Stam member of Ranch Camp team recognized by UW

At an annual conference in Casper last month, the University of Wyoming Extension recognized educators across the state for outstanding service in 2022.

The founders of Wyoming Ranch Camp—UW Extension educators Hudson Hill, Chance Marshall, Brian Sebade and Barton Stam—received the 2022 Creative Excellence Recognition award.

The five-day program, established in 2021, provides recent high school graduates and college students with a wide range of practical learning experiences on a host ranch. Educational activities are facilitated by both extension personnel and ranch managers.

Each day highlights a different aspect of ranch management, including economics, ranch diversification, animal science, and plant and soil science. Hands-on experiences like docking sheep and implanting cattle are balanced with seminar-based learning.

As part of the critical thinking component of the camp, teams of participants collaborate throughout the week to create a ranch plan for the host ranch. Plans are presented to ranch managers and extension personnel for feedback on the last day of the program.

Regardless of the experiences they brought to the program, camp participants have reported valuable learning outcomes.

“I can really use this and apply it to life—already—and that means a lot to me,” comments one participant. Despite an extensive background in cattle ranching, she came away with new ideas for how to improve operations at the family ranch.

Another participant, who entered the program with no ranching experience, says that Ranch Camp inspired her to adopt a more interdisciplinary approach to her graduate research.

“This program is getting lots of positive feedback,” notes Sebade. He looks forward to Ranch Camp 2023.