Star-Herald Pride Agriculture

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2015

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Pride Agriculture

Looking forward to family time After 40 years at HPAL, Nightingale ready to spend time with loved ones page 5

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Life in the saddle

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Orton rides herd on market news office for 30 years

Hageman entered posthumously into Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame

Lifestyle leads Wyoming man to help start up cowboy hall of fame

Cattle rancher takes the modern route to help promote sustainable agriculture

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Charlie Fenster changes farming in western Nebraska By SANDRA HANSEN Ag Editor

It is impossible to tell Charlie Fenster’s story in one sitting. Born a child of the prairies in 1919 near Chappell, his life’s work drew him back to his home soil af ter graduating f rom the Universit y of Nebras ka in 1942 w ith a bachelor ’s degree in vocational agriculture. He ma r r ied Eu nice, t aught vo Charlie cat iona l ag for a Fenster number of years at S t a nt on , a nd w a s working on his master’s degree when the newly created Soil Conser vation Ser v ice “conned” him into going to work for them. The winning point was that SCS didn’t require an advanced degree. After training at Stanton, he was sent to Pierce to open a district. The focus of his work there was stubble mulch and its impact on soil erosion, from both wind and water. The rest is history. Fenster was in the thick of things when it came t o res ea rch on prevent i ng s oi l erosion. Ground cover and soil enrichment were main features of his research through the years. In 1956, Fenster was faced with another career decision. He could stay with SCS, or go to the Agriculture Research Service. At that time, the University of Nebraska approached him to come to work for it doing stubble mulch farming research. He went to work on the university’s research station near Alliance, w he r e c o n s e r v a t i o n wo r k w a s expanding in western Nebraska. They also did a lot of work on plots in farmers’ fields. “We also got industry interested in building equipment that was necessary to leave residues on the soil surface, and that did a much better job of seeding our wheat into moist soil, and seed through heavy residues,” he recalled. Fenster was at A l l ia nce unt il 1966 when he moved to Scottsbluff and in 1967 began research on newly acquired universit y land near Sidney. The High Plains Ag L ab has been a boon for dryland wheat farmers, who have benefited from the years of studies on fertilizers and numerous cultivation practices. About this time, the university decided to locate academic person-

Photo by Sandra Hansen

Checking results of one of the many tests run in the Western Sugar lab every day are assistant chemist Laura Garcia and chief chemist Jana Longoria. Garcia started at the Scottsbluff plant in July 2014 after a couple years at the cooperative’s Fort Morgan, Colorado, operation.

WSC chemist graduated from ‘beet digger’ to beet processor Laura Garcia veered off course to a successful career By SANDRA HANSEN Ag Editor

Photo by Sandra Hansen

Charlie Fenster’s parents were lured to western Nebraska by the booklet on the left. The publication in his left hand is Fenster’s review of changes in Nebraska Panhandle farming over the past century, “Breaking the Ground: The Evolution of Farming in the Panhandle of Nebraska Through 2000.”

nel at Scottsbluff, and have them commute to research laboratories at Alliance and the High Plains Ag Lab at Sidney. This new arrangement was made possible when the universit y acquired the Hiram Scot t College facilit y northwest of Scottsbluf f. University staff were moved from the Mitchell research center to Scottsbluff, and field managers and farm technicians were retained at the research labs. T he increased presence in

western Nebraska has resulted in improved farming practices on dryland and irrigated fields, as well as range management. B ei ng on loc at ion has mea nt more reliable research on pest and disease control, and more realistic results in f ield trials, which are done in cooperation with area producers. I n a dd it ion t o i mp rov i n g re search practices in western Ne braska, Fenster also visited other FENSTER, page 2

Watch out world, here comes Laura. Even without her mother’s encouragement. Laura Garcia doesn’t need her mother “pushing” her to succeed as she launches her career in the sugar beet processing industry. Garcia signed on with Western Sugar Cooperative in Scottsbluff in July 2014 after being introduced to the business at the company’s Fort Morgan, Colorado, facility. A graduate of the University of Colorado in Denver, even as a youngster, Garcia had been intent on a career as a medical doctor. However, after graduating from Brush High School, in Brush, Colorado, she pursued her dream at the university and within a few semesters, decided the path to a doctorate was not what she wanted. The cost and time that would be involved were beyond her desires. She wanted to get started in a career. Her best choice after graduation was a job at the Western Sugar Cooperative facility in Fort Morgan. Hired as a lab clerk, without any experience, she was surprised at the possibilities she discovered there. “I had never thought about a career in food science,” Garcia explained. But after learning about the potential, and with a Bachelor of Science in biology, “My schooling came through for me,” she said. Hired straight out of school, Garcia began full time at Fort Morgan in 2012, and transferred to Scottsbluff in July 2014. Garcia arrived in Scottsbluff after Gayle Hoskovec, her lab supervisor at Fort Morgan who had worked there, encouraged her to apply for the assistant chemist position at the Scottsbluff factory. “The overall vibes of the two factories are similar,” Garcia said. “They are some of the hardest working people I know.” Working in Scottsbluff satisfies two of Garcia’s passions. GARCIA, page 3

Giving animals a second chance By JOE DUTTON Staff Reporter

H A R T V ILLE, Wyo. — Inside the beautiful rolling hills just northwest of Hartville, Wyoming, on Highway 270, sits a 1,000-acre ranch filled with specialized shelters and wide open spaces for dogs, cats, horses, pigs and sheep to have a second chance at life. Before Kindness Ranch was helping save dozens of animals each year, the idea of an animal sanctuary stemmed from Dr. David Groobman, who had a passion for rescuing animals. After realizing there were limited animal sanctuaries for former research animals in the United States, he decided to purchase some land and start one of his own. In 2006, the K indness Ranch was opened to help research animals become faithful human companions. Since then, the nonprofit animal sanctuary has provided a place for more than 350 animals. K indness R a nch Execut ive Director Ta m ra Brennan, who has managed nonprofit organizations and

