Americans are consuming larger amounts of imported fruits, vegetables, wine, alcohol, coffee and beef, which will drive the food and ag trade deficit to a record $45.5 billion this fiscal year, according to esti-
The Black Hills Angus Association will be awarding a $1,500 renewable scholarship for the 202526 school year. The application deadline is Jan. 15, 2025. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be a graduating high school senior or currently attending an eligible post-secondary institution, including technical institutes for the 202526 school term and must be from South Dakota or a bordering state. For more information or to apply, call 605892-2875 or e-mail bar69angus@gmail.com.
Colorado State University (CSU) is seeking two spring calving interns to spend mid-January through mid-May at the CSU Beef Improvement Center in Saratoga this coming spring. Interns will oversee calving of 400-plus head of cows and heifers, supplemental feeding, general herd care, recordkeeping and data analysis, among other things. The internship is an excellent opportunity for students with or without previous ranch experience to gain handson skills while earning college credit. For more information, call 307-710-2938. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Lindsey Wamsley at lindsey.wamsley@colostate.edu.
With a little over a month left before the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) kicks off in Denver Jan. 11-26 and over 400 seasonal positions available, the NWSS Employment Office is open and the team is actively recruiting for the 2025 show. Open positions are available across a variety of departments including event operations, parking, guest relations, etc. Seasonal employees will start at $18.81 per hour. For more information or to apply, visit nationalwestern.com/about/ join-our-team
mates published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Nov. 26.
It is reported imports would be $9.3 billion larger than in Fiscal Year 2024, while food and ag exports declined for the third year
in a row due to lower commodity prices.
The largest U.S. food trade partners are Mexico and Canada which account for four out of every $10 in American ag exports and imports totaling $385.5 bil-
lion, according to the USDA quarterly forecast.
Roughly one-fifth of U.S. agricultural production is exported, so trade is an important part of farmer revenue.
Several individuals and organizations were recognized for their outstanding work and leadership in conservation at the 2024 Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) Annual Awards Luncheon held at the Virginian Hotel in Jackson Hole on Nov. 21.
Awards were presented by WACD President Todd Heward to individuals who earned district employee certification and water quality training certification, as well as Outstanding Annual Reports and Plans awards.
Heward also presented awards to the winners of the poster and photo contests and honored the Educator of the Year, Outstanding Cooperator and Technician, Outstanding Elected Official and Conservationist recipients.
The awards ceremony concluded by honoring this year’s WACD Outstanding Employee and Supervisor.
District employee certification
Employees who completed various training programs, which qualified them for district employee certification, were Tom Streeter and Caleb Carter of Weston County Natural Resource District, Brady Irvine of Platte County Resource Conservation District, Erin Hannelly of DuboisCrowheart Conservation District, Diana Olson and Kelsey Beck of Popo Agie Conservation District and Janet Hofmann of Washakie County Conservation District.
District employee certification recipients from the Cody Conservation District included Carmen McIntyre, Olivia Bergeron, John Tanaka, Russ Dwyer and Bobbie Holder.
Also receiving certification were David Lee of Teton County Conservation District, Anna Gray of Converse County Conservation District, Amanda Ablard of Lower
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is reducing the amount of critical habitat for threatened Canada lynx in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) of Wyoming by 8,000 square miles.
This is because the lynx population in this region is functionally extirpated – even though a lynx may be recorded every now and then – and the region doesn’t provide necessary habitat conditions.
Lynx habitat
According to FWS, lynx populations estimated at fewer than 25 individuals are considered ‘‘not resilient and functionally extirpated’’ because populations this small are unlikely to persist over time. This is essentially how lynx in the GYA are classified.
There are two things lynx must have to survive – abundant snowshoe hare populations and deep and persistent “fluffy” snow conditions which limit other predators but enables the lynx to successfully hunt its prey.
According to FWS, “Recent habitat modeling which is foundational to this critical habitat revision demonstrated most of the GYA, including areas previously designated as lynx critical habitat, does not contain the physical and biological features necessary to support persistent lynx residency.”
Most of the critical habitat for lynx in Wyoming remains in the Wyoming Range of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, but this area has a slim chance of ever harboring a breeding lynx population.
According to FWS, “It is uncertain whether Please see LYNX on page 6
Individuals encouraged to buy live Christmas trees early this year
With this year’s Thanksgiving feast in the rearview, many have already turned their attention to the next big holiday of the year, and as individuals begin to deck the halls with boughs of holly, they may want to consider buying their holiday centerpiece – the ever-popular Christmas tree – early this year.
Although the majority of Americans prefer prelit artificial trees in an age of easy convenience, data shows there is still strong demand for live Christmas trees.
But, while many growers fared relatively well following several consecutive seasons of drought, Texas A&M University Western Gulf Tree Improvement Program Director Dr. Fred Raley said consumers should expect higher prices and a limited selection of pre-cut live Christmas trees this year.
“Demand is up regardless of whether the previous seasons impacted supplies or supplies held steady, so there is a potential for price increases and limited selection,” Raley says in Nov. 27 Texas A&M AgriLife E-Newsletter. “If you want
For over four decades, Mike and Dona McGilvray of McGilvray Farms, located in Bird City, Kan., have been showcasing their talents restoring, rebuilding and hand-crafting a variety of wagons, carts, buggies and wagon wheels.
Mike was born and raised on his family’s farm in Brush, Colo. where they ran a commercial cattle operation, while his wife Dona grew up in Laramie.
Meeting in Mike’s hometown, the couple spent part of their time together in southeastern Colorado before settling in northwest Kansas.
Over the years, the couple raised two daughters and a son, and today they celebrate the joy of having four wonderful
grandchildren.
“It all started with a team of draft horses we purchased. I wanted a hitch wagon to show the horses off, so I built one,” Mike stated. “And here we are years later, restoring wagons, wheels, carts and more.”
Now customers from across the country seek out the McGilvrays to build or restore all kinds of horse carts, sheep wagons, coaches and wheels.
“It’s just been Dona and I all of these years. We have never had a staff of more than two,” Mike laughed. “My son worked for us for a little while, but he left for a better-paying job.”
In today’s meat industry, especially with beef, pork and lamb, keeping consumers’ trusting and informed is a fulltime job. From raising pigs, sheep and cattle to picking from the selection at the grocery meat counter, the meat industry works extra hard to inform and keep consumers’ trust.
All of the major meats have checkoff programs to inform consumers on cuts of meat, how to cook them and to prove they are safe.
Lately there have been some recalls on hamburger due to Listeria monocytogenes. Rest assured, beef processers are reviewing the processing of hamburger, looking for better ways to combat outbreaks, offer lessons to help with awareness and ways to help restore consumer trust.
People always ask me when the price of beef will come down. I have to tell them prices are currently not high – they reflect what beef is worth at this time. And then I tell them why this is so.
I have to tell them the beef they are eating for dinner tonight is priced on a global market. This usually makes their eyes glaze over. I start by telling them around 630,000 head of cattle are processed weekly for human consumption. From the time a calf is born to the time it is processed, it may take around 18 to 20 months.
People around the world realize the U.S. has the best and safest beef in the world, and they want to enjoy eating it. There are many new markets opening up around the world for American beef.
JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, has just announced they are building three poultry plants as well as two beef plants and one pork plant in Nigeria.
They said, “Investing in Africa would give JBS, which owns processing facilities spanning from Colorado to New Zealand, an opportunity to diversify away from more mature markets, including the U.S.”
The economy of Nigeria, which has a population larger than Brazil, is expected to more than double by 2050.
We know the quality of beef in Nigeria is not comparable to that of the U.S., but at some point, they will want U.S. beef as well.
The U.S. is expected to export 2.95 billion pounds of beef this year, which is down three percent from a year ago. This export volume represents 11 percent of our U.S beef production, which is down from 12.5 percent in 2022, the year of record beef exports.
Exports are projected to be down eight percent next year, which is the lowest since 2016. Our strong dollar has a lot to do with export numbers.
To meet the high demand for hamburger, the U.S. is importing a lot of foreign beef, mainly from Mexico. The U.S. has closed down the border because they found an infected cow with New World screwworm from southern Mexico. This will affect the price of hamburger somewhat.
Livestock producers should take a couple days off and come to Casper for the 2024 Wyoming Stock Growers Association’s Winter Roundup and Tradeshow at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center on Dec. 9-11.
There will be a lot of information on what to do in the aftermath of all of the wildfires, livestock health and production, the latest from Washington, D.C. and much more.
Celebrating Thanksgiving always reminds me of God’s love and blessings.
Farmers like me thank Him for his partnership to help us produce food and fiber for His people. History of western water rights
As young America was being established, the Founding Fathers’ priority was to settle the West via the farming and ranching industries, which would enhance exporting goods to other countries.
In 1790, the value of tobacco exports was $4.36 million and in 1809, the average annual value of agriculture exports was $23 million. Agricultural exports were as high as $574 million per year in 1880-90.
Settling the West with the farming and ranching industries meant developing a viable irrigation system because water is the most precious natural resource in the U.S. Without water there would be no row crops in western states, thus, settlement impossible.
Before the 1900s, the U.S. Congress had already invested heavily in America’s infrastructure. Roads, river navigation, canals and railroads received major subsidies. The government was trying to settle the West by subsidization.
In 1866, Congress passed an act granting the right-of-way to ditch and canal owners over public lands. In 1877, the Desert Land Act was passed, and the Carey Act was passed in 1894, which were both intended to encourage irrigation projects in the West.
Early settlers diverted water from nearby streams
By Klodette Stroh
and rivers, but demand quickly exceeded supply. There was fertile land in the West, but the problem was to get water to the land in order to grow food to be able to support a family.
In order to fulfill the goal of settling the western states, the federal government conducted a study with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
John Wesley Powell traveled to Colorado, Wyoming and others states to explore. Incidentally our little town is named after him.
Powell wrote his western exploration report and presented it to the U.S. Congress. His report called to start water development in western states. The reclamation concept was irrigation would reclaim arid lands for farmers growing crops and settling the West.
Shortly after the Civil War, President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Joseph Carey to the U.S. District Attorney Office of Wyoming. Later, he served as a delegate to Congress for the Wyoming Territory.
During his term in Congress, Carey authored the bill to admit Wyoming to statehood. He was rewarded when the people of Wyoming elected him as the first U.S. senator on Nov. 12, 1890. He worked diligently and convinced members of the U.S. Congress to give rights to settlers to convert water from rivers to sustain their livelihood.
Wyoming became the first state in the union to claim state ownership of water rights.
This event happened at
the time the state constitution was ratified in 1890.
The Carey Act of 1894 gave each public lands state – including 14 western states and three territories –one million acres on which they could encourage irrigation and settlement.
One of the Carey projects in our area was built by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and his partner Nate Salsbury who filed a water rights permit in 1899 to develop 120,000 acres of the Shoshone Valley, 50 miles east of Cody.
The Shoshone Irrigation Project
Later on, this permit was transferred to farmers of the Shoshone Irrigation Project (SIP).
President Theodore Roosevelt supported the Reclamation Act of 1902 and signed it on June 17, 1902, authorizing construction of irrigation projects in western states. Congress also approved and appropriated a $50 million loan to 14 western states to build irrigation projects such as dams and irrigation canals with the stipulation the users of the water on the projects would pay the loan back.
SIP’s water was first delivered to homesteaders in the Garland Division on April of 1908, prior to the completion of the Shoshone Dam. As a result, $2,250,000 was set aside to build the Shoshone Dam, renamed the Buffalo Bill Dam in 1946.
The Buffalo Bill Dam and its four districts –including the Garland District, the Frannie District, the Willwood District and Heart Mountain Irrigation –are known as the SIP.
In 1991, these four dis-
tricts qualified for a Rehabilitation and Betterment (R&B) loan to upgrade the aging structures. The Small Reclamation Project Act (SRPA) was authorized in 1956.
The sole purpose of SRPA was to assist farmers in the area. Federal funds were made available to repair, replace or make improvements to the project’s structures and systems.
SIP qualified for $7.5 million by the R&B program. The Wyoming Water Commission awarded SIP a $7.5 million grant to match the loan.
In 1991, R&B started project restoration with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Wyoming Water Commission Program, and it was completed in 200001, totaling $15 million.
SIP has a 40-year repayment obligation to our government. The annual repayment of the four districts towards the R&B loan is due on Jan. 1 of each year. The important concept to understand is laws in the Reclamation Act of 1902 are operated under state water laws. This means the federal government cannot override the state water laws.
Preparation of assessment roll is the duty of the commissioners of each district to repay the original project construction or operation and maintenance of the irrigation district which is paid back by water righted land assessment.
The assessment roll shall show the amount assessed against each lot, tract and easement of land and against each indebtedness of district for the current year. All such Please see WATER on page 12
HANNAH BUGAS, Managing Editor • hannah@wylr.net
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ANDREA ZINK, General Manager • andrea@wylr.net
CURT COX, Director of Livestock Field Services • 307-630-4604 • curt@wylr.net
CALLI WILLIAMS, Livestock Field Services Rep. • 605-695-1990 • calli@wylr.net
• P.O. Box 850 • Casper, WY 82602 Wyoming Livestock Roundup (USPS # 005-774) is published weekly by Maverick Press, Inc. P.O. Box 850 • Casper, WY 82602 Periodicals postage paid in Casper, WY Fax: 307-472-1781 • E-mail: roundup@wylr.net
Livestock
University of Wyoming (UW) Extension has opened registration for its 2025 Master Gardener training.
The online program is open to Wyoming residents who are interested in expanding their gardening knowledge and assisting fellow gardeners.
The 16-session course includes approximately 48 instructional hours led by 14 UW faculty members and Extension educators, and classes will take place via Zoom on Thursdays from 6-9 p.m., starting Jan. 9, 2025 and running through May 15, 2025. All sessions will be recorded and made available to course participants.
Topics to be discussed include botany basics, soils, composting and mulch, herbaceous and woody ornamental plants, pruning, vegetables and herbs, landscape design, lawns and alternative turf, weeds, integrated pest management, pesticide safety, entomology, plant pathology and disease diagnosis, fruit trees and small fruits and volunteer opportunities.
The Master Gardener training is a non-credit course and cannot be taken for college credit, but those who participate fully will receive a certificate of completion.
Graduates are encouraged to seek volunteer opportunities in their communities, but to achieve the title of Master Gardener, they must complete 40 hours of volunteer time in coordination with a local Master Gardener coordinator.
Registration for the 2025 online Master Gardener training can be completed at bit.ly/master-gardener-2025
Early bird registration, which is open through Jan. 1, 2025, is $175. Regular registration is open from Jan. 2-9, 2025 and will be $200.
