Wyoming, Where I Belong

During the summer of 1903, Judge Charles E. Winter of Encampment put pen to paper and wrote a poem entitled "Wyoming." The words, describing a new state that was young and strong, were given a score shortly thereafter by Earl Clemens, editor of the Grand Encampment Herald. It wasn't until 1955 that "Wyoming" was officially adopted as the Wyoming State Song and, in that time, a new score had been written by George Knapp, director of the music department at the University of Wyoming.

At the 16th Annual Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering last summer, 115 years after Winter first wrote the poem "Wy...