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animal sanctuaries for 20 years, and also has a deep passion for rescuing animals, said, in most cases, research animals are euthanized after a study of the animal is completed, but the Kindness Ranch helps save those animals. “We were the first sanctuary in the U.S. to take in all types of former research animals,” she said. “ The few sanctuaries that existed were targeted to specific species, mainly primates or monkeys. Today, there are still only a small handful of sanctuaries in the U.S. for former research animals.” T he K i nd ne s s R a nch wouldn’t be where it is today without the support of the community and the serene la ndsc ap e of Wyom i ng. Brenna n sa id Wyom i ng provides a rural atmosphere that is beneficial for the animals and sanctuary environment. It is also centrally located to other states that have a large amount of research laboratories. “ We a r e lo c a t e d i n a beautiful area and a friendly community,” Brennan said. “ We have had numerous adoptions and support from

Photo by Joe Dutton

The Kindness Ranch near Hartville, Wyoming, offers a place for sheep, pigs, horses, cats and dogs to recooperate after being part of animal research studies.

our local community and businesses.” The sanctuary provides a place of rehabilitation for animals to learn what it’s like to live in a homebased environment. The ranch offers human caretakers in spacious and specially designed yurts to fit the animals’ needs. These ca ret a kers also prov ide

round-the-clock attention to the animals to make sure they are adjusting well to their new lives. “ I n most cases, when research dogs come to Kindness Ranch, they have never played with another dog or toys, experienced the outdoors, touched grass, been on a walk or potty trained,”

Brennan said. “The rehab program at Kindness Ranch assists these amazing animals through this process, helping them work toward their forever homes.” Each animal that comes to Kindness Ranch has a different need, personality and comfort level with humans. Brennan said some arrive

very social, while others are very nervous or timid and some are bounding bundles of happiness the second they arrive. A ll of the animals are evaluated on temperament, socialization and individual needs. Once the dogs and cats have been successfully KINDNESS RANCH, page 4

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FENSTER: Changes farming in western Nebraska Continued from page 1 countries as a consultant. These included Australia, M o r o c c o , Tu r k e y a n d A r g e nt i n a . A t A n k a r a , Turkey, Fenster was on the program of the Internat iona l W heat Con fer ence in the early 1970s. In Morocco, he was part of a consultation team for U.S. A id, through the University of Nebraska. A l o n g t h e w a y, u n i versit y of f icials of fered Fenster a deal he couldn’t refuse. They gave him a f ul l professorsh ip even though he has only a b a c he l o r ’s d e g r e e , e n hanced w ith decades of experience. “It’s unheard of,” Fenster said, with a little chuckle, and a lot of pride. He is also very proud of his publicat ion, “Breaking the Ground: The Evolution of Farming in the Pa nha ndle of Nebraska T hrough 20 0 0” credited to C.R. Fenster, professor emer it us , a nd Dr. D. D. Baltensperger, professor, Un iversit y of Nebrask a Panhandle and Extension Center. W h i le Fenst er w a s involved in all of this research, he has been one of the leaders in creating t he Fa r m A nd R a nch Museum at Ger ing to preser ve t he histor y of fa r ming in wester n Ne braska. That organization has now joined with the North Platte Valley Museum to form the Legacy of the Plains west of Gering. Fenster was instrumental in developing its dryland farming exhibit. T here surely is some where an of f icial retire m e n t d a t e f o r Fe n s t e r f rom t he Un i ve r s it y of Nebraska, but it is pretty wel l lost i n h is c ont i n ue d ef for t s t o i mp rove li fe on the pla ins. He is of ten in consult at ion with research personnel and still contributing to t he un iversit y ’s goa l of i m p r ov i n g t he l i ve s o f producers on the western prairies. Nearing his 96th birthday, Fenster can still be found almost daily at museum headqua r ters. He also faithfully attends annual farmer events such a s B e a n Day a nd F ield Day, and is available for discussions on a number of conservation issues. It is often said that you can take the boy of f the farm, but you can’t take t he f a r m i n g out of t he boy. H av i ng be en bor n to farming on the plains, Fenster definitely still has farming in his blood.

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Courtesy photos

LEFT: The current UNL High Plains Ag Lab at Sidney is very much a result of Charlie Fenster’s influence in research on preventing wind and water erosion. Area businesses and farmers joined forces to acquire the Sioux Army Depot land from the U.S. Government.

BELOW: Charlie Fenster was 1 year old when this photo of him sitting in his Uncle Anthony’s buggy was taken near Chappell, about 1920. His parents, Al and Alpha, as well as other family members were early Nebraska homesteaders.

Courtesy photo

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Charlie Fenster, left, visits with new UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center Director Jack Whittier at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new High Plains Ag Lab at Sidney.

1711 Broadway, Scottsbluff • 635-2334 Mon-Fri 10-5:30 • Sat 9:30-5 • Closed Sunday

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Always involved in school activities, Laura Garcia became a coach for the championship X-Statics Voll eyb all Clu b that wa s p a rt of th e Colorado Crossroads private volleyball organization.

