Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival:Cowboy State sheep producers gather to celebrate ag, art, culture and community
Sheep producers and industry stakeholders from across the state of Wyoming gathered at the mouth of the Wind River Canyon in Wyoming’s “hot city” for the Second Annual Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival.
Held July 12-14 at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds in Thermopolis, the three-day event celebrated agriculture, art, culture and community through multiple educational sessions, a ranch field tour, an art and woolcraft exhibition, a stockdog trial, a vendor fair, business meetings and the Second Annual Sheepherders Come Bye Awards Dinner.
First day highlights
The first day of the event kicked off with a tour of the Arapaho Ranch Field Station, originally established as the Padlock Ranch in 1867 by Col. George Sliney.
Today, the ranch serves as an education and recreation venue to showcase and preserve the heritage of cattle ranching and Native American culture.
Two educational sessions were also offered throughout the day – a sustainable sheep grazing workshop hosted by the Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) and the National Grazing Lands Coalition, as well as a wool evaluation workshop taught by University of Wyoming (UW) Associate Professor and Extension Sheep Specialist Dr. Whit Stewart for educators and volunteers looking to start wool judging and/or evaluation programs.
The night ended with a reception to celebrate the art and woolcraft side of the sheep industry, where Thermopolis Mayor Adam Estenson warmly welcomed visitors to Hot Springs County.
“It is always remarkable to me when people can take raw materials and their God-given talents and put them together to make something beautiful – and I am not just talking about the art,” Estenson stated. “I appreciate all of you who apply your trade and your craft to make the world a better place.”
“I thank the festival committee for choosing Thermopolis, and I would like to formally welcome you all to Hot Springs County,” he concluded.
The reception also featured a multigenerational producers panel, featuring Gov. Mark Gordon, WWGA Region One Director Heather Jones, Andrew Miller and Thermopolis Rancher Josh Longwell and moderated by WWGA Vice President Cat Urbigkit.
Second day highlights
The second day of the festival was a whirlwind of activity, drawing a large crowd from every corner of the state.
The day kicked off with a vendor fair, a Mountain States Stockdog Association-sanctioned trial, a wool learning kiosk, handspinning fleece auction and wet felting workshop.
Educational sessions took place throughout the day, including a presentation on lamb cuts and preparation options with UW Meat Scientist Cody Gifford, a National Sheep Improvement Program discussion with Montana’s Kristin Bieber of Skull Creek Targhees and Kansas’ Matt Beals of Dry Sandy Sheep Company and a talk on conservation partnerships by Wyoming Wildlife Federation Communications Director Jaden Bales.
Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality UW Extension Educator Hailey Sorg presented on agritourism and innovative strategies for value-added marketing, while Alma Law, a board member of the Fremont Local Market in Riverton, shared insights and resources for branding local products and offered attendees a sample of his home-milled Wyoming einkorn sourdough bread.
Sheepherders Come Bye Awards Dinner
The Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival wrapped up on the night of July 13 with the Second Annual Sheepherders Come Bye Awards Dinner.
First, Stewart took the stage to present UW Lamb-A-Year awards.
“Thank you everyone for being here – what a great celebration,” he began. “Tonight we come together to recognize the generous contributions of the donors of the 2023-24 UW Lamb-A-Year program.”
“Your support has been instrumental in driving our mission forward, and it is my pleasure to acknowledge all of you who donated, as well as the award winners whose lambs exceeded expectations and performed at the highest levels,” he continued.
Stewart noted the Legacy Award is presented to individuals who generate the most revenue for the Lamb-A-Year program, and this year’s awardees are Frank Warren of Spirit Ranch for his $5,000 donation and Harlan Ranch of Kaycee for their 14 lamb donation.
The Top Hand Award is presented to friends of the industry who tirelessly work to promote Wyoming sheep and wool, and the 2024 honorees are Kirby Camino of Buffalo and Ivan Laird and Glenda Hlavnicka of Lander.
Harlan Ranch was also awarded the Feed Efficiency Award, while Regan Smith of Powell was the Growth Performance Award recipient, Dave and Kay Neves of Emblem were the High Carcass Merit Award recipient and Marton Ranch of Alcova was presented the Most Consistent Pen Award.
Additionally, WWGA presented multiple individuals with their annual awards.
Presented to sheep producers who have made substantial contributions to the Wyoming sheep industry and WWGA while serving as dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond, the Harold Josendal Patron Award was presented to four outstanding couples this year.
They include Laurie and Brad Boner of Glenrock, Jackie and Peter John Camino of Buffalo, Dave and Kay Neves and Clyde Peterson of Cheyenne.
Three individuals were recognized as winners of the WWGA Compadre Award, including Johnson County Wool Growers Executive Secretary Gerald Fink; former UW College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources Dean Dr. Barbara Rasco and Stewart.
According to WWGA, the award recognizes industry contributions from a professional in a position or field related – either directly or indirectly – to sheep production, and the award recipient must provide significant contributions to the industry, its organizations and its producers above and beyond what is asked of them.
The Amigo Award acknowledges outstanding achievements in innovative management of resources or the application of new techniques to enhance flock production practices or natural resource management, as well as a strong commitment to teaching and educating producers.
“This year, the Amigo Award will go to a team of recipients who fight relentlessly for the Wyoming Sheep industry. Their knowledge and determination is beyond compare, and they are an absolute pleasure to work with,” stated Urbigkit while presenting the award to Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) Director Doug Miyamoto, WDA Senior Policy Analyst Justin Williams and WDA Natural Resources Policy Division Manager Chris Wichmann.
In recognition of his outstanding year-long coverage of the sheep industry through his work with Northern Ag Network, Broadcaster Andy Schwab received the 2024 Portavoz Award.
Lastly, WWGA congratulated Megan Beavers, whose artwork was selected as the Overall Grand Champion and the winner of the People’s Choice Award and the Children’s Choice Award.
The night concluded with dancing and live music performed by Gillette’s Kellen Smith and the Nate Champion Band.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
