$5,000 Grand Champion Bull

LG Davis Thoroughbred Hereford “Wyoming” is Grand Champion

One hundred years ago, headlines in the hometown weekly newspaper bragged of the strong showing made by livestock from south-central Carbon County at the Denver Stock Show held annually in Denver, Colo. 

An article in the Jan. 27, 1916, issue of  “The Saratoga Sun” reports:

“Wyoming,” the 28-month thoroughbred Hereford bull, owned and raised by Capt. Davis of this city, was awarded the Grand Champion prize at the Denver Stock Show, winning over all comers from some of the finest herds from Iowa to the Pacific coast.

This bull was immediately purchased by one of the biggest breeders of the state of Iowa for $5,000. It was not the intention of Capt. Davis to dispose of the bull when he took him to Denver, but the offer was tempting, as well as the fact that Mr. Davis has many bulls on his big Hereford ranch up the river just south of Saratoga, including the sire and dam of “Wyoming.”

It is a fact, so stated by some 50 people from this valley who attended the stock show, that the Saratoga valley was the best represented of any portion of the West, and our entire exhibit would have done credit to any state.

Henry Flohr, up on Beaver creek, even had a car of hogs that made an excellent showing. Hunter, Casteel and Hunter took the biggest steer in the world from this valley, which attracted much attention. Canary and Sons took a car of bulls that were a credit. The car of heifers which Capt. Davis took, besides one or two other bulls, made a fine exhibition. Mr. Davis got from $300 to $600 for the heifers, while one other bull brought $1,450.

Those who attended the show cannot say enough in praise of it, which was much larger this year than ever before and bids fair to equal the once famous Chicago show. Ex-Gov. Brooks stated to the Cheyenne Tribune:

“I was indeed proud of ‘Wyoming’ when the beautiful 28-month-old Hereford bull ‘Wyoming,’ raised and owned by L.G. Davis of Saratoga, was awarded the grand championship over all competitors, including the stock of the famous McCook herd of Montana.”

An unusual article in the same issue noted, “Many years ago I killed and ate a young calf on Jack creek, branded with your brand…” but, then, that’s meat for the next time we gather around the campfire to roast the neighbor’s beef and tell stories.