Wyo. Ranchers Find Innovative Ways To Carry On

At the turn of the 20th century, ranching was the challenge of a lifetime. It was an opportunity to tame the West, reside atop the prairie while working hard to feed, clothe and live in a country where dangers were around every turn in the dusty road. Between cold winters, inadequate water supply and outlaws, the risk was life and death for the early Campbell County homesteaders. Now, nine years into the 21st century, times have changed and opportunity in ranching is no longer what it once was. The risk has changed from fighting day in and day out for survival to striving to maintain the same lifestyle. New challenges have made it nearly impossible to establish the same roots that homesteaders did 100 years ago. Land prices, industrial stagnation, government involvement and general lack of interest by new generations are some major roadblocks that have changed the role of traditional ranching. But ranching as a lifestyle will never go away so long as there is land to graze and people who need to be fed. A new generation of risk takers are willing to take up the challenges posed by the modern world...read more