Bauman Family
November 2011
Bauman Ranch was located at Carpenter, WY and founded in the 1880’s by Anthony Wilkinson. Wilkinson came from England and homesteaded in Custer County of Nebraska. Later, his land holdings were in Wyoming and Colorado. Wilkinson primarily raised horses under contract with the U.S. Army and diversified to include sheep. His ranch was taken over by his niece, Elizabeth Laycock Bauman and her husband John Edward Bauman in 1916. The ranch continued to raise sheep. “Lizzy” and John E. passed the ranch on to their two sons, John H. and Robert Bauman. At one point, the ranch had over 30,000 head of sheep. The brothers exhibited carloads of sheep at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. John H. and his son, Darold, along with Darold’s wife Leola, introduced cattle to the ranch. In 1958, Darold introduced Charolais bulls to the herd. By 1963, the operation was changed over entirely to registered Charolais cattle by importing some of the first French bulls to the U.S.
Darold and Leola’s family; Debbie, John, Paula, Bruce and Brett all shared Darold’s passion for Charolais cattle by exhibiting cattle at county and state fairs as well as Charolais Jr. National shows. To develop his Charolais bull clientele, Darold showed pen bulls at Denver’s National Western Stock Show. Soon Darold’s sons, John, Bruce and Brett, began showing cattle all over the U.S. and Bauman’s Charolais cattle began to dominate the show ring.
As each of the three Bauman sons married and had children of their own, each family began showing different species of livestock.
John and his wife, Patsy, focused on cattle raising Charolais, Maine Anjou and Simmental. In the fall, they would market their spring calves through the Final Drive Sale and by private treaty. John and Patsy’s children, Kassi and Chance, showed cattle in 4-H and FFA. Kassi also showed sheep from her Uncle Bruce’s flock. Kassi and Chance were both successful in the show ring at county, state and regional shows. They looked forward each summer to traveling to the Charolais Jr. National Show.
Kassi graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in animal science. While at the university, Kassi won second in the 10K Business Plan competition. Kassi lives in Cheyenne, WY and owns her own livestock photography business, Big Star Images. Kassi’s business has grown to include design and layout as well as engagement, wedding and senior photographs. She also photographs various livestock shows around the country with Show Champions.
Chance is currently working toward an associate degree in Ag Business at Laramie County Community College. He is a dealer for BioZyme Incorporate selling livestock nutritional supplements. Chance attended the Missouri Auction School and looks forward to being a purebred livestock auctioneer.
Recently, Kassi and Chance have ventured into a new livestock supply business, Bauman Supplies LTD. Bauman Supply is the Sullivan Supply dealer.
Brett and his wife, Tammy, with their son Tate, raise 4-H and FFA market hogs which have been sold all over the United States. Tate has also continued with the family traditions through showing registered Charolais throughout his youth, however has been showing swine since he was two. The family has raised and exhibited several county, state and national winners. Tate served as the Wyoming State FFA Parliamentarian in 2009-2010 and is a junior at the University of Wyoming majoring in Ag Business and will continue in to Ag Law. Brett builds custom homes when he is not busy tending to the show pig operation, and takes pride in the 2007 Parade of Homes house that is still the talk of Wyoming. Not only does Brett pride himself in custom homes, he also designs and makes custom furniture. Brett is the Colorado/Wyoming Show Rep for Showmaster feeds. Their family enjoys chuck wagon cooking, and was honored to have won the 2010 Cheyenne Frontier Days competition. Bruce and his wife, Debra, each had a small group of cows that they commingled when they were married. Now under the name of B3 Livestock along with their daughter, Kendal, and husband, Scott Sedman, they produce purebred cattle, club calves, and club lambs. The cattle side of their operation consists of purebred Charolais and crossbreds influenced with Simmental, Maine Anjou, and Chianina. Donors, bulls, club calves, and show cattle are marketed successfully across the country with an emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Marketing through traditional sales, internet marketing, and private treaty they have been able to reach a wide variety of producers to further the success of their breeding. The top calves are usually consigned to John, Patsy, Kassi, and Chance’s “Final Drive Sale”.
Sheep were added to the Bruce and Deb’s family when Kendal was young and renewed the tradition of the historic ranch. They now focus on raising club lambs that are mostly sold locally to 4-H and FFA members. Along with Kendal, six different nieces and nephews have had a Grand or a Reserve lamb at the county fair with a B3 lamb. B3 Livestock and Bauman Show Pigs combine together to host a yearly “Showtime Sale” featuring club lambs and club pigs.
As all three families grew, their interest broadened to different preferences. It doesn’t matter to any of the Baumans as to the color, breed, or specie – “A good one is a good one no matter what” and that good one is what keeps us moving forward.
(Information as of 2011)
