The Carbon County Fair is almost upon us. Siobhan and Seamus have modeled their sewing projects and await the final judgement. The 4-H lambs (two market lambs for Siobhan, two market lambs for Seamus and one Hampshire buck lamb for Siobhan) are fat and getting their Fair coats on. Here is Maeve helping to wash the lambs.
We are back in the Fair business. After a hiatus of several years, we are once again fully involved with our county fair. Siobhan is nine, and old enough for 4-H. She took three projects–steer, sewing and shooting sports. Of course, since we are the “flock contractors” for the annual mutton busting, we never really left the fair scene. Still–there’s nothing like having one of your own competing and participating.One of the great things about attending the fair is the opportunity to connect with old friends from all around the county. At the style review, I could sense my Mom checking the seams. She was a sewing leader in our community for 32 years. If she asked, “Are YOU satisfied with that?” you’d know that she wasn’t.
Someone asked me what I had been up to. I replied, “I don’t know–last time I looked up, it was the middle of April.”
Siobhan modeling at Savery Museum
Savery Savers sewers
Meghan, Tiarnan, Siobhan and Pepper–Meghan won the whitest legs contest
Siobhan showing Pepper, with a lot of help from her leader, Jack Cobb
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.
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.
Sharon's father George, 89, passed away December 25, 2010. He lived much of his life in the house where he was born, and remained active in the day-to-day life of the ranch. Mr. Salisbury was a decorated World War II veteran, a former member of Wyoming's House of Representatives, and former President of Wyoming's Board of Agriculture.
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 also served on the Wyoming Board of Agriculture, and she and Brian are active in community service. Daughter Bridget lives in Denver with her husband, Chris Abel, where she works in public relations and he serves agriculture in the food 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 nurse.
The blog traces the activities and life on the ranch, from the mundane to the fabulous.