Reuben and Shelly Ritthaler raise hay and cattle on unique country Reuben Ritthaler is the third generation on his family’s ranch near Upton, where his grandfather and greatuncle were some of the first to homestead in the 1890s. “My great-uncle Frank came up on a Texas Trail drive, bringing cattle to the area where the 101 Ranch used to summer cattle,” Reuben says. “Frank and my grandpa Billy ranched together for awhile, then split their holdings. My parents bought the ranch from grandpa and grandma. Then, my wife and I and my brother and his wife bought it from my dad,” notes Reuben. “My brother and I named it Ritthaler Cattle Company when we took it over. After my brother passed away in 1990, my wife and I bought out my sister-in-law,” he adds. Good hay country Today, the ranch runs a lot of cattle and grows a lot of hay – without irrigation. “This is probably the only area in Wyoming that can put up 2.5 tons of alfalfa hay per acre on a dry-
land farm,” Reuben states. “There is some irrigation, but there isn’t much water to irrigate with and we can still grow a lot of hay.” “It’s a good thing because we have nasty weather and a lot of snow in the winter, so we need to feed a lot of hay,” he adds. Reuben points out the ranch’s location – settled on the banks of Buffalo and Raven creeks – makes good hay country “Just 30 miles south, toward the Cheyenne River, it’s a totally different ecosystem,” he says. “They can’t grow hay, but they can graze cattle year-round with supplement because they have open winters.” He continues, “This part of the country is unique – it’s good hay country. The Lord gave us good hay country because He knew we’d need it. We get snow that shuts down grazing, no matter how much grass we have.” Reuben explains the grass in his region is native shortgrass bunchgrass and very strong, with good
Original homestead – Ritthaler Cattle Company was originally homesteaded by Reuben Ritthaler’s grandfather and great-uncle in the 1890s. Courtesy photo
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CED: +10 • BW: -.2 • WW: +89 YW: +152 •SC: +2.65 $M: +100 • $C: +335
Ritthaler Cattle Company is home to fastest growing rail park in the U.S. In addition to raising hay and cattle, Reuben started a rail park known as Tiger Transfer with his neighbor nearly 20 years ago, and today, it is the fastest growing rail park in the U.S. “We are on the main line of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway,” Reuben points out. “We have about 55,000 feet of track, we handle a lot of cars and we have a lot of people working there.” “I’m ranching on a place that was homesteaded in 1899, but I homesteaded the rail park with this piece of land along the railroad,” he states. Reuben shares, “Some people have asked how I knew how to build the park. I designed it the same way I put in working corrals for cattle, and it works nicely. You can’t just put them all in one end and bring them out, you need a way to dump them out into the alley, and this is how all of the tracks are – alleys.” “We have about 12,000 trucks coming and going each year, trans-loading to and from the railroad cars. We also have a couple switch engines moving cars around,” Reuben concludes.
Owned Herd Sire
Ingalls Kahuna is the only sire in the AAA database with the phenotypic traits of CED, BW, WW, YW, YH, SC, HP, Milk, Claw & Angle in the top 25% with every carcass trait i.e. CW, Marb, RE & Fat in the top 35% and with all 8 $values in the top 25%. He is currently showing 24 EPD’s and $values in the top 1/3 of the breed, of which 12 are in the top 10% and 8 in the top 5%.
Owned Herd Sire
Sitz Resilient
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Kahuna's Dam with her 3rd calf, a full sister to Kahuna at 5½ months old. She has weaned 3 calves with an average weaning ratio of 111 and is as fertile as they come with a calving interval of 3 @ 355
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B2
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Black Angus cattle – Reuben and Shelly Ritthaler switched from raising Herefords to raising Black Angus cattle. Courtesy photo
Continued from previous page
nutrition. The cows do well grazing it. Black Angus cattle In addition to growing good grass, the Ritthalers run a sound commercial herd of Black Angus cattle. Reuben notes this wasn’t always the case, as his grandfather, like many cattlemen back then, ran Herefords. But, after running a set of Hereford heifers for a while early in their marriage, Reuben and his wife Shelly turned to black cattle instead. “Some of the rapid change to larger Angus was possible because it’s easy to add different genetics from other sources, and the black hide covers it up,” he says. “Herefords are hard to change by adding genetics from something else
– they are obviously just Herefords.” Reuben and Shelly calve out their cows during the first of May. “We used to calve in March, but I got tired of dealing with frozen ears,” Reuben admits. “In this country it works well to calve later because calves grow fast – their mamas milk better on green grass.” “A couple of us here started May calving a while ago, but today I see more people holding their bulls out until later,” he adds. “Our weaning weights didn’t change – our May calves are just as big as the March calves were.” Today, most of the Ritthalers’ business is centered around raising replacement heifers and selling extra
Next generation – Reuben and Shelly Ritthaler have two granddaughters and a nephew who they hope will continue the family legacy on the ranch. Pictured from left to right is Shelly; Josalyn, one of their granddaughters and Reuben. Courtesy photo
heifers to other producers looking for good females. “We’ve been selling replacement heifers for more than 30 years, with many repeat customers,” Reuben remarks. “I keep all of my heifers and select my bulls for mak-
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ing good heifers, with good maternal traits,” he continues. “Our genetic program is based on Juan Reyes’ breeding program at M.R. Angus Ranch in Wheatland. These are the only bulls we buy, and we have been using these genetics since 1991.”