For more information, contact a local Extension office or contact Donna Hoffman at dmcuin@uwyo.edu or 307235-9400.
Oil futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange and front-month Brent crude contract on the Intercontinental Exchange opened higher on Dec. 2, as a civil war in Syria reignited.
However, oil futures markets continued focusing on the upcoming Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting scheduled for Dec. 5, which was originally scheduled for Dec. 1, according to an OPEC statement.
Sources report the group was expected to announce a gradual increase of 2.2 million barrels per day to the global markets in 2025, but the decision now appears to be unlikely, as uncertainty remains about China’s demand recovery, expectations of tariff wars, the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and ample crude supplies from Libya and the U.S.
These factors continue to influence OPEC plus members’ decision to bring back more barrels to the global markets by 2025.
Yet, additional crude production from the oil cartel would place crude prices below $70, according to analysts.
Oil futures remained bullish according to recent data from the Energy Information Administration, which showed commercial crude oil inventories in the U.S. fell 1.8 million barrels in the week ending Nov. 22.
In contrast, both gasoline and distillate fuel inventories rose from the previous week, due to higher demand expectations ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday week, adding 212,000 barrels (bbls) and 114,700 bbls last week, respectively.
On Nov. 22, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Mexico notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of a positive detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico.
The NWS was found in a cow in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, at an inspection checkpoint close to the border with Guatemala.
NWS are fly larvae that infest on living tissue of warmblooded animals, causing infection.
Given the severity of the threat from NWS, APHIS is restricting the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Mexico effective immediately and pending further information from Mexican veterinary authorities on the size and scope of the infestation.
APHIS is working with partners in Mexico and Central America to stop the spread of NWS into the U.S. and are asking all producers along the Southern Border to watch their livestock and pets for signs of NWS and immediately report potential cases.
APHIS will continue working with partners in Mexico and Central America to eradicate NWS from the affected areas and to reestablish the biological barrier in Panama.
To learn more about NWS, visit aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm
On Dec. 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule to revoke tolerances for chlorpyrifos, which establishes the amount of a pesticide allowed on food.
This rule revokes all tolerances for chlorpyrifos, except for those associated with 11 food and feed crops which remain registered, in response to a decision by the U.S Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff stated, “This proposed rule is a critical step forward as we work to reduce chlorpyrifos in or on food and to better protect people, including infants and children, from exposure to chemicals harmful to human health.”
Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate (OP) insecticide used for a large variety of agricultural uses, including soybeans, fruit and nut trees, vegetables and other row crops, as well as non-food uses.
At high levels, OP exposures can result in neurological effects such as tremors, fatigue and nausea.
There is also concern for exposures to pregnant women and children since chlorpyrifos has been associated with neurodevelopmental effects indicating it could impact the normal development of the nervous system during pregnancy or childhood.
Since the Eighth Circuit issued its ruling, the EPA has worked with the chlorpyrifos registrants to further reduce pesticide exposures by limiting the registered uses of chlorpyrifos on food to be consistent with the 11 uses referenced by the Eighth Circuit and identified in the 2020 Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision (PID).
These 11 food uses are alfalfa, apples, asparagus, tart cherries, citrus, cotton, peaches, soybeans, strawberries, sugarbeets and spring and winter wheat and are limited to specific states which were assessed in the 2020 PID.
Based on the available data, retaining only the 11 food uses could decrease average annual pounds of chlorpyrifos applied in the U.S. by 70 percent as compared to historical usage.
The registration review process for chlorpyrifos is ongoing, and the EPA plans to issue an amended PID for chlorpyrifos for public comment followed by an interim decision in 2026.
Upon publication in the Federal Register, the proposed rule will be available at regulations.gov for public comment for 60 days.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD)
Chief Game Warden Rick King has retired after a long and storied career spanning more than two decades.
King began his career in 1998 with the WGFD as an enforcement aid and has served as a game warden at many duty stations across the state.
He was the Lovell game warden before he was promoted in 2011 to the Laramie regional wildlife supervisor, and in 2019 King was promoted to chief of the Wildlife Division.
Also in 2019, King received the Director’s Award – the highest honor bestowed within WGFD – for a multitude of efforts including work on chronic wasting disease, the ongoing process of developing an elk feedground management plan and his interaction with the Wyoming Legislature.
During his tenure, King was the recipient of the 2014 Employee of the Year Award for the Wildlife Division and the 2016 Laramie Region Peer Recognition Award.
Wyoming CattleWomen is offering two scholarships to deserving young women from the state of Wyoming.
These scholarships will be awarded based on application criteria and an essay, and each scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $1,000.
There is no age limit to apply, and the scholarship is available for accredited college, university or trade school programs.
Winners will be notified by April 15, 2025 and will be announced at the June 2025 Wyoming CattleWomen Meeting in Douglas. Recipients will be asked to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom.
In addition to the scholarship funds, recipients will receive a one-year Wyoming CattleWomen membership.
To apply, send an essay of no more than 500 words, including a brief biography and details on how funds will be used for education to benefit agriculture to wyocwsecretary@gmail.com before the Feb. 28, 2025 deadline.
For more information, e-mail wyocwsecretary@ gmail.com.
5 W Livestock 140 Blk/Rd Strs, 850-950#, Running out on Cornstalks plus 15# of Grower Ration, Bunk Broke, No Implants, Poured & Wormed with Safe Guard ****155 Blk/Rd Hfrs, 850-950#, Running out on Cornstalks plus 15# of Grower Ration, Bunk Broke, No Implants, Poured & Wormed with Safe Guard
WEANED CALVES
Cody & Joel Tremain 240 Blk Angus Strs, 500#, Weaned 50 days, Been on Grass/Alfalfa Hay Mix, Branding Shots: Inforce 3, Vision 7, Pre-cond Shots: Vision 7 w//Somnus, Pyramid 5+Presponse, Weaned Shots: Pyramid 5, Poured Tracy Terrell 180 Mostly Blk/Bwf Strs & Hfrs, 500-550#, Weaned on November 4th, Branding & Precond Shots: BoviShield Gold 5 & Ultrabac 7 Martin Livestock/Harold & Linda Martin 97 Mostly Blk few Char-x Strs & Hfrs, 485-575#, Weaned since Oct. 1, Bunk Broke, Hay Fed with Little Corn, Branding Shots: Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot, Inforce 3, Ultrabac 7 w/Somnus, Weaning Shots: Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot, Inforc3 3, Ultrabac 7 w/Somnus, Poured w/Ivermectin at weaning, High Altitude (6000-7000’), Sired by Paint Rock Angus Bulls “Summit”
Jared Reich 50 Blk/Bwf Strs, 550-650#, Weaned 50 days, Branding Shots: Vision 7/Spur, BoviShield Gold One Shot & Inforce 3, Precond Shots: BoviShield Gold One Shot & Vision 7/Somnus, Weaning Shots: Vision 7/Somnu & BoviShield Gold 5, Home Raised, Green, No Implants, Running out on cornstalks w/ electric fence, Sired by Kugler Angus or Olsen Hereford registered bulls, Selected for good carcass and feed conversion traits
Matt Eastman 50 Mostly Blk Strs & Hfrs, 500#, Branding Shots: BoviShield Gold 5 & 7-way, Precond Shots: Pyramid 5 + Presponse, 7-way/Spur, Weaned October 1st, Alfalfa Hay & Corn
Michael Hofer 40 Blk/Bwf Strs & Hfrs, 650#, Complete Vac, Weaned 90 days, On Feed at Feedlot, Producer All Natural Will & Jenny Whitlock 25 Blk/Bwf Strs & Hfrs, 600-700, Complete Vac Program, Weaned, Bunk Broke, High Elevation Jerry Wilts 20 Mostly Blk Strs & Hfrs, 500#, Branding Shots: BoviShield Gold 5 & 7-way, Precond Shots: Pyramid 5 + Presponse, 7-way/Spur, Weaned October 1st, Alfalfa Hay & Corn
David & Tracy Johnson 3 Blk Hfrs, 400#, Weaned 60 days, Hay Fed, Mineral Program, Branding & Precond Shots: ViraShield 7/Somnus + Spur
CALVES
Troy Cochran Ranch 79 Blk Angus Strs & Hfrs, 425-585#, Branding Shots: 7-way/C&D, BoviShield Gold One Shot & Inforce 3, No Implants, Running Out, Cake Broke, Home Raised, One Iron, Electric Fence Broke
Barry & Melva Baldwin 25 Blk Angus Strs, 625-650#, Eating Hay along side their mothers, No Implants
Lawrence & Rhonda Burke 37 Red Angus Cows, 1050#, Partial Dispersal, Running Ages, Bred to K2 & TCL Red Angus Bulls, CF: May 1, High Elevation ****4 Red Angus Hfrs, Partial Dispersal, Bred to K2 & TCL Red Angus Bulls, CF: May 1, High Elevation Bred Heifers
Tom Allemand 100 Blk few Rd Heifers, AI’d Bred to “Compound”, CF: Feb. 10 ****60 Blk few Rd Heifers, Bred to Connelley Angus Bulls, CF: March 15 for 45 days ( Note: Heifers Genetics: are Connelley and Gardner Sired) Circle 9 Cattle Co./Joe Podio 108 Blk Hfrs, 900#, AI’d Bred to Cantrell Creek SV Elite 9265, CF: Feb. 20, Clean-up bulls used: Jorgenson Low Birth Weight Bulls, Shots: IBR-BVD-P13-BRSV, Blackleg, Wormed w/Injectable Dectomax, Poured, Bangs Vac., Pre-breeding Shots: 5-way w/Lepto, Bery tame & Easy to Handle, Fed all winter by hand, ran on grass all summer, Broke to Feed pickup, Been moved and rode through on horseback and also been moved with ATVs BRED COWS Jared Reich 9 Blk Angus Cows, 1350#, Mx Ages, Bred to Blk Angus or Hereford Bulls, CF: April 25 for 35 days, Shots: 7-way, Poured in the Fall
Less than a month before a Jan. 1, 2025 deadline for businesses to report their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a federal judge in Texas has issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the requirement.
The order states covered companies nationwide do not need to comply with the Jan. 1, 2025 reporting deadline, unless the judge or a higher court reverses the order in the meantime.
The lawsuit, brought by the National Federation of Independent Business and several of its members, challenged the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), the 2021 bill which established a beneficial ownership information (BOI) registry and the requirement for busi-nesses to report.
The plaintiffs argued the CTA exceeded Congress’ authority to regulate interstate commerce, it violates the First Amendment by compelling speech and infringing freedom of association and it violates the Fourth Amendment by forcing the disclosure of private information.
By mid-November, only about one-quarter of the estimated 32.5 million covered businesses had registered.
According to newly released poll data from Wolters Kluwer, 37 percent of firms were waiting until closer to the deadline, and 12 percent said they had insufficient resources to do the filing.
Meanwhile, nine percent of businesses believed they were not covered by the rule, and 32 percent were unsure whether the rule applied to them.
12 Hereford 3yr/Mar-Apr Bred Cow 932 $2,150.00 Dylan Martin 18 Red SM/Mar-Apr Bred Cow 1540 $2,700.00 Sioux Ranch Inc 19 Red ST/Apr-May Bred Cow 1255 $1,750.00 Diamond Peak Cattle Co 1 Black Registered Feb AI’ed Bred
Top Sellers
Bull calves
Lot 1 – ZA Mercedes
M276 – Price: $17,000
DOB: 2/29/24 Sire: Fua
Baldridge Jumpstart J920
Dam’s Sire: Hoover No
Doubt EPDs: BW: +0.9, WW: +83, YW: +139 and Milk: +25 Buyer: VICCI Cattle Company, Gracemont, Okla.
Lot 4 – ZA Marble
M242 – Price: $15,000
Sire: Poss Deadwood
Dam’s Sire: Connealy
Combination 0188 EPDs: BW: +1.1, WW: +74, YW: +133 and Milk: +24 Buyer: VICCI Cattle Company, Gracemont, Okla.
Lot 12 – ZA Mentor
M256 – Price: $12,500
Sire: Poss Ratified Dam’s
Sire: Hoover No Doubt
EPDs: BW: +0.2, WW: +90, YW: +158 and Milk: +41 Buyer: IVN Cattle Company, Newcastle
Two-year-old bull
Lot 30 – ZA Logic
L313 – Price: $13,000
Sire: V A R Conclusion 0234 Dam’s Sire: Fer-
guson Trailblazer 239E
EPDs: BW: +0, WW: +89, YW: +154 and Milk: +33
Buyer: Stellpflug Cattle Company, Glenrock Bred heifers
Lot 129 – ZA Isabel L095 – Price: $7,250 DOB: 5/2/23 Sire: Fua Baldridge Jumpstart J920
Dam’s Sire: Hoover No Doubt EPDs: BW: +0.1, WW: +75, YW: +132 and Milk: +35 Buyer: Steve Peterson, West Point, Ill. Lot 135 – ZA Rita L091 – Price: $7,000 DOB: 4/27/23 Sire: Baldridge Jordan Dam’s Sire: G A R Daylight EPDs: BW: +2.1, WW: +88, YW: +139 and Milk: +25 Buyer: Bar ZS Angus, Inc., Dunning, Neb. Heifer calf Lot 123 – ZA Pratissa M001 – Price: $6,250 DOB: 1/4/24 Sire: Baldridge Incognito 1852 Dam’s Sire: Baldridge Alternative E125 EPDs: BW:
By Chance Marshall, UW Extension Educator
Throughout the years, cattle producers have grappled with understanding the optimal cow size for maximizing productivity of their operations.
Today, the average mature cow size in the U.S. is about 1,400 pounds, whereas the average mature cow weight in 1975 was about 1,045 pounds.
Research has established, as cow weight increases, feed efficiency and reproductive efficiency decrease. Research has also shown as cow weight increases, dry matter intake also increases.
This article reviews some of the considerations cattle producers should keep in mind with increasing mature cow weights. What has changed in the last 40 years?
A big factor is cattle producers today have had access to ever-improving
genetic information.
Over time, cattle have been selected heavily on growth traits such as weaning weight and yearling weight. Selecting sires with emphasis on expected progeny differences which improve growth characteristics can be effective ways to sell heavier calves at weaning.
However, if heifer calves are also being retained as replacements, it could mean retention of growthier females into the cow herd. It’s then common for older and growthier heifers to be retained because those are the ones with a better chance of getting bred and rebred. If replacement heifers are retained in an operation, emphasis on maternal traits such as milk and maternal weight are not always a primary concern. Additionally, a large
Congress returned to Capitol Hill facing a Dec. 20 deadline to approve a new funding resolution to keep the government operating, as well as potentially pass a disaster package and a farm bill extension before wrapping up the year.
