Winter Cattlemen's Edition Section A

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Platte

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INTRODUCING PLATTE COUNTY

Located in southeastern Wyoming, Platte County is located along the east slope of the Laramie Range. The county has an array of history. Known for its agriculture roots, the county’s main towns consist of Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Hartville and Wheatland.

The Wyoming Livestock Roundup is excited to feature Platte County ranches, farms and agribusinesses in the 2023 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition.

Early history

The American Fur Company built Fort Laramie in the summer of 1841 in neighboring Goshen County. The fort became a routine stopping point during the America’s westward expansion.

The American Fur Company, otherwise known as Fort Laramie, was built in neighboring Goshen County. In the 1830s, missionaries began joining fur company employees on the journey to the west.

In 1867, the Union Pacific Railroad reached Cheyenne, and a supply depot was opened nearby. A freight road and telegraph line opened, and soon roadhouses and stage stops popped up along the way.

After gold was discovered in the 1870s in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory, the Cheyenne-Fort Laramie freight road was extended north to gold camps. The entire route was known as the CheyenneDeadwood State Road, running through eastern Wyoming and future parts of Platte County.

Through the mid-1880s, the region provided a prime location for open range sheep and cattle ranching.

In 1900, the Burlington Railroad entered Wyoming, and in 1902, the railroad established the town of Guernsey. Growing populations in Wheatland and the Guernsey, Hartville and Sunrise areas led the legislature to create a new county in 1911. Gov. Joseph M. Carey signed the bill establishing the county on Feb. 9, 1911.

The county was named after the North Platte River. Today, the river provides ranchers and farmers in Wyoming and Nebraska the opportunity to grow alfalfa, corn, potatoes, sugarbeets and beans.

Agriculture commodities and economy

Platte County Commissioner Kayla Mantle works to set the budget for the county. As a longtime res-

ident, she has always been interested in the work she does as a commissioner.

“I never really thought I’d be in this position, but I was born and raised here and decided I wanted Platte County to be a place where a younger generation can come back to,” shares Kayla.

Platte County commodities include sugarbeets, corn, winter wheat, hay and beans.

According the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service 2017 census, Platte County ranks third in the state for crops, third for livestock, poultry and products and has roughly 64,118 cattle and calves.

“We’re unique here in the fact the Wheatland Irrigation District is a privately owned irrigation district, so it’s where many farmers get their water,” she says. “It’s the only one in the state privately owned. So, where other counties have a different water source, we solely rely on the snowpack and water coming off of the Laramie Mountain Range –in a drought year, this poses a challenge for many producers in the county.”

Tourism

A large portion of the county offers several tourism attractions, notes Kayla.

“In the summer months, we have a lot of tourism in the Glendo and Guernsey areas with the reservoir and lake there,” she says. “Grayrocks Reservoir is also a big fishing area in the county. Tourism is huge here as far as recreation.”

In addition, the county has Oregon Trail ruts near Guernsey and has several other historical stops, including the Sunrise Mine Historic District, Register Cliff, Wheatland Downtown Historic District, Chugwater Soda Fountain and the EWZ Bridge over the East Channel of the Laramie River.

The Platte County Tourism Board works on several projects throughout the year and attracts a lot of people with their annual car show, formerly known as the Blue Mountain Car Show, which is held the weekend after the Fourth of July, she notes.

“Platte County is a unique place to live,” concludes Kayla. “We’ve seen a lot of growth here with the Laramie River Station, a coal-fired power plant, which is one of the only ones left in this part of the nation. If it wasn’t for

the school district and the power plant, we wouldn’t have a county.”

Information in this article was compiled from wyominghistory.org. For more information on Platte County, visit plattecountywyoming.com

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

SALES | AUCTIONS | FINANCE | APPRAISALS | MANAGEMENT

BAR CROSS RANCH CORA, WYOMING

Rare opportunity to own one of Wyoming’s historic operating ranches located an hour south of Jackson. Operates on 35,000± acres (12,035± deeded) features adjacency to USFS, blue ribbon fishery, and outstanding improvements.

$35,000,000

MAJESTIC RANCH BURKE, SOUTH DAKOTA

The Majestic Ranch is located on the Missouri River breaks of Gregory County and consists of 12,669± deeded acres. Highly diversified cattle operation and recreational ranch with excellent improvements and breathtaking views.

Reduced to $26,000,000

OREGON TRAIL RIVER RANCH TORRINGTON, WYOMING

Located long 5.5 miles of the North Platte River, this 5,166± acre operating ranch combines 480± acres of pivot irrigated cropland with miles of river bottom, comfortable improvements, excellent waterfowl, deer and antelope hunting.

$10,700,000

PORTER MOUNTAIN RANCH MEETEETSE, WYOMING

Located ten minutes west of Meeteetse, this 2,173± total acre ranch (720 ± leased acres) encompasses diverse upland and big game wildlife habitat. Multiple wellmaintained steel buildings and log home overlooking the Greybull Valley.

$4,500,000

Scenic views – Platte County includes of five main towns: Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Hartville and Wheatland. In addition to a large portion of the county being cattle and farm country, the summer months provide opportunity for tourism in the area. Glendo Reservoir at Glendo State Park is pictured. Courtesy photo

The West family has owned and operated a family cattle ranch for the last 75 years. The ranch originally started in southern Colorado and has been passed down from generation to generation. Since 1987, the West family has been running their cattle operation on the plains of southeastern Wyoming in Platte County near Wheatland.

Today, the ranch runs a Black and Red Angus cow/ calf operation, focusing on meeting a demand and desire for high-quality, grass-fed/ grass-finished beef, which has formed the operation of West Cattle Company, established in 2014.

Passion for family and agriculture

Brandon West is the fourth generation on the West family ranch. Born in Raton, N.M., he spent his first years growing up on the original ranch in southern Colorado. As a result of his family’s move to the present-day range at the age of three, his passion lies in the state of Wyoming.

After high school, he attended the University of Wyoming and received a Bachelor of Science in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management with an emphasis in vegetation ecology.

His love and passion for agriculture and his family’s

“I

says. “After meeting my wife Brittany and living in the Wright/Gillette area, we decided to return back home and start West Cattle Company in hopes of making a decent profit, if not more, on our cattle with less amount of head.”

“When we first started, we were learning the ropes, but within the last three years we’ve started reaching out to more customers and going to farmers’ markets,” says Brandon.

The company has progressively grown over the years. Brittany not only manages the homestead with chickens, vegetables, flowers, guineas and bees, she also runs the business side of things including the marketing and communication of the company.

She notes her goal is to be the friendly voice on the other end of the line and to provide people with highquality customer service.

The couple currently has two children, five-

year-old daughter Adeline and three-year-old son Flynn. Both parents find the importance of raising their children with the upmost respect, morals and character and teaching them respect for the land, livestock and people.

Brandon and Brittany recognize youth are the future of agriculture and share both of their children love helping on the ranch when they can.

West Cattle Company beef

Cattle graze freely on native grass and forbs, and during winter months, the feed hay harvested on the ranch. Cattle are never introduced to artificial hormones or growth promotants and never see a feedlot.

