WyomingLivestockRoundup

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Last Updated on Saturday, 16 March 2013 00:00

Written by Jennifer Womack

What was your first car? It’s a fun question to ask people and a question that’s been floating around here quite frequently. As Bryce nears the driving age, he’s giving much thought to a “new” set of wheels.

“How about this pickup?” he’ll ask me, pointing to the latest car catalog he’s plucked from the newsstand.

“Ever heard of a Vega?” I reply. “They came in the nicest orange, complete with a hatch back. Ours had a Mr. Magoo bumper sticker on the dash. I wonder if that car is still in the country?”

“Hey, Mom, check out this Mustang,” he says pointing to another page in what is starting to feel like an endless lineup of cars.

“How do you feel about the Chrysler Cordoba?” I reply. “They were last made when Ronald Reagan was president.”

“Corvette?” queries Bryce.

“No way, but what do you think of the old style Chevy Impalas? Your Dad had one in high school. He says you could fit 12 kids in it, but only pay for six at the drive in movie. The first six fit in the trunk.”

“What was your first car?” he says hoping for a snazzy pickup or a sporty car.

“It was a 1972 three-quarter ton Ford with a wooden flatbed and a snowplow mounted on the front,” I say. “Originally bright red, it had faded to somewhere between red and orange. A shovel handle shoved in the tank served in place of the broken gas gauge. As a teenager I typically chose to drive it until it ran out of gas and then call Grandpa’s ‘five gallons of gas in a can delivery service.’ I don’t recall a single occasion on which he found it amusing.”

“From there,” I tell Bryce, “I graduated up to a 1984 half ton GMC that was a two-wheel drive. Your Aunt Erin and I wrecked it into the neighbor’s hayfield about seven years before she was of legal age to drive. Bent frame and all, Papa and Gram saved that pickup, and it became your aunt’s first vehicle. It was safe to drive, barely cleared 45 miles per hour and only started on warm days. We might want to check with them. Knowing them they might have tucked that pickup away somewhere for you. They’re thoughtful that way.”

Funny thing, I haven’t had to look at a car catalog in weeks. I’m holding out for something special. I think that old 1972 Ford might still be in the country. And, Bryce could probably still get five gallons of gas from his grandpa’s “five gallons of gas in a can” delivery service.

Jennifer Vineyard Womack is executive director of the Wyoming FFA Foundation and a freelance writer. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 307-351-0730.

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Last Updated on Saturday, 16 February 2013 00:00

Written by Jennifer Womack

The 2013 Wyoming FFA Convention is slated for April 8-11in Cheyenne. FFA members across Wyoming are practicing the FFA Creed, putting the polishing touches on their speeches, preparing their presentations and practicing with their Career Development Event teams. 

Kudos go out to the 2013 Wyoming FFA Officer Team and Wyoming State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda and her team. Some changes are being made in the convention schedule and events that should improve the experience for Wyoming FFA’s 2,000-plus members from one of our state’s 51 chapters.

While in Cheyenne for the Convention, FFA members will compete in a variety of events collectively called “Career Development Events.” They’re so-named because of their proven ability to help FFA members explore career fields and develop marketable job skills while they’re still in high school. The competitions provide FFA members a chance to “get their toes wet,” if you will. The skills they learn give them a glimpse at work in a given career field or area. Some examples include the Agricultural Issues Forum, Environment and Natural Resources and Livestock Evaluation.

We’re also excited to see this year’s proficiency applicants. These applications feature FFA member projects or in FFA lingo, their Supervised Agricultural Experience project. For some it’s the work surrounding their time in the show ring, their commercial cattle herd or employment at an area business. Regardless of the exact project, what we know for sure is that there are some really ambitious FFA members across Wyoming who will submit stellar applications.

Once the work is done, FFA members will head to the Cheyenne Civic Center for the convention sessions and to carry out their Association’s business. Thanks to Farm Credit Services of America, FFA members and guests will hear from motivational speaker Mark Black. Mark is known as the “Adversity Advisor – Speaker, Author and Success Coach.” The heart and double-lunch transplant, who is a four-time marathon winner, is sure to give all of us in attendance some things to think about.

On the Foundation end of Wyoming FFA, we’re working to help pay the bills at the 2013 Wyoming FFA Convention. We provide a portion of the dollars to help fund the awards, aid winning teams in their travels to National FFA Convention this fall and more. If you’re a past member of FFA who would like to help or simply believe in the program and the direction it provides Wyoming youth, we’d appreciate your help. Opportunity exists to sponsor both Career Development Event teams as well as Wyoming’s proficiency winners. Beyond that, we’re expecting over six dozen scholarship applications from highly qualified and motivated FFA members who are either already enrolled in college or heading that direction Fall 2013. Sponsorships range from a few dollars to higher amounts.

The Foundation is also organizing the 2013 Career and Trade Show in hopes of bringing learning opportunities to the FFA members in attendance. If you’re interested in one of our limited (just 30) booth spaces, please drop me a line.

Jennifer Vineyard Womack is executive director of the Wyoming FFA Foundation and a freelance writer. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 307-351-0730.