While Congress is looking at another extension of the 2018 Farm bill, 17 Republican governors wrote to House and Senate leaders calling on them to pass a new farm bill now rather than wait for 2025.
In a letter dated Dec. 2, Republican governors warned the 2018 law will not meet the needs of the 2025 agricultural sector.
Governors penning the letter were from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.
If Congress fails to act on Jan. 1, 2025, “permanent law” goes into effect, reverting to commodity programs written into law in 1938 and 1949.
Gov. Mark Gordon invites the public to attend the 2025 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast featuring keynote speaker Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren.
Mercilessly bullied as a child, Wren responded by transforming himself into a champion mixed martial arts fighter. Despite his success, he quietly questioned the significance of his own athletic accomplishments, and each time his hand was raised in victory, he thought, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?”
As he fought his way to the top, battling neverending injuries, he slid into painkiller addiction, battled depression and attempted suicide.
It wasn’t until a chance collection of circumstances led Wren to one of the most remote places on Earth, to live in the rainforest among the Pygmy people – some of the most impoverished and marginalized people on the planet – he found his true purpose – helping others.
The Prayer Breakfast, a longstanding tradition spanning more than 70 years, will take place on Feb. 12, 2025 at 6:30 a.m. at the Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne.
Individual tickets can be purchased through the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast website for $50 each and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
To purchase tickets visit, wyoprayerbreakfast.org/
“First Lady Jennie Gordon and I are grateful for the continued support Wyomingites have shown for the prayer breakfast,” the governor said. “We are eager to host the 2025 event and join attendees in drawing inspiration from Wren’s experiences.”
portion of cattle producers in the Intermountain West graze cattle on public lands and are charged on a per head or per animal unit month basis, rather than accounting for actual body size.
A study at Utah State University compared economic differences of mature cow weights –1,000; 1,200 and 1,400 pounds – grazed at various resource bases common in the Intermountain West.
The results of the study showed when body weight was accounted for with grazing intensity, the smaller cows were the most efficient group and yielded the highest number of net returns across all resource bases.
Further, larger numbers of small cows could be maintained compared to medium and large groups on the same resources.
However, when grazing was managed on a per-head basis, as is common, the larger cow group generated the largest returns. These findings suggest grazing on a per-head basis may contribute to selection of larger cattle over time.
Cow size and pasture resources
For many operations, grazing plans and carry-
ing capacities have been long established. However, mature cow weights are not always recorded, and weight increases can go unnoticed. This can lead to an operation which runs the same number of cows on the same pasture resources grandpa did.
However, the needs of larger cows today aren’t the same as needs of smaller cows from the previous generations. Larger cows require more feed and more inputs.
With increasing cow sizes over time, producers may need to consider efforts to improve grazing efficiency to support increased forage consumption, including additional feed and supplement inputs to maintain larger cows or reduce their carrying capacity to account for body weight changes and the pasture resources available.
Tracking mature cow weights and establishing a baseline cow size would be a good first step in making sure pasture resources match grazing intensity.
Preg check or vaccination times might be good opportunities to also record cow weights. If access to scales is a challenge, averaging pounds from sale
receipts on cull cows can also be helpful. Cow size and reproductive efficiency
Larger cows have been known to have less longevity compared to smaller cows.
Oklahoma researchers found 1,400-pound mature cows have up to one less calf in their lifetime compared to 1,100-pound cows.
Smaller cows have also been known to grow their calves more efficiently as their calves gain weight faster relative to dam weight compared to calves from large dams.
Additionally, larger cows require additional nutrients for maintenance and milk production. Therefore, if the environment is left unchanged and stocking rates are not adjusted accordingly, this could lead to overgrazing and/or thin cows and calves that don’t perform as well over time.
If retaining heifers, the use of moderate-sized sires
with maternal traits may be a good tactic in mitigating increasing cow size. Purchasing replacement heifers with ideal maternal characteristics might also be a good strategy.
Summary Understanding how cow size affects production is an important part of the management puzzle. Balancing maternal and terminal traits is difficult but necessary, especially if cattle producers plan to retain their own replacement heifers.
Cattle producers should consider maternal traits along with production traits when selecting breeding combinations in the future. If mature cow size increases over time, producers should be aware of it and account for changes within their management plans.
Chance Marshall is a University of Wyoming Extension educator based in Fremont County. He can be reached at 307-332-2363 or cmarsha1@uwyo.edu.
this unit historically supported a small resident population or if lynx presence and reproduction were and are naturally ephemeral and intermittent. The area currently does not appear to support a resident breeding population.”
Still, the Wyoming Range reportedly has “small pockets of habitat on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the southern part of the GYA supporting high hare densities.”
FWS estimates the GYA could potentially support a population of 25 to 50 lynx “if sufficient habitat conditions and hare densities could be achieved and maintained, and a resident lynx population is established via translocation.”
But the plan doesn’t anticipate undertaking a translocation either. Instead, the plan tries to conserve potential refugia habitat to preserve future opportunities if necessary to prevent extirpation of lynx in the Lower 48.
Recovery plan
The recently released lynx recovery plan notes
lynx populations in the U.S. seem to function as subpopulations or southern extensions of larger populations in southern Canada.
The greatest threat to the species is global climate change, according to FWS, which threatens the longterm conservation of lynx as well as their boreal forest habitats.
The need for proactive forest management is emphasized in the recovery plan.
An updated species assessment conducted by FWS last year stated, “Past vegetation management and fire suppression with dramatic increases in the size, frequency and intensity of wildfires in the western U.S. over the past several decades – exacerbated by climate warming – suggest future vegetation management on federal lands in the West should be guided by a comprehensive lynx habitat conservation strategy which considers climate warming and a wildfire risk and fuel reduction strategy designed to increase forest resiliency and reduce the
likelihood of large, highseverity wildfires in important lynx habitats.”
The recovery plan focuses on retaining most existing lynx habitat, calling for no more than a five percent loss of habitat in a 20-year period.
“The five-percent threshold for permanent
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reductions in lynx habitat applies to anthropogenic changes to the habitat which convert it to non-forest or convert boreal forest to another vegetation type which does not provide lynx habitat,” the plan notes.
The plan has six focal areas including the GYA, but the GYA is the only focal area which lacks a breeding population of lynx and has no population objective to achieve recovery.
The other focal areas with lynx production are northern Maine and northeastern New Hampshire, northeastern Minnesota,
northwestern Montana and northern Idaho and southwestern Colorado.
According to FWS, “The Canada lynx is believed to have evolved from the Eurasian lynx in the last 200,000 years in North America as a snowshoe hare specialist, but with this narrow and specialized ecological niche, lynx likely have little ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.”
“All aspects of lynx life history are inextricably tied to the snowshoe hare, which comprises most of the lynx diet throughout its range,”
the agency reports. Although lynx are expected to remain listed as a threatened species in the Lower 48 over the next two decades, FWS reports, “Overall, even in a warming climate, the species is not considered to be at risk of extinction, despite uncertainty about how climate change might affect northern lynx and hare populations and cycles and those of other hare predators.” Cat Urbigkit is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Price: $15,000 DOB: 1/13/24 Sire: Cherry Crk Blue Collar G275 Dam’s Sire: Basin Payweight 1682 EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: +97, YW: +170 and Milk: +20 Buyer: Carr Angus, Hobson, Mont. Lot 20 – Diamond Blue Collar 9254 – Price: $15,000 DOB: 1/15/24
Two-year-old bulls
Lot 301 – Diamond Cavalry 9L03 – Price:
$27,500 DOB: 3/18/23
Sire: Diamond Cavalry 104 Dam’s Sire: JVC Discovery C05 EPDs:
BW: -0.2, WW: +96, YW: +165 and Milk: +29
Buyer: Sunny Okanogan Angus, Omar, Wash.
Lot 313 – Diamond Redemption 5L42 – Price: $22,000 DOB: 3/12/23
Sire: Foxhovens Redemption 142 Dam’s Sire: Diamond Rainmaker 139a
EPDs: BW: +1.5, WW: +77, YW: +134 and Milk: +24 Buyer: M&E Angus, Kimball, S.D.
Lot 302 – Diamond Hobson OL19 – Price:
$15,000 DOB: 3/23/23
Sire: CAR Hobson Dam’s Sire: 2XL Bronc 8153 EPDs: BW: +1.6, WW: +89, YW: +149 and Milk: +31 Buyer: L7 Ranch Ogallah, Kan.
Bull calves
Lot 5 – Diamond Man In Black 916M – Price: $18,000 DOB: 2/4/24
Sire: LAR Man In Black Dam’s Sire: JVC Cavalry V3326 EPDs: BW: +1, WW: +91, YW: +163 and Milk: +31 Buyers: John Latham, Camp Crook, S.D.
Lot 18 – Diamond Blue Collar 095M –
Sire: Cherry Crk Blue Collar G275 Dam’s Sire: Diamond Final Answer B832 EPDs: BW: -0.2, WW: +60, YW: +112 and Milk: +16 Buyers: Steed Angus, Plymouth, Utah and B&R Livestock, Bear River City, Utah Registered bred cow Lot 501 – Diamond Lady Denver H267 –Price: $10,000 DOB: 2/20/20 Sire: Basin Payweight 1682 Dam’s Sire: EXAR Denver 2002B EPDs: BW: +2.2, WW: +81, YW: +135 and Milk: +35 Buyer: Wichman Ranch, Hobson, Mont. Registered bred heifer Lot 609 – Diamond Glitter 993L – Price: $8,000 DOB: 2/17/23 Sire: 2XL Bronc 8153 Dam’s Sire: S A V Universal 4038 EPDs: BW: +2.2, WW: +78, YW: +132 and Milk: +28 Buyer: Carr Angus, Hobson, Mont.
However, PresidentElect Donald Trump states he would impose a 25 percent tariff on goods coming from Mexico and Canada when he takes office, unless they stop illegal immigration and “crime and drugs” crossing the border into the U.S.
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum reports mutual cooperation would be more fruitful than tariffs, while Canada Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau states he would meet provincial leaders to discuss how to approach the U.S.Canada relationship.
“On Jan. 20, as one of my many first executive orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent tariff on all products coming into the U.S. and it’s ridiculous open borders,” reads a post by Trump on his Truth Social platform. “This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs – fentanyl in particular – and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country.”
According to Trump, China will face tariffs on goods 10 percent higher than any existing tariffs until the country prevents the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S.
“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, especially fentanyl, being sent into the U.S. – but to no avail,” Trump posts on Truth Social.
In a Nov. 26 CNN report, Chinese Embassy Spokesperson Liu Pengyu states, “China believes the China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”
Impact of policy change
If enacted, the tariffs could have a negative impact on America’s supply chains and industries reliant on goods from the country’s closest trading partners.
Although Trump reports each country will pay tariffs, the fact remains they will be paid by companies who purchase imported goods, and those costs are typically passed on to the consumer.
During Trump’s first administration, he invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose tariffs on China.
His imposed tariffs ranged from 7.5 percent to 25 percent across four lists of imports totaling $550 billion in value and were maintained by the Biden administration.
But for agricultural producers, the concern lies not with how tariffs will be imposed, but rather how they will impact their operations.
According to USDA data, tariffs cost U.S. producers $27 billion in exports between 2018-19
while the Trump administration soothed the impact of these losses by distributing emergency funding to affected producers.
Ag industry could face challenges
“U.S. agriculture producers are bracing for the prospect of a fresh trade war. While they said any
new tariffs would hurt, they felt better prepared,” reads a Nov. 12 Farm Policy News article by Ryan Hanrahan.
“China is the largest market for U.S soybeans, but it has been trimming purchases, as U.S. agricultural exports to China fell 24 percent last year to $29.1 billion, according to the USDA. This is expected to fall further this
year, but China will remain a key market,” Hanrahan adds.
USDA Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Services Jason Hafemeister comments, “It’s a concern, but even in the last couple of years, we’ve recognized the potential for disruption in U.S.-China trade, and we have spent our efforts diversifying our
markets.”
He adds, “They need food, and we produce a lot of food. We hope things don’t spin out of control and they stay proportionate.”
Recently, the U.S. farm industry has sought to expand into Southeast Asia, Africa, India and beyond to expand valueadded products, but China’s size and appetite are hard to replace.
However, new tariffs could further shrink export markets at a time farmers are already experiencing lower demand for their commodities and raise prices for consumers as the U.S. becomes a net importer of food.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
a live tree, my advice would be to get one early for the best selection.”
The Christmas tree industry
According to the American Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), 75 percent of U.S. households – or 94 million homes – displayed a Christmas tree in 2022, and in a 2023 consumer survey, 94 percent of respondents planned to put up a Christmas tree the following holiday season.
Although statistics show more and more households prefer artificial trees, NCTA notes demand for live trees is still strong.
“Many families prefer a real farm-grown Christmas tree over an artificial tree made from PVC plastic in a factory in China,” NCTA states. “There are many reasons a real farm-grown Christmas tree is by far the best choice, including the
family experience of selecting a tree and the wonderful scent of a real tree.”
“Real Christmas trees are grown on farms in the U.S. and Canada and are natural and fully recyclable – easily the best choice for the environment,” NCTA adds.
According to 2022 data published by the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC), Christmas trees are grown on more than 16,000 farms in all 50 states sweeping across more than 292,050 acres.
The top five tree producing states include Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Washington and Pennsylvania, and the best-selling species include Fraser fir, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Balsam fir and Scotch pine.
“Almost all trees require pruning management to attain the proper branch and fascicle – twig and nee-
dle – density and a proper cone-shaped Christmas tree shape,” AgMRC explains. “Plantation production is the best system for delivering the regularly scheduled pruning, water management and general care necessary to produce the highest-quality product.”
AgMRC further notes maturity for harvest is usually determined after trees reach six to seven feet in height, and once mature, trees are “baled” – tied or wrapped to protect branches and retain overall shape and quality during shipping Wyoming tree permits
Live Christmas trees can be purchased at a wide variety of locations across the state of Wyoming, and individuals can locate live trees for sale near them using the NCTA’s Real Christmas Tree Locator at realchristmastrees.org
Those looking for more of an authentic tree cutting experience in the Cowboy State can purchase a Christ-
mas tree permit online at forestproducts.blm.gov or at a local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field office for $7.50 to $10 per tree, depending on location, for a maximum of five trees per individual.
Wyoming Christmas tree permits are only valid for trees less than 15 feet tall with a diameter of less than eight inches and located on BLM lands.
Trees may not be harvested from wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, timber sale areas, campgrounds, boat access sites or on private lands.
