Buy Wyoming! This is one of my favorite columns of the year
when we try to recommend Wyoming-made products for Christmas gifts.
Support your
fellow Wyomingites this Christmas season by purchasing Wyoming-made
products. This is my annual list of
great ideas for items from all over the state.
I love books,
obviously, and my favorite this year is the Wyoming Migration coffee table
book. It retails for $50 and I am
looking forward to seeing it under my tree.
Books by other
authors such as Craig Johnson, Ron Franscell, CJ Box, John Davis, Phil Roberts,
Rodger McDaniel, Gene Bryan, Karen Schutte, Steven Horn, and others make
wonderful gifts. Be sure to shop in local book stores and other local retailers
this year. Support your local merchants!
Pete Illoway
of Cheyenne suggests folks check out the Made in Wyoming Directory on the
state’s web page, which lists some 120 items made here.
Long-time
Wheatland rancher Ray Hunkins suggests Foothills Cellar jams and jellies by
Henry Poling, a paraplegic rancher, who obviously has great taste.
Queen Bee Gardens of Lovell sells amazing honey candy items
according to Darin Smith of Cheyenne.
Former
long-time Wyomingite David Kathka loves Serendipity Confections of
Laramie. “Wonderful chocolate caramels
and fudges,” he says.
Mike Jensen of
Cheyenne raves about Maven products of Lander. This outfit was founded by Cade
Maestes, Mike Lilygren, and Brendon Weaver. They sell the best binoculars I
have ever seen and just came out with a line of spotting scopes and rifle
scopes. Amazing optics.
Jerry Kendall
of Hudson says here in Fremont County that Jess Forton makes pine furniture,
Cleve Bell does metal sculptures to order and Dubois artist Marty Dorst paints
custom Christmas bulbs. I believe Jerry produces some amazing walking sticks,
too.
Central
Wyoming College President Brad Tyndall recommends Farmer Fred’s Famous
Sauerkraut sold in Lander and Jackson.
Cody Beers of
Riverton recommends Wonderful Wyoming Honey, as does Tony McRae of Lander.
Dean McKee of
Lander touts Wyoming Whiskey, distilled in Kirby, as the perfect gift.
Unique Wyoming
themed jewelry and artwork are hand-crafted by Jill and Denny Hendrix in Upton
and sold through their website wyomingsilvers.net and currently at the Frontier
Mall in Cheyenne. In addition to affordable glass jewelry and lariat baskets
crafted from recycled lariats, Jill has added a Yellowstone collection of fine
art, says her brother, former Wyoming publisher Mark Raymond.
Amy Surdam
raves about Alexis Drake handbags, belts and jewelry made here in Wyoming.
Jean Haugen
recommends beadwork by Shoshone and Arapaho tribal members. She especially like works by Tom Lucas.
The State
Museum in Cheyenne is loaded with Wyoming products, according to Tucker Fagan.
John Davis
wrote me the following: “I’ve got some Worland area local Wyoming products for
you. We have an active honey company, Bryant Honey, which has been
producing honey and distributing it for three generations. Amish Origins
is another Worland company, one that makes a salve for ‘Deep Penetration Pain
Relief.’ And some of the local ranchers are specializing in custom
grass-fed, hormone-free beef. That includes Carter Country Meats (R. C.
and Annie Carter of Ten Sleep) and Kendrick Redland of Manderson.
Nancy Guthrie
of Jackson recommends David Fales’ Wyoming Gourmet Beef of Cody. Tom Satterfield of Cheyenne likes buffalo
products from Terry Bison Ranch.
Tom Cox of
Lander suggests honey and Indian fry bread.
Pat Henderson
in Sheridan sent me the following: “Legerski Sausage gift box. – Fabulous tasty
and such a unique product.
Koltiska Distillery - Sampler gift box of locally made
crafted alcoholic beverages. King’s Ropes – Ropes, Ropes , ropes.
“And hats, winter stockman caps,
western gifts and much more. PS The Museum is free when you come in. Brinton
Museum – season passes for the 2019 season of extraordinary 19th, 20th and 21st
Century Western and American Indian art. Their Sunday brunch is pretty
tasty too! Tom Balding Bits and Spurs – state of the art bit and spur
designs backed by industry leading technologies innovation for horse-back
riders.
“Special shout-outs to Bill Sniffin
on his beautiful work including our picks of My Wyoming – 101 Special Places and Wyoming at 125: Our place in West – a great gift for all who love
our Wyoming.”
Thanks, Pat.
Best gift you
can give, though, is to reach out and help the needy. Support your local food bank programs and
reach out to people who have suffered big losses this year. A kind word or an invitation to a lonely
person means a lot this time of year.
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