A dependable team Reuben shares the success of his operation wouldn’t be possible without the dependable team of people he has put together over the years. Two of these individuals are his veterinarian and
his nutritionist. “I don’t try to figure out which vaccines, drugs or feed to use. This is what vets and nutritionists are for,” he states. “They went to school for it and they can really help, so it’s important Continued on next page
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B3
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Unique country – Reuben Ritthaler notes his ranch’s unique location might be one of the only places in Wyoming that can put up 2.5 tons of alfalfa hay per acre using dryland farming. Courtesy photo
Continued from previous page
Alti
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Monday
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Reuben and Shelly also have two granddaughters who they hope will continue the family legacy on the ranch, as well as a nephew who has been helping with operations. “Part of our exit plan is to turn more of the decisionmaking over to him,” Reuben shares. “I learned my best lessons by making my own mistakes or seeing other people make mistakes. It’s not as easy to figure it out when you’re just watching someone who does it right.” Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.
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de
to learn how to utilize these professionals.” He continues, “I buy my vaccine from my vet, and I always ask him what to give at branding, weaning and preconditioning. This makes herd health easier. A vet can help a lot more than just coming out once in a while for an emergency.” “A good equipment dealer can also be part of the team,” adds Reuben. “Shelly and I are loyal to the ones we do business with – we don’t shop around.” Even more important, is the hard-working family Reuben has by his side, including Shelly, who, Reuben admits, makes a great teammate.
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B4
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Weston County Natural Resource District looks after natural resources and its local community The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), originally known as the Soil Conservation Service, was created under the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 to develop and implement local soil erosion control programs. In March of 1941, the Wyoming Legislature passed the Conservation District Law, which allowed for the creation of conservation districts in Wyoming, with locally-elected representatives to direct programs and provide services conserving local natural resources. Today, Wyoming has 34 conservation districts across all 23 counties, the purpose of which is to assist landowners in conserving Wyoming’s natural resources, providing education on natural resource topics and preserving the tax base. The Weston County Natural Resource District (WCNRD) was organized in 1960 and received certification from the secretary of state on Jan. 16, 1961. The district was originally named the Beaver Skull Conservation District, but the name was changed to
WCNRD in April of 1994. WCNRD District Manager Caleb Carter notes the district stays busy throughout the year, working on a range of projects from wildfire management and stock water development to community education and hazardous waste disposal. Forestry and timber projects Nestled at the base of the Black Hills, Weston County includes numerous acres of forest and timber, which comprise a large majority of WCNRD’s work. “One of the things unique to our country, compared to the rest of the state and the West itself, is 65 percent of forested land in Weston County is privately owned and most forested areas in the West are federal,” notes Caleb. “This puts us in a unique situation where we work with a lot of private landowners to assist in managing forested acres.” WCNRD does this through tree thinning and logging, according to Caleb. Caleb also shares many counties in the West that had thriving timber industries no longer have access to timber harvest and their sawmills
A friend of the community – The Weston County Natural Resource District holds its community in the highest regard and is dedicated to looking out for area residents. The district offers a plethora of community programs including hazardous waste disposal, a community garden and natural resource education, just to name a few. Caleb Carter photo
have been shut down. The trees burn in catastrophic forest fires instead. “We are grateful we still have a timber industry in Weston County, and we are fighting very hard to maintain it,” he shares. Maintaining forests and reducing fire danger is critical in a place like Weston County, where tree lines meld into town boundaries, seeping into the communities of Newcastle, Upton and Osage. “This creates significant fire danger, not only to individual homes but also to major communities,” states Continued on next page
Cost-share conservation – One of several cost share programs provided by the Weston County Natural Resource District is a conservation cost share program to help producers improve and develop their stock water. Caleb Carter photo
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B5
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page
Caleb. “Managing our forests is a big emphasis for us, and something I try to focus on and increase awareness of.” He continues, “We work hard at trying to maintain funding for forestry projects and partner with the Weston County Fire Protection District on a grant – the Wildland Urban Interface Grant – for fuel mitigation to try to minimize wildfire danger on private property.” Community programs Assisting private land owners with forest maintenance is just one item on a long list of things WCNRD does to look out for the communities of Weston County. Caleb explains the district offers cost shares for septic maintenance, well water testing and stock water development projects. “Many areas have large pastures, and the biggest limiting factor for utilizing them effectively is lack of stock water,” states Caleb. “We have a conservation cost share program to provide 50 percent of the cost – up to $7,500 – to help farms and ranches with a variety of natural resource improvement projects, but the main project we do is development of stock water.” The district also helps residents properly dispose of hazardous waste during a one-day annual event, in an effort to keep dangerous objects and compounds out of the landfill. “This is always a very successful day,” Caleb says. “We don’t charge for it. Instead, we collect donations of food, which we then take to the local food bank. We also collect monetary donations, and this year, we donated the money to one of our local grocery
stores to create food vouchers for the food bank to be given to those in need during the holidays.” “This is a great way to keep hazardous material out of the landfill, while at the same time, supporting people in need in our community,” he continues. “It’s been fun to be able to do that.” Some of the districts other projects include an annual tree sale and a community tree grant with a cost-share of up to $500 to plant trees in public spaces, such as city parks. “We work with Upton and Newcastle on planting trees in their parks, and we also have garden groups that plant memorial trees in one of those parks,” Caleb explains. “The cost share covers planting, fencing and posts to protect young trees and give them a chance to grow before the deer mow them off.” “We also partner with the Weston County Senior Services to host a community garden on their property,” he adds. “It includes about 60 raised beds, utilized by residents of Newcastle. We help manage it and do a lot of the upkeep and maintenance on the garden.” Education and increasing awareness Other ways WCNRD supports the community of Weston County is through education and advocation for the area’s natural resources. Caleb notes, “We host an annual three-day natural resources camp for kids where we play games and do typical summer camp activities. But, we also have a day dedicated to activities based around natu-
ral resources to help them gain a better understanding of and appreciation for our natural resources.” Additionally, WCNRD participates in the annual local Ag Day, in which fourth-grade students from around Weston County have the opportunity to partake in hands-on learning focused on Wyoming agriculture. Government involvement “Another important role for us is we also serve as a cooperating agency in the federal planning process,” Caleb shares. “Right now, for example, the Black Hills National Forest is working on updating their forest plan, and we are a cooperating agency in this update. We sit in on meetings and view reports, submit comments and give guidance and direction based on our concerns in how we’d like to see the forest managed.” “We want to maintain our industry and make sure we are providing enough timber from federal lands to support our mills and keep them operating,” he adds. Caleb notes WCNRD is also working with the Bureau of Land Management on updating their local resource management plan, as well as monitoring other rule changes such as the recent Waters of the U.S. decision. “We try to stay abreast of these things and be actively involved in the process, making comments and trying to help shape them in the best interest of our district members, our agricultural production and the state of Wyoming,” he says. Heather Smith Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.