GARCIA: Chemist graduates from ‘beet digger’ to beet processor Continued from page 1 She loves her job, and she is close to home. U.S. Highway 71 follows a nearly straight line south from Scottsbluff to Brush, about two hours away. In recognition of this fact, her mother, Sonya, made a customized map, which insures that her daughter will always have good directions home. And home is very important to Garcia, one of five siblings. She enjoys visiting her family, and credits her parents, Sonya and Carlos, with her success. “My parents took education more seriously, and knew the benefits it would have for me. I think that’s why they pushed me to strive for excellence,� she said. “My mom deserves my diploma,� Garcia added, half joking. “Her recurring theme was to get my schooling while I was young and unattached and with no children. She set an example by earning a community college degree, but she did it while raising a family.� An honor student, “pushed� by her mother to expand her horizons and to excel, Garcia was involved in numerous

school activities, including National Honor Society. She also participated in volleyball during her middle school and high school years. “Then suddenly, I was a senior. Now what do I do without volleyball?� Garcia said of this shocking development. She had done some coaching, so she applied her skills as a coach of the X-Statics Volleyball Club, a team in a private orga n i z at ion, C olor ado Crossroads. The team won a national title during Garcia’s participation, which is a very proud moment of her life. With those warm memories, and family near by, Garcia is excited about living and working in the Nebraska Panhandle. She appreciates the small community and friendly people who are willing to take care of each other, and now, she is concentrating on getting the most out of this agricultural experience. A city girl, Garcia is inspired by the growers who also own Western Sugar. She was especially impressed with the agribusiness committee of the Scottsbluff/ Gering United Chamber of Commerce and the annual

Courtesy photos

Education is very important in the Garcia family of Brush, Colorado, which showed their support for Laura when she graduated from the University of Colorado in Denver in 2012. From left in the back row are Alexis, mother, Sonya, father, Carlos and Maria. From left in the next row are Jordyn and Laura, and Kayla is in front.

Courtesy image

At t e n d i n g B ru s h H i g h School where the teams were called “Beet Diggers� because of the sugar beet heritage of the community, Laura Garcia wanted to be a doctor, but instead she chose a career that has led her to Laura Garcia and her boyfriend, Geoffrey Robertson, enjoy time at the shooting the sugar beet processing business. range in Gering, as well as other outdoor activities, when their jobs allow.

December public factory tour, for which she made a presentation last year. G a r c i a ’s j ob i nvol ve s accounting, calculations, making chemicals, trouble shoot ing problems w ith equipment, and a dozen other challenges, large and small. “And this is me. I could barely work a screwdriver before this,� Garcia said with her infectious laugh, holding her hands out, palms up. “And I’ve learned about the

lab equipment in no time, thanks to the staff, about 25 of them. “Now I have a campaign under my belt , a nd I’ve furthered my education in the process. I couldn’t have planned it any better. My

long-term goal is to be chief chemist,� she declared. “I never thought I’d care so much about this dirty job that I do every day,� Garcia said, in a quiet moment, before going to answer a question from one of the lab techs.

“I have a lot of responsibilities, but this job is a diamond in the rough and I am going to hold onto it,� Garcia declared while smiling at the technicians busily testing samples from the entire operation.

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KINDESS RANCH: Animals get second chance

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Continued from page 1 house broken, leash trained and fully evaluated, they are then available for adoption, which usually takes six to eight weeks or sooner. Once the animals enter into the adoption program, they are often adopted and taken to a home within a short period of time. Brennan said those who are too debilitated, old or ill to be placed in a home remain on the ranch to live out their days surrounded by caretakers and both local and nationwide volunteers who put the animal’s well-being as a first priority. “Most of the animals that come to Kindness Ranch go on to their forever homes, leading happy and fulfilling lives as a family pet,� Brennan said. Once the animals reach their adopted homes, the new adoptive pet parents often share updates, photos and stories with the ranch. These testimonies on the successes of the animal living inside a home environment is very rewarding for everyone who works or is involved at the sanctuary to know they are now a part of a true family. “Remembering that just a couple months, sometimes sooner, prior that dog or cat was in a research lab, had never seen the outdoors, been in a home, played with toys or other animals,� Brennan said. “Now they have a second chance and a wonderful new home.� Not only are those who give the animals a second chance benef icial to the ranch, but hold a special place in the hearts of those who are involved at the ranch. A lthough the a nimals teach everyone involved at the ranch understanding and compassion, those who take the animals home open their hearts and sometimes homes to animals that are in need of a second chance. “The people that visit us and support the efforts of Kindness Ranch, including visitors, volunteers and the local community, are some of the most compassionate and kind people you will ever meet,� Brennan said. Helping the animals get

Courtesy photos

Kindness Ranch Executive Director Tamra Brennan visits with a few of the horses at Kindness Ranch. The nonprofit animal sanctuary started in 2006 and has served hundreds of animals since then.

from a laboratory research specimen to a faithful companion is hard work for those at Kindness Ranch. Brennan said the work is not a job, but a lifestyle. “This is not an eight-houra-day job,� she said. “For all of us at the ranch, it is a 24/7, 365 days a year commitment. However, at the end of the day, it is well worth it.� Work is tough on a daily basis for the staff to keep the operations of the Kindness Ranch running and is more than just playing with the animals all day. Brennan

said in the area of the dogs who come to them that have never been housebroken, there is a lot of cleaning and training throughout the day, but it is well worth it. “Seeing them go to their forever homes and excel at being a companion animal is the ultimate reward there is in animal rescue,� Brennan said. For more in for mat ion about Kindness Ranch, visit www.kindnessranch.org or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kindnessranch.

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After 40 years at HPAL, Nightingale looks forward to family time By SANDRA HANSEN Ag Editor

S I DN E Y — A lt hough he was raised on a farm northeast of Sidney, Tom Nightingale didn’t know the University of Nebraska High Plains Ag Lab existed a few miles away until he applied for a job there in 1975. A satellite of the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff, the research farm was established in April of 1967 to expand research in dryland crop production. Nightingale was hired as a research technician by Charles “Charlie� Fenster, now retired dryland crops specialist. He became farm manager a few years later when the current manager moved on. Although he wasn’t aware of the research operation, Nightingale had the skills necessary to work with research scientists on their test plots, as well as manage the 2,400 acre operation that is one-third dryland cropland and two-thirds rangeland. He had a degree in biology from Kearney State College, and had spent two years as assistant superintendent at Windmill State Park for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Nightingale had returned to Sidney in 1974 to help his father on the family farm that had been his grandfather’s. His brothers and sisters, Bob, Betty, Eileen, Don (now deceased) and Duane, had established their own families and lives, although Duane helped farm. “Luckily, Charlie hired me, and I began in January 1975,� Nightingale said. It was the beginning of an interesting career. “Beginning as a research technician, the switch to farm manager a few years later wasn’t hard,� Nightingale said. “The only thing was, I still wasn’t convinced that no till was the way to go, but I finally came around.� According to Nightingale, no-till was just beginning. Chemical companies had plots all over the Panhandle, including HPA L and the university research station at Alliance. He said Cheyenne County also leased some ground to the university for dryland and irrigated crop research.

