BASIN ELECTRIC
RELIABILITY
No matter the season or storm our members face, Basin Electric provides reliable and affordable electricity for our members’ homes, schools, and businesses. We’ll do everything we can to keep fans running, the lights on, and the coffee brewing.
STORY BY WREN STAFF
Fossil
I know I’ve already written, to some extent, about the laws of supply and demand when it comes to always-available electricity, but with what is happening at the national level, and to some extent the state level, I thought the message bears repeating.
At the national level we have competing philosophies that aren’t necessarily along political party lines. There are many elected officials who promote and actively work to attract technology businesses such as data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) companies to the U.S. and Wyoming.
According to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which is “a research organization that does not advocate for any specific company, sector, or technology, but delivers independent, objective thought leadership and industry expertise through a highly collaborative approach,” said in their May 2024 report, “data center and AI technology electricity demand will double in the U.S. in just two years.” Some electricity industry officials feel that this might even be an understatement. According to EPRI, “AI queries require approximately 10 times the electricity of traditional internet searches and the generation of original music, photos, and videos requires much more.”
This huge demand in reliable and affordable electricity comes at the same time when coal, which has provided this reliable and affordable electricity for decades, is being shut down; oil and gas, which has served as both a 24/7 dispatchable electricity resource and as a bridge fuel is also being shut down; hydroelectricity, which again is a 24/7 dispatchable AND zero emissions resource, is threatened by attempts to remove hydroelectric dams; and nuclear energy which, like hydro, is a 24/7 dispatchable, zero emissions resource, has been mired in its own safety and regulatory issues. To say nothing of the time and financial burden of sighting and getting regulatory approval for transmission lines for any of these resources, let alone renewable resources, to serve data centers and/or AI facilities.
My point is that our country’s bureaucratic and legislative efforts to transition away from reliable, affordable electricity while throwing up roadblocks and red tape to permit virtually anything doesn’t match up with the want for attracting the extremely high electricity demand industries, such as data centers and AI.
Add to this conundrum that we have state elected (and non-elected) officials saying that the lack of available power to feed these tech industries is due to utilities not being “business friendly.” Business, especially with a high-load factor, is good for the cooperatives, but the fact is that the cooperatives won’t put our member-owners investment in the cooperative at risk by overbuilding our electric delivery system in the hopes of attracting these high-load businesses. This is nothing new and it’s not just a Wyoming problem; electricity supplies across the country are struggling to keep up with demand.
SHAWN TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EACH YEAR IN JUNE, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY SPEND A WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AS PART OF THE NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION’S YOUTH TOUR.
While in the nation’s capitol, students learn about American history, our nation’s government and the role electric cooperatives play in communities across the country. Students also get the chance to enjoy historical sites and visit with their state representatives in the House and Senate.
Each year, the WREA sponsors three Wyoming students to attend, and local cooperatives have the opportunity to sponsor additional students.
To find out how you can become eligible to participate in Youth Tour, contact your local electric cooperative.
More information is also available at YOUTHTOUR.COOP
Adelle Olson, Burlington - Big Horn Rural Electric Company
Jessica Mendez-Perez, Emblem - Big Horn Rural Electric Company
Caprice Winn, Mountain View - Bridger Valley Electric Association
Jaxon Sweep, Lyman - Bridger Valley Electric Association
Kenadee Hadley, Mountain View - Bridger Valley Electric Association
Tanner Rickets, Lyman - Bridger Valley Electric Association
Deanna Horst, Potter, NE - High West Energy
Hattie Lerwick, Albin - High West Energy
Aaron Sullivan, Gillette - Powder River Energy Corporation
Ethan Van Why, Cheyenne - Wheatland Rural Electric Association
Savannah Haecker, Wheatland - Wheatland Rural Electric Association
Itmaybedarkandscaryforsome,butformany speciesofplants,animalsandothersmall organisms,cavesarewheretheycallhome.
Someorganismsliveincavesforpartoftheirlives (suchasduringwinterwhenitiscoldoutside),while othershaveadaptedtoliveintheseenvironments allthetime(thesespeciesarecalledtroglobitesand arecaveobligates).Troglobitesdonothavepigment intheirskinoreyesbecauseofthelackoflightdeepin caves.Theymayhavelongantennaeorothersensory adaptationstohelpnavigatedarkenvironments.
Manyoftheorganismsthatliveincavesyear-roundaredecomposers, andwiththelackofplantgrowthandlong-termresidencyincave environments,itmakesitdifficultfortroglobitestoacquirethe nutrientstheyneed.Theyrelysolelyonmovementoforganicmatter intothecavethroughstreams,stalactitesandfloods,andbyother animalsthattravelbetweentheoutsideworldandcaveworld consistently.Nutrientscanbefromaquaticorterrestrialplantsor seedmaterial,skincells,insectsorevenanimalcarcasses.
Oneofthemostimportantprovidersofnutrientstocaveecosystemsarebats.Many differentspeciesofbatsacrosstheworldutilizecavesasasafeplacetoroostduringthe day,forthewinterasahibernaculum,ortoraiseyoungduringthesummerasmaternity roosts.Batseatalotofinsectsduringforagingboutsatnight–whichcausesthemto poopalotincaves!Becauseoftheirdiet,guano(thetermusedtodescribe bat-poop)ishighlyrichinnutrients.Caveobligateorganismsrely heavilyonthesenutrientsforsurvival.Withoutbats,there wouldn’tbeenoughfoodfororganismstofeedon!
BY WREN STAFF
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wyoming holds about 2% of the U.S. oil reserves and, according to the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, ranked No. 8 in production of both crude oil and natural gas in 2022.
IN 2019, THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DELIVERED $1.67 BILLION TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND EMPLOYED 19,416 PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
Wyoming has been exploring for oil and gas since the early 19th century. In 1832, oil springs were found southeast of present-day Lander near Dallas Dome, which is where the state’s first oil well would be drilled five decades later.
According to Wyohistory.org, the first recorded oil sale occurred along the Oregon Trail when, in 1863, enterprising entrepreneurs sold oil as a lubricant to wagon-train travelers. The oil came from Oil Mountain Springs some 20 miles west of present-day Casper.
Wyoming’s first commercial coal mines opened in the late 1860s to fuel the Union Pacific Railroad, although coal remained more important to Wyoming’s economy for some time, as markets for unrefined oil were limited.
The first drilled oil well was brought into the Wyoming Territory in 1879 at Dallas Dome in the Chugwater Formation. By the 1890s, there were many significant oil strikes in northern Natrona County and, in 1895, Wyoming’s first oil refinery was under construction near Casper. According to Wyohistory.org, Pennsylvania investors named it the Pennsylvania Refinery; they also struck oil at what became known as the Shannon Field north of Casper.
