The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources will recognize exceptional alumni, valued partners, and generous supporters of the college at the annual dean’s banquet in Laramie Friday, Oct. 11. The event occurs during Agriculture Appreciation weekend, a yearly celebration of UW’s connection to the agricultural community.
This year’s award recipients are outstanding alumni Craig Calkins and Mark Eisele; outreach partner National Western Stock Show; and legacy awardees Art and Catherine Nicholas of Wagonhound Land & Livestock Company.
Army Veterinarian Leverages Wyoming Connections to Serve Soldiers Abroad
As deputy commander for Veterinary Readiness Activity, Italy, U.S. Army Major Craig Calkins leads an international team that provides public health and veterinary services to more than 46,000 Department of Defense personnel in Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
Originally from Cody, Wyoming, Calkins entered the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps in 2012. To fulfill continuing education requirements, he later earned a master’s degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management from UW.
“I will never forget where I’m from and what the state has provided me,” Calkins says. “I think you can leave Wyoming, but Wyoming will always be with you.”
In 2022, Calkins partnered with UW Extension sheep specialist Whit Stewart and rangeland management specialist Derek Scasta to organize a one-of-a-kind animal handling training in Scotland for U.S. soldiers under his tutelage.
Livestock Industry Leader Supports Agricultural Legacies
Mark Eisele, who earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural mechanization from UW in 1982, owns and operates King Ranch near Cheyenne.
Eisele began working at the King Ranch in high school as summer labor. While Eisele was attending UW, he began building his own herd of cattle. Impressed by his work ethic, the former ranch owners, the Kings, visited with Eisele about joining the ranch as a partner. Eisele accepted, eventually taking full ownership of the ranch in 2011. He now manages more than 1,000 cattle on 35,000 acres.
One of Eisele’s proudest accomplishments is creating a legacy for his family. “I’ve been successful because all of my family was supportive of my goals from when I started early on,” says Eisele. “My wife and children all contributed to that success and are partners in the ranch now.”
Throughout his career, Eisele has served as a leader in several state and national livestock organizations. These organizations include the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust, Wyoming Livestock Board, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).
In 2024, Eisele was elected president of the NCBA. As president, he has helped producers find strategies to retain ownership of their land and maintain good relationships with governmental agencies.
Local Ranchers Empower Wyoming’s Future Leaders with $2.5 Million Gift
In 2024, Art and Catherine Nicholas, who have owned and operated Wagonhound Land & Livestock Company for more than two decades, donated $2.5 million to UW to create the Wyoming Ranching Excellence Fund. Their generous gift was matched by the Wyoming Legislature, bringing the total up to $5 million.
The Nicholas’ gift has enabled UW’s innovative Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership (RMAL) program to continue training the next generation of Wyoming ranchers and agricultural leaders.
Launched in 2021, the multidisciplinary program provides opportunities for students to network with producers and gain hands-on experience in Wyoming’s agricultural industries. RMAL was first envisioned in 2018 during a UW Partnership Summit held at Wagonhound ranch.
The Wyoming Ranching Excellence Fund also supports current members of Wyoming’s agricultural communities, funding professional development opportunities through RMAL and a yearly Ranch Managers Summit.
“This generous gift from Art and Catherine Nicholas burns the Wagonhound brand on UW’s Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program in perpetuity,” says Kelly Crane, interim dean of the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources. “This partnership provides the capacity and incentives to deliver a truly exceptional ranch management program at UW.”
National Western Stock Show Promotes Agricultural Education
The National Western Stock Show (NWSS) is one of the country’s largest professional rodeos, annual horse shows, and western trade shows. In 1983, the stock show created the National Western Scholarship Trust to provide scholarships to university students majoring in agricultural disciplines.
“Our association was founded in 1906 on education in agriculture,” says Paul Andrews, president and CEO of NWSS. “What better way to support ag education than fund great students at UW?”
Since its launch, the trust has awarded more than $10 million to eligible students. In partnership with community colleges and universities in Colorado and Wyoming, the trust confers more than 100 scholarships annually.
Scholarship recipients must have participated in a NWSS show, whether through livestock judging events, certain 4-H and FFA projects, or interning at NWSS. These activities help young people learn how to care for animals, prepare for the working world, and practice responsibility.
Though the trust primarily funds students in agricultural majors and veterinary medicine, it also provides scholarships to students aiming to practice medicine in rural communities. “We’re trying to populate those rural areas with high-quality medical professionals and physical therapists so that our farmers and ranchers can get well quickly,” says Andrews.
To learn more about NWSS scholarships, visit https://bit.ly/nwss-scholarships.
