The Wyoming Centennial Farm & Ranch Program honors families that have continuously held a family ranch for over a hundred years.  The presentation award took place Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Douglas Intermediate School during the State Fair.  Speaking at the event were:  Darin Westby, Director of WY Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources; Jim Magagna, Vice President, WY Stockgrowers Assn.; Doug Miyamoto, Director WY Department of Agriculture; Shawn Taylor, Exec Director WY Rural Electric Assn.; US Senator Mike Enzi, US Senator John Barrasso; US Representative Liz Cheney, and Governor Matt Mead.  Many of the surviving family members of Marcellus Wilson traveled to Douglas for the presentation and recognition of the Wilson/Ruffing/Holloman Ranch.

Marcellus Wilson, a native of Hendrick County, Indiana traveled west in 1888 with his wife Minerva and growing family.  They made their way with a sawmill, building structures as they went to fund their travel, which ended in Converse/Niobrara County in 1896.  Wilson purchased a homestead and continued to operate his sawmill.  He also raised quality horses and furnished horses for the military during World War I.  They planted fruit trees and a few remain and bear fruit today.  Marcellus’s two sons, Frank and Raymond filed for homesteads that were contiguous so they could share tools and labor.  

Son, Raymond married Iva Fenner and their children included Gertrude, who married Albert Ruffing in 1936.  Ruffing’s purchased the ranch from Frank’s widow, Mary, in 1949.  Gertrude and Albert placed all of their assets into Ruffing Trust in 1982.  Their family history is more familiar to longtime residents of Niobrara County, as Donna Ruffing and her brother Robert (Bob) Ruffing are the active members of the Ruffing Trust, which still owns the ranch property.  Bob and Donna are graduates of Niobrara County High School and both have had careers outside the area.  However, Donna returned to stay in 1982 after her father, Albert Ruffing passed away.  Bob has retired from Marathon Oil Company and does consulting for various oil companies. The ranch will continue operating thru the Trust to Bob’s daughter, Lori Holloman, and his three grandchildren, Bryce and Meghan Holloman and Amanda Ruffing.

A celebration for friends and family was held at the Elks on August 18th and a family picnic on August 19th were previously reported by me in my column on August 29, 2018.

Persons wishing to apply for the 2019 Centennial Farm & Ranch recognition can do so by contacting the WY Historic Preservation Office at (307) 777-3418 or visit the website at http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/CFR/