Courtesy photo

During the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new High Plains Ag Lab, farm manager Tom Nightingale, third from right, does the honors.

Work was being done on herbicide applications, dates for seeding plots, and dryland corn, among others. “Charlie kept me busy,� Nightingale said, laughing at the memory. In addition to field work, Charlie took Nightingale with him to winter meetings and conferences. At that time, safety had not caught on well, but research was being done on the use and disposal of chemicals. Another project included the progression of no-till. Associated interests were equipment improvements, including planters and other implements for use in stubble, and herbicide and fertilizer applications and seeding practices. Nightingale said a lot of weeds have now developed resistance to herbicides, generating a whole new area of research — adjusted weed and pest control practices. He explained that Roundup Ready was in its very early stages back then, and it took a few years to figure that a problem was in the making. Some producers have gone back to tillage, he added. D u r i n g h is t e nu re a t HPAL, Nightingale has seen a lot of unusual crops come and go. Current crops being studied include field peas and fenugreek. He said there

Photo by Sandra Hansen

Tom and Priscilla Nightingale are looking forward to his retirement from the UNL High Plains Ag Lab, where he was employed for 40 years before retiring in January.

hadn’t been much luck with garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and safflower, and lentils and soybeans had not fared well out here, either. He noted sunflower production has prospered because there is a local market in birdseed. Crops are not the only changes that have taken place at HPAL during the past 40 years. Precision farming has become more popular, but maybe most notable is the new metal building a mile west of the shop. The result of a community effort, it contains a lab, offices and a meeting room. “It took many years to get,

but thankfully people stepped up. It was all paid for with donations,� Nightingale emphasized. “There’s no taxpayer

Courtesy photo

Tom and his grandson Jason, now 4 years old, are NIGHTINGALE, page 8 good buddies.

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Cowgirl rides herd on market news office for 30 years By SANDRA HANSEN Ag Editor

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Kaye Orton says she’s almost a native of Goshen County, Wyoming. She has lived here for 40 years, and has been the voice you hear giving livestock market news on radio for 30 years come April. Raised on a ranch at Encampment, Wyoming, Orton had a perfect background for a civil service job when Ray Leach, then the USDA Livestock Market News officer in charge and reporter, called her about filling a vacancy in the Torrington office. The young wife and mother of two children accepted the challenge in 1985 and began her career in the old office across the street north of Torrington High School. The operation remained there until moving to the current location on East A Street in 1996. Leach retired in 1998 and was replaced by Dennis Widga in 1999, who gathered the sale information from livestock markets in Torrington and Riverton until retiring in 2012. At that time, Widga began reporting the Torrington and Riverton markets on a part-time contract with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and Orton assumed all of the office duties. Prior to this reduction in force, Orton compiled and distributed information provided by the market news reporters. She did live reports for several radio stations and recorded reports for television, as well as issuing sale results to area newspapers and other publications. It might have been a near impossible feat without technological advances. Orton said Leach and Widga had reached the point where they could enter sale figures into laptop computers, then bring them to the office and transfer them to computers to be distributed via the Internet. By the time Widga retired, he could enter the information on his laptop at the sale, and where possible, use Wi-Fi to transmit results. He does this especially on sales that run late. He can post the results that night for early morning ag network reports the next day. This has made it a lot quicker for everyone, and relieved some of the pressure on Orton who had to make sure the reports were sent in a timely manner. Orton said it gets really busy when extra spring and fall sales take place. Torrington Livestock Markets often has three sales a week, which keeps Widga and Orton busy. It would be worse, except another contract reporter handles Riverton sales. Now, as the only person in the office, Orton provides 1720 broadcasts a day, but distribution is a lot easier. Many reports are recorded and posted on the Internet where radio, TV and other media sources can pick them up. Stations run her reports once a day, or more, depending on their format. Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota stations regularly pick up Orton’s reports. “I always try to customize the reports for broadcasts on each radio station,” Orton said. However, it still takes concentration and a stop watch to report correct information in a limited timeframe. “A nd t hey have to be correct,” Orton emphasizes.

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Photo by Sandra Hansen

Kaye Orton is a one-woman operation at Torrington’s USDA Livestock Market News office. She gathers and distributes results of livestock and grain sales throughout the region. Dennis Widga, a contract state livestock market news reporter, provides information from the Torrington livestock sales, and Orton calls regional elevators for grain prices.

“The reports are especially important on the Chicago Mercantile fed cattle index. “It is a valuable report. It’s amazing the difference a few cents can make,” she said. “If it isn’t correct, they’ll call.” In addition to the livestock reports, grain sales have been added to Orton’s duties. Wheat and sorghum are the big items. She does two grain reports a day, and gets her information by calling grain elevators in Nebraska, Wyo-

ming and Montana. Her Montana reports are picked up by Canadian listeners, so she often receives calls from Canadians with questions better answered by grain dealers. In those cases, Orton refers them to an elevator, but “I’ve learned a lot about grain,” she added, laughing. She also updates the Codea-Phone three times a day, so people can call for the latest information. It is more con-

venient for stations to record these reports, Orton said. The one thing she cannot do is offer advice, even though she gets requests on a variety of subjects, including real estate quotes and market forecasts. When Orton isn’t on the phone or computer, she is charged with archiving documents from the early days of this office, back in the 1960s. ORTON, page 8

Courtesy photo

Orton won saddles for her accomplishments as a professional rodeo contestant. She participated in team roping and barrel racing.

