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Week 1 History Question was: "How many Wyoming livestock brands were registered by Sublette County residents as of 2015?" Winner was Tara Holmes of Daniel, Guess 760, Answer: 821

Schwan's Sublette County History Contest
Week 1 Clues Page (Feb. 17-23, 2016)

(Last day to enter guesses for this question was Tuesday, February 23, 2016)

Week 1 Question: "How many Wyoming livestock brands were registered by Sublette County residents as of 2015?"

Week 1 KPIN 101.1FM Radio announcement (3.02MB mp3)

Winner: Tara Holmes, Daniel, WY, guess: 760

Answer: 821, based on the 2015 Wyoming Brand Book

The 2015 Wyoming Brand book lists all the brands registered for that year. Everyone who registers a brand is associated with a town and zip code in their county, even rural residences. Sorting the 2015 brand database for all the registrations by zip codes for the 6 towns in Sublette County, show a total of 823 brands. However, there were two apparent errors in the Wyoming Livestock Board 2015 brand database in which two people, from the towns of Etna and Evanston (which are not in Sublette County), are listed with the 83113 zip code for Big Piney/Marbleton. This appears to be a data entry error assigning an incorrect town zip code to the people with those two brands. So subtracting out those two brand entries from the total county brand count, gives the answer of 821 livestock brands registered to Sublette County residents in 2015.

Town, Zip, 2015:
Pinedale, 82941: 261
Big Piney/Marbleton, 83113: 208
Daniel, 83115: 131
Boulder, 82923: 108
Bondurant, 82922: 35
Cora, 82925: 78
Total: 821

Week 1 Clues:

1. Branding is a technique used to mark livestock to identify ownership. Each livestock owner in a given area has a unique brand. In Wyoming, brands are managed through the Wyoming Livestock Board in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Brand registration and renewal cost $300 for each brand for a period of 10 years. Brands can be obtained for cattle, horses, sheep, mules, buffalo and turkeys. Brands are composed of letters, numbers, and symbols in various combinations.

2. Wyoming began recording brands in 1909. Prior to that, brands were registered by county. Brand records prior to 1909 may be found at the Wyoming State Archives. The Wyoming Livestock Board has old brand histories consisting of copies of the three by five cards that were used to record brands prior to computers. There are currently more than 25,000 brands registered in the state of Wyoming.

3. There are 1120 brands in the 1985 Green River Valley Cowbelles & Cattlemen’s Association Brand Book. This is mostly Sublette County brands, but does not necessarily show all registered or in use, and includes owners from out of area who run cattle in the valley. Copy located at the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney.

4. The unique brand means cattle owned by multiple ranches can graze freely together on the open range and then can later be separated at roundup time for driving to market, or returned to their owner if lost or stolen. Brands eventually became so numerous that it became necessary to have a managing system and overseeing organization. Over time, brand books became available that allowed ranchers to know all the livestock brands in their area. States began to pass laws requiring the registration of brands, and the inspection of cattle driven through various territories. Penalties were imposed on those who failed to obtain a bill of sale with a list of brands on the animals purchased. The Wyoming Livestock Board now publishes a brand book every two years (frequency of publishing in earlier years was less consistent). The 2015 book has 843 pages of brands with an average of 34 brands on each page. There is also a cross-reference alphabetical list of brand owners to their brands. Copies of the brand books for earlier years are available for download as PDFs on the Wyoming Livestock Board website (note, these are very large files).

5. Every two years a certain percentage of brands are renewed. The next renewal period will be January 1, 2017 thru March 1, 2017. The first renewal notice will be sent out in October 2016. Renewal Notices are sent out to the last known address listed on the brand record. Once paid and renewed, the brand will not be renewed again for 10 years.

6. Wyoming is broken into six Livestock Brand Inspection Districts. Each District is composed of several counties. Each District has a Brand Commissioner. The Wyoming Livestock Board has Brand Inspectors throughout the state to verify livestock ownership prior to any change of ownership or movement. Brand inspectors inspect cattle, horses, mules, asses and sheep for brands and ownership. Brand inspections are required for a change of ownership and to legally cross country or state lines.Each county has several Brand Inspectors. District 1 is composed of Teton, Sublette, Lincoln, Uinta, and part of Sweetwater County. Sublette County has three Brand Inspectors, one for Big Piney, Daniel, and Pinedale.