Improving forest health – Because Weston County is comprised of big sprawls of forested acres, a large majority of the Weston County Natural Resource District’s work includes tree thinning and logging to improve forest health and reduce the risk of wildfire. Caleb Carter photo
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B6
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Geier Ranch raises cattle and hay with conservation in mind The Geier family has been ranching for over 125 years and have been stewards of the land for four generations, with a fifth in training. Marlin and Mary Geier, who have been married 40 years, run Angus-cross cattle on private and leased land on the plains of eastern Wyoming at the edge of the Black Hills. Better forage varieties and self-sufficient cows “We’ve always been interested in finding better grass varieties for our dryland hay, and over the years, we have developed ways to improve pastures using a number of varieties for haying and grazing,” Marlin says. “And, I hope it can help others. It’s why God put us here – to help others.” The Geier Ranch is home to a variety of forages, including orchardgrass, fall rye, alfalfa-grass mix, millet and wheat,
which is grown utilizing crop rotation and center pivot watering. “To keep our crops growing, we are able to tap into the Madison formation for irrigation,” Marlin states. “Through the use of Wyoming grants, we have been able to put in an extensive watering system, running miles of pipeline to numerous stock tanks with three large storage tanks.” The Geiers donated their time and land to assist the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the University of Wyoming when they conducted a forage-grass study, which took place over several years and was published in 2005. The family was also honored by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2009 as the Landowner of the Year in the Casper region. The Geier Ranch is a cow/calf operation, functioning on a May calving
Green fields – Geier Ranch is home to a variety of forages. Courtesy photo
schedule, along with a substantial yearling operation. “Our cows are hardy and calve out in big country on green grass. We use quality Hereford and Angus bulls,” Marlin says. “Calves are summered as yearlings, along with calves purchased from neighbors and sold in the fall or finished in feedlots in Nebraska and Iowa.”
Genetics for the Long Haul
A small but mighty crew Marlin adds, “We run on a large operation with little help, but the crew I have is the best. It’s my wife who keeps it all together.” Marlin notes Mary spearheads all ranch projects, while maintaining the books and helping with organization. Additionally, Mary and Marlin’s daughter Emily, son-in-law Shane and granddaughter Kori live at the feedlot, where they oversee daily operations. “Lucas Stolhammer and his family live next to the property and help with the day-to-day operations, while running their
own cows as well,” Marlin explains. “Lucas not only works on the ranch, but he is an Elder at the local church and leads Bible studies and the worship team.” “We have a small but mighty crew, but all of them do a great job,” Marlin expresses. “We have a gentleman from the high school, JR Graham, who works for us part time and another gentleman, Mike Marshall, who hails from Alaska and has been onboard with us for about a year now.” Wes Busenitz, the local saw mill operator, is another main employee, who also runs cows on the ranch. “We could not do it
without this Godly group,” Marlin reiterates. “We hire several day workers to help brand and work cattle. The community always helps each other out here. We really do have the best neighbors.” He continues, “Mary and I are extremely blessed, we have three wonderful daughters, and we try to do everything in God’s name. Sharing God’s love is the key. I am almost 72 and hope to continue that the rest of my life.” Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
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B8
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Wyoming Winter Cattlemen’s Livestock Roundup Edition
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Flying V Lodge welcomes sportsmen and other visitors from near and far For over a century, hunters, anglers and other visitors looking to rest their weary heads and fill their empty bellies have been drawn to the friendly hearth and old world charm of Flying V Lodge. Originally built in the 1920s and nestled on the border of Wyoming and South Dakota at the base of the Black Hills, Flying V is an authentic lodge made of wood and stone with open fireplaces and cozy decor. The immense establishment is comprised of 10 rooms, sized for one to two or four to five guests, each with a distinctive style. According to the Flying V’s website, each room has easy access to a common living room featuring a large flatscreen TV, a fireplace and comfortable chairs to relax. The website reads, “The Flying V Lodge can be described in three words – peaceful, private and unique.” History of the Flying V The lodge, originally called Cambria Casino Park, was constructed after the Cambria Fuel Company recognized the need for a spacious and accommodating facility to host company events, meetings and other gatherings. According to the website, construction started in 1923 and concluded five years later in 1928. “Shortly after the com-
pletion of the building, two major events occurred that changed the course of its future history,” reads the website. “First, was the closing of the Cambria Fuel Company and the coal mine. Next, in 1929, was the crash of the stock market. The Great Depression had begun.” At this time, the fuel company began selling off the property in pieces, and it was eventually acquired by the Napolitano family, who has owned and operated the place ever since. Today, Larry and Twylla Napolitano carry on the family legacy at Flying V. A sportsman’s paradise Although Flying V Lodge warmly welcomes all visitors from near and far, the cozy bed and breakfast has become a popular gathering place for sportsmen. “Hunters love the Flying V and come from all over America to lodge and hunt here – not only because of the great hunting opportunities, but for the warm atmosphere, service, great food and old world charm,” notes the website. Not only do the Napolitano’s offer hunters a warm place to rest and recover after a hard day’s excursion, they also offer onsite wild game processing and taxidermy for those who return successful. “We provide complete game care from a full line of Continued on next page
B9
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Cambria Casino Park – Flying V Lodge was originally constructed in the 1920s by the Cambria Fuel Company and called Cambria Casino Park. Courtesy photo