In July of every year, mother cows are partnered with selected bulls. Calves are born each spring in early May through June. The ranch utilizes a later calving season to avoid Wyoming’s

ranch runs deep and can be seen in the way he and his family care for both the land

and the animals.

grew up on the ranch here in Wyoming,” he

Farmers’ markets

Brittany West attends several farmers’ markets throughout the year. Courtesy photo

The West family – West Cattle Company consists of Brandon and Brittany West, back row, left to right, and their two children, Adeline and Flynn, front row, left to right. Ashely West Photography photo

harsh winters and associated sickness due to colder temperatures.

“We calve later to try to avoid bad weather,” explains Brandon. “As we calve, we select steers we plan to keep for our beef program. We’ll put our specific brand on those, and then put tags in their ears so they are easily identified.”

The ranch utilizes a Bar-Flying-W brand. This brand was chosen by Brandon and Brittany when they returned to the ranch in 2013. They note it’s a symbol designating the cattle in their herd from the cattle of other herds within the ranch as well as a symbol of highquality, grass-fed/grass-finished beef.

When calves become yearlings, they continue grazing freely on pasture until they have met their desired weight. At this time, they are ready to be harvested as a pasture raised grass-fed/grass-finished beef.

Brandon notes it takes anywhere from 24 to 30 months to get a grass-fed/ grass-finished beef cow to a reasonable slaughter weight.

“We’ll run them for quite a while, then the next year, we’ll keep the next round of cattle that will go two years on down the line,” he says. “Every year, we’ve been keeping more steers to keep up with customer demand.”

The company participates in several farmers’ markets in Loveland, Colo. and is looking to participate in surrounding farmers’ markets in Cheyenne and Fort Collins, Colo., as well.

“When we started in 2014, we decided we wanted to try to tailor what we were doing to be grass finished,

which is something not everyone here in Wyoming is doing,” mentions Brittany. “We wanted our target audience to be people in Colorado, so it does take a lot longer to finish the cattle on grass, but we’ve seen the return to be worth it.”

All West Cattle Company beef and pork are processed at a U.S. Department of Agriculture certified facility, where an inspector carefully examines every animal going into the plant.

Mobile freezer unit program

In addition to their grass-fed/grass-finished beef program, the company also has a mobile freezer leasing program. Their medium trailer is a cooler and freezer individuals can lease out for emergency situations – to fairs, festivals and catered events.

As an Ohio native, Brittany and her family will take a road trip across Nebraska and Iowa back to Ohio and deliver beef products along the way.

“We try to harvest at least eight beef and take them across the Midwest with our trailer as we travel back to Ohio,” says Brittany. “We presell everything, so we know what we’re hauling is sold.”

In addition to using their trailer for this trip, they make the trailer available to others who are in need of a mobile freezer trailer unit. The trailer can be used on a temporary or long-term basis. It can fit into a single parking space, uses a 208/240 single phase plug-in and provides users with 24-hour access to products in a temperaturecontrolled environment.

Future goals

The hope and goal of West Cattle Company is to

grow and expand into a bigger operation and to have the ability to sustain Brandon’s brother and family.

“With most ranches, trying to find a succession route from the older generation to the younger generation is one of the more difficult parts of ranching,” says Brandon. “This is our overall, long-term goal, but at the moment, it’s pretty much me and Brittany running West Cattle Company.”

In addition to running a cattle business, West Cattle Company also offers pasture-raised hogs.

“We started small to see how it would go. Once a year, we bring hogs in and pasture raise them,” Brandon explains.

Brittany adds, “We decided to market them as pasture raised in addition to our cattle to target a specific market.”

In 2020, the company started with eight hogs. However, in 2022, they raised and harvested 14, and this summer they are set up to do 26.

“We’re only selling those right now by the half and the whole. We’re looking to do six hogs over the winter so we can have some products to take to the farmers’ market this summer,” says Brittany. “It’s been a blessing to be able to get everything presold, but moving forward, we’re looking to have the availability to offer both beef and pork bundles to our customers in Wyoming, Colorado and across the U.S.”

Ranching in Platte County comes with struggles such as harsh weather conditions and water access, but ranching is a huge passion for the West family.

“We love it here,” says Brandon. “We’ve been here

for 36 years – we’re kind of nestled up next to the bluffs in Chugwater, and it’s a beautiful spot to be. We love the people and this community. It’s a perfect spot for us and our family.”

“The people in Platte County are wonderful,” Brittany adds. “I feel there is a growth of young families, and I love that. I see Platte County growing, and it makes my heart full.”

For more information, visit westcattlecompany.com Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Grass-fed beef – Brandon West of West Cattle Company raises high-quality, grass-fed/grass-finished beef. Products are distributed throughout the U.S. Courtesy photo

The Coleman Ranch was established in 1888 on Cottonwood Creek when Millard and Mary Coleman moved to the Cowboy State from Kansas. The couple originally only planned to stay through the winter, as they were on their way to Washington, but decided to stay long term.

More than a century later, the Coleman Ranch continues to run a cow/calf operation.

The ranch is bordered to the east by Interstate 25, roughly 20 miles north of Wheatland and works its way west toward Laramie Peak. The ranch consists of private and leased land.

Today, Carrie (Coleman) Paisley, her husband Dr. Steve Paisley and their children Ty, Todd and Hadley, as well as Carrie’s brother David Coleman and his son Isaac, help run and manage the Coleman Ranch.

Early days

David notes, “There was a road when the founding Colemans arrived on Cottonwood Creek, which made the area one of the earlier settlements at the time. There are a few things predating the founding of Wyoming, and one of them is the Coleman Ranch.”

“It’s noteworthy because the Fetterman Trail goes through the county, and one of the main crossings

was nearby,” shares David. “It was kind of a crossroad early on.”

“The ranch is somewhat unique because, although the creek is small and somewhat unreliable, it does run water. There are a lot of springs running along it,” he adds. “There are a lot of ranches in Wyoming where this is not true for a creek.”

The ranch has been a cattle and hay operation since its inception, and through the sibling’s upbringing has never farmed anything other than hay, besides basic gardening, shares David.

Year-to-year process

The Paisleys use artificial insemination (AI) technology to breed their herd. Steve shares AI is an under-utilized tool in many operations.

“We develop all of our replacement heifers. All of our heifers and mature cows are AI’d in one cycle, and then we put them in with bulls,” says Steve. “We calve in mid-March, breed in early June, and once everything is AI’d it gets turned out to summer grass.”

The ranch has been using AI technology for the past 12 years.

“It’s a way to introduce current genetics and additional breeds. It’s also a way for us to maintain a crossbred program and use some

current sires through the AI process,” mentions Steve.

Steve spends a lot of time looking at expected progeny differences (EPDs) when he selects bulls to AI his herd, with one of the major selection criteria on calving ease.

“We originally started to synchronize and AI to calve in mid-March because it’s typically the week of spring break, and the kids were home,” says Steve. “It’s kind of not the case anymore, but it is why we continue to calve in March.”

