Excerpt from a story written by Helen Mitchell as published in the Sheridan County Heritage Book published in 1983 with permission from the Sheridan County Extension Homemakers Council.)
Junior Richard Mitchell was born December 28, 1926 in Buffalo, Wyoming, son of R.E. and Stella Mitchell of Clearmont, Wyoming. He went to school in Clearmont for 12 years, graduating in 1944. He earned his first heifer calf by thinning and hoeing three acres of sugar beets. He was a member of the Piney Beef 4-H club.
Junior was drafted into the Army April 1946. He spent 8 months in the occupation army in Tokyo, Japan, having a corporal rating and was assigned as clerk in general headquarters there. He was discharged in 1947.
J.R. and Helen were married at the Grace Chapel at Story on October 22, 1952. In 1952 when Junior’s dad retired to Clearmont they took over the ranch on Clear Creek, midway between Clearmont and Ucross. It consisted of 1680 acres, running cattle and sheep and farming a few acres. Most of the farm land is seeded to grass.
J.R. and Helen have four children: Betty, Bonnie, Robert, and Jessie.
In about 1955 the Mitchells leased the Wenburg place, consisting of 1240 acres of irrigated land. They ran about 500 sheep and 100 head of cows. After living five years on the Wenburg place, Junior had enough irrigating and decided to move back on the Mitchell place and remodeled the house and put water in.
During Wyoming’s 75th anniversary, Junior entered the beard contest and won second place. In 1961 he was selected Outstanding Young Farmer in Sheridan County by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In 1963 the couple went into the caged laying hen operation, around 1500 hens. Expanding in 1966 to build a second chicken house, making a total of 10,000 birds, operating under the name of Clearcreek Eggs. The family produced and marketed up to 8,400 eggs per day, or 150,000 dozen a year at peak production. They marketed their eggs in Buffalo, Sheridan, Gillette and Midwest, Wyoming.
The Mitchells acquired a flock of registered Suffolks and have increased it to 200 head. Over the years the sheep have won many champion ribbons, trophies and prizes. They have also sold sheep that were shipped to Japan. In 1973 the Mitchells received the Leroy Combs Best Herdsman Award trophy at Wyoming State Fair.
In 1973 the Mitchells joined together with 16 other ranchers and bought 20,845 acres of Walt Peters estate, forming the Peters Grazing Assn.
The Mitchells also had their share of bad luck when a spring storm hit, suffocating seventy-four Suffolk ewes which were the cream of the crop in a gully about a mile from the house. The kids lost some of their sheep they had had as 4-H projects, so they had to build their herd back again.
Junior has many credits in the community involvement ledger. He held offices in the Cadiz Corp. Lower Clear Creek Water Users Assn., Farmers Union, Pratt and Ferris Ditch Co., and the school board. He is a member of the National Farmers Organization, Wyoming Wool Growers Assn., American Suffolk Sheep Society and the Sheridan county Wool Pool, a committeeman on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Board, and a Democratic precinct committeeman.
Junior has been the U.S. Weather Observer for the Clearmont area since 1954. In 1979, he received his 25 year Service Award.
In 1980 the local newspaper nominate Junior and Helen as outstanding man and woman in agriculture, and Jessie as outstanding youth. For 16 years they operated their egg production operation with 10,000 hens. In 1977 decided to quit the egg business and just raise more sheep and cattle.
-------------------------
Helen M. Mitchell owned the plot according to cemetery records.
Junior Richard Mitchell was born December 28, 1926 in Buffalo, Wyoming, son of R.E. and Stella Mitchell of Clearmont, Wyoming. He went to school in Clearmont for 12 years, graduating in 1944. He earned his first heifer calf by thinning and hoeing three acres of sugar beets. He was a member of the Piney Beef 4-H club.
Junior was drafted into the Army April 1946. He spent 8 months in the occupation army in Tokyo, Japan, having a corporal rating and was assigned as clerk in general headquarters there. He was discharged in 1947.
