Living to serve, Eathornes honored at Farm Bureau meeting

Laramie – Frank and Leslie Eathorne of Converse County were awarded the 2013 Farm Bureau Distinguished ServiceAward at the 94th annual meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB). Presented Nov. 15, the award is given to those who have gone above and beyond in their service to agriculture.

“Frank and Leslie have never lost sight of their goal,” stated Wyoming Farm Bureau President Perry Livingston. “We appreciate all they have done for the good of the Farm Bureau organization and the good of agriculture in Converse County and Wyoming.”

Frank and Leslie met in Florida while Frank was attending flight school at MacDill Air Force Base. They married in 1965, and Frank shipped out to Vietnam immediately following their honeymoon. The Eathornes returned to the ranch north of Douglas in 1974, immersing themselves in their ranching operation and beginning a long relationship with a number of organizations.

As lifetime members of WyFB, Frank and Leslie have devoted much time and dedication to the organization.

“The protection of private property rights has always been at the top of Frank and Leslie’s list of things worth fighting for,” Livingston said. “The Eathornes have stood up for agriculture when it really counted and spent many late nights reading a draft plan and providing comments; making sandwiches for weary firemen; sending one more e-mail; or helping put the finishing touches on a 4-H project.”

“It is very special to get this award from WyFB,” Frank and Leslie Eathorne said.  “We have talked many times over the years about different ranch issues we face and know WyFB is the organization we can count on when we are looking for solutions.”

The Eathornes also marked the connections they have made through their years serving WyFB as being important.

“Then, of course, the friendships we have made around the state is another thing we have grown to appreciate over the years,” Frank and Leslie said.  “We always look forward to coming to the WyFB meetings and those are the reasons.”

“We feel very blessed to be honored by this group of people,” they concluded.