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Pride

8 Saturday, March 14, 2015

Star-Herald

ORTON: Rides herd on market news office for 30 years Continued from page 7

Courtesy photo

Tom Nightingale enjoys fishing at Lake Ogalala, and plans to spend more time there now that he’s retired.

NIGHTINGALE: After 40 years at HPAL, Nightingale looks forward to family time Continued from page 5 money in it.� Looking back, Nightingale said he has enjoyed it all, though sometimes it was a challenge to learn and anticipate the preferences and expect at ions of the scientists. In recent years, he has been working with three technicians : Bill Struckmeyer, Rob Higgins, who works with Drew Lyon on dryland crops, and Vernon F lorke, who works w ith Dipak Santra on specialty crops. But now it’s Nightingale’s turn to move on and let the next farm manager deal with the changes that are sure to come. “I’m going to enjoy home life,� Nightingale said with a sigh. “I always have and will. And I can spend more time on my own garden, and doing woodwork. “It turns out that he is an accomplished wood worker

who has made cribs for all but one of his grandchildren, and that one received a cradle. He also makes canes, walking sticks and other items that he gives away or donates to fund projects. He picked up woodworking during his years at Windmill State Park where he had to repair the windmills, and decided one day that if he could do that, he could do other woodworking projects. T he home garden will also get a lot of his attention, Nightingale said. “I like to work there at night when I get home. It’s kind of therapy, a way to relax. “My wife is going to enjoy my retirement better than I will,� he said. “But she’s never complained.� Another pleasant aspect of his retirement is being able to spend time with his wife, Priscilla. “We’re starting to get to know each other again,� Nightingale laughed. “It’s going to be

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nice to have time alone. Then he immediately added, “I really like to fish,� he said grinning. “Especially fly fishing.� He plans to take his grandchildren along more often. “Overall, I’ve enjoyed it all,� Nightingale said. “It’s been a really good job, with challenges in a lot of ways, but a lot of fun, too.� And he for sure knows that HPAL exists, and will continue to produce useful information for farmers and ranchers for many years.

“We still have historical documents here,� Orton explained. “Some have to be computerized, which I do here, while others have to be sent to the national archives to be preserved.� W hile she is her ow n super v isor for local day to day duties, her official supervisor is in the Greeley, Colorado, USDA Livestock Market News office. With a laugh, she explains that she super vised this young man when he worked in her office as a co-op student in 2003, while he was attending Chadron State College. “So, I’ve had a little practice as a supervisor,� she said with a grin and twinkle in her eyes. “Actually, I’m busier now than I was before they consolidated offices,� Orton said. “Computers have definitely made things a lot easier.� A nd this saved time is valuable for Orton. A fter accomplishing a full day and or week at the office, she has time to enjoy family life. She said she and husband Buzz are “gentlemen� farmers, and raise some corn. She enjoys raising vegetables in a garden. She also has taken up quilting, something she has been interested in for years, but lacked the time and space. S he p r e f e r s s m a l l i t e m p r oj e c t s though. “Something I can actually get done,� she laughed, pointing to a couple of place mats. A strong influence in her quilting interest has been her mother, Betty, and sister, Vonda, both accomplished quilters. She also has a quilt or two made by her grandmothers. T his hobby became possible af ter daughter Tandi and son Ty left home to establish their own lives and families. Tandi and her family live at Flagler, Colorado, where her husband, Eric, manages the feed mill, and she teaches fifth and sixth grade. They have two sons. Ty and his wife, Michelle, also have two sons, and live at Dickinson, North Dakota. After 17 years of coaching basketball in Colorado and then at Dickinson State University, Ty retired and now works with the DSU Alumni Foundation.

Although neither Kaye nor Buzz is retired, they often visit their children and grandchildren. “When they call you to come to their school events, how do you say ‘No? ’� Orton asked. Buzz continues as a buyer for Imperial Beef in Imperial, but is home based in Torrington. Their work arrangments make it possible to have a few cattle and horses to keep them involved in their livestock oriented lives. The couple moved to Goshen County on the recommendation of his parents, John and Charlotte, who relocated from Carbon County, Wyoming. The families were involved in raising cattle and hay, and Buzz was a brand inspector. Always active in 4-H, Orton continued her involvement as a leader while Tandi and Ty were club members with pigs and sheep projects. She remains part of the Goshen County 4-H program, serving as treasurer of the 4-H Foundation for the past 20 years. B e i n g r a i s e d on a r a nc h , O r t on learned a lot of horsemanship skills, and put her knowledge to good use as a card carrying member of the Wyoming Cowgirls Rodeo Association, even qualifying in team roping for the first National Women’s Rodeo in San Antonio. She earned belt buckles and saddles for her efforts in team roping and barrel racing, picking up a saddle in 1976 as All Around Cowgirl, and in 1977 for the barrel racing championship at the state level. “ We travelled quite a bit when the kids were little, but when they started school, it was harder,� Orton explained of her decision to reduce rodeo participation. Now traveling includes accompanying Buzz once in a while to deliver cattle, in addition to visiting families. And she has three horses waiting in the pasture at home northwest of Torrington. Utah, Cute Joe and Puddin lead quiet lives, and eagerly welcome Orton when she visits them, sometimes for a ride, but more frequently just to share quiet time and some memories, and a warm pat or nuzzle.

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Pride

Star-Herald

Saturday, March 14, 2015 9

Courtesy photo Photo courtesy of Oliesimages

James C. “Jim� Hageman encouraged education and Members of the James C. Hageman family gathered for a photo session following the induction ceremony at the heritage preservation among his family and Wyoming Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame Nov. 2, 2014, in Douglas, Wyoming. Hageman was one of the initial 33 inductees. residents.