J.R. and Helen were married at the Grace Chapel at Story on October 22, 1952. In 1952 when Junior’s dad retired to Clearmont they took over the ranch on Clear Creek, midway between Clearmont and Ucross. It consisted of 1680 acres, running cattle and sheep and farming a few acres. Most of the farm land is seeded to grass.
J.R. and Helen have four children: Betty, Bonnie, Robert, and Jessie.
In about 1955 the Mitchells leased the Wenburg place, consisting of 1240 acres of irrigated land. They ran about 500 sheep and 100 head of cows. After living five years on the Wenburg place, Junior had enough irrigating and decided to move back on the Mitchell place and remodeled the house and put water in.
During Wyoming’s 75th anniversary, Junior entered the beard contest and won second place. In 1961 he was selected Outstanding Young Farmer in Sheridan County by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In 1963 the couple went into the caged laying hen operation, around 1500 hens. Expanding in 1966 to build a second chicken house, making a total of 10,000 birds, operating under the name of Clearcreek Eggs. The family produced and marketed up to 8,400 eggs per day, or 150,000 dozen a year at peak production. They marketed their eggs in Buffalo, Sheridan, Gillette and Midwest, Wyoming.
The Mitchells acquired a flock of registered Suffolks and have increased it to 200 head. Over the years the sheep have won many champion ribbons, trophies and prizes. They have also sold sheep that were shipped to Japan. In 1973 the Mitchells received the Leroy Combs Best Herdsman Award trophy at Wyoming State Fair.
In 1973 the Mitchells joined together with 16 other ranchers and bought 20,845 acres of Walt Peters estate, forming the Peters Grazing Assn.
The Mitchells also had their share of bad luck when a spring storm hit, suffocating seventy-four Suffolk ewes which were the cream of the crop in a gully about a mile from the house. The kids lost some of their sheep they had had as 4-H projects, so they had to build their herd back again.
Junior has many credits in the community involvement ledger. He held offices in the Cadiz Corp. Lower Clear Creek Water Users Assn., Farmers Union, Pratt and Ferris Ditch Co., and the school board. He is a member of the National Farmers Organization, Wyoming Wool Growers Assn., American Suffolk Sheep Society and the Sheridan county Wool Pool, a committeeman on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Board, and a Democratic precinct committeeman.
Junior has been the U.S. Weather Observer for the Clearmont area since 1954. In 1979, he received his 25 year Service Award.
In 1980 the local newspaper nominate Junior and Helen as outstanding man and woman in agriculture, and Jessie as outstanding youth. For 16 years they operated their egg production operation with 10,000 hens. In 1977 decided to quit the egg business and just raise more sheep and cattle.
-------------------------
Helen M. Mitchell owned the plot according to cemetery records.
Excerpt from a story written by Helen Mitchell as published in the Sheridan County Heritage Book published in 1983 with permission from the Sheridan County Extension Homemakers Council.)
Junior Richard Mitchell was born December 28, 1926 in Buffalo, Wyoming, son of R.E. and Stella Mitchell of Clearmont, Wyoming. He went to school in Clearmont for 12 years, graduating in 1944. He earned his first heifer calf by thinning and hoeing three acres of sugar beets. He was a member of the Piney Beef 4-H club.
Junior was drafted into the Army April 1946. He spent 8 months in the occupation army in Tokyo, Japan, having a corporal rating and was assigned as clerk in general headquarters there. He was discharged in 1947.
J.R. and Helen were married at the Grace Chapel at Story on October 22, 1952. In 1952 when Junior’s dad retired to Clearmont they took over the ranch on Clear Creek, midway between Clearmont and Ucross. It consisted of 1680 acres, running cattle and sheep and farming a few acres. Most of the farm land is seeded to grass.
J.R. and Helen have four children: Betty, Bonnie, Robert, and Jessie.
In about 1955 the Mitchells leased the Wenburg place, consisting of 1240 acres of irrigated land. They ran about 500 sheep and 100 head of cows. After living five years on the Wenburg place, Junior had enough irrigating and decided to move back on the Mitchell place and remodeled the house and put water in.