7. The Green River Valley Cattle Association will hold their annual meeting on Friday & Saturday, February 26 & 27, 2016. Meetings convene at 1PM at the Marbleton Town Hall, 10700 Hwy 189. More info: (http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2016/02/GreenRiverValleyCatt.htm)

8. Not everyone who owns a brand owns livestock or operates a ranch. Some families retain old unused versions of brands for legacy and historical purposes. Sometimes people buy brands for personal or business marketing reasons that have nothing to do with raising livestock.

9. The Pinedale phone book shows some brands in the front of the book.

10. The Pinedale and Big Piney Library have access to some Wyoming brand books. They have some hard copies as well as some on CD available for reference.

11. The Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney has a complete set of Wyoming brand books. They also have the old brand panels that once were once on the side of the Cowboy Bar in Pinedale. The Museum is open during the summer season only. (See links to related stories about the Cowboy Bar brands below)

12. In January 2015, the Green River Valley Cattlewomen (GRVC) began researching a book about the histories of local brands. They asked Sublette County brand owners if they would be interested in having their brand in the book. There are two ways for the research to be done. People can do their own research on the history of their brand, write it up and turn it into the GRVC along with $10.00. The other way is for the GRVC to research the brand, write up the history and the brand owner pays $30.00. The GRVC is charging $30.00 because it costs $22.50 to get the information from the Wyoming Livestock Board and then researchers may have to go to the American Heritage Center or Wyoming Livestock Board archives and look up the history before 1913. For more information, contact any of the following people who are on the GRVC Brand Book Committee: Deanne Bradley, Jonita Sommers, Brenda Carnahan, Liz Wardell, Sharlene Lozier, Sherri Bohleen, Rita Donham, Terrie Springman. (http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2015/01/Sublettebrandshistor.htm)

Otto Leiffer Circle brand

Ed Swan PL brand

1910 Big Piney Livestock Association Brand Book 1912 Green river Valley Cattle and Horse Groweers Association Brand Book
The first brands used in Sublette County were the PL by Ed Swan and Circle by Otto Leifer in 1878, just west of Big Piney on South Piney Creek. There are 157 brands registered to 80 owners listed in the 1910 Big Piney Livestock Association Brand Book. It does not necessarily show all registered or in use brands. A copy located at the Sublette County Historical Society/Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale.
There are 247 brands registered to 123 owners in the 1912 Green River Valley Cattle and Horse Growers Association Brand Book. It does not necessarily show all registered or in use brands. Copy located at Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney.
Old brands were found on the exterior wall of the Cowboy Bar in 2011. Brands moved to the wall behind the bar at the Green River Valley Museum Close-up of brands on the exterior of the Cowboy Bar
In 2011, construction workers removing wood half-logs on the exterior of the Cowboy Bar in Pinedale discovered another hidden wall underneath that was covered from floor to ceiling with old brands. The brands are painted on square panels on old metal siding made to look like a stone building. Some of the brand squares have penciled in writing with names and some dates which appear to be from the 1940s and 1950s. Read story The brands that were found on the Cowboy Bar in Pinedale were ultimately moved to the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney so they could be protected and interpreted. Close-up of some of the brands found on the exterior of the Cowboy Bar in Pinedale In 2011.


Related Links:

Wyoming Livestock Board
https://wlsb.state.wy.us/public

Livestock Brands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock_branding
Wikipedia

Brands and Branding - From Wyoming Tales and Trails
http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/brands.html

Uncovering history - Old brands found on exterior walls of the Cowboy Bar in Pinedale
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2011/06/Uncoveringhistory.htm
Pinedale Online, June 15, 2011

Early History of the Cowboy Bar and Its Brands
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2011/07/EarlyHistoryoftheCow.htm
Pinedale Online, July 1, 2011

Brand Awareness: Decoding Cattle Brands
http://modernfarmer.com/2013/06/cowglyphics-decoding-cattle-brands/
modernfarmer.com, June 24, 2013

Green River Valley Cattlemen's Association Annual Meeting Feb. 26 & 27
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2016/02/GreenRiverValleyCatt.htm
Pinedale Online, February 11, 2016

Sublette brands history book being written - Brand owners can submit to have the history of their brands included
http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2015/01/Sublettebrandshistor.htm
Pinedale, Online, January 8, 2015

Good articles on local brands:

Miller, Mildred Mickelson, “A Man and His Brand” in Tales of the Seeds-Ke-Dee by Sublette County Artist Guild. Big Mountain Press: Denver, CO, 1963. Pages 15-25.