Hageman among first Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees FORT LAR AMIE, Wyo. — Lane Hageman is dedicated to preserving the cowboy way of life in Wyoming. So was his grandfather, James C. “Jim� Hageman. To that end, young Hageman, a freshman at the University of Wyoming, dug into his memory last fall to begin the nomination of Jim into the new Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. The induction came on Nov. 2, 2014. Lane said the recognition and event were f un and important to his family. “It was memorable,� he said. “It meant a lot to Grandma and all of us, and it was an honor to go with her to get the award for him.� According to Lane, the nomination was not difficult because of his relationship with his grandfather. “I’d hea rd Gra ndpa a nd h is friends talking, and that was a good start,� he explained during a recent telephone interview from Laramie. L ane, 19, said he f irst learned of the WCHF in a newspaper. “Right away I thought of people I knew, and when I read that deceased people would be considered first, my Grandpa

came to mind right away.� Lane said that although Jim had done a lot politically as a Wyoming legislator, he had done a lot as a cowboy as well. “I’d heard a lot of stories about Grandpa, but most people didn’t know them.� Lane checked with relatives and friends to document his grandfather’s life as a working cowboy, and collected more information. Even so, it was a rush at the end. He’d learned of the nominations several months before, but had forgotten about it during a busy summer on the ranch and then starting classes at the University of Wyoming. S udde n l y, i t w a s t he deadline, and almost overnight, Lane put together the nomination and, using technology his cowboy ancestors never dreamed of, submitted it to the WCHF committee. “We have a long heritage, the Shaws and Hagemans, so there are a lot of stories,� Lane explained. Jim’s maternal grandfather, James C. Shaw came to Wyoming f rom Texas by way of a cattle drive. Jim was raised

on a ranch near Shawnee and spent much of his youth accompanying maternal uncles on roundup wagons. As a youth, Jim and his brothers worked at Cheyenne Front ier Days, and also participated in events related to the celebration, which began as a way for working cowboys to demonstrate their skills.

In 1961, after moving to Goshen County, he worked with his uncle “Peach� Shaw on the 010 Ranch near Jay Em, while building his own ranch near Fort Laramie where he worked and lived with his wife, Marion, and children the rest of his life, 2006. Jim served in the Wyoming Legislature 24 years,

a nd t he new Universit y of Wyom i ng Ja mes C. Hagema n Sust a inable Agriculture Research and Extension Center at Lingle, bears his name. He and his famous horse, “ The Dun Mare,� were the models for the statue at the entrance to the Wyoming State Fairgrounds. The induction ceremony

was a “real cool deal,� according to Lane. “It was a great idea, and people were really excited about it.� L a ne s a id t here have been, and are, a lot of good cowboys in Wyoming. “I know a lot of them, and I’m happy to keep nominating them. Hopefully, they won’t run out of them for quite a while.�

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Pride

10 Saturday, March 14, 2015

Star-Herald

Life in the saddle leads to cowboy hall of fame By SANDRA HANSEN Ag Editor

LINGLE, Wyo. — Since he can remember, Russell “Pinky” Walter has been impressed with real cowboys. You know, the men and women who make their living among livestock, and/ or practice their skills on a Sunday afternoon in a neighbor’s corral. A lot more of them were around when he was growing up in eastern Wyoming. They impressed the boy and young man with their skills and knowledge they had learned from old timers, and applied as they mastered the trade that allowed them to live the life they enjoyed or to apply to their careers. Pinky, the son of Adam Walter, a farmer/rancher and cowboy poet, was especially impressed w ith “Peach” Shaw, an early rancher in what is now Goshen County, Wyoming. Walter was about 15 years old when his first paying job was working on Shaw’s 010 Ranch near Jay Em, Wyoming. Walter was impressed with Peach’s ability to rope with either hand, making it possible to work the whole day. Shaw was the son of a true cowboy, James C. Shaw, who came to eastern Wyoming as a young Texas drover after delivering cattle to the Nebraska Panhandle. He and a brother, Tom, already in Wyoming, then applied their talents to ranching and raising families. These beginnings set in motion a project to honor the heritage of Wyoming’s early working cowboys — those who spent a great deal of their lives in the saddle, caring for their livestock and livelihoods. Following the lead of those early cowboys, Walter developed his own set of skills. They have made it possible for him to raise cattle and horses, have his own place near Lingle, and work dozens of rodeos throughout most of the western United States. He has been privileged to work w ith many sk illed cowboys and several special horses during his lifetime. His rodeo career began in high school, when “Like all crazy kids, I wanted to ride bulls. The bulls were crazy, and dangerous, so I did some roping and picking up bucking horses. I got paid for that, and it was good to come home with some money in my pocket,” Walter recalled with a grin. He estimates he has picked up thousands of horses as he worked the National Western Livestock Show, the National PRCA Championships and many other state and local events from Florida to California, Texas to Canada. He judged pro-rodeo events for 35 years and has “been a contestant forever,” he admits, adding that he has worked just about ever y event, including picking up bucking horses at Cheyenne Frontier Days and Denver, among others. At one time, he worked 200 events in five years, and he’s managed to get in some steer roping once in a while. “We went to anything we could get to,” he said. Some have been once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and were possible because of the family’s talents. His daughters are trick riders and have performed around the nation, including 12 out of the past 14 years at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Kodi is a senior at Lingle Fort Laramie High School, and has been a trick rider for nine of her 18 years. Kim Medicis lives in Louisiana with her husband, Kyle, and baby boy. Kellie Brown, her husband, Ryan, and son, live south of Fort Laramie. Son, Chris, rodeos also, and lives in Texas with his wife, Misty, and two children. Other shows have included a special trick riding performance for VIPs in the Broncos’ parking lot at Mile High Stadium in Denver before an All Star game. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band played right next to them. Another time, they put on a show on a frozen ice hockey rink at Vale, Colorado, for a World Skiing Cup event where 2,000 international reporters were gathered. So, Walter knows what he’s talking about when it comes to cowboying and livestock. In addition to rodeos and other livestock events, Walter spent 10 years as a rodeo coach at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This included doing a Saturday class for high school students who learned team roping, bronc riding and other rodeo skills. “It’s great for kids to grow

