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Tradition and Transition in the New West
Patrick, Sharon and Eamon O'Toole - Ladder Ranch, Savery, WY
Excerpt from Program:
"Pat and Sharon O'Toole represent the fourth generation on the Ladder Ranch. They are joined by Sharon's father, George Salisbury, who still lives in the house where he was born in 1921, and their daughter Meghan, her husband Brian and children Siobhan, 2, and Seamus, 6 months. Their son, Eamon, studies Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming and works at home when he can. Their youngest daughter, Bridget, now lives in New York City with her husband, Chris.
"The Ladder Ranch lies hard by the Wyoming-Colorado border in the Little Snake River Valley. This country is known by the sobriquet 'Where the Old West Stayed Young' and, until recently, was a sleepy and isolated agricultural valley. Now, one can find trophy ranches and developing resorts to the south and east, and burgeoning oil and gas fields to the north and west. Both of these changes are having a profound effect on the ranching operation and on the rural community.
"The O'Tooles raise cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and children on their ranch. They still trail their cattle and sheep to the high country in the summer and to lower pastures in the winter months. Meghan is developing a recreation business to supplement the agricultural income. George was a pioneer in rotational grazing, and the family works extensively with state and federal agencies in order to preserve and enhance the ranch. They cooperated with the Fish & Wildlife Service in a project to improve the fishery and irrigation system on Battle Creek, which runs through the home ranch.
"The goal of the family is to adapt and persevere so that the next generations can continue to live on the land, and husband it for the future.
"Patrick O'Toole is a rancher and activist for western issues. He served in the Wyoming House of Representatives, and on the Presidentially appointed Western Water Policy Advisory Commission. He is presently President of the Family Farm Alliance, which represented irrigators in 17 Western states. He speaks extensively on water issues, on marketing, and on the effects of burgeoning oil and gas development on the landscape and communities of the West.
"Sharon Salisbury O'Toole is a rancher, writer and poet. She writes on western issues, in publications including the Washington Post, the Denver Post, Range Magazine and Writers on the Range. Her poem 'Atlantic Rim: The Seekers' Trail' appears in the new book Home Land: Ranching and a West That Works.
"Eamon is a gifted horseman, and breaks and shoes horses for spare change. He has vast experience in roping calves, docking lambs and spending nights in the calving barn.
"The O'Tooles have a blog through the Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nevada. It chronicles the life of the ranch and the family. Go to www.westernfolklife.org then click on 'Connect' to access the blog."
Presentation Outline:
Excerpt from Program:
"Pat and Sharon O'Toole represent the fourth generation on the Ladder Ranch. They are joined by Sharon's father, George Salisbury, who still lives in the house where he was born in 1921, and their daughter Meghan, her husband Brian and children Siobhan, 2, and Seamus, 6 months. Their son, Eamon, studies Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming and works at home when he can. Their youngest daughter, Bridget, now lives in New York City with her husband, Chris.
"The Ladder Ranch lies hard by the Wyoming-Colorado border in the Little Snake River Valley. This country is known by the sobriquet 'Where the Old West Stayed Young' and, until recently, was a sleepy and isolated agricultural valley. Now, one can find trophy ranches and developing resorts to the south and east, and burgeoning oil and gas fields to the north and west. Both of these changes are having a profound effect on the ranching operation and on the rural community.
"The O'Tooles raise cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and children on their ranch. They still trail their cattle and sheep to the high country in the summer and to lower pastures in the winter months. Meghan is developing a recreation business to supplement the agricultural income. George was a pioneer in rotational grazing, and the family works extensively with state and federal agencies in order to preserve and enhance the ranch. They cooperated with the Fish & Wildlife Service in a project to improve the fishery and irrigation system on Battle Creek, which runs through the home ranch.
"The goal of the family is to adapt and persevere so that the next generations can continue to live on the land, and husband it for the future.
"Patrick O'Toole is a rancher and activist for western issues. He served in the Wyoming House of Representatives, and on the Presidentially appointed Western Water Policy Advisory Commission. He is presently President of the Family Farm Alliance, which represented irrigators in 17 Western states. He speaks extensively on water issues, on marketing, and on the effects of burgeoning oil and gas development on the landscape and communities of the West.
"Sharon Salisbury O'Toole is a rancher, writer and poet. She writes on western issues, in publications including the Washington Post, the Denver Post, Range Magazine and Writers on the Range. Her poem 'Atlantic Rim: The Seekers' Trail' appears in the new book Home Land: Ranching and a West That Works.
"Eamon is a gifted horseman, and breaks and shoes horses for spare change. He has vast experience in roping calves, docking lambs and spending nights in the calving barn.
"The O'Tooles have a blog through the Western Folklife Center in Elko, Nevada. It chronicles the life of the ranch and the family. Go to www.westernfolklife.org then click on 'Connect' to access the blog."
Presentation Outline:
- Seasons
- Wild Horses
- Energy Development
- Battle Creek Project
- Hunting & Fishing
- Ranch Recreation
- Marketing
Tradition and Transitions in the New West Presentation pdf size: 2.21mb