As automobiles became more common in Wyoming, car owners would purchase gasoline from general stores and refineries were operating across the state. By the 1920s, the oil industry in Wyoming was booming, peaking in the 1970s.
In the meantime, natural gas began arriving at homes across Wyoming. Laramie’s first natural gas line opened in February 1933, although Greybull residents had this service since 1908. Greybull was the first town in the state to have home furnaces fueled by natural gas piped in from nearby wells, long before the natural gas industry boomed in the 1990s and 2000s.
Today, Wyoming has over a dozen of the nation’s largest oil and gas fields, including the Pinedale Anticline and Jonah Field natural gas fields, which rank among the top 10 in the country.
Jonah Energy is an oil and gas exploration and development company operating in the Jonah and Pinedale Fields in Sublette County, Wyoming. The Company is one of the largest privately held natural gas producers in the U.S. and focuses on producing natural gas in an environmentally responsible manner.
Jonah Energy’s practice is to acquire oil and gas fields that have under-recognized potential, then develop these fields to reach their potential to produce natural gas. They currently operate over 2,600 producing wells in the Jonah Field and Pinedale Anticline fields.
They have one of the most comprehensive and credible emission reduction programs in the United States.
Their Responsibly Produced Gas initiative focuses on implementing new technologies, accountability and sustainability in the protection of air, land, water and wildlife throughout the full timeline of production through delivery. Through extensive testing and reporting, Jonah Energy has data to show substantially improved accounting and reduction of emissions.
Jonah Energy practices water conservation through their treatment and recycling operations, extensively utilizes solar power and has a robust spill avoidance and mitigation program through engineering controls and training. Their industryleading and award-winning surface reclamation program supports wildlife and agricultural activities throughout Western Wyoming.
“If we continue to reduce our emissions, if we continue to reduce our footprint and invest in new technologies, we can be competitive. And I think as a state we’re getting there. We know we are as Jonah, and moving forward that does give me promise and hope that it will put Wyoming in a position to be the clean energy producer of hydrocarbons in the country,” said Paul Ulrich, Vice PresidentGovernment and Regulatory Affairs.
“Our emission reduction program is one of the most aggressive in the country,” Ulrich said. “We’ve deployed a suite of monitoring
and measurement systems and technologies ranging in frequency from continuous monitoring to monthly to annual. We conduct what we refer to as a top-down bottom-up reconciliation of our emission profile from our production assets and that gives us the ability to very transparently and confidently deliver low emission natural gas to the marketplace.”
Jonah Energy also partners with environmental conservation organizations, leads water protection measures through a robust water recycle and reuse program, consciously works to reduce surface disturbance, leads an award-winning reclamation program and has programs to protect wildlife and enhance wildlife populations in their operating area.
“We take a multi-pronged approach to reduce our impact across the board,” Ulrich said. “We try to take a very holistic and landscape approach to our impacts and anything we can do to reduce those impacts.”
Urich said if Jonah Energy can continue to produce some of the cleanest natural gas in the country while also using more of it locally, “that’s a win-win for Wyoming.”
“Production in the Jonah Field has had a positive benefit on surrounding communities from both the utilization of natural gas locally to the jobs created and the taxes that area provided to the State of Wyoming,” Ulrich said, along with the community service Jonah Energy employees are involved in.
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• California Oil Company, later named Chevron, first drilled on the Pinedale Anticline in 1939 using rotary tools, stateof-the-art drilling equipment at the time.
• El Paso Gas Company purchased the well with hopes to drill for gas. The company drilled a total of seven wells in the area, all producing limited gas, making the venture an economic failure.
• El Paso Gas Company returned to the Pinedale Anticline to experiment with detonating nuclear devices to assist with natural gas extraction. This attempt, Project Wagon Wheel, was designed to study the effectiveness of nuclear power to mine natural gas.
• When the citizens of Sublette County learned of the planned nuclear detonation, several of them formed the Wagon Wheel Information Committee to learn more about the project. The group soon committed to educating people and stopping the project. Eventually they succeeded. Determined citizens prevented big industry and the federal government from detonating nuclear devices in their county.
• Meridian Oil Company drilled next for gas on the Pinedale Anticline. But this company had similar problems. Its results were hampered by traditional drilling methods which did not work well in the Anticline’s tight sandstones. And there still was no good market for natural gas.
• The Clean Air Act of 1970 was amended in 1977 and again in 1990 to specify new strategies for cleaning up the air.
• McMurry Oil Company (MOC) purchased three wells in the Jonah Field from the Presidio Oil Company, which had shown unpromising early results. Along with the three wells the McMurrys purchased mineral leases on 25,000 acres of BLM land in the Jonah area.
“All of that wrapped up is pretty special to me, and I know it is to our entire team here in Wyoming; that we’re able to live here, work here, provide energy for our neighbors and tax revenue that keeps our quality of life so very high.”
Ulrich said, “I am more than pleased that we can continue to produce the Jonah Field and produce it effectively. We see a long, bright future for the Jonah Field, even after 30 years of production,” he said.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently proposed adjusting the state’s oil and gas bonding requirements to “ensure that reclamation costs reside primarily with oil and gas lessees, operating rights owners, and operators rather than the American taxpayer.”
This means that after June 22, 2024, BLM will not accept new bonds lower than the new minimum bond amounts. The minimum statewide bond amount has increased to $500,000, while the minimum individual lease bond amount has increased to $150,000. To meet the phase-in for existing statewide bonds, all existing statewide bonds lower than $500,000 must be increased to $500,000 by June 22, 2026.
“There are a myriad of challenges that we’re faced with every day from regulatory changes to the marketplace. Our strategy has been to stay ahead as far as we can, as long as we can, and lead the pack. And in large part that has been successful,” Ulrich said.
“We have tried very hard over the past 10 years as Jonah Energy in exceeding what is required and working as hard as we can with our state partners, whether it be our conservation partners, our regulators, our elected officials and others to make sure that we do stay ahead of those regulatory changes,” he said. “Wyoming has been extraordinary in leading the country on reducing our impacts in a collaborative way, whether it’s on our sage grouse core area strategy, whether it’s working with the Department of Environmental Quality on reducing emissions of any kind in the Upper Green where we operate, or any myriad of other challenges that we see either from new regulations or from the marketplace.”
Wyoming is solution-oriented, Ulrich said. “I strongly believe that if Wyoming is working together, which we’re known to do, even with a fairly large push to migrate away from a carbon based energy system, Wyoming is well positioned for growth. We have the ability, the smarts, and the will to produce energy where it can be very competitive with a non-carbon based energy system.”