Continued from previous page
wild game sausage products to exquisite cuts and pieces packaged and ready to go or ready to be shipped to any destination,” says Flying V’s website. “For convenience, we offer game processing and shipping services with dry ice packaging, as well as onsite taxidermy, available every day, seven days week, during all hunting seasons,” it continues. “The Flying V Lodge is the preferred hunting lodge across America for a reason – because we cater especially to hunters and their desire to have the very best game in hunting, in lodging, in processing and in taxidermy, depicting the trophy of the champion hunter.” Other amenities Not all who come through Flying V’s doors are sportsmen, however. In fact, the lodge offers amenities for visitors of all walks of life. The lodge’s 2,500 square-foot ballroom provides a spacious venue
for a range of events from weddings, award ceremonies and banquet dinners to company retreats, birthday parties, receptions and dances. Flying V also has a full bar and lounge and offers catering services. Additionally, the establishment offers several outdoor amenities including camping sites and RV parking, a barbecue cooking area, covered patio seating and a covered, raised stage. The website notes, “The Flying V Lodge is here for visitors to enjoy some old world charm and warmth from a time in history seldom experienced, with great accommodations and friendly service.” Flying J Lodge is open seasonly from June through November. For more information, visit theflyingvlodge.com. Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Durbin Creek Ranch Cattle for Commercial Cowmen From Commercial Cowmen
The Agar Family
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The Agar Family Wyatt and Joey Agar 3292 Grass Creek Rd Thermopolis, WY 82443 307.921.8825
Annual Bull Sale Wednesday, February 7, 2024 Worland, Wyoming
AP fP e o h et t s s in t s e ll rg La ed bu d! e t tes bre
DCR SRH 128D Fremont 2336 ET
Rst X51 Revolution 4102 Hills-Galore 44z Resolute 128D Hills-Galore 52r Calli 44Z CRR 5280 C 5280 Bailee 7117ET C Bailees McKee 4297 ET
Lot 5: PAP: 36 REG # 44514630
CED BW WW YW SC MILK M&G FAT 2.8 3.7 66 112 1.1 24 57 0.021 REA MARB BMI BII CHB 0.74 0.15 $397 $482 $134
Selling: 100 Range Ready, Hereford bulls 300 F1 Baldy Females 2 Ranch Horses
The Agar Family 3292 Grass Creek Rd Thermopolis, WY 82443 www.durbincreekranch.com Wyatt Agar: (307) 867-2404 Event venue – Flying V Lodge’s spacious ballroom is the perfect venue for events such as banquets, parties and weddings, among others. Courtesy photo
D
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Hartinger’s photography hobby blooms into full-time portrait career
Family ties – Emily Hartinger notes her full-time photography wouldn’t be possible without the values instilled in her by her parents while growing up on their ranch and support from her husband Shane and daughter Kori, who is one of her greatest accomplishments and favorite muses. Skull Creek Studio photo
Emily Hartinger was born and raised on her family’s ranch north of Osage, snuggled on the bank of Skull Creek, where she grew up the middle child of three girls, working alongside her parents Mary and Marlin Geier and their hired men. From a young age, Emily was actively involved in 4-H, FFA and rodeo, as well as year-long ranch work raising hay and cattle. She got her start in the cattle business by purchasing cattle to send to the feedlot with money she saved from selling 4-H steers. “I had a couple of good years doing that and a couple where it was a good thing my dad helped cover some bad investments,” states Emily. “But, those feedlot calves helped me build up some credit and purchase breeding stock as well.” Today, Emily lives on a second ranch her parents purchased on Skull Creek between Newcastle and Osage with her husband Shane and her 10-year-old daughter Kori. “My parents are still on the home place, and Shane works with my dad to keep the ranch going. I help when I can,” she explains, noting she still runs her own breeding cow herd. “We have center pivot irrigation and haying to keep us busy in the summer, and we feed calves in our backgrounding feedlot in the winter,” she continues. “Before I started full time into my photography gig, I was working full time on the ranch.” Pursuing a career in photography In addition to her passion for agriculture, Emily notes she also fell in love with taking pictures as a little girl, especially of scenery around the ranch. “As a young kid, I would often steal my mom’s film
camera and fill up a roll of film on the same sunset,” she shares. “But, I didn’t really get into it much until after college.” After returning to Newcastle with an associate degree in farm and ranch management, Emily started helping Katie (Riesland) Cummings, an old friend from high school, in her photography studio. “I mostly just edited and did bookkeeping for her, but she taught me a lot about the art side of photography as well,” Emily says. “She was an amazing, well-respected photographer in this region.” Emily notes in 2012, Katie tragically passed, so she helped Katie’s family finish up some of her projects. “I had still been taking pictures for fun up until that point, but after she passed, it felt a little traitorous to pursue it any more seriously,” Emily admits. “However, Katie’s family was very supportive and encouraging, so I decided to give it a try.” She continues, “I struggled with a lot of guilt, like I was taking advantage of Katie’s passing somehow, but now it just feels like a way I can still connect to her. In fact, I frequently have dreams of her encouraging me.” Later, Emily had the opportunity to work as a second wedding photographer under Tanna White, a college friend from Hot Springs, S.D., and spent summers learning even more about the trade. “What started as a fun little hobby taking pictures of sunsets and animal, really morphed into a full-time portrait career,” she says. Skull Creek Studio Today, Emily operates Skull Creek Studio full time, offering everything from family portraits, senior portraits, newborn portraits, Continued on next page
Hobby turned career – Emily Hartinger, a full-time photographer and owner of Skull Creek Studio, recalls stealing her mom’s old film camera as a young girl and using an entire roll of film taking pictures of the same sunset. “What started as a fun little hobby taking pictures of sunsets and animals, really morphed into a full-time portrait career,” she says. Skull Creek Studio photo
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Lifelong passion – While growing up on her family’s ranch north of Osage, Emily Hartinger fell in love with taking pictures, especially of scenery around the ranch. Skull Creek Studio photo
