Help with Wyoming Newcomer's Examination/Test (school, live, horse)

[Ltdumbear]

Yep. That would be me (the 'prospective ranch hand') who walks that razor's edge (between ranch-jobs) living out of pocket and motel rooms (or pup-tent in a KOA, during warmer months) cavatating between 'should I say NO I won't submit to cowboying from a 4-wheeler (just to stand my ground and HOPE that a horseback-outfit will take a chance and give my phone a ring) or do I 'tuck tayl' like a new-age 'she-male' and TAKE that rinky-dink job just so I HAVE a ranch-job ?


Nearly 8 mos later, here I am...still 'cavatating', still second-guessing myself, still hoping & praying my phone rings...


...and then my concience REALLY kicks-in, and I start feeling ashamed of myself, given the extreme trouble$ and lo$$e$ the Montana ranchers (and a few here in Wyo) are currently facing, with the worsening drought, tightening EPA-rules & regulations, ever-increasing grazing-fees/feed & fuel prices...


...and all the while the 'millennials' are getting old enough to step-up, assume (management ?) positions, and in doing-so, push ME out of the way...


I can't compete...because I can't 'speed/catch-up' and because I refuse to submit to the emasculating changes going on all around me.


My days are indeed numbered, because I have nowhere else to go.


After 49 yrs spent in constant-motion, I'm TIRED of moving around, crossing 2 or more state-lines just to take another 'desperation-job' on yet another rinky-dink 4-wheeler operation. Tired of it. Wyoming is HOME.


I will die here, one way or another...and frankly, I would'nt have it any other way.

[Joe33]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

I would NEVER say this about Wyoming. Sure there are those that have no interest in these things, but there are many in the State that do. Horses, cattle, high school/college/pro rodeo is there, just like White-Tail deer and Yellowstone NP. It has always been a great cowboy State!

Wyoming isnt even in the top 10 of horses per capita. Pennsylvania, Ohio and even California beat out Wyoming.

Yellowstone isnt in Wyoming. Never was. Its always been owned by the Feds.

Ok hunting. Not my thing so I cant say much.

I love Wyoming. My family has been here since day one. I do a lot to bring business and economy to the state.

[Joe33]

Originally Posted by Ltdumbear

Not sure I agree with the 'cowboy state' motto anymore, though. I don't mean to offend, but to me...rodeo is not 'cowboy'...it's more 'highly-trained-athlete' territory...and from what I've experienced lately (with most ranches going to damn 4-wheelers and UTV's) it's becoming more 'hobby-farms/trophy-properties'...


...so even though it makes me numb to admit it, perhaps it IS time to change Wyoming's motto.


Perhaps, something to do with 'gas' ? Coal would've been my 1st choice, but with all the 'anti-fossil-fuel/Gaiia-freaks' moving in...THAT dog surely won't hunt...

Wyomings motto isnt the "Cowboy State".
It is the " Equality State"

[Joe33]

Originally Posted by Wyoprairie

I think I will stop trying to be Dave Barry. There was an ulterior motive-hoping that maybe someone not familiar with the west would possibly google Will James and then go get a copy
of Smoky the Cowhorse or Flint Spears. That kind of thing. Sorry, Joe33, didn't mean to be
so snarky/snooty.

A little bit about the "subsidies from the government" deal. 75% (USDA figure) of operations in WY have never received a dime. Farm subsidies relates more to Iowa than to Wyoming. Ranches might get NR (Natural Resource). Back in 2010 a big deal was made about Ron Micheli getting a payment. He got 32k for expense of moving and rebuilding corrals. This was on his land. NR is paid when the government has something they want the rancher to do on his own property. ie. wildlife migration, stream improvement, etc. If you are a townie, and the town says we would like you to put in this particular landscaping-do you wanna foot the entire bill yourself? They pay the landowner to modify his/her property to meet some new government
objective. And grazing leases-if they are lower than private market-in federal grazing leases, the rancher pays the upkeep-saves the government the expense of managing large amounts
of disparate property. We did conservation stuff on our own initiative-just good stewardship.

Lt- you wanna go fourwheeler riding? I ride mine for fun, and I do get flack for it. I got into it because a guy brought his with him to a rodeo I was working in Golden, CO. He said, go ahead, hop on it. (Kawasaki Prairie 360) So I went and bought the same, and now I have two. UTV's
I don't get, but I suppose they carry more and are safer. Growing up, we didn't have them.
Used horses mainly, but I rode a dirt bike with a small backpack w/tools to fix irrigation, fence.
I think cows still respect a horse more, and a horse can follow a cow better than a wheeler.

