Annual Fremont County Cattleman’s Association meeting and banquet held

Lander – The Fremont County Cattleman’s Association hosted their annual banquet and meeting Jan. 29. During the event attendees were provided an update on the happenings of the association, the year ahead, giveaways, speaker presentations, Fremont County Fair updates and agency reports.

The association began their membership meeting with a lunch sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America and had over 57 people in attendance. 

Former Fremont County Cattleman’s Association President Annette Bregar shared she was pleased with the numbers in attendance for the event this year. 

The newly elected officer team includes President Jac Klaahsen, Vice President Clay Espinosa and Secretary and Treasurer Katelin Jamerman. 

During the meeting, several speakers gave updates on a variety of county, state and national topics affecting Wyoming. According to the meeting agenda minutes, several Wyoming organizations presented. Wyoming Public Lands Counsel Jim Hellyer and Wyoming Game and Fish Department Joe Crofts provided the Fremont County Fair report and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) offered updates on national issues affecting Wyoming. 

Later in the evening the annual banquet hosted nearly 200 people. The night was filled with dinner and presentations from Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) President David Kane, WSGA Executive Vice President Jim Magagna and Low Carbon Beef’s Colin Beal, who all spoke at the meeting earlier in the day, as well. 

The night also included a free 200-head pregnancy test donated by Dr. Jake Hall of High Country Vet Service. 2022 Fremont County Cattleman’s Association’s paid members were eligible for the drawing and Mike Fabrizius of Riverton was the winner. 

Annually, the association spends roughly $3,500 a year towards the county’s youth beef show at the Fremont County Fair, shared Bregar. 

In addition, the group supports cattle born and raised in a Fremont County Commercial Cow Contest. 

In Phase One of the contest, a yearling heifer must be weighed and identified at the official Fremont County Fair tagging. The heifer will be bred at least 30 days prior to the show and be shown by halter. The judge scores the projects by cow efficiency, a ratio of calf to cow weight, visual appearance and production records. 

The 2021 Phase One winner was Kaylor McConnaughey.

In Phase Two, a cow must be bred at least 30 days prior to the fair and must have been shown in Phase One the previous year. The cow must have calved prior to the fair and the calf will also be shown at halter. The cow/calf pair will be judged and the participants record books will be evaluated. Both the cow and calf will be weighed at weigh-in, shares the Fremont County Fair book. 

In Phase Two, the pair will be judged on cow efficiency, visual appearance and production records. 

The 2021 Phase Two winner was Elie Walters. 

In addition, a Top Gaining Animal Award is given at the fair in a Fremont County Born and Raised Market Beef Contest. The contest is open to Fremont County 4-H and FFA members who are enrolled in the beef project. Only two calves per exhibitor can be entered and must have a haired over brand registered to a Fremont County beef producer or to a Fremont County 4-H or FFA member.

The top two county owned calves, steers or heifers, from each class will be brought back for the champion lineup. The Fremont County Cattleman’s Association will keep track of the county-raised calves for each class. 

The 2021 Top Gaining Animal Award winner was Jayme Fidler. 

In order to compete in the contest, participants must have their calves tagged and weighed in at the official Fremont County Beef tagging. 

Bregar reported nearly 120 cattle projects were recently tagged for the 2022 Fremont County Fair. Wyoming youth is the next generation of ranching and the Fremont County Cattleman’s Association is excited to have youth involved in this project, shared Bregar. 

The group strives to encourage and promote beef production to individuals of all ages by hosting multiple events at the annual county fair and other countywide events. 

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