During the 2009-2010 school year, the Fort Bridger
third grade class took part in an Adopt-A-Rancher program, through the
Uinta County Conservation District. This is the first year for the
program and, with the support of a great group of volunteers, teachers
and students, we were able to make this program a huge success for
everyone.Richard and Carol Hamilton spent
the school year exchanging letters and photographs with the Fort Bridger
third grade class. The Hamilton's took the students on a journey to
learn about life on their ranch from fall to spring roundup. They
exchanged letters about the history of the ranch, vaccinations,
branding, calving and much much more. Through this process, the students
became familiar with the Hamilton's, their ranch animals and family
pets, and learned about real-life experiences of life on a ranch.
After a school year of corresponding, the students
were invited to meet their adopted family by spending the day at the
ranch. With the help of neighbors and friends, the students were treated
to a day full of activities. Each class was assigned a group leader and
off they went to experience life at the Hamilton ranch.
The students took a wagon ride through the ranch,
pulled by Wes Luphers' team of mules. They got to ride past the infamous
Taco (the cow) and they saw a historical home on the ranch. Wes shared
information about ranching with a team of mules and some of his family
history. During the ride, they saw deer, geese and sandhill cranes.
The students, with the help of Chad Spackman,
Casey Lamoreaux, Pat Potter and Kerri Sabey, each took turns running the
hydraulics on the ranch backhoe and tractor. Nancy Hamilton showed the
students Casey’s barbed wire art, the pigeons and the equipment inside
the ranch Quonset.
The Hamilton's wanted the students to see
additional ranch animals on their visit, and with the help of
neighboring ranchers and friends, they were able to make this possible.
Marty Watkins brought his two mares and foals to share with the
students; Ben Horton brought his miniature horse, jackasses and goats.
Chad Spackman brought a few of his orphaned calves; and Darius Eardley
brought his ewe, lamb and yearling. Ginger Walker and Deanna Behunin
helped the students learn about these animals and let the students walk
the yearling. Ginger and Deanna also showed the students ranch gear,
saddles, western clothing and calf warming lamps.
By this time, we had all worked up a big appetite.
Thanks to Mindy Lamoreaux, we were served up a hot lunch and treated to
Carol’s homemade cinnamon rolls. After filling our bellies, we were off
to explore more activities at the ranch.
Jean Henry and Carol talked to the students about
cattle identification, health, by-products and instincts. The students
also got to meet the family dogs (Yip and JR) that they had read about
during the school year. To top the day off, the students each got to
take a ride on a saddle horse, lead by Cindy Hickey and Emilene France.
At the end of the day, the event was a huge
success, with much thanks to Carol and Richard Hamilton for opening
their ranch and life to all of us. This is a wonderful program for
students to obtain hands-on agricultural experience.
Debra Fisher of Fort Bridger Elementary said, "We
had an amazing experience with the Hamilton's. We all learned a lot
about ranch life and the information they shared with us directly
correlated with our state standards in Social Studies."
If you would like to find out more about our Adopt A Rancher program,
please give us a call at (307) 747-8224