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Pinedale Online > News > April 2018 > Ranger Country USA

Jake Owen. Photo by Terry Allen.
Jake Owen

New Ranger 1000. Photo by Terry Allen.
New Ranger 1000

Ranger Country and Jake. Photo by Terry Allen.
Ranger Country and Jake

Tip Top SAR Receives a Ranger. Photo by Terry Allen.
Tip Top SAR Receives a Ranger

Erica Appreciates Jake Owen. Photo by Terry Allen.
Erica Appreciates Jake Owen

Dillon Edwards Gets a Prize. Photo by Terry Allen.
Dillon Edwards Gets a Prize
"The snow was as tall as my Mom."

Drummer Gives Me a Cool Shot. Photo by Terry Allen.
Drummer Gives Me a Cool Shot

A Little Something Smokey. Photo by Terry Allen.
A Little Something Smokey
Greg Meisner

A Little Dancing Going On. Photo by Terry Allen.
A Little Dancing Going On

How Many Kids Can You Get in a Ranger?. Photo by Terry Allen.
How Many Kids Can You Get in a Ranger?

Billy McAdams. Photo by Terry Allen.
Billy McAdams
He's got a couple Ranger stories.

Close to the Stage. Photo by Terry Allen.
Close to the Stage
Ranger Country USA
And a Celebration with Jake Owen
by Terry Allen
April 14, 2018

Thursday evening April 12 at the Sublette County Fairgrounds, Pinedale and Sublette County were celebrated as the nationwide winners of the Polaris Ranger Country USA contest. There were four other finalists, but somehow the county with the lowest population in the lower 48, won. Gary Neeley announced this part so I'll just take his word for it.

Josh Hermes, VP of Marketing for Polaris Industries said the company was looking for a community that embodied hard work, resourcefulness, and the drive to do more. He felt our community had done more than any other to support Ranger's in all their varied uses.

I asked him if he had a Ranger Racing Team, because some of us really liked racing and he grinned and said the new Ranger 1000 had 82 horses, so he figured someone might take advantage of that in ways not thought of yet.

Billy McAdams of Big Piney has had two Rangers. His new one he rolled into an irrigation ditch. He went home got a tractor, stood it up and drove it on home.

Deputy Dan McClure was telling me about his old ranch truck and I was real interested but I told him I had to go over and talk to that lady over there. He looked to where I was nodding and said: "I understand." Lindsey Hayes is from Minnesota and grew up on a farm, but now puts together 20 episodes a year of "Destination Polaris." It's a tv show that goes all over the world telling stories of interesting Polaris machine people. She's just shot a few hours down at the Sandra Millage ranch in Big Piney, so look for it next season.

Koral Pierce was dancing with her Mother and they let me take their picture. I noticed she was missing four front teeth and I guessed it was a result of hockey and she said it was the result of an encounter with a Grizzly. Ha! That's they way you get in one of my stories!

Vivien Klaren was in the drivers seat of a Ranger on the floor and said she had a red one at home. "Gus rides in the seat beside me," she said. "He sits and looks out the window. He's a black cow dog."

Greg Meisner was grilling burgers outside and I asked him if he'd ever grilled one on a hot Ranger engine. "No, but I have warmed up a can of Vienna Sausages on one," he said.

Speaking of stuff you wash down with beer, a few folks commented about the no drinking at the event policy. One young lady said it wasn't much to worry about. "The parking lot was full of people slamming 'em down before they came in for the concert," she said. There's that resourceful, git 'er done, Wyoming attitude, right there!

I didn't get to interview Jake Owen, but I sat in the media section right next to Chuck Daulfin who works for Billboard Magazine. He told me he had interviewed Jake and Jake had said: "Polaris is a big part of my life and my friends."

Ashlee and Austin just moved here from southern Illinois where they had a farm and cattle operation. Austin now works for Game and Fish and Ashlee has an online business called The Sassy Barn Boutique. She does hand painted barn wood signs. She's on etsy and instagram @the sassybarn. Drop her a line and welcome them to the community! I think that might be Austin's hat by the stage in a photo or two.

There was a BIG Ranger giveaway to deserving organizations just before the music started. Lesta Winer accepted one on behalf of our Tip Top Search and Rescue. It will help them respond quickly to those in need.

Jasper Munns accepted one on behalf of The Boy Scouts of America. They are going to use it up at their scout camp on the New Fork.