BLM recommends cutting local species such as subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine, which are often found growing in the understory of aspen stands.
“Christmas trees harvested from aspen stands and dense young stands will contribute to forest health and improve wildlife habitat,” BLM notes.
Tips for selecting a live tree
Whether purchasing a pre-cut tree or braving the Wyoming winter to cut their
cle large enough to transport the tree.
Texas-based Tanglewood Christmas Tree
Owner Jan Peery recommends selecting a perfectly imperfect tree with some character, including spots and holes.
“This is where that special ornament can be placed, versus having a full tree where ornaments can only hang from the tips,” Peery says in a Nov. 25 Farm Progress article written by Shelley Huguley.
From the time a tree is cut to when it is erected in
soon as possible. The tree must also be watered every day to keep it looking as healthy and vibrant as possible throughout the holiday season.
When the holiday season has come to an end, live trees can be recycled.
Peery suggests placing Christmas trees in bodies of water for fish habitat or chopped for mulch to use in flower beds.
Christmas trees can also be fed to sheep, goats, alpacas and chickens, as pine needles – in moderation – provide health ben
Gov. Mark Gordon and First Lady Jennie Gordon presented to conference attendees during the Wyoming Business Alliance’s (WBA) 2024 Governor’s Business Forum at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie on Nov. 12-14.
The First Lady presented an update on the Wyoming Hunger Initiative (WHI), which is addressing and finding solutions for the state’s food insecurity issue.
“Nearly 86,000 Wyoming residents struggle with food insecurity,” the First Lady stated. “We believe hunger in Wyoming is a problem that can be solved.”
WHI works to prevent food insecurity by increasing awareness and support for the work of local antihunger organizations statewide through innovative programs connecting likeminded organizations as well as funding support for local solutions.
The First Lady added, “Through collaborative efforts and several donations, the organization provided more than 250,000 beef snack sticks to Wyoming students in the 202324 school year, thanks to our Beef for Backpacks program.”
Beef for Backpacks provides snack sticks from local beef donors for weekend food bag programs across the state.
Supreme Court justice and was elected chief justice by her fellow justices, serving from 2010-14.
“This is so humbling, I am having a hard time finding the right words,” Kite said. “I know this – I have had so many opportunities in my life made possible by many of you in this room today, and I am filled with gratitude.”
Kite went on to describe how her father, who grew up in poverty, became her role model as he gave back to his community by finding projects where he could make a difference.
“Whether it was a bond issue for a local swimming pool for the kids or beginning the United Way in Laramie, he created ways to help the community,” she added.
Governorʼs keynote
The 41st Governor’s Business Forum concluded with a presentation from the governor on Wyoming’s future.
“In the 1980s, it was really dark in Wyoming. People could barely make a go at it,” Gordon stated. “I remember when the interest rates were at 18 percent. But then in the 1990s, we saw some growth until 2008 when things collapsed again. We have seen it all.”
form of regulations and challenges, but now Wyoming is in the position to become an incredible leader,” he added.
Gordon recapped areas Wyoming is excelling in and discussed how the state can continue to make things better.
He mentioned, “It’s all connected, from education to our workforces to building communities, it all makes Wyoming a better place to live for us and for the next generation.”
After the presentation, Gordon sat down with WBA President Renny MacKay and discussed the supplemental budget proposal, which he released after the forum to limit ongoing spending, including only $6.5 million in ongoing expenditures, much of it as the result of inflation.
In the wake of an historically devastating wildfire season, the governor has prioritized replenishing the state’s depleted firefighting accounts, as well as ensuring funds are available to help restore watersheds and habitat and replace lost agricultural infrastructure.
The Wyoming stable token will be backed by cash, U.S. Treasury securities and repurchase agreements held in reserve.
In the Wyoming Stable Tokens Act, interest income generated on the underlying securities, will be used to diversify state revenue streams, with capital distributed to Wyoming’s school foundation program.
“What is really interesting to me is we can utilize stable tokens within the framework of Wyoming, which means we are protected from the overreach of the federal government, allowing Wyoming’s banks to lead in what is coming next in terms of new technology in the financial sector,” he added.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Gordon continued, “I worked with the Trump administration, the Biden administration and now back to a Trump administration, which means Wyoming has an incredibly bright future and opportunity to utilize innovation over regulation.”
Gordon stated, “Out of $220 million in one-time spending in the supplemental budget, a large portion is specifically dedicated to address the 2024 wildfire season.”
According to the governor’s website, $140 million is specifically dedicated to firefighting and restoration efforts.
“We have some big
According to the First Lady, “The 307 Meat Company in Laramie processes the donated beef, the Wyoming Stock Growness and the Daniels Fund.
Recipients are selected for this prestigious award based on the Daniels Fund ethics initiative principles which include integrity, trust, accountability, transparency, fairness, respect, rule of law and viability.
Kite, who grew up in Laramie, was selected for this award due to her commitment to public service and continued display of integrity.
Her distinguished career included working for the Wyoming Attorney General, Holland and Hart law firm and holding a long tenure on the Wyoming Supreme Court from 2000-15. She was also the first woman in Wyoming to serve as a
Wind River Conservation District and Martin Curry of the Laramie Rivers Conservation District.
Laramie County Conservation District employee certification recipients were Kathy Cooney and Ann Sanchez.
Concluding this year’s district employee certifications were members from the Medicine Bow Conservation District including Ralph Brokaw, Todd Heward, Quade Palm and Kristen Tilley.
Water quality certification
The WACD Water Quality Monitoring Training and Certification Program was established in 1998 with the goal of ensuring district personnel were well trained to collect high-quality data which meets the credible data statute.
Four employees completed the requirements for certification including Amanda Konowski and Janet Hofmann of Washakie County Conservation District and Sarah Anderson and Bridget Helms of Crook County Natural Resource District.
To maintain certification under the WACD Water Quality Training Program, employees conducting surface water sampling are required to attend a recertification training and pass a field audit every four years.
Dawn Arnell of Little Snake River Conservation District, Kari Sabey of Uinta County Conservation District, Lisa Ogden of Natrona County Conservation District and Jessie Halverson of Crook County Natural Resource District were all honored for maintaining their certifications by passing their four-year field audit.
Outstanding individuals honored
This year, the Converse County Conservation District was the recipient of the Outstanding Annual Report Award, with honorable mention going to the Laramie Rivers Conservation District.
The Converse County Conservation District was also awarded the Outstanding Annual Plan of Work, with honorable mention going to the South Big Horn Conservation District.
The Educator of the Year Award recognizes any educator of a public or private school system who takes extraordinary steps to ensure a balanced natural resource conservation education is delivered in the classroom, and this year’s award winner was Amanda Furnival of Clear Creek Conservation District.
The Outstanding Cooperator Award recognizes landowners and stewards who exemplify conservation of Wyoming’s working lands, and this year’s award winner was Mike and Tara Miller of Miller Land and Livestock in Big Piney.
The Millers have a deep passion for their livestock, the cowboy culture, their
land and wildlife.
The Outstanding Technician Award is given to an individual who is active in the field of natural resource conservation and provides technical assistance on natural resource stewardship.
This year’s winner was U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Employee Curtis Johnson of Lovell.
He has worked hard to support local farmers and ranchers and assist with various state organizations.
He has completed water monitoring training to help the local district manager during the primary recreation season and has assisted with various water monitoring activities.
Poster and photo contest winners
Recipients of the 2024 Poster Contest were Drew Jester of the Converse County Conservation District winning the kindergarten through first grade category, Claire Page won the second through third grade category and Emmi Grimes Beckworth won the fourth through sixth grade category, both of the Washakie County Conservation District.
Abigail Ostrander won the seventh through ninth grade category and Ava Ostrander won the 10th through twelfth grade category, both of the Converse County Conservation District
Each poster contest winner received a certificate and a $100 prize, and each poster has been forwarded to the National Association of Conservation Districts to compete in the national poster contest where winners will be announced at the national convention in February 2025.
WACD also offered a photo contest as part of the annual awards program to showcase the photography talents of those in Wyoming’s conservation community.
In the Conservation Practices photo category, Janet Hofmann won with her “Armor to the Soil” photo, while Sally Gray’s photo “Lockhart” secured her a win in the Close-Up Conservation photo category.
In the Conservation in Action photo category, Holly Dyer won with a photo titled “Range Camp Leaders Always Look Down,” while Lisa Shaw won with her “Next Gen in Ag” photo in the Conservation in Ag Across America photo category.
Outstanding Elected Official and Conservationist awards
The Outstanding Elected Official Award recognizes elected officials who have made extraordinary efforts to assist in promoting and representing conservation districts and their programs.
This year, the Outstanding Elected Official Award went to House Speaker Albert Sommers (R-20) of Pinedale.
Sommers is a Wyoming
native who has dedicated much of his life to public service and is a great example of civic involvement.
He has served his state in many capacities including by serving on the Wyoming Livestock Board and has been recognized multiple times for his dedication to conservation.
The Outstanding Conservationist Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to the field of
ral resource conservation, and this year’s winner was USDA NRCS District Conservationist Kenny
of
personal background in agriculture,
of service to
Continued from previous page recognizes a conservation district employee who has gone above and beyond their position requirements, as well as their community and civic involvement.
This year’s award recipient was Shari Meeks from the Sublette County Conservation District.
Meeks has been part of the WACD family since 2015 and strives to make her district one of the best in the state.
The next award given was the Darrell Walker Outstanding Supervisor of the Year which recognizes one of the elected conservation district supervisors from across the state who have been exceptional in their ser-
vice as a conservation district official as well as their other community service and civic involvement.
This award is named in honor of Sublette County Conservation District Supervisor Darrell Walker, Wyoming’s longest serving district supervisor.
This year, Arlen Lancaster of the Popo Agie Conservation District received the honorable award for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to the WACD.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
Colorado’s gray wolves are still making big movements almost one year into reintroduction efforts, as the wolves continued to enter watersheds throughout Lake, Summit, Grand, Routt, Jackson, Rio Blanco and Garfield counties, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) November report.
Compared to the last map, the wolves were pinged in more locations to the north in Jackson and Routt counties, including the watershed around Steamboat Springs, Colo. where they hadn’t been in October, as well as additional watersheds in Grand County and between Eagle and Garfield counties.
Currently, Colorado has nine known wolves on the landscape, six from the 10 reintroduced last December, two in Colorado before reintroduction and one uncollared pup from the Copper Creek pack.
The pack’s other four wolf pups and adult female remain in captivity and three of the reintroduced wolves have died – one from a mountain lion attack in April, one from a wolf attack in September and another in September whose cause of death is still being investigated
At a Nov. 5 meeting in Glenwood Springs, Colo., CPW Statewide Wolf Conflict Coordinator Adam Baca stated, “With those big move-
ment patterns, what we’ve seen is they’re looking for food in these movements. They’re looking to set up shop. They’re looking for a good home.”
Colorado is preparing to release up to 15 more wolves this winter from British Columbia between January and March 2025.
In November, the agency met with four counties who are being considered for these releases, but following the meeting, Rio Blanco County was removed from the list, leaving Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties as potentials.
On Nov. 26, Tim Ritschard, president of the Middle Park Stockgrowers, sent a letter to several British Columbia officials on behalf of 26 industry organizations and associations, asking them to reconsider supplying Colorado with up to 15 wolves.
“The program has not been good for the wolves or for the ranching community,” Ritschard said in the letter. “Your deferral would benefit the wolves and avoid your becoming embroiled in this controversy.”
The letter was signed by 22 organizations including four new groups – the Rocky Mountain Bison Association, Wyoming Stockgrowers Association, the Gunnison County Farm Bureau and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association.
Laramie, Albany County, Wyoming
6,281± total acres; 5,019± deeded, & 1,262± State lease acres. Live water via Spring Creek & Sand Creek, 89± acre private lake
Reduced to $4,950,000
Mark McNamee (307) 760-9510 or Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025
Torrington, Goshen County, Wyoming
521.78± acres with 420± acres under three pivots with wells. Improvements include grain bins and 1,440 sq. ft. Morton home.
$2,700,000
Cory Clark at (307) 334-2025
Lusk, Niobrara County, Wyoming
1,775± deeded acres. Scenic draws, excellent hunting, and custom built improvements.
$3,175,000
Clark & Associates at (307) 334-2025
Cheyenne,
Laramie County, Wyoming
35± acres with 5,947 sq. ft. fully custom brick home with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and 3 car garage. Adjacent to TT&T Equestrian Arena. Broker-owned property.
$1,450,000
Mark McNamee at (307) 760-9510
Lusk, Niobrara County, Wyoming
7,162± total acres; 5,882± deeded & 1,280± State lease acres. Live water, multiple improvements.
$8,675,000
Clark & Associates at (307) 334-2025
Lusk, Niobrara County, Wyoming
5,387± total contiguous acres; 4,107± deeded & 1,280± State lease acres. Over 3 miles of year round creek. Exceptional hunting.
$5,500,000
Clark & Associates at (307) 334-2025
Today, the couple travels across the West showcasing their craftmanship at various events and sheep festivals.
Restoration
One of the biggest projects for McGilvray Farms has been the construction of two stagecoaches which can be viewed at area museums.
“We have our work displayed in two locations in Kansas – the Fort Wallace Museum in Fort Wal-
lace, Kan. and Fort Larned in Larned, Kan. Each have a stagecoach we rebuilt for them,” he added. “Everything is curved so we had to bend the wood which takes time, and more than 1,000man hours went into building just one stagecoach.”
It is a long process, but the final product is a work of art, as many have described the McGilvrays’ craftmanship.
As historic sheep wagons – the traditional home on the range – take on new popularity, Mike and Dona are filling the need for those who are looking to customize their antique sheep wagons.
Restoration teams, such as the McGilvrays, are utilizing their talents to bring history back to life.
Mike said, “It took us about a year to finish a sheep wagon which we will be delivering to Casper soon, but it takes time to restore or rebuild all of our wagons, coaches and wheels as they all are handcrafted.”
The McGilvray shop has a plethora of traditional hand tools and equipment, but they do not utilize any threedimensional computer tools in their restoration process.
“Wood wheels are a major part of what we do, and we build everything out of hard wood like ash or hickory. Very little pine is used when we are restoring or building new spoke wagon wheels,” Mike added. “We have a full line of wheel building equipment and can do whatever anybody wants.”
Building and restoration efforts have been the family’s focus, and this has reached outside of traditional Western equipment.
“We’ve restored a couple of old trucks we’re pretty proud of too” Mike said. “Other projects
Austin Snook • 307-290-2161
Taylor Snook • 307-290-2273
Craig Deveraux • 307-746-5690
Dan Catlin • 406-671-7715
Clint Snook • 307-290-4000 Cheyenne Seymour • 605-641-0638
include signs, yard benches, ornate handles-fixtures and more. We’ll try to build or restore whatever anybody asks us to do.”