“What started as a fun little hobby taking pictures of sunsets and animal, really morphed into a full-time portrait career.” Emily Hartinger
Continued from previous page
maternity portraits, wedding and engagement photos and photos of every milestone in between. She is also the official photographer for schools in Newcastle and stays busy taking school portraits and sports team’s team and individual portraits. “The school job keeps me pretty busy most of the school year, but I suppose I do more family photos than anything,” she remarks. Building her business from the ground up has been one of Emily’s greatest sources of pride, but it hasn’t come without its challenges. “The biggest challenge is just juggling my time,” she notes. “I have a hard time telling anyone no, and I actually really do enjoy being busy and working hard. But, there is always a trade off – I might miss watching my daughter at a rodeo because I already had a wedding scheduled and stuff like that.” However, Emily says she is finally at a point in her career where she doesn’t have to grind so hard, and in the end, these challenges have been worth it. “My favorite thing is the relationships I have built because of this career,” she shares. “I’ve met so many new people I call friends
now because of it. I also enjoy finding a new scene and turning it into a captured piece of art.” Emily adds, “Also, my daughter is a pretty cool kid who is super kind, smart and creative. She’s following in my footsteps and likes taking pictures too, so the fact I haven’t messed her up by working too much is an accomplishment as well.” Emily further notes her business venture would not be possible without continued support from her family and the values they instilled in her at a young age on the ranch. “The life my parents have provided me with through their ranch and hard work is something I try to never take for granted. Their support means everything to me and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” she says. “Sure, I’ve put in the work too, but they laid the foundation. They taught me how to work hard through their example, and I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to call this my career.” For more information on Skull Creek Studio, visit skullcreekstudio.com. Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
W G NE TIN S LI
ELKHORN CREEK RANCH - HULETT
980 deeded acres and 160 acre State Lease. Live water, stunning vistas, exceptional wildlife habitat, and adjacent to public land. 4-bedroom home, heated shop, living quarters for hunters. $4,700,000
LD
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HC IRRIGATED FARM - NISLAND
239 acres – Productive irrigated farmland. 239acres with 2 center pivots. Has 200 irrigated acres in the Belle Fourche Irrigation Dist. An 8-tower pivot and new 7-tower pivot.
RED HILLS PASTURE - SUNDANCE
785-acre ranch south of Sundance. Solar water well, valley terrain with a mixture of big grassy hills offering expansive views, and rough draws. Good access. $1,100,000
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DEER TRAIL - NEWCASTLE
78 acres offering diverse topography, incredible vistas, power nearby and good access to a county maintained road. A highly desirable area north of Newcastle. $552,000
HULETT CREEK RANCH - HULETT
320 acres along Hulett Creek and adjacent to public land. A picturesque landscape offering beautiful views and privacy. Numerous ATV trails throughout the land.
LE ING SA ND PE
PREWITT RANCH - GUERNSEY
5,331 deeded acres + 2,258 acres of State & BLM. Two miles of the North Platte River, irrigated land, highway access & tremendous recreation.
Portrait photographer – Today, the majority of Emily Hartinger’s subject matter includes family photos, senior portraits, newborn portraits, maternity portraits, wedding and engagement photos and photos for every milestone in between. Skull Creek Studio photo
SIMON HOMESTEAD - FOUR CORNERS
23 acres just 10-minutes to Black Hills Nat’l Forest. Highway frontage, no covenants & commercial potential. 3-bedroom home, garage, shop and several sheds. $439,000
BEAVER CREEK RD - NEWCASTLE
67-acre Black Hills setting. Wooded hills, open meadows and canyon area. Southern exposure and outstanding views across an expanse of the Black Hills. $536,000
Licensed in Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana PO Box 98 • Newcastle, WY 82701 307-746-2083 • info@ArnoldRealty.com Sign up for email property updates at www.ArnoldRealty.com
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Triple T Land and Livestock raises affordable Angus bulls exceling across all traits Versatile and competitive – Top-quality genetics and premium beef aren’t the only thing the Tysdal family raises at Triple T Land and Livestock. In fact, the family also breeds versatile and competitive mounts that can dually serve as functional ranch horses or top-performers in the area. Pictured from left to right are Davin, David and Mandy Tysdal. C. Snow Imagery photo
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on the prairies of northeast Wyoming. Today, David and his wife Mandy are the seventh generation on the ranch, now known as Triple T Land and Livestock, alongside their son Davin – the eighth generation – and have dedicated their lives to continuing the family’s cattle ranching legacy. Filling a need for affordable, quality bulls At Triple T Land and Livestock, the Tysdal family raises a herd of commercial cattle, as well as their own seedstock genetics. David notes his seedstock operation was started after he saw a need for affordable, total-package bulls to use in his commercial herd. “I couldn’t find or afford the bulls I needed for the commercial side of things, so I thought we could fill the need. I think a lot of other operations have the same need as well,” he says. The Tysdals produce high-quality bulls through a 100-percent artificial insemination (AI) program and some embryo transfer. “When I went to college, I completed AI school and started AI’ing our cows,” David shares. “In 2010, we started AI’ing all of our heifers, and we continued to build from there until we got a 100-percent complete AI program.” “Now, we have three donor cows, and we are doing some embryo work to continue to try to build the quality of our bulls,” he adds. Offering total-package seedstock David notes bulls at Triple T Land and Livestock are raised to excel across all traits. “There is a lot of talk in the industry a producer has to decide whether they want to go with maternal traits or performance traits, but I don’t believe they have to pick one or the other,” David says. “I believe they can have both, and this is what we are concentrating on – bulls with both a high maternal value ($M) and high combined value index ($C).”