“Older Brands of Sublette County” in Tales of the Seeds-Ke-Dee by Sublette County Artist Guild. Big Mountain Press: Denver, CO, 1963. Pages 12-13.

More articles about local brands from the book Wyoming’s Own:

George, Agnes West, “Those Monograms on Cows’ Hides” in Wyoming’s Own, edited by Eunice Ewer Wallace, 1976. Pages 43-46.

Noble, Carroll, “Early Brands” in Wyoming’s Own, edited by Eunice Ewer Wallace, 1976. Pages 49-53.

Lozier, Roy, “Upper New Fork Brands” in Wyoming’s Own, edited by Eunice Ewer Wallace, 1976. Pages 55-56.

Carr, Bill, “Old Wyoming Brands” in Wyoming’s Own, edited by Eunice Ewer Wallace, 1976. Pages 57-64.

Book Resources:
2015 Wyoming Brand Book By the Wyoming Livestock Board (Available for purchase from the Wyoming Livestock Board. A copy is also available for inhouse reference at the Pinedale Online office in the back of Office Outlet store, 43 S Sublette Avenue in Pinedale - ask for Dawn.)

Seedskadee Revisited By Sublette County Artists Guild (At local Libraries)

Green River Drift: A History of the Upper Green River Cattle Association By Jonita Sommers (Local Libraries & used book market)

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Official Rules:
1. Eligibility: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Contest participants must be residents of Sublette County, Wyoming; be at least 18 years of age, and a U.S. citizen to win. Limit one weekly prize per person and household. All past winners are eligible to enter to win the Grand Prize. There are no substitutions allowed on prize winnings. No one directly involved in the creation of the contest or history questions, or their families or household members, are eligible to win any of the contest prizes.

2. Contest Period: The contest runs for six weeks, from Wednesday, February 17, 2016 and ending on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.

3. Sponsors: Schwan’s, Pinedale Online, KPIN 101.1FM Radio. Contacts for more information are:
Schwan’s Home Service of Rock Springs, phone: 307-360-FOOD (3663), myriam.wolcott@schwans.com, 213 Industrial Ave, Rock Springs, WY 82901
Pinedale Online: Dawn Ballou, Editor, 307-360-7689, support@pinedaleonline.com
PO Box 2250, Pinedale, WY 82941
KPIN 101.1FM Radio: Bob Rule, 307-367-2000, kpin@wyoming.com
PO Box 2000, Pinedale, WY 82941

4. To Enter: Each week’s history question will be posted on Pinedale Online on the Local page and at http://www.pinedaleonline.com/schwans, as well as announced on KPIN 101.1 FM Radio. To enter a guess to answer the week’s history question, send an email with your answer to myriam.wolcott@schwans.com or call 307-360-FOOD (3663) by Noon on the Tuesday ending that week’s contest. Include your name, email address, mailing address, and a contact phone number so the winner can be notified. All entries become the property of Schwan’s and will not be returned. Winners names will be posted on Pinedale Online at http://www.pinedaleonline.com/schwans/ and announced on KPIN 101.1 FM Radio on the Wednesday following that week’s question. The next week’s new history question will also be posted and announced on Wednesday.

5. Prize Drawing: On or about Tuesday evening, contest administrators will review the entries and determine which one was the first to coming closest to correctly answering the question. There will be only one prize awarded to one winner each week. Winner’s name will be posted on the Pinedale Online website and announced on KPIN 101.1FM Radio on the Wednesday ending the week of that contest question. If the contest sponsor cannot contact the prize winner within 3 days of announcement of the winner, the contest sponsors may select an alternate winner from the next closest correct answer entries that can be contacted to claim that week’s prize. Schwan’s Home Service of Rock Springs reserves the right to be ultimate decider of each week’s contest winner and their decision is final. Prizes will be delivered by Schwan’s to the winner within Sublette County, Wyoming by prior arrangement during the next week’s Schwan’s regular Sublette County route delivery cycle. By accepting prize, winner releases all participating sponsors from any liability as a result of this prize. Schwan's will pay the Wyoming State sales tax of the winning prizes for the prize winners.

