Cattlewoman promotes ag in rural Wyoming
Located west of Laramie at the base of the Snowy Range Mountains, the Deerwood Ranch is home to Mollee Gilgen and her family.
The family ranch is home to a commercial cattle operation, a wedding venue and a wild horse ecosanctuary.
Mollee stated, “I grew up running cows and calves with my parents, hence my love for the cattle and agriculture industries.”
A wife, mom, daughter, sister and hospice nurse, Mollee finds the time to run a growing commercial high-altitude black Angus and SimAngus cow/calf operation with her husband Ben Gilgen.
The couple also has four children – Cash, who is 10; Shiloh, who is seven and twins Haylee and Sammie, who are four-year-olds.
“We live on the Deerwood Ranch, where I grew up. My grandpa and parents own it,” Mollee stated. “We live here with my parents, brother and sister-in-law and our niece and nephews. I also have a brother who lives in Texas with his family.”
On a day-to-day basis, Mollee can be seen checking or moving cows, fixing fences, putting up electric fence and answering e-mails and phone calls for weddings, all while helping the kids with their projects or fixing a meal.
“Some days I try to avoid ranch work, so one day a week I’m a hospice nurse in Laramie,” she stated. “I enjoy riding when I can. I love to cook and bake. I enjoy giving time to the community around me, and I love educating people about the agricultural way of life.”
Commercial cattle
Mollee and Ben grew up with a love for agriculture, working on ranches and participating in 4-H.
The couple came into the cattle business in a bit of a unique way, when dear friends of theirs – Mike and Joan McGill – started them off with 10 cows, which they ran and were able to keep calves from.
Mollee stated, “It gave us a jumpstart into the cattle industry, and from there, we were able to purchase some heifers along the way. Last year, we were fortunate enough to be able to purchase some of the Page family’s pairs.”
She continued, “Ben and I feel lucky because we get to calve our cows at home, getting them off to a strong start. Then, we move them across the fence where we lease ground from the neighbors for grazing and hay.”
The partnership and friendship the Gilgens have built with the 3 Cords Ranch is a blessing, she reiterated.
“There are blessings all around us, and we try not to take those for granted,” she continued. “Ben and I take pride in building relationships with our neighbors and community. With relationships comes conversation and with conversation comes ideas and knowledge. We can all stand to gain knowledge and learn from someone else.”
The future
The Gilgens have set various goals, and although some seem slow to achieve, they have surrounded themselves with a great support system.
Mollee said, “We are part of the Farm Credit Young and Beginning Farmers program and contribute part of our success to this program.”
According to the couple, starting out in agriculture can seem a little tedious, but the program helps individuals cover all of their bases, think outside of the box and teaches them how to keep a running balance sheet and workbook.
“We’ve been able to see a big transformation in finances, organizational skills and daily operations because of them,” she stated.
Mollee continued, “A big part of living on a family ranch is succession. Some days you feel like the luckiest person alive, and other days you find your mind drifting off, imagining how one might obtain a job cleaning a yacht.”
Fortunately, Mollee’s family, her brother’s family and her parents are are making plans to move forward.
“Those conversations aren’t always easy to have, but you need to have them. You can get help from outside sources to plan and throw ideas on the table,” she mentioned.
“I heard a quote the other day,” she added. “There are two things that will quickly send a ranch under. First, doing things the way your grandpa did them. Second, not doing things the way your grandpa did them.”
“There needs to be a happy medium,” Mollee continued.
The Gilgen children
The Gilgen children are embarking on their agricultural journey and have started to participate in 4-H.
“Cash showed his first steer last year,” Mollee shared. “He took a home-raised steer and won champion rate of gain and reserve champion home-raised beef. He put in the time and effort, and it made us proud.”
She continues, “He also built friendships and had some great help from people with more show knowledge than us. He has his steer picked out for next year, but Ben and I are convinced he’s actually going back for the social part of the fair.”
The couple’s oldest daughter Shiloh will be able to participate in the county fair next year, and she can’t wait.
“The question is, will she take a rabbit, show a dog, take our pet turtle or show a goat? We don’t know as of yet, but she is making plans,” Mollee explained.
“Haylee is hardly 40 pounds sopping wet and tells us she wants to take a steer. Good luck to the steer is all we have to say,” she added. “Sammie thinks she will stick with her mini pony Chunky. You can find them together most of time.”
Wedding Venue
Deerwood Ranch is a wedding and event venue located on approximately 3,800 acres of Wyoming beauty, with the Middle Fork of the Little Laramie River running through the property.
The family transformed a rustic barn into a stunning venue, and it is the perfect spot to host weddings, parties and events of all types.
The property also hosts a bridal suite, reception hall, full kitchen and other amenities for a beautiful, stress-free event.
“Deerwood Ranch also offers a couple of tranquil cabinsfor the perfect getaway stay. They offer several rooms, a cozy interior and the most breathtaking views Wyoming has to offer,” Mollee said.
Wild horse ecosanctuary
In 2011, the Wilsons sold their cows, and by 2012 were running the first privately-owned, off-range holding facility in the nation for the Bureau of Land Management.
According to the family, “These beautiful animals will be able to live out their lives and be cared for in a setting close to their natural environment as possible, only better.”
With abundant trees and willows, the sanctuary provides refuge and great protection from the realities of Wyoming’s harsh winters.
Deerwood Ranch’s open fields and year-round access to water are home to 350 wild Wyoming mustangs, as well as native deer, elk, coyote and all manner of wildlife.
The public is invited to visit the ranch and take a tour to see the mustangs.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
