GEM annual meeting to feature sheep industry

The Grand Encampment Museum (GEM) is holding its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.

GEM President John Farr is the guest speaker presenting the program “Wyoming, the Sheepherder State.”

The presentation will cover the sheep industry from the “time of Christ till the end of the Second World War,” Farr said.

Farr’s family was involved in the sheep and fat lamb business, then later got involved with the cattle industry in Weld County, Colo.

Three of the nine GEM board positions are being voted on. Ballots are required to be returned to GEM by Thursday.

On the ballot are incumbent board members Irene Archibald, Mark Dunning and Candy Moulton. Also running for the board is Anita Morris.

Currently serving on the board of directors are Farr, Dunning, vice president; Archibald, treasurer; Moulton, secretary; Kathy Moon, Willis Greenwood, Janet Herring, John Varner and Gayle Wessel.

The GEM board meets at 6:30 p.m on the third Tuesday every month in the Doc Culleton Building. The public is welcome to attend.

The museum is in its 49th year, and is currently working on the Saratoga & Encampment Railroad Caboose that was donated to GEM. The roof and the glass in the caboose’s cupola have been replaced, according to the annual newsletter.

The Lora Nichols collection of negatives has been moved to the American Heritage Center in Laramie. GEM retains the copyright use of the photos and continues to house Nichols’ diaries.

This year, GEM received a grant to purchase archive grade storage boxes to protect the textile collection while it waits to be rotated.

GEM is open daily through the end of the season, which is Oct. 12.