Another unique practice on the ranch occurs during the winter months when the family feeds hay during night hours with the idea cows will deliver calves during the day. Steve notes this typically works pretty well for them.

“Since I’m not here as much, it’s important our cattle calve during good weather and daylight hours,” says Steve.

As a former University of Wyoming (UW) Beef Specialist and current James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) Director, Steve has learned a lot of valuable practices over the years.

“The unique thing about my job is I get to visit a lot of operations, and I’ve learned a variety of management ideas from different ranches across the state,” he says. “This is as much an education than anything – working with ranchers and picking up on

little things we can incorporate into our ranch.”

In addition to working for UW, SAREC and being a rancher himself, Steve notes he understands many of the challenges operations face and hopes to positively influence the research done at the station.

Family involvement and new challenges

The children in the family have been instrumental in keeping the ranch’s dayto-day operations going.

As a young girl, Carrie has always been interested in the operation of the ranch. Her father Charley worked as a journalist in addition to ranching alongside his wife Jean Coleman.

“We’ve always loved living here, and I knew this is where I wanted to raise my family. I didn’t originally know if it was going to be a reality, but things have kind of worked out in this direction,” says Carrie. “The Coleman Ranch is very much a family operation.”

After living in Oklahoma, Kansas and Laramie, Carrie and Steve were able to return to the ranch 15 years ago, with Steve working at SAREC near Lingle and Carrie working in the school system in Wheatland.

“The ranch is very near and dear to our hearts, and we’re very invested in preserving our legacy and the ranch. We like to help out when we can,” says David.

The family notes many of the ranches along Cotton-

wood Creek have changed ownership over the last few years. This is one of the challenges the family not only face, but many operations face across the state today.

“Every time these ranches change hands, they progressively go to a wealthier buyer,” says David. “A lot of historic folks are selling out to wealthy people from other places, so it does worry us some when thinking about the future of the ranch.”

The family often wonders how they will preserve their legacy for the next generation when so many ranches are moving into more of a hobby ranch or hunting retreat.

Steve notes Charley often said, “As ranchers we’re land rich and cash poor.”

“It sounds glamorous to have a ranch, but often ranchers are cash poor trying to cover increased cost,” says Steve.

At the end of the day, the Colemans and Paisleys continue to look forward to the future despite the challenges they face.

“We love our history and being on the ranch is where I want to be,” says Carrie. “Our family has had a long understanding of the importance of the ranch and its deep heritage, and we look forward to keeping it going for generations to come.”

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

After establishing M.R. Angus Ranch in 1977 in Tie Siding, Juan and Joni Reyes quickly realized finding a cow herd with the right genetics and conformation was of utmost importance to

survive their high-altitude area, measuring over 8,000 feet in elevation.

Today, the Reyes family raises successful, registered Angus cattle on a diverse, labor-intensive operation dedicated to

family involvement and succession.

Raising registered Angus

Forty years ago, in 1982, Juan and Joni bought land in Wheatland where they began expanding their registered Angus cattle operation. Their original cow herd of 12 had Eileenmere bloodlines, and the 900 head of registered mother cows presently residing at M.R. Angus Ranch can be traced back to these bloodlines.

“What other breed out there can convert grass into the premium protein we as beef producers are striving to raise?” says Juan and Joni’s daughter Jen Burr when asked why they chose the Angus breed. “I think it’s very hard to beat an Angus-bred animal in our challenging environment.”

When it comes to current operations, Juan explains since moving to Wheatland, they have utilized summer grass on the Laramie Plains and moved from selling January-born yearling bulls to June-born coming two-year-olds.

“Instead of calving in January and then sending pairs to grass in the summer, we calve our cows on summer pastures in June,” he explains. “June calving allows us to grow our bulls out in a way we feel is better for both the stock and the buyers.”

Juan notes during calving season his son Jason, his wife Sarah and their crew spend everyday

going through their cattle, tagging and recording weights.

“When Wyoming starts to remind us what winter can be made of, we bring pairs back to Wheatland and utilize feed stubble until it runs out,” says

Juan. “Calves are weaned in December and January, then go back to grass as soon as Mother Nature allows.”

After weaning, M.R. Angus bulls are placed on a 1.5 pound gain ration and are developed in a realistic

range environment. Bulls are summered at Tie Siding from June to October, then pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) tested in September by Dr. Tim Holt.

When bulls get back to Wheatland, they are turned out on a field of roughage until the feed is gone. After which, they are placed on a 40-mega-calorie ration of 78 percent roughage.

M.R. Angus Ranch bulls are then sold at an annual sale in conjunction with Keith Russell and his family. The 32nd Annual Reyes/Russell Bull Sale will take place at the M.R. Angus Ranch in Wheatland on Feb. 27.

“We hope to provide high-quality bulls for producers across the region –bulls that can work in any environment,” Juan says.

“We will keep striving to find the right kind of cattle to use, thus producing bulls to benefit the commercial cattlemen.”

Diverse operation

In addition to their registered Angus herd, M.R. Angus also operates a 7,000 head feedlot where they background calves for some of their seedstock customers, summer nearly 1,000 yearlings, put up their own feed and raise stock dogs.

Juan notes the feedlot is composed mostly of heifers, which come from customer ranches to be wintered, bred and returned home as replacements. The feedlot also takes in nearly 1,500 steers, annually.

“This is a great opportunity for us to see how our genetics are working for our buyers,” Juan says.

The ranch also raises and harvests their own feed under 21 pivots and farms nearly 3,500 acres of corn, hay, small grains and grass for pasture. Additionally, the Reyes family raises and trains stock dogs, offering stud services to select customers.

“The dogs are a very important aspect of M.R.

Four-legged help – Juan Reyes trains stock dogs for use on the ranch and has had multiple wins at stock dog trials over the years. Courtesy photo

Registered cattle

from Eileenmere bloodlines.

Courtesy photo

Angus Ranch,” shares Juan. “They are used here every day. Whether we are trailing pairs or yearlings on the summer ranches or processing customer calves in the feedlot, dogs are used. They work all types of cattle, including pairs, yearlings and bulls. Our dogs work in big country and confined spaces.”

Successful family operation

“If it wasn’t for family being here and a small, hard-working crew, we wouldn’t be able to do everything we do,” Juan states, further noting Juan and Joni are in the process of turning the reins over to their children.

He explains Jason is in charge of cattle, managing every aspect from herd health to pasture management.

“In the summer, Jason and Sarah calve full time while also managing approximately 1,000 yearlings on grass,” he says. “Between four different summer ranches scattered across Albany, Carbon and Platte counties, they are always on the move. They are horseback everyday, and between good dogs, great horses and a lot of drive, they get it done.”

Juan’s son-in-law Mick Burr oversees all farming, irrigating, mechanical duties and feeding responsibilities for the feedlot and ranch. Jen helps with the seedstock side of the ranch and between all sectors, helping Mick and Jason where needed.

As far as future goals

for M.R. Angus Ranch go, Juan says, “I suppose the main goal would be to remain a family operation that is successful and prosperous. It means a lot to us all to keep this place in the Reyes Family.”