6. Privacy: Information gained from contest entrants is subject to Schwan’s privacy policy. Names of winners will be posted online and announced over KPIN Radio, but email addresses, phone numbers and physical addresses will not be released. Schwan’s will use address information to make deliveries of prizes to winners. Schwan’s may ask contest entrants if they would like a Schwan’s catalog and/or more information about the company’s food products.

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KPIN 101.1 FM Radio
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ELIGIBLE AREAS:
Big Piney
Bondurant
Boulder
Cora
Daniel
Marbleton
Pinedale
Sublette County, Wyoming

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PRIZES:

Handbreaded Fantail Shrimp
Prize for Week 1: Hand Breaded Fantail Shrimp

WEEK 1 History Question:S
"How many Wyoming livestock brands were registered by Sublette County residents as of 2015?"
Winner: Tara Holmes, Daniel, WY Guess: 760
(Week 1 Clues)
Week 1 KPIN 101.1FM Radio announcement (3.02MB mp3)
Answer: 821, according to the Wyoming Livestock Board 2015 Brand Book

3 Schwan's  Pizzas
Prize for Week 2: 3 Pizzas

WEEK 2 History Question:S
"When was the first reported sighting of a moose in Pinedale?"
Winner: Sandy Kawa, Pinedale, WY Guess: May 25, 1916.
Week 2 KPIN 101.1FM Radio announcement (2.5MB mp3)
Answer: A lone cow moose was seen on Tuesday, May 23, 1916, as reported in the Thursday, May 25, 1916 edition of the Pinedale Roundup newspaper.

Pork Tenderloin Filet Wrapped with Applewood Smoked Bacon
Prize for Week 3: Pork Tenderloin Filet Wrapped with Applewood Smoked Bacon

WEEK 3 History Question:S
"What was the name of the first sternwheeler passenger boat on the Green River with service to Big Piney?"
KPIN Radio ad for Week 3
(2.64MB mp3 audio file)

Winner: Bonnie Whitley, Boulder
Guess: "Sunbeam"
Correct Answer: "Sunbeam"

A selection of three 1/2 gallon ice cream tubs
Prize for Week 4: A selection of three 1/2 gallon ice cream tubs

WEEK 4 History Question:S
"Where is 'Lake Beautiful' in Sublette County?"

KPIN Radio ad for Week 4

(2.47MB mp3 audio file)

Winner: Kenna Tanner, Pinedale
Answer: New Fork Lake
(Lac d'Amalia)

Schwan's Red Velvet & Cheesecake
Prize for Week 5: Red Velvet & Cheesecake

WEEK 5 History Question & Clues:
"What was 'Serious Sawbuck'?"

KPIN Radio ad for Week 5
(1.23MB mp3 audio file)

Winner: No one correctly answered the question this week. The prize will roll over and be given away as one of two prizes for next week.
Answer: Slang for "Sears & Roebuck"

Grand Prizw Week 6: Dinner for Two - Your choice of appetizer, main course and dessert up to $50 value!
Grand Prize Week 6: Dinner for Two - Your choice of appetizer, main course and dessert up to $50 value!

Week 6 Clues Page

Week 6 Questions:
1. "What is the oldest geographic feature place name in Sublette County still in use today?" Answer: Green River
2. "What was the first constructed road in the Upper Green River Valley?"
Answer: Lander Trail/Cut-Off Road

Winner: Lisa Williams, Cora, Wyoming

KPIN Radio ad for Week 6
(1.45MB mp3 audio file)

Jean-Francois Lefebvre, Schwan's delivery driver for the Pinedale area

Meet Jean-Francois Lefebvre, your friendly Pinedale area delivery driver for Schwan's. Orders are placed online via www.schwans.com. Jean-Francois comes up to Pinedale from the Rock Springs Schwan's distribution center several days a week to deliver orders. He can be reached at 307-360-FOOD (3663).

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