Pride 2 3-14-15 10

Courtesy photo

Russell “Pinky” Walter spurred a campaign to honor Wyoming working cowboys. The Lingle rancher and former Lingle mayor, here on Banjo, one of his favorite horses, gathered others interested in his idea to organize the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame, which held ceremonies last November for the first 33 inductees.

up around livestock and horses,” Walter said. “They learn responsibility and sensibility.” And his wife, Jody, is involved in the cowboy/rodeo lifestyle, too. She wasn’t too keen on the trick riding idea, but she has adjusted. And in order to stay connected with the children and Pinky, she became the secretary and timer for the LCCC rodeos and ropings. “She was kind of foisted into it,” Pinky said with a laugh. After watching and working among other working cowboys for most of his life, about 10 years ago, Walter wanted to do something to recognize their talents and contributions to the ranching culture. “I got to thinking about it one night, and called Paulette Moss at The Wrangler in Riverton,” Walter explained of his first effort in establishing a working cowboy hall of fame. “We worked on it some, but it’s hard to find a bunch of people to put on a board with no pay, and just give their time.” The first attempt faded away, but was revived about two years ago when he was contacted by Scotty Ratliff, a rancher near Riverton, Wyoming. A former state legislator, Ratliff also wanted to do something to recognize real cowboys, and had learned of Walter from Paulette Moss, editor of The Wrangler at Riverton. The two men combined efforts and enlisted the aid of others, including Cindy Garretson-Weibel of the Wyoming Business Council. The result has been the creation

of the Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame. It has a full-time board, as well as regional districts and boards. “It took a lot of work, and we were under the gun to get it going last year,” Walter recalled with a chuckle and a tug on his hat brim. But 33 inductees were selected from 37 nominations. About 500 friends and relatives attended the November ceremony at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas. “It was really, really nice,” Walter recalled, leaning back in his chair. “But we’re going to have to find a bigger place this year,” he said, sitting up. “We want up to 50 inductees this year, and that’s going to mean a bigger crowd. We think there could be 1,000 people this fall. They really add up when you get sons, daughters, grandkids, great-grandkids and friends.” Funded by donat ions, last year’s event included a free meal for inductees and families, entertainment and fundraising auctions. Special guests included U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi and other officials. At this time, the WCHF is a virtual entity, found only on the Internet, but with growing enthusiasm and interest, Walter believes it won’t be long before a real building will house the organization and its collections and exhibits. “We need to get a good start before we can get a permanent building,” Walter said. “Two towns have shown interest, but we aren’t to that point yet.” According to Walter, the concept has become a reality through the hard work of dozens of dedicated support-

Photo courtesy of Oliesimages

Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame board members Scott Ratliff, left, Russell “Pinky” Walter, center, and Wyoming U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, stop for a photo during the first WCHF induction event Nov. 2, 2014, in Douglas, Wyoming. The medallions worn by Ratliff and Walter were given to each inductee. However, Ratliff and Walter received the first two in recognition of their efforts in establishing the WCHF.

ers, including the 11-member state board that meets at least once a year, supplemented with four to five conference calls. Board members and other supporters are securing donations for this year’s event, as well. Fundraisers were held last year, and again this year there will be a concert and silent and live auctions at the Wyoming State Fair, in addition to other events. A few of the qualifications required for a cowboy or cowgirl to be nominated inculde: minimum age is 65, but special circumstances will be considered; may be inducted posthumously; and minimum time in the saddle is 45 years. Nominations for 2015 will be accepted until March 31. There will be state and regional induction ceremonies. The state is divided into 10 regions that include one to three counties. Nominations must be submitted by March 31 to the WCHF website at wyomingcowboyhalloffame. com. Although the organiza-

tion is in its infancy, Ratliff believes it has a bright and lasting future, especially in “The Cowboy State.” “I was raised in a big country and grew up around those old cowboys,” Ratliff said. “That was their life. They didn’t have all the conveniences we have. “They don’t make them like that anymore. There’s not that cowboy way of life. Some are great at rodeo and as horsemen, but they don’t put those hours in the saddle. “It’s the dream of Pinky, myself and the board to honor those people and preserve the notion of the Cowboy State, and record what made it.” The first step to make the dream a reality was checking with the Wyoming secretary of state to see if such an organization existed. It didn’t. Gov. Matt Mead was contacted, and he “loved the idea.” The dream began to come true. “It’s taken some whipping and spurring to make it happen, but now it’s real,”

Ratliff said. “The cowboy life is hard to put into words, but if you love it, you know what I’m talking about. It’s a real important part of this state.” Mead shares Ratliff and Walter’s dedication to those who made Wyoming. He invited Walter to attend his State of the State address to the Legislature in January. “I was honored, but it was embarrassing,” said Walter, who prefers the background, not the limelight. The family was surprised by the publicity, as well. At school the next day, one of Kodi’s instructors showed a video of the State of the State address that showed Pinky there with the other VIPs. “She thought it was pretty neat,” Pinky said through a big smile. “Well, I don’t know,” Walter said of the hoopla and ceremonies. “But I think these people are an important part of our heritage, and we need to preserve it. “I’m just surprised someone smarter than me didn’t have the idea 50 years ago,” he said, laughing.