I hope we remain the Cowboy State. My provincialism has been maybe loosened by travel,
but I still think this is the best place. Feel it is important that western heritage and character is preserved. Good points about the extent of our "horse and hay" participation. When I came
into contact with the midstream business, I found lots of guys still do ranching-or I should say
their wife does most of the ranching. Some of them weekend warrior as team ropers. Income
and benefits from the pipeline enables them to keep the "horse and hay" lifestyle going.

sunsprit & Lt- have seen the professional/athlete deal creeping in....I think it started with PBR
in 1992. Group of bullriders decided to start their own association because they thought they
weren't getting enough attention or money. PBR has always tried to distance itself from rodeo.
Stopped calling contestants "cowboys", now calls them "athletes" or "riders". Hired a guy from
NASCAR to manage it. They have guys who have never ridden a horse. Some are city kids.
They go to spendy bullriding schools, and PBR does offer higher payouts. Just recently, had a
similar new challenge. Group of top PRCA cowboys decided to start a new association so they
could make more money while doing less travel. (Elite Rodeo Association) PRCA implemented
new policy-PRCA cardholder cannot join another association. ERA took it to court. Ruled in
favor of PRCA. The ERA gang came back to PRCA, and ERA cancelled all their rodeos. Be nice
if that was the end of it, but there could be more of this kind of stuff in the future. Several
years ago, PRCA rolled out new motto with a funny-subtle jab at the PBR. I took a photo of
the trailer when I was down at HQ in Colo Sprgs, will post my photo of it-just for the fun of it.

Boy.. touched a nerve about the subsidies.....

I guarantee you that most if not all accept the ag land property tax base at the very least.

The Windy Creek is a reference to a Exit on I-90 near Gillete and a perhaps now defunct Pipeline Company. It you were in the pipeline biz you should recognize the name. They have been around since about 1985 or so. Good bunch of people. Not many Cowboys there thou... Hockey players mainly.

I think Wyoming is the best place too.

[Ltdumbear]

Wyoming either grabs you, or she does'nt.


I think (one does indeed have ALOT of time to 'think' while out on the fenceline, with no-one else to talk to, other than the occasional snattle-rake or overly-curious plague-ridden prairie-dog) the way one could best-define a TRUE Wyomingite, is the one you see, sitting quietly in the gas-station/convenience-store, enjoying a welcome-respite from the oppressive dry-heat...watching the touristas kicking open the door, wandering aimlessly amongst the overpriced snacks, toiletries, bumper-stickers & energy-drinks...


...and you can tell from the look in his eyes what he's thinking to himself...


"What in the HELL compels these urban/city-folk to come out here ?"


or


"God...PLEASE allow them to have a good time...cuz they look like they really need it...but please DON'T implant within thier hearts and minds a desire to STAY here ? !"


I know...because it's how I started feeling, within a few yrs time out here.


ONE trip through a Wyoming Walmart (late at night)...will be enough to convince even the MOST 'tolerant/open-minded' citizen, that we do NOT need ANY more 'transplants' here...

[BabyBoomers2]

Like I always say, 'transplants" are fine as long as they absolutely DON'T try to change the area. Unfortunately, many do. And, no matter what anyone on this Thread thinks/says, to ME Wyoming will always be a "cowboy state", as well as some of the other mountain states.

But, do have to agree with the modernization of todays ranches and farms. Yep, the old computer sure has made a difference. Actually, I watch a scene from a ranching documentary showing a rancher using a helicopter to check his cattle herds.

As far as PRCA goes, the organization I was with at one time, has gone "high tech" as well. I know an old-timer team roper/calf roper that really hates this, but.

[jody_wy]

Originally Posted by Wyoprairie

Yes..ha ha. I would probably feel different if I had to work with them. I don't ride that much
when you get down to it, and half the miles are on pavement.

So these days you see ranch that is looking for hands.....and ad says we use ATV's only, no
horses. Then you see the prospective ranch hand that says, I won't work at an ATV outfit,
or brand on a table.

Or hold a fencing plier or hammer, won't use a irrigation shovel, bale hay or use a pitchfork...

[jody_wy]

Originally Posted by Joe33

Boy.. touched a nerve about the subsidies.....

I guarantee you that most if not all accept the ag land property tax base at the very least.

The Windy Creek is a reference to a Exit on I-90 near Gillete and a perhaps now defunct Pipeline Company. It you were in the pipeline biz you should recognize the name. They have been around since about 1985 or so. Good bunch of people. Not many Cowboys there thou... Hockey players mainly.

I think Wyoming is the best place too.

Production agriculture only requires 69 cents of services for each dollar of local tax revenue paid. Compare this to rural residential lands demanding $2.40 in services for each dollar of local tax revenue paid.
(Source: University of Wyoming, College of Agriculture, Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics)

[GregW]

If I had the money to move from here I would never try to change the place where I landed. Why would I want to? If I wanted it to be like where I came from why did I not stay there?

I there are places I would like to move too but as of now there are too many I have seen and far more I want to see. In the mean time southern New Hampshire is pretty nice but getting far too crowded.

[Ltdumbear]

Population-control is the ONLY way to solve the myriad-issues facing this human 'race'.

Margaret Sanger was truly onto something, but it horrifies me to think she was mostly focused on 'certain races, creeds & colors' rather than expanding her view across the board, which almost surely would've led to: "If you cannot AFFORD to have & raise a child (properly) then you should at least have enough intelligence, self-respect & self-discipline to AVOID having a child."

But then liberal-progressivism completely nullifies that mindset, does'nt it ?

Despite all of it's advances in science & philosophy, the human-species has learned NOTHING, and is doomed to returning to making the same mistakes, ad-nauseum.

I look around at all the cities & urban-centers of 'un-civilization' and I cannot help but be amazed at the chilling-similarities to a 'red ant-hill', roiling & seething with frantic-energy and activity...

The more I think of it, the fictional-character Mr. Smith (from 'The Matrix') was right, when he said we are 'Viruses'...