“My dad always jokes about the old saying ‘the first generation builds it, the second generation holds it together and the third generation throws it away.’” Jen shares. “He continues to say, ‘Make me mad, and I’ll be the first guy to do all three.’

Although we laugh and roll our eyes, it really does hit home of what an awe some opportunity we have here and how humbling it is that we hold the future in our hands.”

“Maybe someday we can pass this on to the next generation if the interest is there,” she adds.

Overcoming challenges, offering advice

Like many in the agriculture industry, the Reyes family has had to overcome their share of challenges.

When asked what keeps them in the cattle business when things get tough, Jen responds, “First, I’d say hard work and diversity. Second, a very productive and functional cow herd. Third, not following fads and trends. Fourth, holding true to our standards and beliefs, and finally, a very strong and supportive customer base.”

For young producers interested in getting their start in the cattle business, Juan advises, “Go for it.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

The Platte County Resource District (PCRD), formerly known as the Wheatland Soil Conservation District, was organized and voted on Dec. 15, 1945. The original charter was given on April 13, 1946 by the secretary of state and included 197,760 acres.

Today, nearly 70 years later, the PCRD includes approximately 1.34 million acres, offering several programs providing education to youth and Platte County landowners.

The function of the PCRD is to take available technical, financial and educational resources and coordinate them in a way they meet needs of landowners for conservation of soil, water and related resources.

Education

The PCRD provides conservation and natural resources information to youth and adults. The PCRD includes Manager Brady Irvine, Resource Technician Joe Buffington, Rural Position Board Members Levi Clark, Jason Goertz and Jen Burr, Member-At-Large Brook Brockman and Urban Position Tyler Lauck.

Throughout the year, PCRD offers educational programs to Platte County schools and many organizations. Annually, they help with the Platte County Ag Expo and host science days in local schools.

In addition, the PCRD publishes a quarterly newsletter and once a year hosts a local working group meeting with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. This working group gives citizens an opportunity to voice opinions regarding natural resource needs impacting Platte County.

Conservation Programs

The PCRD offers a variety of services and programs to community members and landowners.

The Windbreak Planting/Tree Program offers cost share funding annually to landowners who plan and install windbreaks in Platte County. The PCRD reviews and approves plans for funding. Projects must meet a minimum size requirement and design specifications in order to be considered.

Additionally, PCRD annually offers a wide selection of deciduous and evergreen seedlings. Orders take place in December and are delivered by mid-April.

Another program is the Range Program. This program was established to help fund projects to make a positive difference on land for Platte County coopera-

tors who don’t meet qualifying criteria or have not met the deadline for federal or state programs.

These projects include water resource development, grazing systems and land treatments for invasive species including Russian olive removal.

PCRD’s Urban Cost Share Program provides incentives for residents and businesses to conserve soil, water and energy. Projects include tree and shrub planting for low water consumption, installation of drip systems for trees and shrubs and replacing traditional lawns with approved native or dry-climate species.

The Wildlife Cost Share Program helps fund projects, which make a positive difference on working lands towards enhancing wildlife habitat.

The goals of this project are to help improve wildlife habitat, provide cooperators the opportunity to implement good stewardship practices and improve water quality and quantity. Some projects include, but are not limited to, windbreaks and guzzler tanks.

A few additional programs include safe well water testing day, household hazardous waste education and surface water quality testing.

Community involvement

Brady has been involved with PCRD for 19 years.

In addition to helping her husband run the Irvine Ranch, she spends a lot of time giving back to her community and serving landowners in Platte County.

“I’ve learned a lot through my role with PCRD,” shares Brady. “I’ve been able to go out into my community and help producers and landowners with implementing new projects and improving their property.”

“We do a lot of livestock, water, solar and spring development projects,” she adds. “Through the Wyoming Water Development, we have eight small water projects. We don’t have any forestry in this part of the state, and we mainly focus on helping our farming and ranching community.”

“We do a lot of projects throughout Platte County,” Brady concludes. “We plant trees in the spring, and we have done several projects along the interstate with the Wyoming Department of Transportation in addition to our urban, range and wildlife programs.”

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

Platte County Resource District conserves land and assists landowners

Conservation efforts – In 1948, the Platte County Resource District, formerly known as the Wheatland Soil Conservative District planted trees throughout the county. Courtesy photo

ROCK LAKE ANGUS

Small operator makes big splash

Southwest of Wheatland, Todd Platt of Rock Lake Angus strives to provide high-quality Angus seedstock for commercial producers operating on rangelands. Todd’s family has been in the cow business for many decades, starting with a dairy his grandparents founded in the early 1900s north of Boulder, Colo., where they milked cows for about 80 years.

Later, the family traded in dairy cows for Hereford cattle, and in 1995, Todd’s family moved to Wheatland with about 60 Hereford cows.

In the early 2000s, the Platts decided to make the switch from Hereford to Angus with the help of their neighbor Bob Zorko of 7Z Angus.

“Bob and my dad went to Jim McClun’s sale in Veteran,” Todd explains. “For several years in a row they would buy all of Jim’s heifers to build the Angus herd.”

Functional, maternal cows

Nodding to longevity, Todd shares one of the first cows they bought from McClun’s sale is still on the ranch, as well as a Mytty In Focus cow from their first artificial insemina-

tion (AI) calf crop. Todd’s dairy background comes in handy especially in terms of increasing diversity within the herd with AI.

Longevity and the ability to produce are two highly sought-after traits in Rock Lake Angus cattle.

“I like to focus more on maternal traits,” he says. “I like to build cow families and back them up with good producing cows.”

Additionally, Todd shares he’s used different bulls on his best cows and hasn’t had a bad calf out of them yet, putting emphasis on high-quality cows to pass on quality genetics through their bulls. While maternal traits are a large focus in the operation, the cows at Rock Lake Angus must prove to be functional.

Todd adds, “We’ve tried to stick to the middle ground, but it goes back to

Identical twins – Through ET work, Rock Lake Angus has a special set of identical twin cows out of a recipient. The chances of an embryo splitting to produce twins like this is around one percent. Todd shares the cows have the same hair sworl on their faces and even have very similar behaviors and movements. Courtesy photo Continued on next page

the dairy days where, first and foremost, we are building a cow. I think especially when the cow cycle gets to the rebuilding stage, producers are going to start looking harder at maternal traits in order to retain heifers and build their herds back up.”

Balanced traits

“Functional is a key word right now,” Todd says, adding the matings at Rock Lake Angus avoid extremes or focus too much on one trait. “Our whole herd is based on calving ease, but we like to see added growth, good feet and good carcass performance. Most people I sell to range calve, and they want a live calf that will grow.”

Todd notes well-structured hooves and legs are sometimes overlooked but are just as important as any growth or carcass trait.

One of the accomplishments Todd is most proud of is the bull RL Justice, boasting 17 traits in the top 30 percent of the breed.

“I think some bull studs are looking at smaller operations to get different genetics,” Todd notes. “We’re not trying to do anything over the top, but we look for everything we produce to be functional and balanced.”

Technology for exponential growth

“Embryo transfer (ET) has helped us get to where we are now,” Todd says. “There is so much production growth we can get with ET that we can’t get with anything else.”