The Tysdal’s seedstock program requirements include good disposition, sound feet and legs and high fertility, paired with solid performance and carcass traits. “Those genetics might cost more, but I feel like it is our job as a seedstock producer to put them in a package ranchers can afford,” says David. “This is what we focus on with our AI and embryo program.” Triple T Land and Livestock will offer these totalpackage genetics at their annual production sale on April 10 at 1 p.m. at Buffalo Livestock Marketing in Buffalo. The sale will offer 40 bulls and 50 replacement heifers. Marketing premium Angus beef In addition to selling total-package Angus bulls, Triple T Land and Livestock also markets high-quality, home-raised beef direct to consumer. According to their website, beef is finished for 140 to 160 days on a ration of corn and hay and then dry aged for superior flavor. Although the family’s primary market is grain-finished beef, they also have grass-fed options available. Triple T Premium Angus Beef can be purchased at the Weston County Farmers’ Market or by visiting the operation’s website and is sold as individually-packaged cuts or as quarters, halves or whole beef. “Our beef is all home raised and backed by generations of high-quality carcass genetics,” reads Triple T Land and Livestock’s website. “We use the top sires in the nation, with a focus on tenderness and marbling traits.” For more information on Triple T Land and Livestock, visit bar-t3livestock.com or check them out on Facebook @TTTLandandLivestock, Instagram @tripletlandandlivestock or YouTube and Twitter @TripleTLivestock. Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Complete and affordable – Triple T Land and Livestock’s focus is to provide cattlemen with affordable, total-package bulls that excel across all traits. Courtesy photo
Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Weston County offers a variety of adventures during winter months Weston County is home to a variety of outdoor winter activities, appealing to any adventurist. From snowmobiling to fat tire biking, northeastern Wyoming is the perfect place to have a one-of-a-kind experience. If blustery conditions deter adventurists from their outdoor plans, Weston County is home to numerous historical places to keep one busy. Snowmobiling Newcastle is an access point for the Black Hills Trail System, providing riders with miles of groomed trails through the Northeast. The trail offers access to hundreds of miles of groomed trails where riders can expect plenty of deep powder to boondock in. In addition, the Flying V Trail system east of Newcastle offers miles of groomed trails for enjoyment and endless fun. Combined with tens of thousands of acres of off-trail riding, there are days of endless adventure at the turn of a throttle. With vast trails spanning many miles, Weston County is a fantastic place to snowmobile without the crowds. A popular trail known for its peaceful, tranquil environment is Mallo Trail, outside of Newcastle. Here, riders may experience crossing paths with mule deer or elk which are abundant in the area. Additional activities Wyoming is one of the best winter destinations in the country for cross-country skiing, which provides for a great family activity. Fat tire biking is another activity for outdoor enthusiasts to discover tranquility as they wander along numerous trails in Weston County, enjoying the ponderosa forests and rocky peaks in the area. Snowshoeing is an alternative winter recreational activity near the Black Hills National Forest. Compared to summer months, the winter season is less crowded, and many trails offer secluded experiences for cold-weather enthusiasts. LAK Reservoir is privately owned by True Ranches, and public access to it is provided by an access agreement between the ranch and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. In the winter, it is a popular destination for ice fishing and is home to a variety of species, including rainbow, brown, cutthroat,
brook and lake trout, as well as kokanee salmon. Sit back and relax If being out in the snow and cold is not one’s cup of tea, they can catch a movie at the historic Dogie Theatre, located in downtown Newcastle on Main Street. The Dogie Theatre is a single screen theatre which opened on March 21, 1951, featuring Jane Powell and Ricardo Montalban in “Two Weeks with Love” and was state of art with a Western theme. According to the Alliance for Historic Wyoming, a larger screen was installed in 1963, and in 1965 the Black Hills Amusement sold the Dogie Theatre to Commonwealth Theaters of Kansas City, Mo. Then in 1986, the theater was sold to Gerald and Judy Bullard, who hosted a reenactment of the Dogie Theatre grand opening on March 24, 2001 to celebrate 50 years of business, playing the same show as the original night. The Bullards sold the historic theatre to Daren Downs in July of 2022, and he still owns it today, along with numerous Newcastle memorabilia, including a grand opening ticket to the Dogie Theatre. Check out a good book Between 1899 and 1917, there were 16 Carnegie libraries built in Wyoming, and today, only 10 Carnegie libraries remain standing. Newcastle received its Carnegie grant in February of 1911 and was completed in August of 1912. The first librarian was Anna C. Miller. The Newcastle Carnegie Library was designed by Charles A. Randall in a neoclassical architectural style using sandstone and brick and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 as part of the Newcastle Commercial District. The library was built adjacent to the courthouse, and in 1983 an addition was completed, where the front steps and doors were removed from the Carnegie portion and the entrance was moved to the new addition. Information in this article was compiled from the Alliance for Historic Wyoming and Weston County’s official website. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
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Cowboy Carnegie – The pictured building is an architectural gem in Newcastle, and is still utilized as the community library. Alliance for Historic Wyoming photo
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Spice of life – Berried Delights owner and operator Liz Townsend pays close attention to detail when creating her various, unique flavors. Courtesy photo
Townsend creates unique products from local produce Berried Delights, located at the foot of the Black Hills in Newcastle, is a small, woman-owned business producing jams, jellies, fruit butter and syrups the way grandma used to – one batch at a time, with lots of love and care added in. The only difference between grandma’s batches and Berried Delights’ is they are created in a certified kitchen, labeled and sent around the country. The Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota provide ample opportunity for berry picking and offer delicious fruit for local-made products, including wild plums, chokecherries and raspberries, which are plentiful during summer months and early fall.