The couple has also restored or built from
Kyle Kallhoff • 605-881-1526
Casey Sellers • 307-217-2614
Jim Forbes • 307-351-5932
Tye Curuchet • 307-351-8666
Daniel Escoz • 307-217-1440
Kade Kinghorn • 307-620-0525
"From the ring, to the video, and in the
Thank you and we appreciate your business!
scratch a variety of carriages, buggies, box wagons, freight wagons, covered wagons, surreys and doctor’s buggies.
“We can make almost anything anybody wants or needs,” Mike concluded.
“And we construct everything with the greatest pride and craftsmanship.”
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
continued from page 2
assessments for current expenses shall be based upon irrigatable acreage.
Further subdivision of an original farm unit creates additional farm ownership if the ownership of the subdivided portion has changed.
Looking for hidden pictures
The arid lands of Wyoming have become productive and have flourished. Wyoming people put the water to beneficial uses such as in agriculture, municipality, industry and recreation.
The largest irrigation project in Wyoming is in Park County. Farmers such as my husband and I depend on water and the Wyoming state water laws to protect our farming rights.
The towns of Cody, Powell, Deaver and Lovell all depend on the availability of water.
The output of the agricultural sector in Wyoming exceeds $2.45 billion annually with Park County ranking first in barley and sugarbeet production, second in dry bean production and fifth in corn.
Nationally, Wyoming ranks in the top 10 for pinto beans, barley, all dry beans and sugarbeet pro-
duction, which is quite impressive.
I would like to conclude my brief recollection of the history of our beloved town and state by sharing a story my mother told me:
People in a small European town blessed themselves passing a certain town wall. They couldn’t give any explanation why they did this, other than a tradition passed down by their elders.
One day, town workers were cleaning the wall, and as they scraped, they found a mural of Mary and the child Jesus. This explained the reason for reverence and homage to the town wall.
As we scrape the pages of history and look for the hidden picture behind green fields of crops we are blessed with today, we understand the wisdom of western water laws written by Elwood Mead and the 1902 Act of Congress, and we can appreciate the benefits of water and agricultural promotion in western states.
Klodette Stroh is the sugar chairman for Women Involved in Farm Economics. She can be reached at strohfarms@ tritel.net.
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor Nov. 26, 2024
Paint Rock Angus Ranch, Hyattville
Auctioneer: Joe Goggins
161 Angus Bull Calves Avg. $7,017
14 SimAngus Bull Calves Avg. $6,089
Top Sellers
Lot 25 – Paintrock
Emblazon 388-916-4 –Price: $21,000 DOB: 1/14/24 Sire: Paintrock Emblazon 388-1 Dam’s Sire: TR Mr Comrade 6029D EPDs: BW: -0.2, WW: +63, YW: +111 and Milk: +24 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Newcastle
Lot 14 – Paintrock
Coalition 465-4 – Price: $15,000 DOB: 1/21/24
Sire: U-2 Coalition 206C
Dam’s Sire: PRA 4097
2195 EPDs: BW: +2.4, WW: +63, YW: +114 and Milk: +25 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Newcastle Lot 30 – Paintrock Emblazon 388-10094
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor Nov. 29-30, 2024
PAYS, Billings, Mont.
Auctioneers: Roger Jacobs, Joe Goggins, Ty Thompson, Bill Cook and Greg Goggins
163 Fall Yearling Bulls Avg. $12,445
129 Two-Year-Old Bulls Avg. $8,868
89 Registered Seven-Year-Old Bred Angus Cows Avg. $6,360
69 Registered Bred Heifers Avg. $5,083
Nine Registered Fall Pairs Avg. $7,028
49 April Calving Commercial Bred Angus Cows Avg. $3,877
1,393 Commercial Bred Heifers Avg. $3,302
58 Commercial Bred Cows Avg. $2,781
Top Sellers
Fall yearling bulls
Lot 2 – Vermilion Conclusion L754 – Price:
$40,000 DOB: 8/21/23 Sire: V A R Conclusion 0234
Dam’s Sire: Casino Bomber N33 EPDs: BW: -0.5, WW: +84, YW: +152 and Milk: +35 Buyer: Griffin Land and Cattle, Billings, Mont.
Lot 3 – Vermilion Conclusion L845 – Price:
$40,000 DOB: 8/16/23
Sire: V A R Conclusion 0234 Dam’s Sire: Connealy Doc Neal EPDs: BW: +0.2, WW: +77, YW: +138 and Milk: +30 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Newcastle Lot 11 – Vermilion G077 Bomber K807 – Price: $20,000 DOB: 8/17/22 Sire: Vermilion Bomber G077
Dam’s Sire: KR Joe Canada 5372 EPDs: BW: +4.5, WW: +81, YW: +145 and Milk: +17 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Newcastle
Lot 7 – Vermilion Conclusion L846 – Price: $40,000 DOB: 8/9/23 Sire: V A R Conclusion 0234
Dam’s Sire: Casino Bomber N33 EPDs: BW: +2.1, WW: +96, YW: +168 and Milk: +23 Buyer: Double H Cattle Company, Ten Sleep Lot 100 – Vermilion Dynasty L764 – Price: $24,500 DOB: 9/4/23 Sire: Vermilion Dynasty Dam’s Sire: Casino Bomber N33 EPDs: BW: +3.3, WW: +103, YW: +169 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Bob Stoddard, Newcastle Lot 8 – Vermilion Con-
Dairy
– Price: $15,000 DOB: 1/16/24 Sire: Paintrock
Emblazon 388-1 Dam’s
Sire: Vermilion Reride
G909 EPDs: BW: -0.8, WW: +62, YW: +110 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Diamond Tail Ranch, Greybull Lot 48 – Paintrock Double 07-671-8244 – Price:
$12,500 DOB: 2/28/24
Sire: Paintrock 007-671-2
Dam’s Sire: Paintrock
Trapper EPDs: BW: +0.6, WW: +66, YW: +110 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Marcus Geis, Worland Lot 58 – Paintrock
Bulldogger 821-4 – Price:
$12,500 DOB: 1/17/24
Sire: PRA Bulldogger 1197
Dam’s Sire: C/C Cash Flow
EPDs: BW: -0.1, WW: +50, YW: +94 and Milk: +31
Buyer: Greg Shawcroft, La Jara, Colo.
clusion L839 – Price:
$21,000 DOB: 8/15/23 Sire:
V A R Conclusion 0234
Dam’s Sire: Casino Bomber N33 EPDs: BW: +2.6, WW: +95, YW: +168 and Milk: +24 Buyer: Ridl Angus, Dickinson, N.D.
Lot 1 – Vermilion Conclusion L838 – Price:
$20,000 DOB: 8/15/23
Sire: V A R Conclusion 0234 Dam’s Sire: Connealy Doc Neal EPDs: BW:
+0.5, WW: +86, YW: +152 and Milk: +23 Buyer: King Farms, Malin, Ore.
Lot 6 – Vermilion Conclusion L804 – Price: $20,000 DOB: 8/15/23 Sire:
V A R Conslusion 0234
Dam’s Sire: Vermilion Spur
E119 EPDs: BW: +1.7, WW: +101, YW: +179 and Milk: +26 Buyer: Laflin Cattle, Olsburg, Kan.
Registered bred cows
Lot 341 – Vermilion Edwina 7078 – Price:
$58,000 DOB: 2/4/17 Sire: Sitz JLS Game Day 9630
Dam’s Sire: S A V Privilege 3030 EPDs: BW: +0.3, WW: +67, YW: +112 and Milk: +20 Buyer: ZWT Ranch, Crossville, Tenn.
Lot 366 – Vermilion JK
Lass 7222 – Price: $30,000 DOB: 2/16/17 Sire: Vermilion Playmaker Y290
Dam’s Sire: Connealy Right Answer 246 EPDs: BW: +1.7, WW: +63, YW: +108 and Milk: +30 Buyer: Ken Beck and Sons, Dallas, S.D.
SPEAKERS : National Policy Issues
Courtney Briggs AFBF Senior Director of Government Affairs
The Importance of Beef Quality Assurance
Steve Paisley, University of Wyoming-SAREC
Using Your Financials to Measure Your Operation Robbie Alexander, Farm Credit Services of America
Drawing
Reported By: Curt Cox, WYLR Field Editor Nov. 25, 2024
The Berry’s Hereford Ranch, Cheyenne Auctioneer: Joe Goggins 68 Two-Year-Old Hereford Bulls Avg. $7,735
Top Sellers
Lot 28 – B Big Valley
28L – Price: $17,500 DOB: 3/27/23 Sire: YV 8Y Valleygrown ET 62G Dam’s Sire: NJW Long Haul 36E ET EPDs: BW: +3.7, WW: +68, YW: +116 and Milk: +37 Buyer: Grizzley Ranch, Walden, Colo. Lot 85 – B Kingdom 85L – Price: $16,000 DOB:
4/6/23 Sire: Churchill Kingdom 128J ET Dam’s Sire: LW 177R Domino
616D ET EPDs: BW: +1.6, WW: +63, YW: +94 and Milk: +32 Buyer: Shaffer
Livestock, Rock River Lot 123 – B Big Valley 123L – Price: $13,000 DOB: 4/23/23 Sire: YV 8Y Valleygrown ET 62G Dam’s Sire: KT Small
Town Kid 5051 EPDs: BW: +3.5, WW: +66, YW: +115 and Milk: +31 Buyer: Lerwick Brothers, Albin Lot 1 – B Slammer 1L – Price: $12,000 DOB: 3/16/23 Sire: B Slammer 50H Dam’s Sire: NJW Long Haul 36E ET EPDs: BW: +4.7, WW: +69, YW: +111 and Milk: +32 Buyer: Meyring Livestock, Walden, Colo. Lot 72 – B Big Valley 72L – Price: $11,500 DOB: 4/2/23 Sire: YV 8Y Valleygrown ET 62G Dam’s Sire: NJW Long Haul 36E ET EPDs: BW: +3.4, WW: +59, YW: +96 and Milk: +30 Buyer: Bob Swift, Walden, Colo.
Hamilton Ranch Inc. - Hyattville
1 Blk Bull, 1455# $14750
Friesen, Travis - Basin
1 SimX Bull, 1970# $14600
Snyder, Steven - Worland
1 Red Bull, 2140# $14400
Anderson, Sawyer - Manderson
1 CharX Bull, 2405# $14400
1 Blk Bull, 2095# $13300
Greer, Lory Ross - Hyattville
1 Red Bull, 2020# $13000 BULL CALVES
Johnson, Hans - Powell
1 BWF Bull Calf, 300# $34000 BRED COWS
Fox Ranch - Salt Lake City
22 Blk Bred Cows $1820/Hd. COWS
Winters, Scott - Otto
1 Blk Cow, 1415# $13100
PAR Ranch - Meeteetse
1 Blk Cow, 1290# $13100
Greer, Lory Ross - Hyattville
1 Blk Cow, 1655# $11900
2 Red Cows, avg. 1163# $11250
Hamilton Ranch Inc. - Hyattville
1 Blk Cow, 1520# $11700
Brubaker Sheep Co. - Ten Sleep
1 Blk Cow, 1250# $10600
1 Blk Cow, 1255# $9450
Bull Creek Farm - Cody
1 BWF Cow, 950# $10450
Jones, Stanley - Otto
2 Sptted Cows, avg. 1148# $10250
Miller, Jacob - Worland
1 Blk Cow, 1320# $10100
McCumber, Donald - Thermopolis
2 Red Cows, avg. 1153# $9050 HEIFERS
Fox Ranch - Salt Lake City
2 Blk Hfrs, avg. 535# $26750
PAR Ranch - Meeteetse
1 Blk Hrfr, 615# $23750
Pitchfork Ranch LLC - Meeteetse
19 Blk Hfrs, avg. 1000# $17500
7 Blk Hfrs, avg. 1038# $17500 HEIFERETTES
Brubaker Sheep Co. - Ten Sleep
1 Blk Hfrette, 1250# $11100 HEIFERS CALVES
Hurrican Cattle Co. - Riverton
7 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 325# $42500
7 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 479# $30000
Hoffman, Ron - Thermopolis
56 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 318# $42250
Broken Back Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep
5 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 317# $41400
27 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 433# $35900
Harris, Shawna - Kinnear
4 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 361# $37500
17 BWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 481# $29200
6 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 624# $26600
Johnson, Helen - Frannie
2 Red Hfr Clvs, avg. 430# $33100
Tucker, Dwayne - Ten Sleep
3 BWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 422# $33000
Scolari, Shawn - Thermopolis
13 Red Hfr Clvs, avg. 592# $28000 Preis, J. Gordon - Emblem
11 BWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 446# $30400
3 BWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 538# $27250
Lara, Dustin - Worland
3 RWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 420# $29500 Sage Creek Land & Cattle - Worland
3 RWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 455# $29500
16 BWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 582# $27900
Split Rock Land & Cattle - Worland
36 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 571# $29300
Nielson, Hunter - Worland
34 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 586# $28500
Miller, John - Worland
6 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 573# $28400
Anesi, Lawrence - Lander
3 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 493# $28250
Henderson, Tye - Powell
10 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 606# $27700
Friday, Sr., Sanford - Arapahoe
7 BWF Hfr Clvs, avg. 604# $26800
Robertson, Bruce - Crowheart
6 XBred Hfr Clvs, avg. 516# $26500
Triple C Hay Farms - Riverton
3 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 650# $26000
5 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 657# $24900
Wilkinson, Kurt - Basin
3 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 625# $25000
Christofferson, Neil - Powell
7 Red Hfr Clvs, avg. 564# $25000
McCumber, Cort - Thermopolis
3 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 607# $24700 STEERS
Fox Ranch - Salt Lake City
1 Blk Str, 750# $25000
Rio Bravo Cattle Co. - Colo Springs
2 XBred Str Clvs, avg. 618# $24800
Twitchell, Samuel - Lovell
1 Blk Str Calf, 890# $18250 STEER CALVES
Broken Back Ranch Co. - Ten Sleep
8 Blk Str Clvs, 350# $47000
47 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 455# $40900
35 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 527# $36000
9 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 607# $31800
Hoffman, Ron - Thermopolis
36 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 296# $46750 Lake, Jerry - Thermopolis
6 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 353# $45000
Hurricane Cattle Co. - Riverton
5 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 321# $44750
5 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 356# $43250
11 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 431# $39750
8 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 563# $33250
Robertson, Bruce - Crowheart
3 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 320# $44500
Tucker, Dwayne - Ten Sleep
3 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 308# $42750
5 BWF Str Clvs, avg. 412# $40500 Wiechmann, Jason - Ten Sleep 13 Blk Str Clvs, avg. 428# $42500
44 Blk Str Clvs,
Collegiate Discussion Meet FOR REGISTRATION, HOTEL INFORMATION, AND AGENDA GO TO
Agriculture Policy WyFB Staff TOURS: CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 2, 2025
5 Blk Hfr Clvs, avg. 383# $31000 Greer, Lory Ross - Hyattville
7 Red Hfr Clvs, avg. 494# $30400
Consignments • Dec. 12 • All Class Cattle & Added Feeder Special
Mark Redland – 25 black steers, 500-600#, weaned.
