These Steer-A-Year organizers and award winners were recognized on the field during the UW-Hawaii football game September 23 in Laramie (left to right): Doug Hixon, Steer-A-Year assistant; Laurel Austin, Steer-A-Year student assistant; Wally Wallace, volunteer of the year, Worland; Tom Cobb and Cindy Cobb, Cobb Cattle Co., Savery; Marty Jones and Joe Henderson, Jones Ag Corp., Torrington; Brace and Haley Pingetzer, Pingetzer’s Six Iron Ranch, Shoshoni; and Randy Welniak, University of Wyoming Athletics senior associate assistant director.
Laramie, Wyo. The University of Wyoming's Cowboy Joe Club's 2016-17 Steer-A-Year (S-A-Y) Program wrapped up with an Awards Dinner prior to the Cowboys' game vs. the University of Hawai'i on Sept. 23, 2017. S-A-Y Jackets were presented to the following steer donors in recognition of their donated animal's performance:
- Greatest Initial Value – Loren, Robyn, Logan & Heather Heth, Lusk
- Best Rate of Gain (Initial weight of 500-600 lbs.) – Hampton Ranch, Ten Sleep
- Best Rate of Gain (Initial weight of 601-700 lbs.) – Six Iron Ranch, Shoshoni
- Best Rate of Gain (Initial weight 701+ lbs.) – Dunmire Ranch, McFadden
- Greatest Net Increase in Value (Initial weight of 500-600 lbs.) –Jones Ag Corp., Torrington
- Greatest Net Increase in Value (Initial weight of 600-700 lbs.) – Cobb Cattle Co., Savery
- Greatest Net Increase in Value (Initial weight of 701+ lbs.) – Fox Ranches, Kemmerer
- Greatest Carcass Value (Finished in May/June) – Dow Ranch, Sheridan
- Greatest Carcass Value (Finished early) – Shively Hardware, Saratoga
Recognition was also given to the Boxelder Ranch of Ten Sleep, who was selected as Newcomer of the Year, and Wally Wallace of Worland, who was named Volunteer of the Year, for his outstanding recruitment efforts.
Established in 1995, the S-A-Y Program supports scholarships for approximately 90 UW student-athletes who have graduated from Wyoming High Schools in addition to providing financial support to the UW Rodeo Team and Animal Science Judging Teams.
The UW Cowboy Joe Club is currently accepting entries for the 2017-18 S-A-Y Program. Volunteer drivers assist in gathering the steers from around the state and delivering them to Y6 Feeders at Meriden, Wyo. If the steers are heavy enough to be finished by the end of June, they will be fed and sold to a commercial packer with carcass data collected and returned to the donor. Out of the 135 head entered this past year, 107 head were fed to finish while the balance were sold in the spring as grass cattle.
A recently added feature of the Steer-A-Year Program is a Memorial Division. Family or friends of deceased Cowboy & Cowgirl fans can donate a steer in their memory. "Once a Cowboy /Cowgirl, always a Cowboy/Cowgirl!"
Anyone can participate in the program. In addition to giving a physical steer, for a minimum of $200 (or more), a person can become a feed donor. Non-farmers or ranchers sometimes will also buy a steer and enter it to the program. In addition to a tax deductible donation, there may be ticket priority and parking benefits for athletic events. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Cowboy Joe Club (307-766-6242 or by emailing:
cowboyjoe@uwyo.edu). GO POKES!!!