Rock Lake Angus sold a heifer calf, RL 9061 Birdie 3102, in the Casper Angus Sale around 10 years ago who became the mother of Stevenson Declaration and Stevenson Big League.

Todd flushed embryos out of another favorite on the ranch, RL Cash Lady 8988, and has had many impressive bulls and heifers with her genetics, including the bull RL Justice.

In addition, Rock Lake Angus utilizes DNA enhanced

genomics, which Todd shares adds another layer to making mating decisions and provides ground-truthing.

“We have seen bulls, which based on expected progeny differences (EPDs), would be calving-ease bulls, but after the DNA came back different from the EPDs, we pulled them from the sale as a calving-ease bull because genetically the numbers weren’t right,” he explains.

Ranching community

Todd is also proud of Rock Lake Angus for sur viving the times, especially when it comes to drought, cattle markets, snowstorms and many other hardships producers face.

He says, “Something I’ve seen is retraction in cow herds. Many don’t have the need for bulls anymore because they’ve sold most of their cows.”

Though, Todd adds, things are looking up for ranchers lately. When look ing at smaller operations, tenacity is the word.

“In agriculture, its important to recognize hard work because most days, it’s a thankless job. Through snowstorms and drought, ranchers continue to take care of animals and hope we have better things to keep us mentally in a better place,” he notes.

Giving back to the future of agriculture is impor tant to Todd. This last year, Rock Lake Angus donated a heifer to the Wyoming Junior Angus Association raffle for young producers.

“I think this business needs more young people involved,” Todd says. “We need to try to do as much as we can to get kids to stay on the ranch and involved in production agriculture.”

Twenty years into the Angus seedstock business, Todd notes he is proud of what the operation has accomplished and has many thanks to give, including Bob Zorko, his sister Heidi and nephew Dane, his mother Nancy, sale manager Ron Frye, Joe Deeney and

CULLEN RANCH

Family works to grow Wyoming roots

Pat and Sherri Cullen moved to Wyoming over 50 years ago to pursue their dreams.

Although they have been in Wyoming for 50 years now, the couple was born and raised in central Texas. Both were raised in the agriculture industry and attended Texas A&M University. After graduation, Pat and Sherri moved to Laramie where Pat continued his education before the couple gradually made their way back into agriculture.

A family who ranches together, stays together

Pat and Sherri raised their two daughters at the ranch. Now grown, the women are still active in the ranching operation.

Daughter Amy and her husband Kelly Artery, as well as daughter Kim and her husband Jason Goertz, are instrumental in the success of the ranch. Both daughters have full-time jobs and their own operations in addition to helping Pat and Sherri.

Pat and Sherri’s grand-

children and their families are also part of the operation, owning cattle individually as well as helping when possible. One granddaughter, Morgan Douglas, works full time on the ranch.

“It helps a lot to have all of our family is involved in the operation. They have their own operations too, and they each have a different expertise,” explains Sherri.

Diverse operations and landscapes

The Cullen’s ranching headquarters are based on the Goshen/Platte County line. The couple also has a feedlot where they wean their calves and feed out their heifers as well as take in custom cattle.

Amy’s expertise as a vet tech puts her in charge of the health of the cattle. In the spring, Kim artificially inseminates all of the heifers at the feedlot. Her and her husband have an annual female sale in November featuring all of those heifers.

Along with the headquarters and the feedlot, the

family has summer grazing pasture in Niobrara County.

The operation includes everything from rough, rugged pastures to big, open pastures. The homeplace is up on a plateau, sitting higher in elevation than

Wheatland to the west or Lingle to the east.

The summer pasture north of Lusk is filled with native grass, but the family makes sure they bring the cattle home before winter really sets in.

Being so spread out, the couple echos the same concerns of many ranchers this year – with the cost of fuel so steep, the cost of trucking and transportation is at an all-time high.

“Most of these cattle

get on a truck twice a year. It’s just something we have to deal with, but it’s a challenge,” says Pat.

“This lifestyle itself is a challenge because of the hard work. But, now more

Cullen family – Pat and Sherri Cullen raised their daughters Amy and Kelly on the ranch. This photo of the family was taken in 1977.

Courtesy photo

than ever, it is a challenge economically because it’s getting to be more of a cost all the time,” agrees Sherri.

Steeped in tradition

In spite of the everchanging times, the Cullens hold on to many of the traditions of the ranching industry. Come branding season, one will find their crew on horseback, roping and dragging calves to the fire. Many places on the ranch are only accessible by horse. They have let the next generation take over the night calving these days, which seems to work out great for everyone involved.

“Each of our daughters and son-in-laws split the heifers in half, and they do all of the night calving. We don’t do anymore heifer calving like we did before, but our daughters calve out the heifers in two different locations on their ranches. And they both love it, actually. They really like the calving,” says Sherri. “The daughters love it, and the next generations are coming up the same way. So, it’s a lot of fun to have the whole family involved.”

Cows calve at the homeplace in the spring. Pairs summer at home, and yearling heifers are shipped off to the pastures in Niobrara County for the summer through the first of October.

The main cow herd

is sent over the state line to graze

everyone with a kind smile. Tressa Lawrence is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

cornstalks in Nebraska through the winter, and they are brought back to the homeplace prior

to calving to start the cycle all over again.

In addition to taking care of their livestock, Sherri is active in the local farm bureau, and Pat is active in the Wyoming

Stock Growers Association. They both enjoy working with other people in agriculture and promoting the voice of agriculture within their communities.

Those who happen to

attend the Goertz Female Sale in the fall or bull sale in February should be sure to keep an eye out for Pat and Sherri. They will probably be busy behind the scenes, but they’re sure to greet

In 1881, Donald McDonald made the long journey to the states from Scotland and settled on a homestead on the banks of Chugwater Creek 14 miles southwest of what is now Chugwater.

In 1890, Donald, his wife Jane and their four children built a large twostory, rock home and raised Hereford cattle and a large string of work horses.

The ranch was passed down over the years through generations of the the McDonald family – from Donald to his son Hugh and his wife Rissa, then to their daughter Ruth and her husband John Braunschweig, eventually landing in the hands of Lindy and Rodger Schroeder.

Today, Lindy and Rodger and their two daughters Tricia and Holly continue to uphold the McDonald family legacy on the historic operation.

Returning home to ranch

Lindy explains early expansion of the McDonald Ranch can largely be attributed to Hugh and Rissa, who were always buying homesteaders’ land and other ranches in the area.

“The Whitcomb Ranch was acquired in the early 1940s, the historic Diamond Ranch was acquired in 1956, and the Foss Ranch was acquired in 1963,” Lindy says.

Because of this, she notes by the time her parents Ruth and John inherited the ranch, it was big enough to be divided between herself and her sisters Cindy and Valorie. So, following graduation from the University of Wyoming and a short stint working at a ranch in Saratoga, Lindy and Rodger returned to the family

ranch and made it home.