Doug Miller – 9 mixed black, mosty heifers, 350-500#, shots at branding, weaned October.
Ron Hoffman – 100 black and red, mixed, 300-500#, shots at branding.
Sorensen Ranch – 250 black steers, 120 black heifers, 350-450#, two rounds of shots, weaned Oct. 1.
TD Farms – 125 mixed black, 450-550#, two rounds of shots, weaned Sept. 17. Dec. 19 • Bred Cow Special w/ All Class Cattle, Sheep & Goat
Mike Riley – Complete One Iron Herd Dispersal, fancy Red Angus, home raised.
165 bred red cows, CF Feb. 1, bred to red bulls, over half are 3 - 6 YO (85 head)
30 bred heifers, CF Feb. 1, bred to LBW red bulls
4 trich tested Red Angus bulls
TD & Sons – 45 ST bred cows, CF March 10, top 45 out of 80 head, 2014 models, bred to Vermilion and Paint Rock bulls.
45 4 - 5 YO bred cows, CF March 20, top end out of 80 head, bred to Paint Rock & Davidson bulls
Dec. 5-14
Dec. 7-11
2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas. For more information, visit nfrexperience.com
American Association of Equine Practitioners 69th Annual Convention, Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit convention.aaep.org
Dec. 9-11 Wyoming Stock Growers Association Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show, Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center, Casper. For more information, visit wysga.org
Dec. 10-12
Nebraska Ag Expo, Lancaster Event Center, Lincoln, Neb. For more information, visit nebraskaagexpo.com
Dec. 14 Lynch Performance, LLC Rodeo Extravaganza, 6:30 p.m., Sioux Falls, S.D. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit @LynchPerformanceLLC on Facebook.
Jan. 7-10, 2025 33rd Annual No-Tillage Conference, Louisville Marriott Downtown Hotel, Louisville, Ky. For more information or to register, visit no-tillfarmer.com
Jan. 11-26 National Western Stock Show, National Western Complex, Denver, Colo. For more information, visit nationalwestern.com
Jan. 15 Beef Cattle Research Council Foot and Mouth Disease Webinar, 7 p.m., online. For more information or to register, visit beefresearch.ca
Jan. 15-18, American Sheep Industry Association Convention, Scottsdale, Ariz. For more information, visit sheepusa.org
Jan. 16-18 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmer and Rancher Conference, Cody. For more information, visit wyfb.org
Jan. 22-25 National Bison Association Winter Conference, Omni Interlocken Hotel and Resort, Broomfield, Colo. For more information, visit bisoncentral.com
Jan. 24-25 National Bison Association 2025 Gold Trophy Show and Sale, National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colo. For more information, visit bisoncentral.com
Feb. 4-6 CattleCon 2025, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit convention.ncba.org
Feb. 5-21 2025 Clear Out West South America Cruise. For more information, call 855530-0131.
Feb. 6 University of Wyoming 2025 Ranching in the West We Can All Be Heroes in Our Own Lives Seminar, 5-7 p.m., Ag and Equine Center, Central Wyoming College, Riverton. For more information or to register, contact Dr. Randall Violett at rviolett@uwyo.edu or 307-766-4239.
Feb. 11-13 World Ag Expo, Tulare, Calif. For more information, visit worldagexpo.com
Feb. 12 Beef Cattle Research Council Foot and Mouth Disease Webinar, 7 p.m., online. For more information or to register, visit beefresearch.ca
Feb. 12 2025 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, 6:30 a.m., Little America Hotel and Resort, Cheyenne. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit wyoprayerbreakfast.org
Feb. 20 University of Wyoming 2025 Ranching in the West Continuing the Legacy: Energy, Innovation and the Future of Ranching Seminar, 5-7 p.m., Roundhouse and Railyard, Evanston. For more information or to register, contact Dr. Randall Violett at rviolett@uwyo.edu or 307-766-4239.
Lewistown - 150 Bred Cows - Complete Dispersion
mostly 9 yrs & older, blk/bwf bred blk, APRIL 1 to Reisig & Stevenson bulls
Harlem - 150 Bred Hfrs
blk bred blk, synched & AI’d for MARCH 24 to Ellingson Badlands, all home raised, top cut of replacement hfrs
Sun River - 155 Bred Hfrs
blk bred blk to Diamond D Angus bulls, MARCH 1 / APR 1, ultrasounded for cycle
Augusta - 110 Bred Hfrs
blk bred blk, MAY 10 for one cycle
Circle - 50 Bred Hfrs
red & rwf, AI bred Red Angus to calve APR 1 for 10 days
Geraldine - 44 Bred Hfrs
blk bred blk to St, MARCH 10 for 60 days
Lewistown - 11 Bred Hfrs
blk bred blk to Gateway SimAngus bulls, APR 15 - MAY 15
Visit website for consignment updates & videos!
Office: 406-535-3535
Kyle Shobe, Owner/Manager: 406-366-0472
Joel Sewell, Field Rep: 406-788-9396
Scott Gardner, Field Rep: 406-855-2661
Internet Bidding @ www.LMAAuctions.com Serving the Heart of Central Montana since 1951.
Dec. 9
Hollow Top Angus Third Annual Production Sale, Montana Livestock Auction, Ramsay, Mont., 208-365-8862, 303-513-9058, 406-552-0491, hollowtopangus.com
Dec. 9 Cross Diamond Cattle Company Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, Bertrand, Neb., 308-991-2452, crossdiamondcattle.com
Dec. 10
Dec. 10-11
Dec. 11
Dec. 13
Dec. 14
Rock Lake Angus Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, Wheatland, 307331-1175, 406-600-7514, rocklakeangus.com
PAYS Annual Blue Ribbon Stock Cow and Bred Heifer Special Sale, PAYS, Billings, Mont., 406-245-6447, publicauctionyards.com
Shipwheel Cattle Company 16th Annual Bull Sale, at the ranch, Chinook, Mont., 406-357-2492, shipwheelcattle.com
Bowman Cattle Ranch-Ready Rugged Two-Year-Old Bull Sale, Sugar Valley Stockyards, Gering, Neb., 307-287-6503, 307-575-4992, bowmancattle.com
Amdahl Angus Fall Bull and Female Production Sale, at the ranch, Rapid City, S.D., 605-999-6487, 605-929-3717, amdahlangus.com
Dec. 16 The Wyoming Angus Association 14th Annual Wyoming Select Female Sale, hosted online by anguslive.com, 307-630-1593, wyomingangus.org
Dec. 19
Jan. 6, 2025
Jan. 11
Jan. 16
Jan. 18
Jan. 21
Jan. 23
Bobcat Angus 20th Annual Production Sale, Western Livestock Auction, Great Falls, Mont., 406-937-5858, 406-788-3272, 406-788-3244, bobcatangus.com
Western Video Market, North Platte Stockyards, North Platte, Neb., 530-3473793, wvmcattle.com
Rafter T Angus Annual Bull Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307736-2415, 307-299-4569, raftertangus.com
Ingalls Angus and Quarter Horses Annual Production Sale, Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, 307-349-3097, 307-349-1894, 307-690-7557
Redland Angus Annual Range Calved-Range Raised Production Sale, Buffalo Livestock Marketing, Buffalo, 307-250-1548, redlandangus.com
Ken Haas Angus 44th Annual Right Combination Bull Sale, at the ranch, LaGrange, 307-834-2356, kenhaasangus.com
Marcy Livestock 63rd Annual Angus Bull and Female Sale, Gordon Livestock Auction, Gordon, Neb., 308-430-2005, marcylivestock.com
Past Postcards concerning a World War II prisoner of war (POW) camp at Ryan Park in the Snowy Range of southcentral Carbon County has prompted several personal accounts, as well as other stories written over the years.
During this time, there was a great shortage of young men to perform the work in sawmills and the woods, as most of them had been drafted or enlisted in the armed forces.
R.R. Crow, the owner of the sawmill and logging operations in Saratoga, requested POWs to perform these duties. His request was granted, and Italian and German prisoners were stationed here from 1943-46.
In previous Postcards, we have reported several stories concerning the World War II POW camp near Ryan Park, with the following by Neal Ward being one of our favorites.
In the early 1940s, my dad went to work in one of the horse barns on Brush Creek where the POWs would cut and skid logs to the road for transport to the mills to be cut into lumber. He had two POWs to assist him with horseshoeing, harness repair, feeding and care of the horses.
He said these men were outstanding horseshoers. They would fit the shoe to the hoof and then heat it and burn it into the hoof to seat it before nailing it in place.
I remember one of the men’s names was Wilhelm
Vogt. My dad called him Bill. He spoke English fairly well, and a friendship developed I couldn’t begin to understand.
My older brother was in Europe fighting Germans, and my father was treating one of them as if he was our neighbor.
Wilhelm told my dad he was from a fairly welloff family, and his parents had sent him to Switzerland to avoid the war. He said one day he received a letter telling him to return to Germany and the Army or his parents would be executed.
Eating horse meat had long been a common practice in Europe, but looked upon as the ultimate, despicable sin in the U.S., especially in the western U.S.
A tree fell on a skid horse, breaking its back, and it had to be shot. Some of the prisoners immediately started to butcher it, but were sent back to work by the guards.
At every opportunity,
the POWs cut meat from the dead horse. It became such a problem, the commanding officer finally posted a guard near the horse to keep prisoners from eating it.
The two men working for my dad obtained some of the meat some way or another and asked if they could use his skillet to cook the horse flesh. He was horrified anyone would even eat horse meat, but to call it flesh made it sound even worse to him. I don’t recall, but I don’t think he let them use his skillet.
When the POWs first started skidding logs with horses, they unbuckled every strap on every harness at the end of the day when they took the harnesses off. The following morning, every harness had to be put back together before they could go to work.
This went on for several days. Some people thought the prisoners didnt know much about working horses, but one must wonder if this wasn’t a planned work slowdown, as work horses were in common everyday use in Italy and Germany.
This is just a short part of the story concerning POWs who worked in Wyoming during the World War II. Additional information can now be found in a couple of new books and on the internet.
Source: USDA- CO Dept of Ag Market News Service, Greeley, CO Wyoming Hay Summary As of December 5, 2024
According to producers movement and demand is light for this time of year all over Wyoming. According to the Wyoming Crop Progress Report, as of November 24th, 2024, other hay 2nd cutting is 93% harvested, pasture condition is 8% good condition and 22% fair condition. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor Website most of Eastern Wyoming is under extreme dry soil moisture. Western Wyoming is moderately dry to severe dry soil moisture. According to the National Weather Service Website precipitation was lower than normal for this time of year. Temperatures have been normal for this time of year.
to weak. Demand was good in the western side of the state with mostly light demand in all other areas. Still appears to be quite a lot of 2023 and 2024 hay inventories in many areas. Some farmers are baling cornstalks and selling them for less than baling cost just to get the “trash” off their fields. With the open fall and winter just around the corner, cows have been able to graze in open fields and limited supplementation has taken place. Some producers of hay with a cow herds are starting to think about not selling anymore hay as drought conditions are in the back of many minds. Some ranchers continue to liquidate cow herds adding more downward pressure to a stagnate hay market.
last week. 19.12% of the state is in Extreme drought or worse, up 5.16% from last week. 0.81% of the state is in Expectational drought, down 0.09% from last week. Notably, 99.29% of the state is abnormally dry, down 0.71% from last week.
-
Montana Hay Summary
As of November 22, 2024
Compared to last week: Hay sold generally steady. Hay movement was steady this week and buyers continue to report good interest. Supplies remain heavy as most are buying hay in small single load lots. Demand from horse buyers is good, however these sales are mostly single or partial load sales and not a large percentage of the market. Demand for hay remains light to moderate. Unseasonably warm weather continues to be seen across much of the state and many cows remain out on pasture. Some snow fell across the northern portions of the state but snowfall totals remain light. Cooler weather is expected over the next week, however temperatures remain above average for late November. As a result hay usage remains drastically curbed this fall. Demand for dairy hay has lightened some. A heavier supply of dairy hay is available in Montana due to good weather this fall which allowed producers to put up lots of high quality hay. Feedlots showed some interest for high quality dairy quality hay but are not willing to pay what western dairy’s are purchasing hay for. Offerings are coming in from feed lots above feeding quality (Utility to good), however offerings remain under what dairies purchased hay for earlier this fall. Old crop hay and straw remains on the market and producers are struggling to move this hay as many report offerings are under production cost. According to the drought monitor 59.24% of the state is in Moderate drought or worse, up 0.80% from last week. 36.70% of the state is in an Severe drought or worse, down 0.99% from
Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News, Billings, MT
307-234-2700 • 1-800-967-1647 • Fax: 307-472-1781 • E-mail: jodym@wylr.net or denise@wylr.net Website: www.wylr.net.