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Last Updated on Saturday, 02 March 2013 00:00

Written by Jennifer Womack

Those of us in the ranching business tend to appreciate a good steakhouse. After all, they help us market what we grow. I’m no exception, and Texas Roadhouse is among my favorites. It’s about more than the steaks – it’s the steaks AND their corporate culture.

Each year the Wyoming FFA Foundation and Cheyenne FFA chapters celebrate National FFA Week. Among the many activities is a fundraiser luncheon at the Cheyenne Texas Roadhouse, located just across from the shopping mall along Del Range. 

While the restaurant isn’t typically open for lunch on Thursdays, they open their doors for Wyoming FFA. We publicize the event, invite people to the restaurant and deliver meals around town with the help of many FFA supporters. Wyoming State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda has been kind enough to step forward in recent years and organize the deliveries around Cheyenne.

Cheyenne members of the Wyoming FFA Foundation – Court Schilt, Donn Randall, Scott Vetter and Brittany Wilson – along with several FFA members all worked to spread the word about the event and help sell tickets. They’re joined by countless other volunteers who come spend their time delivering meals and doing what they can to help with the event.

Texas Roadhouse’s employees volunteer their time to help prepare the meals and ensure the event goes off without a hitch. FFA members work in the kitchen, as waiters and waitresses and in other capacities around the restaurant. Callie Hurst and the rest of the Texas Roadhouse team show them the ropes and make the entire event fun. I heard more than one FFA member inquiring about after school and summer work at this year’s event.

“I love my job,” Callie frequently says. That’s a wonderful thing to hear and her passion for her work shows. Last year she helped non-profits like FFA, and other worthy causes in the Cheyenne area, raise a significant amount of money in recent years. It’s money that made a lasting and real impact in the Cheyenne area, and in FFA’s case, beyond. The generosity displayed at the Cheyenne Texas Roadhouse is to be commended! If you dine there, please pass along a thank you on FFA’s behalf.

Deserving equal recognition are the outstanding FFA members who make the event possible. When I arrived at Texas Roadhouse for the event last Thursday there were a handful of boys wearing official FFA dress and shoveling the Texas Roadhouse sidewalks. They wanted to help ensure everything was in order for a successful event. They were equally impressive throughout the event, and I heard numerous comments about what polite young people they are. And you know me — I never miss a chance to brag on Wyoming FFA members!

It’s easy to like a steakhouse. It’s really easy to like a steakhouse like Texas Roadhouse, a company that goes above and beyond to make a positive impact in the communities where they do business. Kudos to them!

Jennifer Vineyard Womack is executive director of the Wyoming FFA Foundation and a freelance writer. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 307-351-0730.

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Last Updated on Saturday, 02 February 2013 00:00

Written by jennifer Womack

For a few weeks each year we run a hotel for dogs. In addition to our own two, we board “Crackers” and “Pepper” when my parents are out of town. They get the same care as our dogs – all the dog food they can eat, a heated dog bed in the barn at night and free run of the place during the day so long, as they don’t get caught chasing anything, including cows, horses and the UPS man. As a bonus, if they’re not too smelly, they get to lie on the floorboard in the back seat while we feed each morning. Sounds like a nice set-up for your average canine, right?

On occasion, they’re expected to help move cattle. Pepper takes this job a bit too seriously, leaving us on the verge of having to run her dog food through a blender and teach her to suck through a straw.

Chris recently commented that my dog of  choice, a little red Aussie who answers to “Sundance,” is like living with Little Lord Font La Roy. This got me to wondering, what standard of living can canine companions expect in 2013? I sought out a few statistics to answer my question and rebuke Chris’ status on Sundance. I was a little surprised at my findings and if word gets out around here, I’m sure the dogs will wage a protest.

At the rate we’re going, dogs could be running this country in the not-too-distant future. There are 403,760 registered dogs in the United States, the most of any country. Canada follows in second with a mere 23,068. This doesn’t count the more common mutts and mongrels. Labradors are the most popular followed Chihuahuas, German Shepherds and Shih Tzu. Border Collies rank around 15^th. Border Collie or Chihuahua, hmmm?

Despite local accusations that our resident dogs, or one dog in particular, get special treatment, here are three statistics that prove otherwise…

People admit to frequently asking their dogs, “How do you like your food?” In a long-held tradition between dogs and people, we just whistle.

According to PetSmart, 24 percent of all pet owners have, although they’re reluctant to admit it, tasted their pet’s food. The only time this is remotely true around here is when we can save a buck by serving table scraps instead of dog food.

One-third of dog owners buy their dogs toothpaste. 

Sixty-three percent of pet owners buy their dog a present at Christmastime. Combined Americans spend $5 billion on their furry friends, including cats, each Christmas. I have been known to purchase chunks of rawhide around the Holidays, so I guess I’m guilty as charged there.

Thirty-six percent of dogs can expect a birthday present this year.

Sixty-four percent of dogs can expect to appear in their family’s Christmas card.

As for that Hotel for Dogs, I don’t think we’ll be advertising those services commercially anytime soon. One, the cows are against it. Two, we’re not willing to throw in the industry standards of a bath, a private walk, television, clean sheets and a nail job. Plus, Chris said, “Definitely, no.”

Jennifer Vineyard Womack is executive director of the Wyoming FFA Foundation and a freelance writer. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 307-351-0730.