Whether your home or business, the buildings you enter daily consist of several layers that create one building envelope, or shell. The envelope begins with the foundation in the ground and ends with the roof, and includes everything in between such as walls, windows and doors. To save energy and maintain comfort, an envelope should limit the transfer of heat in or out of the building. Improve your building envelope by applying weatherization best practices.
Caulking and weatherstripping are cost-efficient air-sealing techniques that help maintain a comfortable temperature in your space. Air-seal gaps around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and other wall or ceiling penetrations to reduce drafts. Weatherstripping around the interior of door frames and window sashes will also limit drafts in these areas and improve the energy efficiency of your home.
One of the best ways to reduce your energy bills and increase the comfort of your home is by ensuring adequate and effective insulation in your home. The Department of Energy recommends that a home have 12 to 16 inches of attic insulation. However, not all insulation has the same effectiveness for energy efficiency, and as insulation ages that effectiveness declines. There are also several methods for insulation depending on where you live and the part of your home you are insulating (walls, crawlspace, attic, etc.) so it’s best to contact a local certified contractor. Check your local building codes for requirements.
Some income-qualified programs provide air sealing and insulation, along with making sure your home is safe, if you have combustion appliances like a gas furnace or water heater. Certain programs even cover up to 80% of the median area income and provide these improvements at no cost to the homeowner and in many cases renters as well.
To learn more about rebates and incentives for electrification programs, contact your local co-op or public power district. Visit us at www.tristate.coop/electrify-and-save
When it’s you against nature, there’s only one tool you need: the stainless steel River Canyon Bowie Knife—now ONLY $49!
The River Canyon Bowie Knife hand-forged, unique knife comes shaving sharp with a perfectly fitted hand-tooled sheath. The broad stainless steel blade shines in harmony with the stunning striped horn, wood and bone handle. When you feel the heft of the knife in your hand, you know that you’re ready for whatever nature throws at you. This knife boasts a full tang blade, meaning the blade doesn’t stop at the handle, it runs the full length of the knife. According to Gear Patrol, a full tang blade is key, saying “A full tang lends structural strength to the knife, allowing for better leverage ...think one long steel beam versus two.”
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe that once you wrap your fingers around the River Canyon’s handle, you’ll be ready to carve your own niche into the wild frontier.
River Canyon Bowie Knife $79*
Offer Code Price Only $49 + S&P
Save $30
With our limited edition River Canyon Bowie Knife you’re getting the best in 21st-century construction with a classic look inspired by legendary American pioneers. What you won’t get is the trumped up price tag. This quintessential knife can be yours to use out in the field or to display as the art piece it truly is. But don’t wait. A knife of this caliber typically cost hundreds. Priced at an amazing $49, we can’t guarantee this knife will stick around for long. So call today!
What customers are saying about Stauer knives...
“First off, the shipping was fast and the quality is beyond what I paid for the knife. Overall I am a satisfied customer!”
— D., Houston, Texas
WBY
hen I’m not trying to save the lives of animals or wrangle my toddler, I dabble in art. Since I can remember I’ve doodled on everything. I didn’t really think that one could make a real career in art, so in high school I began focusing on science and math. Art classes in high school were for fun and not really spent learning any lasting techniques.
I continued my dabbling in art through college as stress relief or as means of donation for a benefit or auction. To fill my schedule, I did enroll in one college art class, excited I may learn some instruction on things I wasn’t sure of. Instead, after three weeks the instructor pulled me from the class and put me in a special project with two other students to paint a mural at the college. So, I continued to teach myself how to paint with experimentation and by observing nature and the paintings of other artists.
After graduating from vet school, the career took hold of my time. My free time was spent exhausted mentally and physically. Days passed without a sketch or painting until time for a donation. Paintings would sit on the easel unfinished sometimes for years. After a lion I’d been trying to paint for quite a while wouldn’t stop staring at me, I decided I needed to pick up the paintbrush again.
What is the first thing to do when you want to make something of yourself? Start a social media page, of course: “Busy Beaver Art” – fitting enough, it was born.
As social media creeps around and my friend list grows, slowly I have been able to share my art with more people and groups, continuing to donate to fundraising. At one event I donated a painting for a local United Way auction. My donation was for a painting of any animal the winner chose. The winner happened to be the owner of one of my patients, and without hesitation she selected a painting of her dog.
Darby is a handsome and pudgy beagle. He comes in quite frequently to board or for routine medical care. He is a sweet mannered dog and we all love having him around. Thankfully, with his frequent visits the techs were able to set up a glamour shot session and capture a photo of him standing regally waiting for a treat to use as a reference. It took some finesse (if you know the breed they do cast some judgement and he was no exception to our stupid human requests). The color of his fur and of his eyes were not your classic beagle colors, which made the painting a tad trickier.
My favorite part of painting a pet’s portrait is to see the expression on the owner’s face. Darby’s owner was no exception; she was (thankfully) thrilled. She is a new dog mom and feels like she has arrived after swooning over this pup so much and now having his portrait done. A few weeks later I received a
little thank you card in the mail. It was from Darby’s mom. She had included the neatest picture of him posing once again, but this time next to his custom painting. Dapper as always.
Animal art is what brings me joy. Unbeknownst to me, all the anatomy classes that I had also have helped my art. I know where nooks and
crannies are between bones and muscles and in which way limbs should appropriately bend or where the strange little hairs might pop up. I didn’t realize however that I would find a small niche in painting my patients, which adds another level of pressure to the final product.
I continue to dabble in art. Reaching out of my comfort zone to try new things and do new things I didn’t think I could do. Toddler in tow. Saving animals along the way. W
Dr. Megan Beavers is a veterinarian in Farson and Green River.
View her art at bit.ly/ BusyBeaverArt-Facebook.
6 EARS CORN, SHUCKED AND RINSED
1/4 CUP MAYONNAISE
1/4 CUP MEXICAN CREMA OR SOUR CREAM
1/3 CUP GRATED COTIJA CHEESE
3 TSP CHILI POWDER
CHOPPED FRESH CILANTRO AND LIME WEDGES, FOR SERVING
Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Grill corn, turning often, until slightly charred all over, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and crema. Transfer corn to a platter. Brush with mayonnaise mixture. Top with cotija, chili powder and cilantro. Serve warm or at room temperature with lime wedges alongside. Yields 4-6 servings.