NOTICE: Publication in this newspaper does not guarantee the legitimacy of any offer or solicitation. Take reasonable steps to evaluate an offer before you send money or provide personal/financial information to an advertiser. If you have questions or believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit, 109 Capitol Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307-777-6397 TFN
AKC BERNESE MOUNTAIN
DOG CHRISTMAS PUPPIES:
All first shots, microchipped and vet checked. Ready just in time for Christmas!! $1,000. Call or text 605-680-2571. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 12/14
BEAUTIFUL BORDER COLLIE
PUPS FROM GOOD WORKING STOCK and have great companion pup temperaments. Black and white rough coats available to active homes with room to run, $600, available early December with delivery possible. Call 208595-8343 12/14
COW DOGS FOR SALE, $500. Call 307-272-5507 12/21
HEELER/BORDER COLLIE
TOP NOTCH BLACK ANGUS HEIFERS BRED TO LK
BULLS: Four head calving March 20-25, 2025, average weight 1,045 lbs. Eleven head calving April 3-15, 2025, average weight 1,060 lbs. Seven head calving May 8-15, 2025, average weight 1,025 lbs. TOP NOTCH BLACK ANGUS HEIFERS AI’D TO SILVER BOWL: Seven head calving March 1-10, 2025, average weight 1,040 lbs. SOLID BLACK ANGUS RUNNING AGE COWS, 3-11 YEARS
OLD: Ten cows bred to LK bulls calving March 5-April 23, 2025. One cow bred to LK bulls calving May 13, 2025. Contact Joe, 970-629-0757 12/7
FAITHFUL FEEDERS: Heifer development, backgrounding, and grass calf prep. Billings, MT. Call Ryan, 406-696-0104 4/12
paid out at 6 months and 1 year of employment. If you are interested stop by and fill out an application or visit our
www.gottschcattlecompany.com Come Join the Gottsch Livestock Feeders Family! Gottsch Livestock Feeders is looking for Cowboys/Pen Riders for their feedyard in Red Cloud, NE. The main focus of the Cowboy/Pen Riders are spotting, pulling, diagnosing and taking cattle to the hospital and shipping fat cattle. This person will need to be a team player who is seeking a long-term
or
haying and farming. Mechanical skills are a must. Farming duties include: Swathing, baling and raking hay, etc. THIS IS NOT A COWBOY POSITION, but applicant will need to assist in all aspects of cattle work as well. Those duties include calving heifers, feeding hay, branding and gathering, etc. Nearest big town is 60+ miles and nearest K-12 school is 30+ miles away. Housing is provided and on a school bus route. Please send resume with references by mail or e-mail to: PeeGee Ranch, 1251 Lower Powder River Road, Arvada, WY 82831, pgranch@rangeweb.net. Call 307-736-2461 12/28 ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE FINANCING. Great service!! Great rates!! Call Chuck Brown at C.H. Brown Co., WY LLC, 307-3223232 (office), 307-331-0010 (cell) or e-mail chuckbrown@ wyoming.com 12/7
AGRI-ONE FINANCIAL: Farm/ ranch and all commercial loans. RATES AS LOW AS 5%. We have been helping with all aspects of agricultural, commercial financing and management for years. LET US HELP YOU on a consulting level with management to increase profitability, deal with and fix credit problems and for all your financing needs. WE CARE AND HAVE WORKING PROGRAMS designed for the farmer/rancher and not the banker. Please call Steve, 303-773-3545 or check out our website www.agrionefinancial.com. I will come to you and get the job done!! 12/28
REGISTERED
WYOMNG
BRAND: RSC, registered until 2027. Single iron. $1,200 OBO, 2 irons available. Call 307-461-0356.
WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LSC. Ear marks available, dewlap registered with brand. No cattle with brand. $2,000 OBO. Call 307-365-1393. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 12/28
PUPS FOR SALE: Variety of colors. Parents onsite. Will make good farm/ranch/livestock dogs and companions. Western Nebraska. Delivery arrangements available, $200 OBO. Call Johnny, 308-279-2419. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 12/21
WANTED RECIP COWS: Must be open!! Two to 6 years old, Red Angus or Angus-based cows. For more information, call Corie Mydland, 406-855-5598 (cell), Trans Ova Genetics 12/7
SEVENTEEN AI BRED BLACK ANGUS HEIFERS TO CALVE MARCH 1: These girls are deep bodied, medium framed, moderately fleshy and weighing 1,050 lbs. 100% AI bred to Beartooth Atlantis and Sitz Dignity. Ranch developed, handled horseback and with 4 wheelers. Electric fence broke. Full modified live vaccine program since weaning or before. Located in southeast Wyoming. For photos and video, call 970-556-5657 12/7
180 BLACK ANGUS BRED HEIFERS: South Dakota origin, OCVD, exposed to proven LBW Black Angus bulls for 45 days. Start calving Feb. 1, 2025. References available. Call 785-3941955 (cell), 785-394-2374 (home) or 785-731-5067 12/14
FOR SALE: Pure Black Angus bull calves average weaning weight 733 lbs. Herd has been AI’d since 1969. Sold as pure but not registered. Call John Gerstner, 307-366-2911, Ten Sleep, WY 12/14
FOR SALE 82 FANCY BLACK ANGUS BRED HEIFERS, 1,050 lbs., 30 day calving window from approximately March 15 to April 15. Bred to 100% registered calving ease Black Angus bulls from top producers, i.e. Sitz, Walter, TJS and Beartooth Angus. Bulls chosen for strong maternal characteristics, good feet and structure, longevity in the cow herd and performance in the feedlot. Ranch developed at Woods Landing, WY. For photos and video, call 307-760-3837 12/7
FOR SALE: 125 registered and commercial Blank Angus and black baldy BRED HEIFERS. Two groups AI bred to our 2 new herd bull purchases: SCR Feat 202K and GB Mogul M64J, 2 elite calving ease bulls. Two groups pasture bred to “sleep all night” low birthweight, calving ease performance Angus bulls. AI bred: Group #1 due March 15. AI Group #2 due March 28. BULL BREDS: Group #1 due April 7 for 21 days. Group #2 due April 15 for 14 days. Group #3 due May 1 for 30 days. Vaccinated, poured/ dewormed. Full mineral program. Available FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Pictures and videos available. Delivery and volume discounts available. MILLER ANGUS FARMS, Estelline, S.D. Kody, 605-690-1997, Brady, 605-690-5733 or Greg, 605-6904399 1/11
LOOKING FOR 200 HEAD OF COWS on a year-round basis, 45 years’ experience. Full care, $55/month. Epp Cattle Company, Lisco, NE. Call 308-778-6104 12/7
LOOKING TO ACCOMMODATE AND FEED CATTLE THIS WINTER: Are you looking to make winter accommodations for your cattle? Our ranch is located in southwest South Dakota and we are looking to bring on additional cattle for the winter. We have an established facility on 340 acres. This includes 2 feedlots, an extensive corral system and a dedicated calving barn. Feel free to text or call Tony, 231-392-1744 12/14 Meat Processing
SUMMER GRASS PASTURE WANTED for 50-200 head of cattle. Call Taylor at 307-3312145 12/7
PASTURE WANTED for 2,000 yearlings and 500 pairs. Can split into smaller bunches. Call 701-523-1235 12/7
WANTED GRASS FOR YEARLINGS
and socks…. KENETREK riding packs. WE CAN ship!! Shop Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack, 4648 West Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY; 307-472-1872. Our family serving yours for 50 years!! Check us out on Facebook or our website 12/7
ALFALFA HAY FOR SALE VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Hay available. Go to www.valleyvideohay.com or call Barry McRea, 308-2355386 12/7
1st, 2nd and 3rd Cuttings
Located 20 Miles East of Kaycee, WY at Sussex
$175/ton
Call Lynn Cowden
806-663-6320
2024 FIRST CUTTING HORSE
QUALITY HAY: Timothy/orchard/ brome with a bit of alfalfa at 14% moisture, 80 round bales averaging 1,450 lbs./bale. Located in Clark, WY. No rain. Barn stored. $175/ton. Call 847-420-9615. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 12/14
HAY FOR SALE: 2023 and 2024, alfalfa, sainfoin, grass and combine grass/straw. Small squares and 3x3x8 bales. Test results available for 2023 and 2024. Will load 3x3s in open truck and trailer. Call 307-250-6005 12/28
HAY FOR SALE: Very fine stemmed alfalfa, good horse hay, 3x4x8 bales, 200 available. Call for pricing, 307-254-0152, Rivers Bend Ranch LLC, Greybull, WY 12/28
CERTIFIED WEED-FREE
PURE ALFALFA HAY: Small squares, covered. 2023 first cutting available for a reduced price. 2024 first, second and third cutting available. Will load trucks and any open trailer. MONIDA OATS, $16/cwt. Combine run. Will auger into truck, trailer or large totes/ag bags. Located between Powell and Cody, WY. Call or text Knopp Farms for details, 307-254-0554 1/4
HAY FOR SALE: 2023 milo and grass/alfalfa. 2024 first cutting 90% alfalfa/10% grass mix, grass mix, grass/alfalfa, millet, milo, CRP cut early, green and high, non-raked and clean. All in net-wrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, ask for Klint, 701-2904418, send a text if no answer or keep trying 12/28
BARLEY STRAW: Certified weed-free small squares, $4/bale. ALSO, 5x6 round bales, $125/ton. GRAIN OATS, wheat and barley, $20/cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307-762-3878 or 307-899-4714, leave message 12/28
HORSE QUALITY GRASS
HAY, third cutting, 3x4 square bales, $200/ton. ALFALFA HAY, second cutting, round bales, $175/ton. OAT/PEA MIX HAY, round bales, $150/ton. COW HAY, nice green millet, 3x4 bales, $110/ton. Square bales barn stored. Tests available. Lusk, WY. Call Paul Hicks, 970-203-5019 12/28
GRASS AND ALFALFA HAY FOR SALE: Cow and horse quality. Large quantities!! Small squares, 3x3 square bales and 3x4 square bales. Delivery available!! Call 307-630-3046 12/28
CLEAN ALFALFA AND SOME BARLEY HAY FOR SALE in Riverton, WY area with some trucking available. Call 307851-4532 12/21
200 tons 2023 GRASS/ALFALFA in large rounds, cut slightly mature but baled green!! Also, selling 2024 LR CERTIFIED WHEAT STRAW and 200 tons MILLET HAY. Will deliver!! For sale by Cheyenne, WY area producer. Call 307-630-3768 12/21
HAY FOR SALE: 600 tons total of first, second and third cutting straight alfalfa. Tests available, RFV 140-184. Hay is located between Basin and Otto, WY. ALSO, 200 tons of certified barley straw available as well. All in 3x4 bales. Call 307-254-3456 12/21
ROUND-BALED GRASS: 2023
$40/bale; 2024 $50/bale. 1,000 lb. net-wrapped bales. Cody, WY area. Call, don’t text, Anthony at 307-254-2645 3/1
LOTS AND LOTS OF HAY FOR SALE!!! Alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mix, straight grass (crested wheat and native grasses), winter wheat, 1,300-1,350 lb. netwrapped round bales. Deliveries are available if needed or come and get it. Sheridan, WY area. Call the ranch, 307-737-2680 or 702-501-4243 (cell) 12/21
GRASS HAY FOR SALE: 3x4 bales, some barn stored, some outside. No weather damage. ALSO, alfalfa hay for sale 3x4 bales. Barn stored hay, $150/ton. Outside hay $125/ton. Test available upon request. Riverton, WY. Call 307-709-6290 12/21
WE HAVE SMALL SQUARE 21-BALE BUNDLES TO OFFER: First, second and third cutting straight alfalfa. First and second orchard/brome grass. First and second cutting alfalfa and grass bales average 53 lbs., third cutting alfalfa bales average 63 lbs. Prices: First cutting alfalfa, $147/bundle or $7/bale (no rain) tests supreme. Second cutting alfalfa, $126/bundle or $6/bale (price reduced due to some rain) tests premium. Third cutting alfalfa, $210/bundle or $10/bale (no rain, very leafy) tests high supreme. First cutting grass, $126/bundle or $6/ bale (no rain). Second cutting grass, $189/bundle or $9/bale (no rain, all leaf, very nice). All hay is either stored inside or covered outside. Able to load semi flatbeds and dry van trailers. Hay analysis upon request. Located in Powell, WY. Call Scott, 307-272-4570. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 12/21
GRASS HAY FOR SALE: 2023 crop, 3x4x8 bales, 1,200 lbs., $100/ton. 2024 crop, $135/ton. Call Kelly Foianini, don’t text, 307-780-7027 or Bronson Foianini, 307-7602263, Lyman, WY 12/7
STRAW FOR SALE: 250 TONS OF BARLEY STRAW, 4x4 squares, $50/ton. Located west of Powell, WY. Call or text 307-202-0532 for more information 12/14
MILLET AND BARLEY HAY, 4x4 square bales for sale, $135 and $140 a ton. ALSO, have third and fourth cutting alfalfa available. Located near Douglas, WY. Call 307-3514175 12/14
HORSE QUALITY GRASS HAY, 3x4s barn stored, $175/ ton. 2024 GRASS COW HAY, 3x4s barn stored, $135/ton. 2023 GRASS COW HAY, 3x4s barn stored, $115/ton. Encampment, WY. Call 307321-1444 TFN
CERTIFIED WHEAT STRAW FOR SALE, large round bales. Call 303-898-8496 or 303-500-2685 12/28
CERTIFIED BARLEY STRAW FOR SALE, 3x4 bales. Cody, WY. Call 307-899-1952 TFN
HAY FOR SALE: 250 tons of first year, first cutting alfalfa, 4x4 bales, $110/ton. 200 tons of first year, second cutting alfalfa, 4x4 bales, $150/ton. Call 307-765-4393, near Greybull, WY area 12/28
ALLOWAY STALK CHOP -
PER: Model WR18, 8 row, side discharge. Field ready, $8,200 OBO. Call 303-651-2665 or 720-413-3707 12/28
FOR SALE: John Deere 2155 diesel tractor, wide front, 3 pt., with fenders and hydraulics. John Deere 3020 gas tractor, with fresh overhaul, fenders and 3 pt. Landoll 36’ cushion gang disc with 3 bar mulcher. 2016 Mack (day cab), automatic transmission, MP7 engine, air ride, A/C, cruise control, 185” wheelbase, 488,000 miles, very clean truck, runs great. 2015 Freightliner, automatic transmission, DD13 engine, 178” wheelbase, 490,000 miles, runs and drives nice. Miller Pro 5100 18’ chuckwagon with bunk feeding extensions and tandem running gear. H&S 7+4 18’ and 16’ chuckwagons with bunk feeding extensions and tandem 14 ton running gear. John Deere 716A chuckwagons with John Deere running gear and bunk feeding extensions, been shedded, nice condition. 24’ portable ground hay/bale feeder. 12’ HD box scraper with tilt. Farm King 8’ snowblower with hydraulic spout. All in very nice condition!! Call 605-999-5482 12/14
CATERPILLAR 12E
with a set of chains. Clean machine. Near Rapid City, S.D., $19,000 OBO. Call Bill Maher, 605-391-6526, e-mail bevillage66@yahoo.com 12/7
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE, FARMER
RAIL TIES: #1-9 ft., #1 and #2-8 ft. Used culverts: Three foot, 2 ft., 18” and various lengths. Call 307-630-2345 or 307-534-5253 12/7 LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING AGRI-BUSINESSES SINCE 1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buck-and-rail, western rail, fence stays, rough-sawn lumber, bedding. SEE US at www.lodgepoleproducts. com and click our “Picking A Fence Post” tab to see why folks choose our posts!! TFN