“We purchased 25 head of crossbred two-year-olds from a ranch in Saratoga as well as some heifers from the neighboring Jordan Ranch,” shares Lindy. “Our daughters were born after we returned to the ranch, and they grew up participating in the ranching life. Babysitters were not close, so they always went with us.”

She adds, “Growing up, Tricia and Holly were the best wrestlers at the brandings. They could ride and help with cattle work, drive trucks and back up the stock trailers.”

Lindy notes her and Rodger have wanted their girls to continue being involved on the ranch, and today, they both play integral roles in ranching operations.

Tricia, her husband Jeff and their daughters Nicole and Megan – the sixth generation on the ranch – do the majority of ranch work, while staying involved in the community.

“Jeff has been a Wheatland middle school football coach for 20 years and a basketball coach for 15 years,” Lindy says. “Tricia has been a board member for Platte County School District Number One, is involved with the church

and assists greatly in 4-H programs.”

Holly and her husband Will also contribute to ranch operations with hay production from their alfalfa circle.

“The McDonald Ranch was always short of a hay base, so we usually purchase all or most of Will and Holly’s hay. When it works into their schedule, Holly, Will and their daughters Emma and Madison will also come help with the cow work as well,” Lindy notes.

Raising Gelbvieh cattle

In 1980, Rodger and Lindy were introduced to the Gelbvieh breed at the National Western Stock Show, where they ended up buying their first bull.

“The disposition, milk, bone structure and maternal qualities were traits we really liked,” notes Lindy.

Since then, the Schroeder family has continued using mostly Gelbvieh bulls as well as some Black Angus bulls on their cow/ calf operation. They have also used Gelbvieh Balancer bulls – 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh with a balance of either Red or Black Angus – for well over 15 years.

“Balancer cattle offer a simple and powerful way to maintain hybrid vigor with British and Continental genetics,” Lindy notes. “They have good milking ability, muscle and are docile. The steer calves do very well in the feedlot, and buyers of our steers have been very pleased with cattle performance – our steers have outperformed on the feedlot ration.”

When it comes to cattle operations on the McDonald Ranch, Lindy explains two-year-old bred heifers begin calving around March 10, and bred cows begin around the first of April.

“The breeding season is kept tight. Yearling heifers are exposed for 21 days and cows for about 40 days. This keeps the calf crop fairly uniform,” she shares.

Additionally, steer calves are marketed through Cattle Country

Video with a delivery date in early October.

Setting lofty goals

Lindy shares the Schroeders strive for three overarching goals – involvement of the younger generation, sustainability and profitability.

“In addition to the daily involvement of family members in the different aspects of ranching, it is important broader knowledge comes from interaction at ag industry meetings,” she states.

“Wyoming Stock Growers Association membership and attendance at meetings provides good knowledge of agricultural issues at hand, networking with different producers, lifelong acquaintances and education.”

On a larger scale, Lindy notes involvement with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is also a great avenue for agricultural knowledge. Lindy and Rodger have attended several NCBA conventions, and their oldest granddaughter Nicole has accompanied them on a couple of occasions as well.

The Schroeder family believes attending bull sales, FFA and 4-H involvement and being able to make decisions on the ranch are all also important.

Lindy notes her granddaughters are given the opportunity to help select and bid on bulls at bull sales and select sires for artificial insemination (AI).

They also have their own cattle with different colored ear tags, and have participated in the Laramie Peak Stockgrowers Supreme Cow Contest with their 4-H and FFA projects.

The Schroeder’s goal of sustainability encompasses a lot of things, Lindy points out.

“When producers are concerned about grazing practices and being good stewards of the lands, it affects their profitability. Maintenance of ranch property and soil and plant health will also affect profitability,” she says. “Bottom line, we need the younger

generation involved with a desire to make this their lifelong livelihood.”

When it comes to profitability, Lindy says it all comes down to Mother Nature. In addition, genetics, calving dates, pasture location and vaccination protocol remain constant on the McDonald Ranch, the only changing variable is the weather. Lindy notes this ultimately affects grazing practices, breed up and weaning weight.

“All other aspects of our operation remain relatively constant – except the weather,” she reiterates. “Our steer calves may vary from 520 to 610 pounds with all factors remaining constant, except the weather.”

Achieving noteworthy accomplishments

The hard work and determination of the Schroeder family to reach their lofty goals has lead to notable success.

In fact, in 2019, the American Gebvieh Associ-

ation (AGA) named Rodger and Lindy the AGA Commercial Producer of the Year.

Additionally, the family was featured on RFD’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen program and in Working Ranch Magazine in 2013.

In 2012, the McDonald Ranch, which has been in the same family for 142 years, was recognized as a Wyoming Centennial Ranch.

“We are truly blessed to be doing what we love with family and rais-

ing the sixth generation with ranch involvement,” Lindy concludes.

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

Century-old home – The two-story, rock home built by Donald and Jane nearly 132 years ago still stands tall at the McDonald Ranch in Chugwater. Courtesy photo

Gelbvieh

Rodger

Show

HISTORIC RANCH

Generations of ranchers have called the Grant Ranch home

At the foot of the Richeau Hills, there’s an old stone house built in the 1890s by Scottish immigrants – the Grant family. Modern amenities were added in the 1950s, and

the fourth and fifth generations of the family still call it home to this day.

Over the years, different generations have added on to the ranch – with land or additions to the old, rock

homestead – to create the Grant Ranch as Mike and Becky Grant know it today.

The couple has been back on the ranch for the last 22 years, working for Mike’s dad, Robert Mills Grant, before taking over the operation themselves.

Mike and Becky have three daughters. Their middle daughter, Allie, is back on the ranch with her husband Erik Eddington and their three children. The couple runs some cows alongside the ranch herd.

Their youngest daughter, Rayne, is a freshman

Continued on next page

Ranch help – The Grant Ranch has been home to many generations of the family throughout its history. Pictured left to right: Becky, Rayne and Mike Grant. Courtesy photo

at Laramie County Community College, where she competes on the rodeo team.

Importance of future generations

The Grant Ranch is located at about 5,000 feet elevation and is made up of rolling pasture lands and hills. The highest pasture point in the Richeau Hills is about 6,800 feet, where the cows graze along the banks of Richeau Creek.

The lower pastures were once irrigated, but are now native meadows. What the ranch lacks in irrigation water, it makes up for in ground springs and big reservoirs.

In modern times, the ranch serves primarily as a summer operation. The couple raises horses and takes in cattle for summer grazing.

“After college, I moved back to the ranch and helped my dad run it. We did all the fencing and summer duties,” explains Mike. “We’ve done a little bit of construction over the years,

but the ranch has always been the main gig. Becky worked full time for many years, but we’re both on the ranch now.”

With three adult children, Mike and Becky place a lot of value in the importance of maintaining the ranch for future generations.

“It’s important to teach kids to love this life and to cherish it. We think of it as if we’re just taking care of the ranch, and that’s how our kids have to think about it. We’re all just tending to it for a while for the next generation. So, I always say it’s like we’re standing on their shoulders and in their shadow,” says Becky.

“It’s not really our land,” adds Mike. “I mean, it’s our ancestors’ but we’ve got to take a leap of faith by investing in the ranch, and it’s what we all do to keep it in the family for future generations.”