WREN STAFF
1 1/2 LB SIRLOIN STEAK, CUT IN 1" CUBES
1 CUP PURCHASED TERIYAKI (OR PREFERENCE) BASTE AND GLAZE
18 MEDIUM WHOLE FRESH MUSHROOMS
1 MEDIUM BELL PEPPER, CUT IN 1” PIECES
2 TBSP VEGETABLE OIL
1/4 CUP TOASTED SESAME SEEDS
Place beef cubes in heavy-duty resealable plastic. Refrigerate 4 hours, mixing now and then. Heat coals or gas grill. Remove meat from marinade and discard marinade. Thread beef, peppers and mushrooms onto 15” metal skewers. Brush with oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Grill 4-6” from medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning frequently.
Serve with crusty sourdough rolls and a green salad.
REE REICH BELLE FOURCHE, SOUTH
Marinade:
4 GARLIC CLOVES, MINCED
3 TBSP OLIVE OIL 1/4 CUP CILANTRO, CHOPPED
3 TBSP LIME JUICE
1/2 TSP CUMIN
1/2 TSP PAPRIKA
1/2 TSP SALT
1/2 TSP PEPPER
Topping:
3 AVOCADOS, DICED 1 TOMATO, DICED 1/2 RED ONION, CHOPPED 1/4 CUP CILANTRO, CHOPPED 2 TBSP LIME JUICE 1-2 LBS CHICKEN BREASTS, BONELESS/SKINLESS
1. In a bowl, combine the garlic, olive oil, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper.
2. Place chicken breasts and marinade into a large Ziploc bag or into the bowl of marinade, tossing to coat thoroughly.
3. Refrigerate until ready to grill (at least 1 hour of marinating is best).
4. Grill chicken over medium heat for about 6 minutes per side, or until no longer pink and cooked through.
5. While chicken is cooking, combine the avocado, tomato, red onion, cilantro and lime juice in a bowl.
6. To serve, place chicken breast on a plate with desired amount of topping over it.
7. Enjoy! WREN STAFF
Mega-Connection
In the table below, find six groups of six words that share a common thread. Blocked? Collect your thoughts and head to page XX for the solution.
Mega-Connection
In the table below, find six groups of six words that share a common thread. Blocked? Collect your thoughts and head to page XX for the solution.
BY KENDRA SPANJER
In the table to the right, find six groups of six words that share a common thread.
COLLECT YOUR THOUGHTS AND HEAD TO PAGE 37 FOR THE SOLUTION.
BY JACKIE DOROTHY
“We had a pretty deep snow and the wind blew all the time,” Marion Scott described the cold, raging wind that drove snow so hard it froze eyes and scoured the ground. “You’d just open things up and the wind would blow the opposite direction and blow it back in again.”
Marion was a 17-yearold cowhand, working alongside his father on the family ranch when the worst blizzard on record swept across the Northern Plains. “The Great White Death” of 1949 brought in heavy snow, strong winds and bitterly cold temperatures. This combination created drifts 30 to 60 feet high, and ranches became islands in a sea of white.
The Scott Ranch was snowed in for nearly two months. Without equipment to move the snow, the men did everything by horse or on foot.
Fortunately for their stranded cattle, it was the first year the ranchers had alfalfa cubes, which was a protein cake that kept the cows alive.
“That’s what I fed the cows all winter,” Marion explained. He loaded 500 to 600 pounds of feed in 50-pound bags onto his two pack horses and lead horse. Then, he pushed his way through drifts, often in blinding snow since the wind never let up even when the skies were clear.
“Dad and I rode every other day, nine miles in the deep snow. We walked more than rode,” Marion chuckled.
“The arctic air had moved in and hung in on us for about five weeks. Temperatures were below zero every night. You couldn’t keep water open. Everything froze up. It was a mess.”
Despite the hardships, Marion loved the cowboy lifestyle. “That’s what we learned to do back in those days was to survive. And that’s what we did. We never lost any cows from the weather.”
During the blizzard, the family ranch was without many modern conveniences except for a 32-volt generator in the basement. Marion’s father was determined to change that and became an integral part of the REA to bring electricity to Campbell County.
Harold was on the board of REA and rode horseback to many ranches talking them into joining the co-op. At that time people were a little leery of electricity and rather afraid of it. Despite his neighbors’ initial fear, Marion’s father succeeded in his mission and was an inspiration to his children. It is this tenacity that has helped them keep the family ranch since 1917.
Harold succeeded in his mission and was an inspiration to his children. It is this tenacity that has helped them keep the family ranch since 1917.
Like his father before him, Marion continued to look for ways to innovate and keep the ranch in the family. One of the ways that he and his wife, Mary, found to keep their ranch going was by starting a business as the P Cross Bar Outfitters.
“We went into that because it generated half the income for the ranch,” Marion explained. “A lot of ranchers just weren’t into outfitting. That is because most ranchers are their own boss, so they don’t cotton to listening to others, particularly dudes. But my wife and I learned to get along with them pretty quick and we developed quite a business with it. We had hunters from all over the world.”
Marion and Mary had been married on January 31, 1953, just four years after the Blizzard of ’49, and worked side by side for the ensuing years. They raised their four daughters, Marilyn, Debbie, Cathy and Cindy, on the ranch, expecting them to participate with the daily chores on horseback.
All four of the girls helped with gathering cows, branding and the general ranch work that needed done. Their earliest memories of Marion were of him on horseback.
“My dad was a cowboy, and if you could do it horseback, you did it horseback,” Marion added. “That’s the way he was. So, we had to be cowboys. Which I had no problem with. I was kind of like my dad, I really enjoyed being a cowboy.”
Marion recently retired from the ranch, but his own legacy continues as three generations now work the same land his grandfather first homesteaded over 100
years ago. He says the ranch is still in the family because they don’t carry debt or squander their money on fancy tractors and trucks.
“My dad had a philosophy,” Marion said. “If you leave half the grass in the good years, the bad years will take care of themselves. We pretty well did that and never overstocked. We held about the same number of cattle, both in the good years and the bad years. Good advice from an old timer that only had an eighth-grade education.”
As he enjoys his retirement, Marion has no regrets for the life he has led on horseback.
“If I had to do it over again, I’d do the same thing. Cowboy way, I guess. It’s a great life if you’re tough enough to do it.” W
Bed of Feathers
Anton Larson, Lyman
One Set of Footprints
Kate Johnston, Encampment
Ready to Ride
Tara Seely, Hawk Springs
Town of Gebo Adventure
Melody Posey-Harris, Saratoga
Father & Daughter Rally Racing
Sandra Price, Wheatland
Extreme Tight Roper
Heather McLaughlin, Upton
Window Cleaning Inspection
Martha Rasmussen, Burlington 01 02 03 04 05 06
Becomes
Rob McIntosh, Torrington
You Gotta Love Wyoming Betsy Jensen, Powell
Riding Out on the Next Adventure
Sandy Pokorney, Gillette
Looking Back Rebecca Powers, Gillette
Bison Using the Highway Lauree Scott, Gillette
When Breakfast Bites Back Kenneth Hoffman, Newcastle
Let’s face it, we take a lot of things for granted.