Marilyn accepted one on behalf of MESA, the therapeutic horsemanship organization. They are going to use it to help muck out stalls, fix fence and other things within their mission.

The music started and I couldn't hear a thing or do anymore interviews so I just tried to figure out how to take pictures in the dark. I had to get a little more creative than usual, I hope you like them. Sorry I didn't include the other musicians in Jake's band. They were not named on his website.

On the way out the door I stopped by Gary Neeley's group. I mentioned it seemed like a good use of a few taxpayer dollars every year to have a county-wide get-to-gether like this. "A party this time of year is fantastic," said Gary. "It's right in between seasons. A free concert might be just the thing. We could call it the Cabin Fever Concert. It would be awesome. What I really like about it is it gets the whole county here."

Hey, sounds like a great idea.

A special thanks to Claire and Christina for getting me set up and in the door, and interviews and photos where I wanted them.

Thank you Dawn Ballou at Pinedale Online for sponsoring this story.

You may all share these low rez photos among yourselves for personal purposes.
Terry Allen: txpartisan@gmail.com



Related Links
  • www.polaris.com - Polaris
  • Polaris RANGER Country USA
  • www.visitpinedale.org - Pinedale, Wyoming visitor information website
  • www.ttsar.org - Tip Top Search & Rescue
  • www.mesarides.org - M.E.S.A. Therapeutic Horsemanship
  • Boy Scouts of America Camp New Fork - Trapper Trails Council
  • www.buckysoutdoors.com - Bucky’s Outdoors, Pinedale, Wyoming
  • www.jakeowen.net - Jake Owen’s website

  • Macie and Ryder. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Macie and Ryder
    It was the last beach ball, but Macie agreed to share anyway. That it was sort of hard to do, made it all the more special.

    Jake and the Drummer Working it Out. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Jake and the Drummer Working it Out
    ...on the big screen.

    Lesta Winer of TTSAR. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Lesta Winer of TTSAR
    Receives Ranger Keys from Sandy Sletten of Bucky's.

    Jasper Munn's of BSofA Receives Ranger. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Jasper Munn's of BSofA Receives Ranger
    Receives keys from Sandy Sletten of Bucky's.

    Marilyn of MESA Receives Ranger Keys. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Marilyn of MESA Receives Ranger Keys
    from Sandy Sletten.

    The Bass Player. Photo by Terry Allen.
    The Bass Player

    Music Appreciators. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Music Appreciators
    I promised not to name them. Can you?

    Crowd Still Coming In. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Crowd Still Coming In

    Arnie Brokling Gives an Interview. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Arnie Brokling Gives an Interview
    to the "Destination Polaris" tv show.

    Stage Crew. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Stage Crew

    Vivien Klaren. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Vivien Klaren
    An experienced driver.

    Jake on Stage. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Jake on Stage

    Ashlee and Austin. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Ashlee and Austin
    Just moved here from southern Illinois farm country 2 months ago.

    Koral and Devin Dance to Jake. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Koral and Devin Dance to Jake

    Low Light Inspires Photoshop Work. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Low Light Inspires Photoshop Work
    ...and I like cowboy hats.

    A Wrinkled Nose Smile.... Photo by Terry Allen.
    A Wrinkled Nose Smile...
    ...will get you in my story.

    The Keyboard Player. Photo by Terry Allen.
    The Keyboard Player

    The Video Crew. Photo by Terry Allen.
    The Video Crew

    Debbee and Dave Had a Good Time. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Debbee and Dave Had a Good Time

    Picture of a Picture of a Performance. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Picture of a Picture of a Performance

    Last Shot of Band. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Last Shot of Band

    Presentation of Designation. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Presentation of Designation
    Pinedale - Ranger Country USA to Mayor Bob Jones from VP Marketing Josh Hermes

    Ranger USA Designation. Photo by Terry Allen.
    Ranger USA Designation
    (L to R) Pinedale Mayor Bob Jones and Polaris representative, Josh Hermes hold a small version of a big sign that will be installed in Pinedale next week. Pinedale auctioneer Dave Stephens, right, did announcing for the event.

    The Force is with Our Sheriff. Photo by Terry Allen.
    The Force is with Our Sheriff
    KC Lehr helping us out of the event.
    Pinedale Online > News > April 2018 > Ranger Country USA

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