Ranch geographics and agriculture

The little corner of Wyoming where the Grant

family resides has been secluded from the booms the rest of Wyoming has seen. A little too far north of the oil fields, a little too far south of the coal seams and a little too far east of the tourist attractions, the mainstay for the economy has always been agriculture.

“This area is prominently ag. There’s been no oil boom, and there’s been no coal in this little area. We don’t get a lot of outside money coming in. We just have to punch the ticket. The ranch has pretty much stayed the same,” mentions Mike. “There’s not a lot of rich people moving here like there are in some areas. It’s just kind of the hardcore ranchers that are still here.”

“There are quite a few old ranchers still around. We see a lot of white foreheads and red cheeks,” adds Becky with a laugh.

Out on the desolate plains of Wyoming where

cell service is scarce, good neighbors are worth their weight in gold.

Mike and Becky both expressed their immense gratitude for being able to ranch alongside like-

minded neighbors. With the help of good neighbors, some seasonal hired hands and their family, Mike and Becky Grant continue the legacy of a family operation with

deep roots in Wyoming. Tressa Lawrence is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

BARD RANCH COMPANY

In the early 1940s, Eldon Johnston established Bard Ranch Company with money he made by hauling fuel during the war through his trucking company, Johnston Fuel Liners. After saving enough money, Eldon bought his first ranch, which is still owned and operated by Eldon’s descendants, although the place may be slightly unrecognizable from its humble beginnings.

Today, Bard Ranch Company, headquartered in Wheatland along Chugwater Creek, is an incredibly diverse operation comprised of a vast stretch of land sprawling across Platte, Albany and Goshen counties. The ranch includes a cow/calf herd, a summer yearling operation, a feedlot and irrigated farm ground.

Building an empire

The Bard Ranch Company is currently owned and operated by Eldon’s son Mike Johnston, his daughter Amy Miller and his sonin-law Brandin Miller.

Amy explains after attending college at the University of Wyoming, Mike returned home to help Eldon on the ranch, and over the course of several years the pair expanded the operation by purchasing ranch and farm land in Platte and Albany counties.

“My granddad was the first person in this part of the country to dig a deep irrigation well,” Amy notes. “After digging his first well and hitting water, he purchased more farmland and continued developing the water. Obviously, without water, we wouldn't be nearly as productive as we are today.”

Expanding operations

Without the hard work and determination of Eldon in those early days, the Bard Ranch Company wouldn’t be what it is today – a very successful and diverse ranching and farming operation.

Amy explains the family expanded operations and presently run a Black and

Red Angus cow/calf herd operation on their ranch in Platte and Goshen counties, a summer yearling operation on their ranch in northern Albany County and a 3,500-head grower feedlot in Platte County, where they mainly feed out customers’ cattle.

“On the summer yearling operation, we ship cattle to the ranch in late May and the cattle graze irrigated meadows and mountain pastures until September when they are sold and shipped to a feedlot to be finished,” she shares.

“At the feedlot, we have customers bring us calves in the fall. We feed and care for them until about May, or June when the cattle go to summer grass, or the heifers are artificially inseminated here and then shipped home to their owners,” she continues

Additionally, Amy says the main ranch and farm are located in Platte County, east of Wheatland. Here, the family utilizes center pivots and flood irrigation to raise grass hay, alfalfa hay and grass/alfalfa hybrid hay.

“Over the years, we have put large pipelines in where ditches became too deep and hard to keep dams set in. It has made flood irrigating so much easier and more effective,” Amy says.

“We utilize a lot of the hay we raise, but sell a considerable amount to other ranchers and people in the community as well,” she continues. “We sell hightesting hay to an Amish community in Iowa.”

In addition to hay, the Johnston family also raises corn silage to use in the feedlot, combine corn they sell or use, sugarbeets, wheat and pinto beans. In the fall, the family plants turnips and triticale on farmland for winter grazing.

“Cows and calves are turned out on irrigated pastures along Chugwater Creek during winter

Wheatland Torrington Cheyenne Casper

Humble homestead – Eldon Johnston bought the original ranch at Bard Ranch Company with money he made hauling fuel during the war.

Courtesy photo

“For me, it is the hope and dream of continuing a legacy started way before my time – I want to keep it going for future generations, and that is what keeps me going when things get tough. Everything can be hard. We just have to enjoy what we are doing and have a good attitude.”

– Amy Miller

months. We feed cake to the cows to supplement them through the winter while they mainly graze the meadows,” Amy explains. “We are lucky to only have to feed hay to cows during storms as the irrigated meadows provide adequate feed all winter.”

Success, lifestyle, education

Like any ranching business, Amy says being successful is a high priority for Bard Ranch Company, although ranching is so much more than success.

“The lifestyle is what I really enjoy,” she says. “It is the hopes and dreams that come with every year, whether it is a baby calf being born and trying to produce the best market animal to the consumers or planting seeds to raise corn, hay or wheat to feed animals and people around the world.”

“It is so important to educate ourselves, our neighbors and the world about agriculture,” she continues. “Having younger children gives us an opportunity to educate their friends, teachers and communities whenever we can. My goal is to make Bard Ranch Company successful enough my children can raise their children here, and so on.”

Amy believes it is also important for producers to serve on boards and volunteer time to help out in local communities. In fact, she currently serves on the Farm Service Agency Platte County Committee, Wheatland Rural Electric Association, Platte County Weed and Pest Board and the advisory committee in Platte County for the State Engineer Office’s Board of Control.

“If we don’t take the

time to sit on boards, someone else will, and they may have different views or ideas for our communities and land,” she states.

She also highly recommends joining the Wyoming Leadership, Education and Development (L.E.A.D.) Program.

“I was a member of class seven of the Wyoming L.E.A.D. Program, and I highly recommend this two-year class through the Wyoming Agricultural Leadership Council to any person in the agricultural community,” she says. “It offers individuals a way to meet many different people across the state and the nation. The program provides ideas, contacts and confidence to talk about and support agriculture.”

Remaining hopeful

Although ranching comes with a long list of challenges, Amy reiterates her love and pride for the ranching way of life.

When asked about an accomplishment she is most proud of, she says, “I am just proud to be a rancher.”

She further notes it is important to stay hopeful when things start to get tough.

She says, “For me, it is the hope and dream of continuing a legacy started way before my time – I want to keep it going for future generations, and that is what keeps me going when things get tough. Everything can be hard. We just have to enjoy what we are doing and have a good attitude.”

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

Big country – Bard Ranch Company is a diverse operation comprised of vast stretches of land across Platte, Albany and Goshen counties. As far as cattle operations go, the ranch includes a cow/calf herd, a summer yearling operation and a 3,500-head grower feedlot. Courtesy photo

Farming operations – In addition to the cattle, Bard Ranch Company raises grass hay, alfalfa hay, grass/alfalfa hybrid hay, corn silage, combine corn, sugarbeets, wheat and pinto beans, utilizing center pivots and flood irrigation. Courtesy photo

HIGH PLAINS PRESS

High Plains Press in Glendo publishes books on the history of Wyoming and the West. Book Publisher Nancy Curtis says when she founded the company, located on a cattle ranch, there were a few other book publishing companies in Wyoming.