Family operation built from passion What started as a small hobby for Berried Delights Owner and Operator Elizabeth “Liz” Townsend, quickly turned into a fulltime passion, and in the fall of 1998, she officially opened her doors for business. “What began as a way to preserve an abundance of concord grapes has grown steadily into a business keeping the Townsend family busy,” Liz states. “I have been creating delicious products since my oldest daughter was six months old, and today, both of my daughters are learning the family business from the ground up, helping with the fruit gathering, jar washing, Continued on next page
Variety of goodness – Berried Delights sells delicious jams, jellies and syrups. Courtesy photo
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
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Local berry delights – Liz Townsend enjoys helping customers at local farmers’ markets. Courtesy photo
Continued from previous page
cooking and processing of the products, as well as selling the products at craft fairs,” she adds. Now, Liz’s granddaughters have joined the family business and do an excellent job supervising. Liz notes they are her certified taste testers, sampling new flavors for quality and taste. “My biggest challenge is always being able to source the ingredients at a good price so I can continue to keep my prices down,” she emphasizes. “I am very grateful to my family, friends and customers for their continued support, as well as all of the people who offer up fruit from their trees and produce from their gardens so I can make my products just like grandma did.” Unique products made with love Liz shares she and her family can be found picking wild plums, apples, buffalo berries and chokecher-
ries each fall to make their unique jams and jellies, which are made with zero artificial preservatives or colors but plenty of love. “Berried Delights now offers over 40 different flavors or flavor combinations of jams, jellies, fruit butters, marmalades and fruit syrups, which can be purchased at local craft fairs, farmers’ markets or online for those who cannot get out and attend,” Liz explains. “Customers can follow us on our Berried Delights Facebook page and find out where we will be offering great deals on our sweet and savory products,” she adds. It is always good to know what flavor trends are popular, and Liz is continually experimenting with new flavors. Liz points out as Berried Delights’ consumer base grows, so does their interest in her tasty creations, and she is always open to sug-
“Berried Delights now offers over 40 different flavors or flavor combinations of jams, jellies, fruit butters, marmalades and fruit syrups, which can be purchased at local craft fairs, farmers’ markets or online for those who cannot get out and attend.” Liz Townsend
gestions and critiques. “The end result of one of our tastings has now become one of our hottest sellers – raspberry jalapeño jam,” she shares. Liz expresses, “My specialty products can be found across Wyoming and South Dakota and in several local stores. I absolutely love creating Berried Delights products.” For more information on Berried Delights or to view an entire list of flavors and products, visit berrieddelights.com. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net. C-95 C- 0
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
Original building – The Antlers Hotel was constructed in May of 1890 by the Kilpatrick Brothers and Collins Construction Company and was the first permanent building in Newcastle. Leonard Cash photo
Newcastle’s first permanent building continues to serve the local community In the heart of Newcastle, stands an iconic, old building made from the earth it sits on and as old as the town it calls home. Completed in May of 1890 – only two months after Weston County was officially established – the Antlers Hotel was the first permanent building in the town of Newcastle, and like most
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of Newcastle’s existence, can be traced back to the Kilpatrick Brothers and Collins Construction Company. Not only did the building serve as a hotel, it also housed a commissary, the city’s courthouse, a saloon, a bank, a hospital and a bus stop over the years. Hotel history Following its construc-
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tion, the basement of the two-story Antlers Hotel was used as the city’s courthouse, while the second story was used as a commissary for the Wyoming National Guard Armory. Those living in the commissary included Frank Mondell, manager the Cambria Coal Mine and Newcastle’s first mayor. Between 1892-95, the building was remodeled into a hotel and originally named Hotel Showers after the couple who leased and managed the establishment. Later, Mrs. Showers changed the name to Antlers Hotel, and after her and her husband’s passing, the building was leased to Carl Blank in 1899. For a short few months during the year of 1901, F.B. Brooks held the hotel’s lease, then it was turned over to J.W. Donahue. In 1902, a stock company purchased the building and renamed the establishment the Antlers Hotel Company; in 1903, Mayor Pete Kinney took charge, and in 1904, Kilpatrick and Collins regained ownership. In 1905, construction on a two-story addition began, adding more rooms to the upper part of the hotel and turning the lower section into the Antlers Saloon. A telephone and electric power line were also ran to the building, and several other improvements were made throughout the years, including a 12-room extension to the back of the hotel in 1912. Continued on next page
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Hotel renovations – Since 1890 when the historic Antlers Hotel was erected, the building changed ownership many times and underwent several renovations. In 1939, the year this picture was taken, the hotel was under the management of Frank Williams and had stucco and glass bricks added to the outside of the hotel and four rooms and four apartments added to the inside. Wyoming Tales and Trails photo
Continued from previous page
In 1918, while Newcastle National Bank was undergoing construction, bankers rented out part of the hotel to operate in. Then in 1921, the Weston County Health Center rented eight rooms, which served as the local hospital for a time. Six years later, Kinney’s wife and daughter took over the business, making their own renovations along the way. In 1928, the two remodeled the dining room and added bathtubs in some of the guest rooms. After a decade, the lease was turned over again, and under Frank Williams’ management, stucco and glass bricks were added to the outside of the hotel and four rooms and four apartments were added to the inside, making the Antlers Hotel a 50-room establishment. After the building changed hands again, the Kinneys regained ownership in 1946 and hired Fred Runger as manager. In 1953, Faye Bessey and her brother took charge of the Antlers Hotel, and during the 1960s, while working as the Continental Trailway bus agent, Bessey used the hotel as a bus stop.