PIPE FOR SALE!! 2 7/8”, 3 1/2” tubing, 4” drill pipe, 4 1/2” casing, 5” casing, 7” casing. Rods 3/4”, 7/8” and 1” located in Montana, can ship anywhere. Call Mike, 602-758-4447. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 2/22
OILFIELD PIPE: PRICE REDUCED!! RPJ Enterprises, Inc. 2 3/8”, 2 7/8” and 4.5” is available, pricing is coming down. Used for fencing, corrals, cattle guards, etc. 2 3/8” and 2 7/8” are on average 31.5’ long per joint. Pierce, CO. Call for details, 970-3244580 1/11
Hunting &
The
715-ACRE LIVESTOCK FARM
IN THE BIG HORN BASIN with 4 pivots irrigating 541 acres with free water. Functional improvements, 4 bedroom home, larger shop with attached apartment, livestock barn, large metal building, metal equipment building, corrals and feed pens. $2,950,000. RuraLands Real Estate, frank@ruralands.com, 307-851-2426 12/7
GOSHEN COUNTY, WY: Selling 640 acres of pasture grass near Torrington, WY. This is a State of Wyoming Grazing Lease. A 10-year lease with the right to renew. Excellent native grass. No improvements. One well. Selling is the leasehold right. $185,000. NEW PRICE!! 3,316± DEEDED ACRES consisting of improved meadow grass and lush hard grasses. Run 250± cows through 12 pastures. Outstanding condition. Nice home plus excellent corrals and calving facilities. Natural tree-lined draws for livestock protection. LaGrange, WY. $3,900,000!! 1,230 ACRES OF PRIME AGRICULTURAL NON-IRRIGATED FARMLAND: Soils consist primarily of silt and sand loams. Located east of Hawk Springs, WY along the Wyoming/Nebraska state line. Professional care is dedicated to optimizing soil health. Divisible into smaller parcels to meet your investment needs. No improvements. $1,100,000. Pictures and video at www.buyaranch. com. Call Casey Essert, Land Broker, 307-532-1750 TFN
NORTHEAST OREGON, THE DLX RANCH: Located near Baker City, OR the DLX is noted as one of the most productive and finest ranches around. It is well balanced and contains 17,000 deeded acres with 4,000 acres of irrigated meadows and cropland. Native and improved rangeland provides good spring and summer pasture. The ranch is well improved with nice homes, excellent livestock working facilities and is noted for its production and ease of operation and management. Abundant water and over 6 miles of the Powder River running through the ranch provide for not only production but unbelievable waterfowl and upland game bird habitat. The ranch also provides good populations of elk and mule deer. Situated in the heart of the Baker Valley, the ranch enjoys very scenic mountain views and is very private yet only a short drive to Baker City, OR. Currently operated as a commercial cow/ calf operation with a permitted feedlot. The ranch would also make an ideal yearling or combination operation. It is rare to find this quality of a ranch and particularly a property that is a going concern. This is a first-time offering and we look forward to hearing from you. $32,500,000. Livestock and rolling stock available by separate treaty. Please give us a call for further information, Greg Sackos, 541-5234434 (office) or 208-598-0267 (cell), Intermountain Realty, www.intermountainland.com 12/28
SEVERAL DOZEN TRAPS FOR SALE: Sizes, 1, 11/2, 1/34, 2 and 3. Some new, some dyed, night latched and tension set. Some with extra-large pans for mink and muskrats. A few conibears also, 110, 160, 220 and 330. A colony trap and poles. Stretchers, stakes-cable and rebar. Other equipment also available. Call Frank, 307-331-4251 12/7
90-rd. quick loading block case, ammo, $500. .357 MAG S&W 686 PLUS SS 7-shot, 7-inch barrel, unfluted cylinder, lightly used, $850. 10mm, 16+1-shot RIA 1911 A2, 2-mags, adj. sights, like new, $650. Text/ask-photositems, 307-381-9020 12/14 Copper
DEC. 11-13: PETSKA FUR WILL BE BUYING ALL RAW/ DRY FUR DEER/ELK HIDES AND ANTLER IN THE FOLLOWING TOWNS AND LOCATIONS: DEC. 11: Bill 6:30-6:45 p.m., Bill’s Store (drive thru, call/ text Greg). DEC. 12: Wright 6:50-7:20 a.m., Exxon Big D on S. 387; Newcastle 8:30-9:15 a.m., Voelker’s Body Shop; Sundance 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m., Rapid Stop; Moorcroft 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m., The Coffee Cup; Gillette 12:30-12:50 p.m., T&T Guns and Ammo; Gillette 1:10-1:40 p.m., Rocky Mountain Sports. DEC. 13: Sheridan 7-7:40 a.m., Sportsman’s Warehouse; Buffalo 9-9:20 a.m., Good 2 Go; Ten Sleep 10:50-11:20 a.m., Pony Express; Hyattville 12:10-12:30 p.m., Paint Rock Processing; Manderson 12:50-1 p.m., Hiway Bar (drive thru, call/text Greg); Basin 1:151:30 p.m., Overland Express Mart (drive thru); Greybull 1:452 p.m., Overland Express Mart (drive thru); Lovell 2:40-3 p.m., Good 2 Go; Powell 3:30-3:50 p.m., Murdoch’s; Cody 4:204:50 p.m., Nature’s Design Taxidermy; Meeteetse 5:45-6 p.m., Elk Horn Bar (drive thru, call/text Greg). For more information, call Greg, 308-750-0700 or visit www.petskafur.net 12/7
DEC. 14-15: PETSKA FUR WILL BE BUYING ALL RAW/ DRY FUR DEER/ELK HIDES AND ANTLER IN THE FOLLOWING TOWNS AND LOCATIONS: DEC. 14: Worland 7-7:30 a.m., Coop One Stop; Thermopolis 8:30-8:50 a.m., Renegade Guns; Shoshoni 9:30-9:50 a.m., Fast Lane (NW corner, drive thru); Riverton 10:20-11:15 a.m., Vic’s Body Shop (behind the Dollar Tree); Hudson 11:30-11:45 a.m., Wyoming Custom Meats (drive thru, call/text Greg); Lander 12:30-1 p.m., Zander’s One Stop; Jeffrey City 1:50-2:10 p.m., Split Rock Café (drive thru, call/text Greg); Muddy Gap 2:20-2:40 p.m., truck stop (drive thru, call/ text Greg); Casper 3:45-4:15 p.m., Wagner Outdoor Sports; Glenrock 5 p.m., Sinclair (drive thru, call/text Greg). DEC. 15: Douglas 7-7:20 a.m., Douglas Feed; Orin Junction 7:40-7:50 a.m., truck stop (drive thru, call/ text Greg); Lost Springs 8:158:30 a.m., Main St. (drive thru, call/text Greg); Lusk 9-9:30 a.m., Decker’s Grocery; Alliance, NE 12:45-1 p.m., Petska Fur Shop (drive thru, call/text Greg). For more information, call Greg, 308-750-0700 or visit www.petskafur.net 12/7
BUYING 200-300 JACKRABBITS PER MONTH AT $10/ EACH: I pay shipping. E-mail ohminocat@gmail.com or call Dave at 406-529-1080 for further details 12/7
by Lee Pitts
We were in the middle of a bell-ringer of a bull sale with one guy in my section bidding on every bull that came through the ring.
None of us ringside had ever seen him before, so we figured he must be a big bull buyer from out of state but he really didn’t look the part. He was wearing a blue shirt with a name patch over his heart which had “Frenchy” embroidered on it, so he looked more like an auto mechanic than he did a rancher. Later, a friend told me he saw Frenchy getting out
of a bread delivery truck, which meant Mr. Frenchy Bread had a lot of dough –but it turned out to be the wrong kind of dough. Something didn’t feel right about the guy. I didn’t like the fact he stood in the very back of the barn. Serious bidders usually camp closer to the ring where their bids can be easier to spot, and they can look at the animal – but real pros never sit in the front row where it’s easier to get doused with fecal matter by bovines with manuresoaked mops for tails.
Frenchy sure seemed to be enjoying all of the attention directed his way, and the comely daughter of the breeder kept him well supplied with donuts and soft drinks. It worked because at this point Frenchy was the contending bidder on several bulls which sold for over $8,000 when the average was closer to $3,000.
At this point I got nervous, so I sent a brief note to the auctioneer suggesting, “Sell the guy a bull.”
The auctioneer must have had his doubts too, and shortly thereafter, a bull entered the ring that was a perfect candidate.
He looked like he was put together by a committee with one right foot pointed north and the other due west. His numbers were mediocre at best, and he had such a sour attitude, mothers drew their small chil-
dren to their bosoms and grown men cowered in fear.
The second Frenchy raised his hand to open the bidding, the auctioneer quick-hammered his gavel and said, “SOLD!”
When he was announced as the winning bidder, Frenchy turned whiter than North Dakota in a blizzard and snuck out the back of the barn as I expected he might.
I finally ran him down to get his bidder number as he was trying to leak into the landscape, and when I caught up with him at the door of his bread truck, I said, “I need your bidder number.”
He uttered the most feared words in the auction business, “Oh, I was just trying to help.”
It seems Frenchy was the much-dreaded auction junkie who had seen a
poster on a telephone pole and followed the signs to the sale. Frenchy got hot flashes by living vicariously and seeing how many times he could bid without getting caught.
It was a game, and I’d encountered his kind before.
Meanwhile, I dragged my tail back into the barn where everyone was waiting on me before we could proceed.
Instead of being smart and yelling out, “The guy was just swatting at flies,” or “He was just scratching his nose,” I pulled a dumb stunt and told the truth.
“The guy said he was just trying to help,” I said.
A brouhaha ensued when all of the buyers realized they’d just paid an inflated amount for their bulls because a bread truck driver ran the price up. Nat-
urally, the bull buyers wondered if there’d been some sort of foul play, but the breeder insisted Frenchy was not a member of his immediate family.
If you see Frenchy at a sale, please be advised he’s a wanted man – both by the authorities and a bunch of ranchers who’ve formed their own posse and would like nothing better than to string him up at a necktie party.
Since I was blamed by the conspiracy theorists for my role in the incident, I took the first opportunity to leak out of the landscape too, so I don’t know if the breeder made a price adjustment or not.
But, I did notice the following year we had a light crowd and there was a sign at the ranch entrance which read, “NO HELP WANTED.”
In a brief filed on Nov. 29, attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to deny Utah’s motion, stating the argument doesn’t hold water and the state fails to meet the criteria allowing a petition directly to the nation’s high court rather than going through lower courts first, the brief claims.
Filed in August, a Utah lawsuit questions whether the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
can indefinitely hold on to land without giving it a designation.
The lawsuit claims the federal government lacks the constitutional power to hold the land “in perpetuity over the state’s objection.”
Currently, the BLM controls about 18.5 million acres of what the state calls “unappropriated land” in Utah. The land is leased for grazing, recreation and mineral extraction but lacks a formal designation.
National parks, national monuments, national forests, Native American reservations or wilderness areas have a designation, and therefore are not considered “unappropriated.”
However, about 34 percent of the entire state meets the state’s definition of “unappropriated,” much of it found in remote western Utah, but the federal government responded to Utah’s lawsuit saying the state’s legal challenge is “without merit.”
After a successful spring season, the University of Wyoming’s (UW) collegiate meat judging team finished the year with an impressive fall performance.
Members of the team include Jordan Anderson of Centre Hall, Pa.; Kristy Benjamin of Boulder, Colo.; Kaitlyn Brandenburg of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Aida Hester of Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo.; Assistant Coach Tessa Maurer of Arvada, Colo.; Coordinator McKensie Phillips; Joe Mills of Peyton, Colo.; Stella Ordahl of Savage, Minn.; Emi Ramirez of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Hailey Rasmussen of Estes Park, Colo.; Koy Stanley of Midland, Texas; Sarah Turner of Cheyenne and Samantha Waller of Basalt, Colo.
The UW team finished in the top 10 overall in all four contests they competed in during the fall season. They achieved both
individual and team successes, particularly in their last two tournaments.
In their third contest of the season, the team finished third in lamb judging at the Cargill High Plains Meat Judging Contest in Friona, Texas.
Brandenburg, Hester, Mills, Rasmussen and Turner each earned a perfect score in the specifications division. Brandenburg also finished second in the beef grading category, third in overall beef and first in the placings division, earning her a 10th place overall finish.
The UW team’s final contest of the year – the American Meat Science Association’s International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest – took place in Dakota City, Neb. The team again won third in lamb judging, and two students finished in the top 10.
Hester achieved seventh place, and Turner finished ninth overall.
At the end of the fall season, judgers from each collegiate team honor one of their members who
exemplifies the work ethic, teamwork and supportive attitude
director of the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program. The UW meat judging team nominated Ordahl
CALVES
Arapahoe Ranch- 700 Blk AngX Strs & Hfrs 450-550#. High elevation. IMI Global certified. No hormones. Weaned 45-60 days. Hay fed. Sired by Diamond Peak & small % Colyer Hereford bulls. Very high quality!
Dode Givens- 130 Blk Ang Strs 475-550#, 70 Blk Ang Hfrs 450-500#. Rec vista once SQ, Nasalgen, and 7 way @ branding. 100% Lucky 7 Black Ang Sired. Reputation, green, high desert calves with genetics!!
Double L Ranch- 150 Blk Ang Strs & Hfrs 500-600#. Rec Pyramid 5 + Presponse & 8-way spring & fall. Knife cut. Weaned. 100% Blk Ang sired. Sired by Powerful Blk Angus bulls. Select genetics to perform! High desert & fancy!
Firnekas Ranch- 100 Blk Ang Strs & Hfrs 500-550#. Rec 7way & Bovishield Gold 5 @ branding. High desert, one iron calves!
Jim Burnett- 100 Red Ang Strs & Hfrs 450-525#. Rec 7 way w/Somnus, Nasalgen 3 & Vista Once SQ @ branding. High desert.
Larry & Bob Anderson- 45 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 325-375#. Comp vacc @ branding. High elevation. Fred Nelson- 35 Blk Ang Strs & Hfrs 550#. Rec Vision 7 w/Somnus @ branding. Hellyer Ranch & Pokorny Ranch bloodlines. Nice calves!
Dan McKee- 20 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 500-600#. Comp vacc spring & fall. 45 days weaned out on meadows. Good green calves!
Jeff Aullman- 14 Blk Ang & AngX Strs & Hfrs 325400#. Rec Ultrabac 8, Inforce 3 & Ivermax. Green, High elevation calves!
YEARLINGS
Britt Givens- 45 Blk Ang & AngX yrlng Strs & Hfrs 500700# Nathan & Molly Meyer- 25 Blk & Red Ang Spayed Yrlng Heifers. 850-950#. Green, high desert, running on grass