FCCA hosts annual meeting
On Jan. 24, the Fremont County Cattleman’s Association (FCCA) hosted its 2026 Annual Meeting and Banquet at the Lander Community Center in Lander.
The association is dedicated to serving Fremont County ranchers, with a specific focus on growing the future of the cattle industry through opportunities for local youth.
FCCA Past President Annette Bregar notes the 2026 gathering was well attended and served as an avenue for community members to come together with a common mission of protecting the cattle industry and advancing agriculture in Fremont County and beyond.
Meeting highlights
According to Bregar, roughly 42 paid members and 18 industry leaders were present at the annual meeting to provide updates on the local cattle industry and FCCA programs.
During the meeting, members decided to continue sponsoring six local youth members to attend the summer or winter meeting of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), heard agency reports and held officer elections for the upcoming year.
Dwayne Oldham was elected president, and Clay Espinosa became the outgoing president. Angela Weber was elected as vice president, and Mark McConnell became the secretary-treasurer.
Five traditional hat draws sponsored by local banks were given out during the meeting, and a drawing for preg-check services for 150 head donated by Dr. Jake Hall of High Country Veterinary Services was held at the end of the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 5 p.m. and was followed by a social hour, silent auction, dinner and awards.
Banquet and awards
According to Bregar, roughly 270 dinner tickets were sold for the evening banquet, which featured a prime rib dinner by Kai Espresso and Gifts and a silent auction made possible through the generous contributions of several local donors.
Proceeds from the silent auction go toward supporting FCCA programs and sponsoring youth to attend WSGA annual meetings and related events.
Bregar says FCCA is grateful for the many ag businesses and community members throughout the county who stepped up to help provide these opportunities for youth.
The evening also featured entertainment by Andy Nelson, a high-spirited and energetic cowboy poet and humorist hailing from Pinedale, and an awards presentation honoring the winners of the Fremont County Fair Commercial Cow Contest and the recipients of the FCCA Lifetime Achievement and Ranch Woman of the Year awards.
Fair buckle winners
The winners of the 2025 Fremont County Fair Commercial Cow Contest received belt buckles in recognition of their accomplishments during the banquet.
In the Commercial Cow Contest, Kaylynn Weber won Phase One for her bred heifer project, and Treyson Thompson won Phase Two with his cow/calf pair.
Additionally, Beckham Jacobs won the Born and Raised Contest with his animal purchased from a Fremont County producer, and Hanson Foxworthy won the Rate of Gain Contest.
Weber, Foxworthy and Jacobs were present at the banquet to receive their buckles.
Lifetime
Achievement awards
WSGA President Reg Phillips and WSGA Region Five Vice President Joe Crofts were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of their longtime support for FCCA programs.
The pair received belt buckles from FCCA as a token of appreciation for their efforts in advancing the beef show at the Fremont County Fair and promoting agriculture and the stockman’s way of life.
“These two men have tirelessly pursued the promotion of our organization and have stepped up to encourage youth to be involved,” said Deana Crofts. “Leadership is about doing the right thing for the right reasons, being confident enough to take risks and responsible enough to think of those whom your decisions and risks may affect.”
Ranch Woman of the Year
Jean Armstrong was honored as the FCCA Ranch Woman of the Year, in recognition of her dedication to ranching and impact upon the local ag community.
A lifelong citizen of Fremont County, Armstrong grew up on her family’s ranch raising sheep, milking cows and learning the skills to keep an operation running.
Armstrong’s main focus has been raising cow/calf pairs, and her skill in fostering calf adoptions with patience, instinct and persistence was highlighted in an introduction delivered by Espinosa.
“Armstrong represents the heart of ranching in Fremont County – dedication, resilience, skill and quiet leadership,” said Espinosa.
“It is with great pride we recognize her contributions and honor her today,” he added
“Like all true ranch women, her days are filled with the essential work that never seems to end – roundups, vaccinating, branding, fixing fence, irrigating, haying and always finding ways to make a dollar stretch as far as it possibly can,” Espinosa continued. “She does this work not for recognition, but because it’s what needs to be done and because she cares deeply about the land, the livestock and the ranching way of life.”
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
