in the ’90s with possible transmoun-

‘If the rancher’s optimism holds true, then it’s possible that large tracts of the Gunnison Country can remain the beautiful, bountiful ‘cattle country’ they were in the past.’

the first calf was born from a frozen embryo. Cattlemen now were competing more and more with foreign markets. Small operators were competing with the bigger and more streamlined operations of the larger feedlots, which could operate at lower costs.

During the 1980s land values in Gunnison became inflated due to a huge mining project in Crested Butte.

Agricultural land values doubled and tripled and more before the ’82 pull out of AMAX due to a decrease in molybdenum prices. Then the real estate

tain diversion threatening the loss of grazing permits, as well as the loss of the water itself to enlarging populations on the Front Range.

Currently a major issue is tied to the incredible value of Gunnison’s last, privately owned open space — ranches.

Agricultural land is being converted to other types of development. Various mechanisms to try to save land have evolved out of the concerns this situation creates. Land-rich and cash-poor ranchers can give up their development rights by granting conservation

easements to land trusts, local governments or other entities acting in the public’s behalf. When placing a conservation easement on their property, land owners are, of course, limiting or preventing future development of their property. But they are paid. And open space and agricultural use are protected permanently.

Ranching has undergone drastic changes in the last century. For many years there were quite a few more ranchers in the valley and it was possible to make a reasonably good living on a ranch. In modem times, this has become more difficult and many ranch family members are forced to find outside employment. Even so, many are determined to continue to work the land they love.

The pretty valleys of the Gunnison Country have bred ranch men and women of great heart, and amazing grit and determination. There are many of them who remain optimistic about the future of Gunnison’s oldest continuous industry. If the rancher’s optimism holds true, then it’s possible that large tracts of the Gunnison Country can remain the beautiful, bountiful “cattle country” they were in the past.

(This article was made possible in partnership with the Gunnison Ranchland Legacy organization. Learn more about it at www.gunnisonvalleyranching.org) ■

2010

21

Cattlemen's Days

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h t 7 1 y l u J , y a Saturd ark P F O O I t a m 7am to 1E0asat Virginia Ave. & Mnad inundSetr)reet

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Relentless service to Gunnison County since 1994.

Small Business owner since 1994 Gunnison County Planning Commission Gunnison County Fire Protection Board Gunnison Valley Hospital Board of Directors Colorado State Trails Commission WSC, Mountaineer Athletic Association member WSC Advisory Council Member

Colorado Snowmobile Association Board of Directors Secretary for Colorado Snowmobile Association MAA Board of Directors Founder of Gunnison County Snow Trackers Homeowners Board of Directors, North Elk Meadows Active 4 H supporter Active Participant with Gunnison County Trails Commission

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hamberland for Gunnison County Commissioner Contact me at philforbocc@gmail.com or 209-3715 Paid for by the Committee to Elect Phil Chamberland

22

Cattlemen's Days

2010

Flower motor Dodge

Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo July 15, 16, 17 • 7 p.m. nightly

G u n n i s o n, c o

Friday July 9th

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4-H Goat / Livestock Knowledge Test 4-H Horse Knowledge Test Kickoff Dinner and Dance Everyone’s Invited/ Fred R. Field Heritage Center

6:00 PM

4-H Horse Show

8:00 AM

5:00 PM

Saturday, July 10th

Sunday, July 11th

Open Horse Show *New for 2009 Versatility Saddle Challenge

Monday July 12th

4-H Project Judging and Interviews 4-H Dog Obedience Show 4-H Participants set up Show Arena and Project Review 4-H Project Review

8:00 AM 8:30 AM 9:00 AM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM

Tuesday, July 13th

4-H Rabbit and Poultry Show 8:30 AM 4-H Dairy Goat Show 10:00 AM 4-H Fiber Sheep/Goat Show 4-H Participant Clean up 4:00 Cowboy Poetry @ Fred Field Heritage Center PM (Approx.)

