Each year, the Little Snake River Lions Club sponsors, with volunteer help, the annual rodeo and Fun Day. Fun Day features an amateur rodeo and lots of family events like ribbon roping, junior bull riding and mutton busting. A high point is the pig and chicken catching by community members of various age groups, from under 2 to adult women (hey guys, are you cowards?!)
This year, an added feature was rain–the first in many weeks. Nobody cared that they were muddy as they chased barrels and pigs. All were really happy to see the moisture.
Kylie and Matt Feldman, ready to ride
Matt and Kylie heading for the barrel race
McCoy in the barrel race, with a little help from his Mom
McCoy doffs his hat to the crowd
Seamus mutton busting in rain
Tiarnan, Meghan ready to chase chickens
Rodriguez guys, of El Rio Restaurant fame, serving burgers
Eamon and McCoy’s pig
Sage, pig and Eamon
McCoy on fence
Tiarnan and McCoy with snowcones
Trouble on the fence: Maeve and the kindergarten girls
Megan and Meghan following an unsuccessful pig chase
Patrick and Sharon O'Toole are ranchers in the Little Snake River Valley on the Wyoming-Colorado border. They represent the fourth generation on the six-generation family ranch. The O'Tooles raise cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and children on their high country ranching operation. The transhumance operation stretches from north of Steamboat Springs, Colorado to Wyoming's Red Desert.
Pat has served in the Wyoming House of Representatives, the Western Water Policy Commission, and is currently President of the Family Farm Alliance, representing irrigators and water users in the western United States. He is active with several conservation and agricultural organizations.
Sharon is a writer and poet. She writes extensively on western issues, and the relationship between landscape, animals and people. She is widely published as an author, essayist and editorial commentator.
Pat and Sharon have three children. Their daughter, Meghan and her husband Brian Lally, live on the ranch with their children, Siobhán, Seamus, Maeve and Tiarnán. Meghan has also served on the Wyoming Board of Agriculture and the Environmental Quality Council, She and Brian are active in community service.
Daughter Bridget lives in Phoenix with her husband, Chris Abel, where she works in health care communications. Chris works in the food distribution business.
Son Eamon and his wife Megan live on the ranch with their sons, McCoy and Rhen. Eamon is a horseman and natural resource manager, and Megan is a flight nurse. Eamon is a member of the Wyoming Beef Council and is active in the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
The blog traces the activities and life on the ranch, from the mundane to the fabulous.