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Pride

Star-Herald

Saturday, March 14, 2015 11

For one rancher, embryo program a labor of love Modern cattle producer works the ranch, educates, leads and promotes sustainable agriculture nationally and internationally She’s not the grizzled old cowpoke you’ve seen on spaghetti westerns — the one who’s more comfortable alone on the range, riding among a herd of wild cattle. The pretty, petite and politically active Jaclyn Wilson is handy with a herd of “jacked up� steers, but can just as easily calm a conference room of cattle producers or knowledgeably discuss agriculture, state and national politics with politicians and other business leaders. W ilson, a f i f t h - gener ation cow- calf producer, works with her father and uncle, Blaine and Br yan Wilson, northeast of Lakeside. She studied business and economics at the Universit y of Nebraska-Lincoln, but returned to the ranch in 2002 to “help out.� That summer has turned into 13 years on the ranch and recently Wilson started her own sideline business, looking for ways to make her own mark in an age - old indust r y, where she’s already been marked as a spokesperson on a state and national cattle producer’s level. Originally, Wilson said, she had pla nned on a career in lobbying, havi n g b e c om e i nt e r e s t e d in government as a local represent at ive to Gi rls’ St ate and a st ate repre sentative to Girls’ Nation. T hat interest g rew into involvement with the state and national beef industry trade associations and corresponding appointments to ag advisory committees for Rep. Adrian Smith, then gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts and Sen. Deb Fischer. A LEAD fellow in 2003-04, Wilson just completed a six-year term on the Nebraska LEAD Council, serving as the youngest chairmen ever in 2014. Often the youngest person at the round tables and frequently the only female, Wilson’s attention to policy issues led to leadership positions with the Nebraska Cattlemen and, after a fouryear term on their board of directors, to a seat on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. As chairman of the resolutions committee there, Wilson reviews proposed NCBA policy for final consideration by the board of directors at their annual meetings. But, like the rough-andtumble cattlemen of her ancestors, Wilson is still at home on the ranch raising Red Angus and (red) Simmental composite cattle. Self-described as hands-on and detail-oriented, Wilson said an idea from a consultant friend led her to establish a cow development and embryo transfer business. “It’s not a novelty to find a 15-year-old Wilson Ranch range cow that has to breed up every year in a short window, raise a productive calf, maintain body condition and perform to our requirements,� Wilson said. With a large herd, Wilson is able to sell more than 130 heifers originated and developed on her ranch, along with private treaty bulls sold by her family for the last 20 years. But it’s the embryo transfer program that is Wilson’s baby. Open, unbred cows, which would normally make good calf produc-

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ers, became more common during the drought years. “ Their milk’s good, they look good, they’ve raised a calf and have good temperament,� Wilson said. “We decided to take advantage of a ( p roblem - t u r ne d - ) opportunity and develop a recip herd.� A recipient female acts as a surrogate for an embryo transferred from a client’s purebred or club (show cattle) cow, bred through artificial insemination to produce a n i ma ls wor t h more than the recip might normally produce, bred the “old-fashioned� way. One sire and dam can produce seven times the number of full siblings through AI and ET, Wilson said. The client supplies froz en embr yo st raws to Wilson who has prepared the cows to receive the embryos and synchronized t he i r b r e e d i n g c yc l e s . Wilson’s vet implants the embr yo transfers in the recips in May or June, and then she takes on the hard work of caring for the cows — feeding, ca lv ing a nd vaccinating the calf before returning a healthy animal to the client within 14 days of weaning. Payments are staggered at i mpla nt at ion, sex i ng the calf (60 days in utero), birth and weaning, Wilson said. The nationwide success rate for recips is 40-50 percent , she cont inued, and her clients appreciate the spread on the financial risk throughout the process. “ We have always been firm believers that a cow only has one shot and if she can’t make that, she’s headed to town (the sale barn),� she said. “The recip venture has allowed us to hang on to some great producing cows and give them a second chance to raise great calves.� Wilson is also an author, with a bi-weekly column in the livestock publication Midwest Messenger and onl i ne. Her blog “Jac ’d Up� has more than 20,000 followers. She was also featured in a Texas A&M publication, “Generations on the L and,� a conservation tome featuring six ranchers, a forester and a vintner working toward sustainable agriculture. Their goals: “to keep the land in the family ... to operate the land profitably ... to leave the land better than they found it.�

Courtesy photo

Jaclyn Wilson is a fifth-generation rancher near Ellsworth. The Wilson Ranch was established in 1888, but in 2013 Wilson developed a sideline business in heifer development and embryo transfers to recipient cows.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Wilson

Jaclyn Wilson follows up on tagging a new calf born as part of her Flying Diamond Genetics recipient cows, those acting as surrogates by embryo transfer from client’s purebred and show cattle sires and dams.

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BioMax™ is the best, most efficient way to improve soil biology and function in the root zone. BioMax improves soil function resulting in better root development, increased soil nutrient efficiency, plant health and ultimately yield! Designed to work in starter, striptill, sidedress and chemigation applications, Biomax helps get the most out of your fertility dollars. Maximize biological activity Maximize soil nutrient availability Improve soil health Improve soil moisture holding capacity Maximize yields For more information on how BioMax can improve your soil conditions and increase yields contact Rob Ford at 308-631-4353, Dave Bloxham 208-539-0996 or your local Simplot Crop Advisor.

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Science-Driven Nutrition SM Bayard - 308-586-1814 Berea - 308-762-7110 Morrill - 308-247-2114 Scottsbluff - 308-632-7125 Torrington - 307-532-2133 Timnath Co - 970-484-4610 Fort Morgan - 970-867-7811 Wray - 970-332-3196

Hershey - 308-368-5651 Ontario - 541-889-2353 Billings - 406-656-2804 Powell - 307-754-4833 Aberdeen - 208-397-4178 American Falls - 208-226-2966 Caldwell - 208-459-3694

Grandview - 208-834-2418 Jerome - 208-324-4357 Mini Cassia - 208-436-0311 Rockford - 208-684-4444 Twin Falls - 208-733-4502 Weiser - 208-549-2143 Wilder - 208-482-6211

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12 Saturday, March 14, 2015

Pride

Star-Herald

308-632-2143 800-446-7147

www.carrtrumbull.com

1310 Circle Drive, Scottsbluff Mon–Fri 7:30 am – 5:30 pm Sat 8 am – 2 pm

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