7:00 PM Pre-party and silent auction will be at Mountaineer Square in Mt. CB 6-7:30 PM Evening entertainment, live auction 7:45 PM and concert at Mountaineer Square (only 300 tickets, $60 - 970.596.4458)

Wednesday, July 14th

4-H Sheep Weigh In 4-H Swine Weigh In

1:00-1:30 PM 1:30-2:30 PM

4-H Participant Goat/Livestock Knowledge Test Watershed Team Roping and Barrel Racing, Auction3:00 PM Watershed Team Roping and Barrel Racing 5:00 PM Evening Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds 7:00 PM

Thursday, July 15th

4-H Steer Weigh In 8:00-8: 4-H Swine Show and Open Showmanship 30 AM 4-H Sheep Show and Open Showmanship 10:00 AM 2:30 PM Pioneer Banquet At The Elks Lodge 6:00 PM The famous TETWP pre Rodeo Party and Auction at The Last Chance 5:00-6:30 PM Tough Enough To Wear Pink PRCA Evening Rodeo TETWP Post Rodeo Dance (The Last Chance) 7:00 PM Evening Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds 9:30 PM

Kids 10 and under free with paid adult genera l admission; $5.00 grandstand.

4-H Cattlemen’s Days Shares, Gunnison Cares. Bring a non-perishable food item to the gate. .

7:00 PM Dance At The Elks Lodge 9:00 PM Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds

Sunday, July 18th

Cowboy Church / FCA Services-Rodeo Grounds 9:00 AM Horse Race Meet 12:30 PM

Friday, July 16th

4-H Market Goat Show 9:30 AM 4-H Beef Show and Adult Showmanship 10:30 AM 4-H Round Robin Showmanship 1:30 PM 4-H Participant Set Up Sale Arena 4-H Participants Swine and Sheep Ultrasound 2:30 PM 4:00 PM PRCA Evening Rodeo 7:00 PM Dance at The Elks Lodge 9:00 PM Carnival At The Rodeo Grounds

Saturday, July 17th

Cattlemen’s Days Parade 10:00 AM Kiwanis BBQ @ Legion Park 11:30 AM 4-H Livestock Buyers BBQ 4-H Awards and Scholarship Presentation 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 4-H Junior Livestock Auction 2:00 PM PRCA Evening Rodeo-Family Night,

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2010

23

Cattlemen's Days

local roundup

Photo by Chris Dickey

Past presidents assemble at stockgrowers banquet

society members who have passed away within the past year. This year’s memorial list includes the following, and the date in which they died: Ron Sunderlin, Aug. ’09 Troy Fulton, Sept. ’09 Donna Coleman, Nov. ’09 Helen Betz, Dec. ’09 Bob Watters, Dec. ’09 Hazel Metcalf, Feb. ’10 Joseph Easley, Feb. ’10 Mary Jean Randell, Feb. ’10 Harvey Harriman, March ’10 Peggy Lue Reece, April ’10 Allan Pollock, May ’10 Phoebe Cranor, May ’10

ture programs, such as 4-H and the Future Farmers of America. Peterson plans to attend Baylor University (Waco, Texas), where she will pursue a degree in business. She is the daughter of Terry Peterson and Leslie LeFevre.

The Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association held their annual banquet in May. A large number of past presidents were in attendance to pay special tribute to Peggy Lue Reece, a lifelong Gunnison Country resident who served as the secretary of the stockgrowers association for 44 years. She passed away on April 3 at the age of 80. Past presidents pictured here are: (l-r) Paul Taramarcaz, Don Rundell, Harry Peterson, Ted Bemis, Bob Irby, Stan Irby, Duane Phelps, Carl Miller, Lee Spann, Greg Peterson, Ken Spann and Dale Irby. )

Courtesy photo

Hildreth high school champ Pioneer society honors members

Photo by Matt Smith

The Gunnison Pioneer and Historical Society annual banquet always takes place during the heart of Cattlemen’s Days. This year the event will be held Thursday, July 15, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Elks Lodge on S. Main Street in Gunnison.

In addition to reminiscing with old friends, one of the items of business at the banquet is to recognized

Peterson honored by Cattlewomen Gunnison High senior Ashley Peterson (left) was awarded the annual Gunnison Valley Cattlewomen’s scholarship this past spring, handed over by the group’s president Anne Hausler. Each year the Cattlewomen’s association awards the scholarship to a local youth who has been involved in agricul-

Gunnison’s Tab Hildreth, seen here, rounded up his second consecutive state title in saddle bronc riding and came out with his first all-around title at the Colorado State High School Rodeo Finals in Craig this past June. He qualified for the 62nd annual National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., from June 18-24. Joining him there will be Noah Blackwell of Gunnison, who placed second in the saddle bronc at the state level event. Both boys graduated from Gunnison High this past spring. ■

Gunnison Valley Health Salutes the Community!

Thanks to the help of Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink Digital Mammography is coming to Gunnison August 2010.

More details to follow

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24

Cattlemen's Days

2010

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