And right at the top of the list is our hearing.
It’s like a car quietly leaking oil, we don’t really appreciate what the black, slippery stuff is doing for us until it’s gone.
The sudden struggle to hear everyday sounds is the same way.
You think your hearing is right there with you, and then poof…
Aggravation from missing words. Not understanding what your friends, spouse, or co-workers are saying. The cold depression of not being able to participate in life like you once could.
The sinking feeling that age has caught up with us.
But Great News… the JH-A17BT Digital Hearing Aid (containing two hearing aids for both the left & right ear) is here to turn back the clock.
With clear, precise, detailed digital sound, the JH -A17BT will eliminate the frustrations of hearing loss while giving you the power to reclaim the hearing of your youth.
Just imagine:
Crystal clear conversations
Hearing as sharp – or sharper –than everyone else
Improving your relationships
Greater peace-of-mind
No longer missing out on crucial info or opportunities
Your Friends and Family Will See You In A Whole New Light
According to a 4,000 person study held by the Hear the World Foundation, research shows that individuals with untreated hearing loss suffer a higher rate of social isolation, while those who USE A HEARING AID experience significantly higher rates of social participation and enjoyment than their non-assisted counterparts.
Some key findings:
33% of those who use a hearing aid participate in their favorite sport or exercise versus only 25% of those who refuse to.
50% of hearing aid wearers engage in athletic activities while only 43% of those who avoid hearing assistance.
Why digital? Digital Hearing Aids convert sound waves into digital signals and produce an exact duplication of sound. Computer chips in digital Hearing Aids analyze speech and other environmental sounds and may improve performance in certain situations such as background noise.
69% of those who use a hearing de vice report a boost in enjoyment when traveling versus only 57% of those who avoid amplification.
It’s Like Your
With the digital JH -A17BT, your friends, family, and just about everyone else you communicate with will know you’re not stuck in the hearing loss mud. That you’re PROACTIVE about your health and EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY - as opposed to running away from it like so many others do.
In fact, people view those who seek help with their hearing as PROBLEM SOLVERS who value their relationships and are interested in what others have to say, making the investment an easy choice.
No more frustration from endless ‘What did you say???’ scenarios.
No more embarrassment from the weird looks you get when you answer a question inappropriately simply because you couldn’t hear it well.
No more feeling like you’re being left out of life.
With the JH-A17BT you’ll return to a world of VIBRANT, LIFEAFFIRMING communication that allows you to come across younger and stronger than you do without audio assistance.
Digital Technology For Clean, Crisp Sound
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For more information or to place an order call 1-800-495-8308. Or you can write to MWSB Inc., 834 South Union St. Olean, NY 14760-3917
AUGUST 17 11AM - 6PM
Breaking Brews is an event that signifies a thrilling fusion of localized breaking news and the wonderful world of craft brews, creating an event that promises a refreshing take on a brewfest. Enjoy brews, live music, food trucks and games!
Location: Whitney Commons Park
Cost: $30 per ticket
Info: The Sheridan Press, 307-672-2431
THURSDAY-MONDAY
Nici Self Historical Museum: 12-4pm. Explore museum grounds and exhibits. Free. Info: niciselfmuseum.com.
AUGUST 23 / SEPTEMBER 6
Hell on Wheels Rodeo and Chuck Wagon Dinner: 5-7pm. Laramie County Fair Rodeo Arena. Doors open at 5, dinner at 5:30, rodeo at 7pm. Features an open rodeo format so anyone can pay the entry fee and compete in nine different rodeo events. Entry closes the Monday before each rodeo. VIP Ticket $80, Youth VIP $70, Chuck Wagon Dinner and Rodeo Ticket $60, Youth Chuck Wagon and Rodeo Ticket $55, Rodeo Only Ticket $25, Youth Rodeo Only Ticket $20. Info: Jim Walter, 307-772-7250, jim@cheyenne.org, cheyenne.org.
THURSDAYS
Acoustic Jam Session: Stampede Saloon & Eatery music venue open for jam sessions. Info: 307-422-3200, stampedefun@aol.com.
TUESDAYS-SATURDAYS
Grand Encampment Museum: 10am-4pm. Main Gallery and GEM store open. Info: 307-327-5308.
CLEARMONT
AUGUST
Clearmont Historical Center: Open 10am-4pm. Wed, Fri, Sat. Info: 307-758-4685, clearmonthistory@gmail.com.
GILLETTE
AUGUST 1
Downtown Thursday Nights: 6pm. Third Street Plaza. Live music! Final band is Leadslingers. This event is free to attend but be sure to bring your money to buy some beer, food and more! Beer sales are cash only; food vendors may or may not take cards as well. Info: Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, 307-682-3673.
AUGUST 2
Ribbon Cutting for Bloedorn Lumber: 12:30pm. 2809 Fern St. Vendors/contractors, giveaways, prizes and discounts/sales. Free. Info: Rod Wagner, 307-682-3101.
THROUGH DECEMBER 2024
Hurrah for the Cowboy: Men of the Open Range: Campbell County Rockpile Museum. The traveling exhibit includes vintage engravings (1867-1911) depicting the North American cowboy as seen by contemporary artists such as Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Maynard Dixon and many other notable artists. Curated by Lee Silliman, Hurrah for the Cowboy has appeared in museums across Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. Info: 307-682-5723, RockpileMuseum.com or facebook.com/RockpileMuseum.
THIRD WEEK OF EVERY MONTH
Open Mic Nite: 6-9pm. Thu. or Fri. depending on the schedule. Frontier Auto Museum. Free. All musicians are welcome. We supply the stage, mic and speakers. Bring your voice and/or instrument for an enjoyable evening under the neon lights. Upcoming dates will be posted on facebook. com/frontierauto. Info: Ryan Swanson, 307-686-5667, relics@frontierauto.net.
MONDAY-FRIDAY
Senior Exercise Class: 9-10am. Hulett Library. Info: 307-467-5743.
WEDNESDAYS
Moorcroft Branch Library Activities: 10am storytime, 4pm afterschool craft, 7pm AA meetings. Please use the downstairs entrance. Info: 307-756-3232.
