Near Meeteetse in Park County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
The Building of an Industry
Wyoming’s Agriculture
The agriculture producers of the Big Horn Basin invite you to enjoy our majestic mountains, pristine streams, and lush meadows. These meadows aren’t here for aesthetics; man has strived to irrigate this dry rocky land to make his cows comfortable. In the 1800s there were only a few trails which could support wagon traffic, and few people lived here. Most cattle ran on open range, grazing close to natural water.
The terrible winter of 1887 decimated livestock herds, and local livestock owners recognized they had to do something to make their cattle more comfortable. They had to raise winter feed to get their cattle through the winters, and to show a profit. They used snow runoff and rainwater to irrigate the arid land, and built irrigation systems to create meadows. This water soaked the ground, seeping back to the streams creating fisheries and wetlands. Dams were built on rivers to irrigate large tracts of land, which helped make electricity available and form recreation areas. Trees now grow in formerly treeless river valleys. Ranchers fenced the land, drilled wells, and built reservoirs to water their livestock and land, benefiting wildlife. Roads were constructed to deliver feed to ranchers and haul livestock and produce to market.
Agriculture producers continue to invest time and money to develop and care for resources on their private land and federal grazing permits. Making cows comfortable benefits us all.
Erected by State of Wyoming.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 44° 0.817′ N, 108° 40.23′ W. Marker is near Meeteetse, Wyoming, in Park County. Marker is on State Highway 120, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located in the Gooseberry Creek Rest Area. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Meeteetse WY 82433, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Prairie Rattlesnake (here, next to this marker); First National Bank of Meeteetse (approx. 14.1 miles away); Arland (approx. 15.8 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 24, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.