Current establishment The Antlers Hotel was in operation until the early 1980s and then sat empty for a time, before Jack and Rhoda Highfill and Dave and Sandy Fisher purchased the building in 1988. The two couples were approached with a business deal to turn the building into an exercise and dance buisness by the name of Purrfect Steps, but renovations became too overwhelming and the deal fell through. The building sat empty again until 2007, when Heidi and Bill Cleveland bought the hotel and made a few renovations, adding four apartments and six rooms, which could be rented out on a long-term basis. Today, the Antlers Hotel is owned and operated by Pam and Chris Gualtieri, who bought the building in 2019 and have made it a thriving business with several different venues. These include a New York-style Italian deli called Uncle Vitos, a bakery called Hannah’s Heavenly Treats, a soda shop called Boopa’s, a bed and breakfast called Arianna’s and a coffee shop
coming soon! Rocky Mountain horse edition To advertise in the Rocky Mountain Horse Edition, contact Denise or Jody at 800-967-1647, denise@wylr.net or jodym@wylr.net
called Beanit. For more information on the Antlers Hotel, visit wideopenweston.com/listing/antlers/. Information in this article was compiled from the Alliance for Historic Wyoming, the Wyoming Historical Society and Weston County’s official website. Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Thriving business – Under the management of Pam and Chris Gualtieri, the Antlers Hotel continues to thrive today and is home to a variety of businesses, including an Italian-style deli, a bakery, a soda shop, a bed and breakfast and a café. Wide Open Weston County photo
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Monday, F e b r u a r y 1 2 , 2024 1:00 pm MST at Lightning Valley Ranch • 5 miles east of Arthur, NE on Hwy 92
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition
1890s Main Street – Newcastle’s first residents were coal miners and railroad workers. Courtesy photo
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Tales of early Wyoming come to life in Newcastle’s Anna Miller Museum exhibits, which are part of the Weston County Museum District. The museum collection, including the building it resides in, is full of Wyoming and Western history. Between 1933-36, the Wyoming Army National Guard 115th Cavalry built stables for their horses in Newcastle under the Works Project Administration,
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and since 1966, the stable site has been utilized by the Anna Miller Museum, which is operated by the Weston County Historical Society and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The one-story tall stable building features a rockfaced exterior constructed out of native 18-inch, handhewn sandstone blocks quarried from nearby Salt Creek. It significantly represents the National Guard’s important role in Newcastle’s community and Wyoming history. Museum District Director Cindy Dysart says museum curators have gone to great lengths to preserve the building’s history as a cavalry stable. In 1996, when the Weston County Historic District was formed, it saved much of Newcastle’s history. Cindy explains, “Anna Cecelia McMoran Miller, for whom the museum is named, was the daughter of pioneering parents and went on to serve as Newcastle’s first librarian, a
schoolteacher and school superintendent.” Today, visitors can travel back in time and experience the stable living quarters where the caretaker once lived, featuring a historic kitchen and living area and a unique photo collection of President Teddy Roosevelt’s historic 1903 visit to Newcastle. Cindy notes, “The museum is open daily and free of charge to visitors passing through Newcastle.” According to visitors, the museum hosts an exhibit featuring the ghost town of Cambria, once called the “Model Camp of the World,” as it served as a camp for coal miners in the area, and no saloons were allowed in the town. “The museum also has five rooms refurbished with antiques from the 1930s, as well as an exhibit of fossils,” Cindy adds. “Also on site are the Green Mountain Schoolhouse and the Jenney Stockade Cabin, the oldest remaining building from the Black Hills gold rush.” Continued on next page
“The museum also has five rooms refurbished with antiques from the 1930s, as well as an exhibit of fossils. Also on site are the Green Mountain Schoolhouse and the Jenney Stockade Cabin, the oldest remaining building from the Black Hills gold rush.” Cindy Dysart
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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • 2024 Winter Cattlemen’s Edition Continued from previous page
Anna Miller Cindy points out, “Miller, a pioneering daughter, was also the widow of Sheriff Billy Miller, who was killed in what is known as the last Native American battle in this area.” According to state records, the couple was married in Crook County in 1887 and moved to Weston County in 1894. The couple operated a dairy near Cambria and sold milk, cream and other products to the miners in the camp. The community respected Billy, who ran for sheriff and assumed office in 1899. “In 1903, Sheriff Miller was shot and killed at the Battle of Lightning Creek while attempting to arrest members of a Native American Tribe wanted for violating state game laws and slaughtering livestock belonging to local ranchers,” Cindy explains. A few years later, in 1905, Anna was elected Weston County superintendent and later became librarian when the library was in the old courthouse. Weston County historical records cite Anna was a long-time member of the Twentieth Century Club, the first chief of the Pythian Sister’s Lodge, a member of the American Legion Aux-
iliary and belonged to the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood. In 1936, Anna became ill and later passed away in 1951, where she was buried beside Sherriff Miller in the Newcastle Cemetery. In cooperation with School District One and Upton School District Seven, the museum provides exhibits and educa-
tional services for use in Wyoming’s elementary and secondary schools. It maintains an active presence in the community as a teaching institution. For more information on the Anna Miller Museum, visit westoncountymuseums.com. Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
LEFT: Historical site – Anna Miller Museum takes visitors back in history. Courtesy photo BELOW: Vintage photo – Pictured are the bright lights of downtown Newcastle, the place to be. Courtesy photo
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