THIRD THURSDAY OF MONTH
Adult Book Club: 1pm. Moorcroft Branch Library. New book each month. Stop by the library for your copy. Info: 307-756-3232.
MONDAY-FRIDAY
West Texas Trail Museum: 9am-5pm. Info: 307-756-9300.
THIRD SATURDAYS
Weston County Democrats: 2pm. Weston County Library. Info: 307-941-1822, weston.wyodems.net.
SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS
Gigi’s Closet: 9am-1:30pm. First United Methodist Church. Gently loved clothing available for babies to adults. Info: 307-746-4119.
AUGUST 1-3
Crazy Days: Downtown Sheridan’s annual summer clearance event! Retailers clear out stock to make room for incoming inventory. Info: Downtown Sheridan Association, 307-672-8881.
AUGUST 2
Wagon Box Anniversary: 10am-2pm. Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site. Come learn about the Wagon Box Fight with the Fort Phil Kearny/ Bozeman Trail Association on the date that it happened in 1867. Info: FPK State Historic Site, 307-684-7967.
AUGUST 3
Discovery Session: Yoga Along Big Goose Creek: 9am. Sheridan Community Land Trust. Start your weekend with a refreshing, energizing yoga session along the serene shore of Big Goose Creek. Amanda Baker of A Place of Wholeness will take you through a centering gentle yoga flow followed by a grounding relaxation practice. You will learn to connect with the land as you ground your body to the earth, supported by the immersive soundscape of the creek. Info: SCLT, 307-673-4702.
AUGUST 9-10
Murder at the Mansion!: 5:30-8:30pm. Trail End State Historic Site. Dress in costume, mingle on the mansion grounds and seek clues for the night’s mystery! Tickets on sale July 20. Info: Trail End, 307-674-4589.
AUGUST 10-11
Sheridan County Rodeo: Sheridan County Fairgrounds. Info: sheridancountyrodeo@gmail.com.
AUGUST 15
Third Thursday Street Festival: 5-9pm. Sheridan’s Historic Main St. Enjoy family fun, food, live music and vendors. Info: Downtown Sheridan Association, 307-672-8881.
AUGUST 17
CHAPS 20th Anniversary Open House: 9am-1pm. 501 US-14. Join us for tours, observe lessons in action, games and some BBQ. Learn more about what we do and how we do it and let us thank you, personally, for your support and advocacy! Info: CHAPS Equine Assisted Services, 307-673-6161.
AUGUST 23-25
Story Days: 37th annual festival celebrating the community. Info: Sally Johnson, 307-224-4454.
AUGUST 24
Sheridan Airport Open House, Fly-In & Air Show: 8am-1pm. Sheridan County Airport. Familyfriendly atmosphere! Free pancake breakfast, aircraft and automobiles, airport equipment and air show! Info: Sheridan Pilots, 931-212-7174.
AUGUST 24
Bighorn Rendezvous
Quickdraw, Dinner & Auction: 9am. The Brinton Museum grounds. Stroll the grounds and watch artists at work. Free and open to the public. Quickdraw will be followed by a ticketed dinner and art auction. Info: The Brinton Museum, 307-672-3173.
AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 2
Hang Gliders Fly-In: 10:30am-3pm. Bighorn Mountains’ Sand Turn, west of Sheridan. Hang gliders from across the nation soaring above the Bighorn Mountains, weather permitting. Info: Johann Nield, 307-751-1138.
THIRD THURSDAYS IN SUMMER
3rd Thursday Street Festival:
5-9pm. Main Street between Alger and Loucks. Enjoy family fun, food, live music and fabulous vendors. Free. Info: 307-672-8881.
WEDNESDAYS
Storytime: 10:30am. Crook County Public Library. Info: Tonia, 307-283-1008.
SECOND TUESDAYS
Veteran Breakfast: 8am. Upton Senior Center. Free. Info: Gary Barnes, 307-468-9251.
FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS
Bingo at Senior Center: 6:30pm. $10 for 10 cards. Info: 307-468-9262.
ONGOING
Senior Center Activities: 1113 2nd St. 12pm lunch MondayFriday for $4. Call for reservation before 9am at 307-468-2422 or 712-400-9056. 9am coffee and treats on Tuesdays. 9am exercise program every Tuesday and Friday. 5:30pm card elimination and potluck every third Monday. Info: 307-468-9262.
MONDAY-SATURDAY
Cody Country Art League Gallery: 9am-5pm. 836 Sheridan Ave. Info: 307-587-3597.
AUGUST 10
Tails & Trails 5k Run/Walk: Cody Regional Health.
DUBOIS
AUGUST 6
Tie Hack Adventure Trek: 8:30am. Dubois Museum. Part of the Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series. We will follow the tie hacks Union Pass to see where the tie hacks lived, flumes that brought the ties down, and a headgate. Easy to moderate hike. Bring bear spray, bug spray, hiking boots, trekking poles, water and lunch required. $20 advanced registration required. Limited slots available. Info: 307-455-2284.
AUGUST 10
Kiwanis Club Flying Flapjacks Pancake Breakfast: 7-10am. Dubois Municipal Airport $5 per plate ages 10 and above; $3 children 9 & under; toddlers free. Info: 307-455-2243.
AUGUST 13
Dennison Ranch Driving Trek: 8:30am. Dubois Museum. Part of the Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series. Join museum staff as we explore the life of Richard V. Dennison and learn about the local legend. Easy hike. Bring lunch, drinks, insect repellent, and good walking shoes. Advanced registration required. $15 per person. Limited slots available. Info: 307-455-2284.
AUGUST 24
Kids Corner: Wyoming Wildflowers: 10:30am. Dubois Museum. Part of the Bailey Tire & Pit Stop Travel Centers Children’s Exploration Series. We will look at the wide variety of wildflowers that Wyoming has to offer and discuss how Wyoming settled on its state flower. Children will be given some seeds to bring home so they can see those flowers in the spring. Advanced Registration required. $3 per child. Materials will be provided. Info: 307-455-2284.
THURSDAYS
Farmer’s Market: 4-6pm. Headwaters. Info: Twila Blakeman, 307-851-0785.
FRIDAYS
Family Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library. Free. Songs, stories and crafts for ages birth to 5 years. Older siblings are welcome to join the fun. Stay and play in the Children’s Library after story time. Info: 307-455-2992.
THIRD WEDNESDAYS
Wyoming Health Fairs Monthly Wellness Screen/Blood Draw: 7:30-10am. Dubois Medical Clinic. Appointments encouraged. Info: 307-455-2516, whf.as.me/dubois.
