Trout Creek Pumpkin Patch: adding new revenue streams on a traditional cow/calf ranch

Project Overview

FW21-383
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2021: $14,750.00
Projected End Date: 02/01/2022
Host Institution Award ID: G311-21-W8613
Grant Recipient: Wagon Ranch
Region: Western
State: Wyoming
Principal Investigator:
Clint Wagon
Wagon Ranch

Commodities

  • Agronomic: corn, grass (misc. perennial)
  • Vegetables: cucurbits

Practices

  • Crop Production: fallow, irrigation
  • Education and Training: technical assistance

    Proposal summary:

    Trout Creek Pumpkin Patch aims to increase revenue on a traditional cow/calf ranch in central Wyoming on the Wind River Indian Reservation.  Approximately 8 acres of fallow pasture land will be turned into a small acre farm that includes varieties of squash and pumpkin along with sweet corn available for sale at the local farmers market.  The skills needed for successful farming are very different than that of ranching and are no longer passed down from generation to generation; working with the local extension agent these skills will be taught directly to the Wagon family, young farmers, and interested community members.

    The current problem this project seeks to solve is creating additional revenue streams on a working cattle ranch which is wholly dependent on the fall calf sale for income while also teaching farming skills/knowledge that are not currently known.

    The project will investigate the following:

    • best methods for clearing fallow pasture of noxious weeds and rodents
    • best methods for preparing the field for planting
    • best methods for plant selection, production, irrigation, and harvesting
    • teaching the skills needed for farming to younger farmers and community members

    The significance of this project is to provide additional income streams while teaching younger farmers and community members the skills they  need to be a successful farmer/rancher on the Wind River Indian Reservation. 

    The project will be disseminated by the local UW extension agent as well as a website created by farmer/rancher, Clint Wagon.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    The objectives for the Trout Creek Pumpkin Patch are:

    • Return +/- 8 acres of follow pasture land into a specialty crop farm that includes pumpkins, squash, corn, and perennial grass hay.
    • Learn the skills required for row crop farming including field prep, noxious rodent and weed removal, irrigation of row crops, harvesting row crops
    • Learn the skills required to use tractor implements required for row crops including a brush hog, leveler, cultipactor, cultivator/ripper, & seeder
    • Teach the above mentioned skills to younger farmers & potential farmers from the community
    • Create additional revenue streams on a traditional cow/calf ranching operation
    • Provide locally grown food to the communities on the Wind River Indian Reservation
    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.