“I knew people who were writing books, which were definitely good enough to be in print, but there were no publishers willing to take a chance on them,” she says. “Other publishers didn’t understand the devotion of Western readers to their subjects or the importance of Western subjects.”

History of the press Glendo native and thirdgeneration rancher Laura McCormick is the current owner of High Plains Press, and Nancy Curtis remains actively involved. Aside from publishing books, Laura helps on her family’s sheep operation, McCormick Rambouillet, east of Glendo and is the mother to three children.

Laura attended the University of Wyoming (UW) and studied animal science. After leaving UW, she wasn’t quite sure what career path she wanted to go down.

“I was working at Mickes Family Restaurant in Glendo for a bit, and Nancy approached me about coming to work for her at High Plains Press,” she says. “I acquired the company after working with Nancy for over 10 years.”

“Nancy started High Plains Press in the early 80s, and she made a great company out of it,” she adds. “Nancy found there was a market for Wyoming and Western history books.”

Laura says what initially drew her to work for the High Plains Press was the technical aspect of the job.

“A lot of this job involves being on the computer and working with design elements,” she says. “I suppose it was my technical knowledge that brought me to working for High Plains Press.”

“I have always been interested in the history of Wyoming to a degree, but it sort of grew as each individual book I read got me a

little more interested – the interest feeds on itself,” she adds. “When looking back to the 1890s, these same characters appear, and it is kind of fascinating to see where they show up.”

Niche market

High Plains Press focuses on the small, niche market of Wyoming and Western history.

“We mostly publish Wyoming history – the closer to Wyoming, the better we are. The closer to where I’m standing, the better we are,” Laura says. “It is a market we know how to sell books to.”

High Plains Press also publishes poetry and an occasional memoir when the right one comes along.

Laura notes the importance of sharing Wyoming’s history.

“I think the history of Wyoming is so unique, and there are so many great, true stories,” she says. “Some of these stories are so good, they can’t even be made up.”

Recognition and achievements

High Plains Press books have won five Wrangler awards for poetry, two Willa awards and several Willa finalist awards, as well as several finalist awards in the Spur, High Plains Book Awards, ForeWord and Ben Franklin Award competitions. Their poetry books were named Best Poetry Series of the West by True West magazine.

In 2012, High Plains Press was the winner of the prestigious Lariat Award from Western Writers of America for supporting Western books and authors.

Nancy is also the coeditor, with Linda Hasselstrom and Gaydell Collier, of three collections of writing by plainswomen published by Houghton Mifflin: “Leaning into the Wind,” “Woven on the Wind” and “Crazy Woman Creek.”

In 2011, Nancy was presented with the Governor’s Arts Award by former Gov. Matt Mead for her work with literature and the arts.

For more information, visit highplainspress.com

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

Third-generation rancher preserves and shares Wyoming’s history

“I think the history of Wyoming is so unique, and there are so many great, true stories.” – Laura McCormick

Autographing works – High Plains Press has many authors who come in and autograph copies of their books for fans. In March 2022, author Mark Miller signed hardcover copies of his book, “Big Nose George: His Troublesome Trail.” Courtesy photo

Wyoming history –Just a few of the books available through High Plains Press’ website. High Plains Press focuses on Wyoming and Western history. Courtesy photos

PRAIRIE DOG MANAGEMENT

Nick Mantle and his wife Kayla reside outside of Wheatland. Having been residents of Platte County for over 30 years, the couple has found a way to serve the agriculture community in a variety of ways.

On their ranch the Mantles offer hay for sale, horse training, boarding and sales through their business Mantle’s Happy Hay and Stay. In addition, they also run and operate Burrowing Rodent Control, a prairie

dog eradication company established in 2020.

Management process

Throughout Nick’s career in agriculture, he saw a need to serve cattle producers in relation to prairie dog infestation.

“I was looking for another resource and to be albe to not train as many wild horses all the time,” says Nick. “I heard about this exhaust machine from my uncle years ago and actually looked into building my own, but I ended up ordering my first machine.”

What drew Nick to this machine was how easy it was to use.

“The machine produces pressurized carbon monoxide that goes down into the hole. I know it had to be more effective than some of the other processes used in terms of weed and pest control,” he explains. “I did a

little bit of research on the effectiveness of different management options, and I found with this machine, I was able to eradicate 100 percent of the species. I knew I had an effective tool for management.”

In addition to prairie dogs, Burrowing Rodent Control can also assist producers with gophers, voles, moles and rats.

“We can eradicate pretty much anything burrowing underneath the ground,” he says. “I knew I had a product I could also sell with confidence, knowing it was very effective and produced better results than traditional pest control.”

Nick shares he’s been looking into making his machine accessible to other producers who may need to utilize this service.

“Working with this machine is a really easy process,” he says. “It’s 100 percent non-residual toxification – there is no toxicity transfer between animals, and there is no fire or explosion.”

Areas served and benefits

Burrowing Rodent Control looks to serve producers throughout the state of Wyoming and surrounding areas.

Traditionally, a prairie dog will eradicate all of the growing grass in the area in which it lives.

Nick notes, over time, prairie dogs will build up their mounds so they can see predators coming.

“Prairie dogs can really impact grazing ground producers are counting on to feed their livestock through the winter, spring and summer,” he explains. “Once there’s a large outbreak of prairie dogs in one area, producers can lose a lot of their grazing ground within a few years. It can be completely bare dirt.”

In addition to impacting grazing, he notes prairie dogs can also carry the plague and infectious diseases.

“An average prairie dog can eat up to two tons of hay per year – it can be really bad,” he explains.

Nick also mentions

gophers can be a big problem in alfalfa fields.

“Working livestock in these invasive species environment not only adds a danger to the livestock, but it can also be difficult to work horseback,” he says. “It also creates a good environment for rattlesnakes. I think prairie dog populations do provide food for predators, but they are a rodent and can be very destructive to a landowner.”

He notes he stays pretty busy during summer months and can spend up to a month working on a project.

Raising a family and horses

The couple stays busy running their ranching operation, several different businesses and their three children. In addition to running Burrowing Rodent Control, the Mantles also offer horse boarding, dry camping, overnight stays and the use of their outdoor riding arena.

Kyah is six years old and is in first grade, Charly is five years old and is in Kindergarten, and their youngest Holt, is nine months old.

“The kids are good about coming out and helping with the horses and doing chores – picking up twine and helping with the pigs, collecting eggs and feeding animals,” says Nick. “It’s nice to be able to have them around, especially in the winter when we get several horse boarders in.”

The Mantles stay busy with a hand in several different projects within the agriculture industry and strive to protect trees, bushes, yards, farm equipment, expensive electronics and more with their Burrowing Rodent Control business.

For more information, visit Burrowing Rodent Control on Facebook.

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

The Mantles – The Mantle family consist of six-year-old Kyah, Nick, five-year-old Charly, nine-month-old Holt and Kayla, pictured left to right. Courtesy photo