FRIDAYS
Story Time: 11:30am. Dubois Branch Library, 202 N First St. Free. Stretches, story, songs, crafts and fun! Ages birth to 5 years. Info: 307-455-2992.
SECOND SATURDAYS
Greybull Ladies Coffee: Greybull Library. Info: 307-765-2100.
AUGUST 24
Medicine Lodge Kids Day: All day event featuring Big Horn REA’s safety demo, fly tying, archery, camping safety and lunch. Info: facebook. com/MedLodge.
THROUGH AUGUST 17
Grand Teton Music Festival (GTMF): Tickets to all of GTMF’s 63rd season programs are on sale now, including the world premiere of a GTMF co-commission, family and community presentations, Musical Adventures, On the Road, Free Family Concert and FamilyJam, pre-concert talks and open rehearsals, and the Coombs Outdoors Partnership. Info: 307-733-1128, gtmf.org.
AUGUST 17
Borners Garden Cemetery Trek: 10am. Part of the Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series. Visit one of the historic ranch cemeteries in the Lander Valley and learn about the families buried there. Meet at the museum and take a bus to the site. There is a short walk on uneven ground to the cemetery. $15 per person, limit 25 persons. Reservations required. Info: 307-358-9288.
WEDNESDAYS THROUGH AUGUST 28
Eagle Spirit Dancers: 7pm. Pioneer Museum. This dazzling event showcases Native American History and Culture. Free. Open to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated.
SATURDAYS
Acoustic Music Jam: 11am-1pm. Lander Bake Shop. Info: 307-332-3237.
AUGUST 7
Stan Grove: Jade: 6-7pm. Riverton Museum. Part of the Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speaker Series. Jade collector Stan Grove of the Riverton Mineral and Gem Society will be giving his talk “Green in Them Hills: The Allure of Fremont County Jade.” Since at least the 1930s, south-central Wyoming has been recognized as a top locality for nephrite jade of various colors and textures, well suited for jewelry and carving, and with an international market. Free. Info: 307-856-2665.
AUGUST 10
Jeffrey City Adventure Trek: 2-8pm. Riverton Museum. Part of the Wind River Visitors Council Adventure Trek Series. Get to know Wyoming’s most famous atomic boomtown, while unleashing your inner-shutterbug and taking in some breathtaking vistas! This trek is equal parts historical trek and photography workshop. Advance reservations required. $10 per person. Everyone is responsible for bringing their own food and water. Info: 307-856-2665.
AUGUST 14
Randy Tucker on the History of Riverton: 6-7pm. Riverton Museum. Part of the Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speaker Series. County 10 Newspaper author Randy Tucker will be giving a general talk on the history of Riverton including the local World War II Prisoner of War Camp, schools and irrigation. Randy’s talk will be in honor of the August 15, 1906 founding of the City of Riverton as part of the historical McLaughlin Agreement. Free. Info: 307-856-2665.
AUGUST 21
MEETEETSE
AUGUST 10
The Mining Town of Kirwin Tour: 9am. Meeteetse Museums. Free. The tour begins on-site at approximately 10:30am, subject to weather conditions, and lasts about four hours. Only high-clearance trucks with skilled drivers or ATVs make the trek. Guests should bring lunch, plenty of water, lawn chairs, layers, bear spray and sun protection. Info: 307-868-2423.
AUGUST 24
Galloping Gourmet: The Buffalo Bill Nobody Knows!: Meeteetse Museums. Free. Join us for a presentation by Steve Friesen on his book “Galloping Gourmet: Eating and Drinking with Buffalo Bill”. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody was a hunter, frontiersman, Pony Express rider, and showman. But gourmet? Yep, Cody was as comfortable eating at Delmonico’s in New York City as dining on wild game around a campfire. He dined with kings, queens, presidents, and other notable figures. He also opened the first Mexican restaurant east of the Mississippi in New York City, introducing popcorn to the European continent, and promoting American cocktails to England. Info: 307-868-2423.
AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 2
Labor Day at the Meeteetse Museums: 10am-5pm. Special events include the Chatelaine Quilt Show and our annual Labor Day silent auction. Free. Info: 307-868-2423, meeteetsemuseums.org
MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS
Yoga: 10:30am. Meeteetse Recreation District. Info: 307-899-2698, meetrec.org.
MONDAYS
Toddler Storytime: After school. Meeteetse Library. All kids grades 1+ not in school. Legos, board games, crafts, stories, songs and more. Info: 307-868-2248.
POWELL
AUGUST 10
AUGUST 20
“Galloping Gourmet: The Buffalo Bill Nobody Knows!” Lecture: 7pm. Homesteader Museum. Presented by Steve Friesen, retired director of Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave in Golden, Colorado. The information in the lecture is based upon his research for his new book “Galloping Gourmet: Eating and Drinking with Buffalo Bill”, which was published by University of Nebraska Press in December 2023.
AUGUST 30
Homesteader Museum Book Club: 9am. Discussion “Rise of the Rocket Girls” by Nathalia Holt. Info: 307-754-9481.
TUESDAY-FRIDAY
Send complete information for October events by
AUGUST 15!
Be sure to include the date, title, description, time, cost, location, address and contact information for each event.
Photos are always welcome. SUBMIT AN EVENT
Homesteader Museum: 10am-5pm. Private tours or visits available. Info: 307-754-9481, homesteader@parkcounty-wy.gov.
SATURDAYS
Homesteader Museum: 10am-2pm. Private tours or visits available. Info: 307-754-9481, homesteader@parkcounty-wy.gov.
SECOND SATURDAYS
Great Until 8!: 4-8pm. This event showcases the businesses who are staying open until 8pm or later in town. Shop after 5pm and enter in for a chance to win $100 gift certificates valid at the business with the winning receipt. Info: 917-589-7852, mainstreetthermopolis@gmail.com.
Look for more events at wyomingrea.org/news.
Vince Tropea’s Riverton History Trivia Night: 6-7pm. Bar Ten. Trivia will start around 6pm but it is recommended to show up early to claim a spot. Join as a team or play by yourself. Questions are provided by the staff of the Riverton Museum on the history of our city! Free. Participants must adhere to the rules and regulations of Bar Ten. Info: 307-856-2665 QUESTIONS & SUBMISSIONS:
“Off Grid Living Then & Now” Tour at the Ewing/Snell Ranch: Homesteader Museum. In partnership with the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in anticipation for the Spark! Places of Innovation MoMS Smithsonian Exhibit sponsored by Wyoming Humanities touring throughout the state. Info: 307-548-5406, 307-754-9481.
wren@ wyomingrea.org
[307] 286-8140
214 W. Lincolnway Ste. 21C Cheyenne, WY 82001
wyomingrea.org/ wren-submissions
THURSDAYS
Storytime: 11am. Lyman Branch Library. All ages welcome. Free. Info: 307-787-6556, uintalibrary.org.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
MONDAYS
Cub Scout Pack 7798 Meeting: 3:45pm. Presbyterian Church on 3rd Street. We are always accepting new boys who are in grades 1-5. Info: MarNae, 307-677-2566.
