WyFB honors Wally and Sally Ramsbottom with Distinguished Service Award
Johnson County Ranchers Wally and Sally Ramsbottom were awarded the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) Distinguished Service Award at the 101st annual meeting of the organization. Presented Nov. 13, the award is given to those who have gone above and beyond in their service to agriculture.
“We are proud to recognize Wally and Sally for their dedication to agriculture and Farm Bureau in Johnson County and Wyoming,” said Todd Fornstrom, WyFB president. “Humble, kind, giving, caring and dedicated are just a few words to describe Wally and Sally. Their dedication to agriculture and the Farm Bureau Federation here in Wyoming is unwavering.”
Sally served as the secretary/treasurer of the Johnson County Farm Bureau Federation for the last 20 years. Humble leaders, Wally and Sally are a team and prefer to work in the background without recognition.
Wally is always by her side at meetings, and she is always working in the background to keep their county Farm Bureau strong. They are the first to arrive at meetings and make sure everything is set-up just right to ensure everyone is comfortable and the meeting will be productive.
“The Ramsbottom’s knowledge of ranching and the issues impacting Wyoming ranching is always appreciated as they share their input through the grassroots policy development process,” Fornstrom continued.
The Meadow Brook Ranch, where Wally grew up, is where the couple calls home in Johnson County. They met dancing at the Sussex Dance Hall and were married in 1961. They have a son, a daughter and four grandkids.
Wally graduated from Colorado State University. He served for six years in the Army Basic Reserves where he was trained as a medic. Wally has always been known as an excellent stockman.
Sally grew up on the Shepperson Ranch near Midwest and graduated from the University of Wyoming (UW). Sally has always been known as quite a hand in the rodeo arena as well as the ranch. While at UW, Sally competed on the college rodeo team where she won a National Collegiate Champion Goat Tying title.
Hard working and all-around kind people, Wally and Sally work together in everything they do from ranching to family to Farm Bureau. Their steadfast dedication has been the cornerstone of Johnson County’s success. From the ranch to the board room, the Ramsbottoms have exemplified what teamwork is in their distinguished service through this grassroots organization.
The Ramsbottoms were grateful to receive the Distinguished Service Award.
“It was a tremendous honor and a big shock to receive the Distinguished Service Award from WyFB,” Wally and Sally said. “It is very humbling as many other people dedicate their time and effort to help their county and state organization as well.”
“It means a great deal to us to be recognized and nominated by our Johnson County Farm Bureau board,” Sally continued. “We appreciate all of our members and their efforts.”
According to the Ramsbottoms, volunteering is important for any agriculture business.
“Farm Bureau is important to ranchers in Wyoming,” Wally said. “Resolutions can be made from the county level on any of our pertinent issues, taken to the district, state and national levels to be made into policy to help agriculture as well as our communities.”
“We volunteer because we need to promote and help agriculture and our business,” Sally emphasized. “People in agriculture need to spend time to resolve the problems they have and support those who can do something about the problems.”
Over 20 years ago the Johnson County Farm Bureau Federation began using the slogan “Support the Johnson County Farm Bureau, We Support You!” And that is exactly what the Ramsbottoms have been doing for over 20 years.
“Wally and Sally Ramsbottom have gone above and beyond in their service to agriculture through Farm Bureau,” Fornstrom concluded. “We are proud to recognize and show our appreciation for their distinguished service to agriculture, Farm Bureau, Johnson County and Wyoming.”
This article is courtesy of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, the state’s largest general agriculture organization. For more information on the organization, visit wyfb.org.
