Citizens, businesses honored at HMB

Thermopolis FFA Alumni, friends and family gathered at the Hot Springs County Fair Building on Saturday night to honor AG Citizens and AG Businesses of the Year during the Harvest Moon Ball.

After dinner the AG Citizen awards were presented to Jim Dowdy and Verne Lofink, while the AG Businesses which were honored were Thermopolis Hardware (Dennis and Karen Sinclair) and the Glade Edwards Foundation.

Jim Dowdy - Jim and Nellie Dowdy operated a feedlot North of town for over 30 years. During that time he used the feedlot to bring weaner calves  in from his ranch and feed them up before sending them back to the ranch. He later sold that ranch and started feeding local producers stock and Jerry Just from Nebraska calves.

Throughout the years the feed lot was used for the University of Wyoming WBCI program of AI'ing heifers and the Baird ranch brought their stock in to AI their heifers there. He bought the feed lot so that he could diversify his operations and depending on the market he had cattle or sheep in the pens. At one time he had 1000 head of ewes in the pens. After playing the market between cattle and sheep he then went on to short term cattle, to yearlings, to custom feeding for producers.

He was known to have cattle available for the local youth to use for judging practice and at times even a lot of pigs for them. Jim Dowdy has helped local youth out throughout the years by helping figure out rations with the Pearson square, to grinding their feed, and if nearby, delivering it to their property.

Jim Dowdy has helped local youth out through 4-H and FFA in this community since he arrived and still today, if a young person had a question he would probably be able to answer it.

Verne Lofink - Vern started farming on Jan 9, 1965 with his father-in-law in Worland. He moved to Hot Springs County on March 1, 1989. Verne has been a prominent man of Hot Springs and Washakie for many years. He has served on the Washakie County Fair Board when he lived in Worland. We all know him as the auctioneer at our county fair. Many of us as former 4-H and FFA members have stood in that same ring with him while we sold our animals, he sees, so much potential in us all.

He sold his first farm auction in January of 1978 in downtown Otto, Wyoming. When he moved to Hot Springs County in 1989 he was the only sugar beet farmer hauling many of loads of beets to Worland.

He has 3 children 2 girls and a boy he also has 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. His oldest daughter was killed in a horse-riding accident. His two other children Stephanie who is the Manager of the Goshen County Fairgrounds and Brad who also farms with his dad. Brad also sells vehicles of many sorts.

Verne used to have cows, but the doctor told him to slow down a bit take a bit of stress off, so he sold the cows in 2011. Now a days you can always see him out in the fields as they raise certified dry beans seed, and malt barley, spring wheat, hay barley, and of course the alfalfa hay.

A story he told me was that as a kid growing up they were not given the opportunities that we have today with 4-H and FFA. He further states that when he was young man one of the many people that influenced him was his Ag teacher. His AG teacher was a person who has seen many things being in World War II prisoner of war in a German camp. When he got back to the USA, he wanted to make an impact on all lives to make them better. If we can take one person and give them that drive to pursue their dreams to strive then by golly that is what we need to do. So, Vern uses this knowledge and he continues to pass that down to each one he meets.

Vern loves kids and loves to help his community. He is a board member of the Community Federated Church. He has been involved with his kids, grandkids and youth of the area helping them whenever needed. He firmly believes 4-H and FFA are the two best youth programs in the country. Giving the youth the chance to experience many of life's challenges that will be with them the rest of their lives. It is with honor that we give this award to man who has been part of this community for the past 29 years in Hot Springs County.

Glade Edwards Foundation - Many people have heard of the Glade Edwards Foundation, especially any 4-H or FFA kid that has participated in the fair in the past 30 plus years! But what is the Glade Edwards Foundation? The foundation was set up in 1983 after the passing of Glade Edwards. Edwards was a long time rancher on Black Mountain, northeast of Thermopolis. Ruth Clare Johnson, Edwards attorney at the time, arranged the formation of the foundation as specified in Glade Edwards Last Will and Testament. The foundation was set up so the money he left was invested and the directors of the foundation would use any interest and dividends to invest in the Ag community.

Edwards ranch on Black Mountain is now owned by Matt Brown. Matt knew Glade and said that he was a quiet man, very much a hermit. He lived in the cabin that the Browns now use as a cow camp. Edwards helped Matt buy the ranch from him even though Matt claimed he didn't even have two dimes to rub together. He was more interested in selling his ranch to someone who would work it and appreciate it than to someone who could easily afford it.

The 3 current directors for the foundation are Jim Wilson, Karen Sinclair and Dana McDermott. Over the years the foundation has used the interest from the initial investment to help non-profit organizations fund projects in our community. Glade Edwards was a firm believer in agriculture and wanted to preserve its heritage. So one of the main things the foundation funds every year are the awards at the Hot Springs County Fair and Family Fun Night. They have also donated to many fairground improvement projects such as the concession stand, horse barn stalls and the indoor restrooms just to name a few.

The directors try to use the money to make an impact on the community. Karen says that when they make decisions on funding she thinks in the back of her mind "What would Glade have wanted to have give to?" Whether Glade would've approved of all their choices or not, there is no denying that all the choices that the directors have chosen have made a huge impact on our community.

Here are a few of the projects they have helped fund:

Playground equipment for the Glade Edwards Park and Candy Jack Park

The Skate Park

The Wooden Play Park

Main Street Light Poles

Main Street Flower Pots

Equipment at Gottsche

The HSC Museum and Cultural Center

The Light pole Banners that fly over the river

Computers for the library

Tables for the HSC Senior Center

Many 4-H projects including the dog park that the Mustangs built

Many conservation efforts

Seed monies to help start the Hospital and Library Foundations

Book for Babies

Trees for the State Park

Some Community Garden boxes

And Head Start projects

The list goes on and on. To say that Glade Edwards has made an impact on our community would be an understatement. Even if you didn't know the Glade Edwards, I would guess that his Foundation has touched everyone in this room tonight in one way or another. Wow, what a legacy that is.

Thermopolis Hardware (Dennis and Karen Sinclair) - Dennis and Karen have been community oriented for years. They have always been very generous and giving when it comes to any other community project or committee.

In 1980, Sinclairs bought into Coast to Coast, in 1986 they completed the buy out and were proud owners of the hardware store.

Dennis and Karen were also owners of Ben Franklin for 25 years, Keeping you In Stitches for 10 years as well as Ben Franklin apparel and Christmas Toy store.

Dennis has served on several committees for the community, including Kiwanis and the conservation board for 16 years. He also has dedicated his time to the Chamber of Commerce, Senior Center board and H diamond W board. Dennis currently serves as Thermopolis Improvement Corporations president.

Dennis also gave time as a 4-H pig leader.

Karen has been involved with the rotary and Glade Edwards foundation for 15 years, she also serves on the Community Church building committee and both are very active members of the church with Karen being a Sunday School teacher. She has also served 10 years for the Hospital Foundation and Circle J board.

Karen and Dennis are very active community members that give their time to make Thermopolis a better place and to help any organization make ends meet.

In fact, Karen and Dennis have not missed one livestock auction since 1980, even though it often falls on their anniversary.

Due to Dennis and Karen's generous dedication to our community, we are more than pleased to award them with our 2018 Outstanding AG Business of the Year.