WEDNESDAYS
Storytime: 11am. Uinta County Library. Info: 307-782-3161.
New & Used Coal Stokers, parts, service & advice. Available for most makes. Thanks. 307-754-3757.
Soon Church/Government uniting, suppressing “Religious Liberty” enforcing “National Sunday Law.” Be Informed! Free materials. TSBM, PO Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540, tbsmads@yahoo.com, 1-888-211-1715.
We Pay Cash For Mineral & Oil/Gas Interests producing & nonproducing. 800-733-8122.
WANTED CJ or Wrangler reasonably priced. Any condition but rusted. 800-316-5337.
Frontier Auto Museum Looking For Oil Company Gas Pumps, Globes And Signs. Also looking for general antiques for our antique shop. Please go to our website FrontierAutoMuseum.com. Located in Gillette WY, our passion is to preserve Wyoming history and the nostalgia of the past, especially Parco, Sinclair, Frontier, Husky and any car dealership along with all brands. We are also always looking for neon motel or store signs, WY license plates and WY highway signs and State Park signs. Please call Jeff Wandler 307-680-8647 wandlerfrontier@gmail.com or daughter Briana Brewer 307-660-2402 relics@frontierauto.net.
$Cash for old cars$ 1900-1970, 2 doors, convertibles, regardless of condition any 1930’s cars, early power wagons, Jeeps, Broncos, Volkswagen buses. Randy Erwin, rerwin1952@gmail.com, 307-212-1341, Rawlins.
Wyoming’s vast and varied landscapes thrill people from around the world and have done so for centuries. Our state is a place of many firsts in America, not only the first to give women the right to vote, but also boasting the first national park, the first national forest and the first national monument. These majestic entities allure the mind and stir the soul. They also help families, couples and individuals, near and far, create lifetime memories.
Yellowstone National Park encompasses three states – Wyoming, Montana and Idaho – but most of the 2.2 million acres lies within the boundaries of our state. Created by an act of Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872, this massive, magical landscape was not only America’s first national park, but also the first of its kind in the world. Five entrances in two states welcome roughly 4.5 million visitors annually. Wildlife, geysers, hot springs, wildflowers, hiking trails, bird watching, boating, camping and fishing opportunities beckon people from around the world. Winter is no longer “off-limits” for visitors to Yellowstone, with skiing, snowshoeing,
BY GAYLE M. IRWIN
snowmobiling and snowcoaching opportunities available December to March. Yellowstone remains one of the most frequently visited national parks in the United States, and provides a boon for the economies of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
The Shoshone National Forest was the first such designated area in America. Stretching from the Montana border south to Lander, this 2.4-million-acre, multi-use region includes the mighty Wind River Range and is named after the Shoshone American Indian tribe. The forest was first part of the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve, which was founded in 1891 and covered areas surrounding Yellowstone National
Park and then later created into its own division as the Shoshone. In 1906, the forest reserves were renamed national forests. Shoshone National Forest serves as a recreational paradise with camp and picnic sites, hiking areas, climbing sites, a wilderness area, significant fishing spots and big game hunting opportunities.
National monuments are often created by executive order from the United States president. Devils Tower became the first designated national monument in America, created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. This monolith rises more than 1,200 feet above the Belle Fourche River in northeastern Wyoming. It is considered sacred by many Native American tribes, including the Cheyenne, Crow and Lakota. Interpretive programs offered by National Park rangers, star gazing, nature photography, camping, hiking and climbing this incredible rock are opportunities offered to visitors.
I’ve experienced some amazing personal firsts in our great state. Yellowstone was the first national park I visited when I was a child growing up in Iowa. Ultimately, Wyoming’s unique places influenced my family’s decision to make
this state our home. I wrote newspaper articles for the first time after moving here –for the Casper College Chinook. I’ve since crafted articles for the Casper Star Tribune, Douglas Budget, Glenrock Independent, and WREN Magazine. I discovered my calling to create stories through knowledge and experiences gleaned at Casper College.
states throughout my 60+ years on this planet and I’ve traveled to several beautiful places during the past six decades. But I had never seen the Northern Lights … until May 2024. I observed this dazzling night light dance just a few miles outside of Casper. What a show! I remain in awe.
I also authored my first book. In 2007, I wrote and published a children’s chapter book about the blind dog with whom my husband and I shared life. She was lost in the woods for three days, and afterward, I thought of the courage she had not only to survive that experience, but to do anything at all while blind, from jumping onto the couch to walking on a leash with me. I wanted children to be inspired to face life and its obstacles with the same perseverance and courage.
I recently experienced another first in my life here in Wyoming. I’ve lived in various
Wyoming possesses unique landscapes and amazing natural wonders. It’s a place to make memories, to share fun and delight with family and friends.
Wyoming possesses unique landscapes and amazing natural wonders. It’s a place to make memories, to share fun and delight with family and friends. We can have many firsts living here: fish for the first time, hunt for the first time, watch a pair of sandhill cranes for the first time, experience a cow give birth for the first time, ride a horse for the first time, observe the Aurora Borealis for the first time, or see and learn about the Big Dipper and other constellations for the first time. Such firsts never leave us – they are branded in our brains and seared upon our hearts. Such memories last a lifetime. Unique experiences, like unique landscapes, inspire and captivate, whether cruising a boat across Yellowstone Lake or hiking to Lake Solitude in the Bighorn National Forest. And they are memorable.
Wyoming is home to many firsts, and we all experience our own firsts in life.
Summer is an opportune time for firsts. I’m thankful to live in such a special place in which to make memories and have more firsts in my older age – like seeing the Northern Lights. What special firsts lie just beyond the horizon for each of us? Whatever they are, I’m sure they will be delightful, insightful, inspirational and memorable! W
Empty Boxes
Paint or Markers
Tape
Use the tape to close up the boxes.
Then, let your kids decorate the boxes.
Next, encourage them to play!
It’s likely your kids will start playing on their own, but if they need some guidance you can help your kids:
Build towers
Race the box blocks by rolling them next to each other
Make a fort
Don’t recycle your cardboard boxes yet! They are perfect for creating, building, and engaging your kids in active play. Boxes are great for rainy days inside,