During Wyoming’s 75th anniversary, Junior entered the beard contest and won second place. In 1961 he was selected Outstanding Young Farmer in Sheridan County by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In 1963 the couple went into the caged laying hen operation, around 1500 hens. Expanding in 1966 to build a second chicken house, making a total of 10,000 birds, operating under the name of Clearcreek Eggs. The family produced and marketed up to 8,400 eggs per day, or 150,000 dozen a year at peak production. They marketed their eggs in Buffalo, Sheridan, Gillette and Midwest, Wyoming.
The Mitchells acquired a flock of registered Suffolks and have increased it to 200 head. Over the years the sheep have won many champion ribbons, trophies and prizes. They have also sold sheep that were shipped to Japan. In 1973 the Mitchells received the Leroy Combs Best Herdsman Award trophy at Wyoming State Fair.
In 1973 the Mitchells joined together with 16 other ranchers and bought 20,845 acres of Walt Peters estate, forming the Peters Grazing Assn.
The Mitchells also had their share of bad luck when a spring storm hit, suffocating seventy-four Suffolk ewes which were the cream of the crop in a gully about a mile from the house. The kids lost some of their sheep they had had as 4-H projects, so they had to build their herd back again.
Junior has many credits in the community involvement ledger. He held offices in the Cadiz Corp. Lower Clear Creek Water Users Assn., Farmers Union, Pratt and Ferris Ditch Co., and the school board. He is a member of the National Farmers Organization, Wyoming Wool Growers Assn., American Suffolk Sheep Society and the Sheridan county Wool Pool, a committeeman on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Board, and a Democratic precinct committeeman.
Junior has been the U.S. Weather Observer for the Clearmont area since 1954. In 1979, he received his 25 year Service Award.
In 1980 the local newspaper nominate Junior and Helen as outstanding man and woman in agriculture, and Jessie as outstanding youth. For 16 years they operated their egg production operation with 10,000 hens. In 1977 decided to quit the egg business and just raise more sheep and cattle.
-------------------------
Helen M. Mitchell owned the plot according to cemetery records.
Junior Richard Mitchell was born December 28, 1926 in Buffalo, Wyoming, son of R.E. and Stella Mitchell of Clearmont, Wyoming. He went to school in Clearmont for 12 years, graduating in 1944. He earned his first heifer calf by thinning and hoeing three acres of sugar beets. He was a member of the Piney Beef 4-H club.
Junior was drafted into the Army April 1946. He spent 8 months in the occupation army in Tokyo, Japan, having a corporal rating and was assigned as clerk in general headquarters there. He was discharged in 1947.
J.R. and Helen were married at the Grace Chapel at Story on October 22, 1952. In 1952 when Junior’s dad retired to Clearmont they took over the ranch on Clear Creek, midway between Clearmont and Ucross. It consisted of 1680 acres, running cattle and sheep and farming a few acres. Most of the farm land is seeded to grass.
J.R. and Helen have four children: Betty, Bonnie, Robert, and Jessie.
In about 1955 the Mitchells leased the Wenburg place, consisting of 1240 acres of irrigated land. They ran about 500 sheep and 100 head of cows. After living five years on the Wenburg place, Junior had enough irrigating and decided to move back on the Mitchell place and remodeled the house and put water in.
During Wyoming’s 75th anniversary, Junior entered the beard contest and won second place. In 1961 he was selected Outstanding Young Farmer in Sheridan County by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In 1963 the couple went into the caged laying hen operation, around 1500 hens. Expanding in 1966 to build a second chicken house, making a total of 10,000 birds, operating under the name of Clearcreek Eggs. The family produced and marketed up to 8,400 eggs per day, or 150,000 dozen a year at peak production. They marketed their eggs in Buffalo, Sheridan, Gillette and Midwest, Wyoming.
The Mitchells acquired a flock of registered Suffolks and have increased it to 200 head. Over the years the sheep have won many champion ribbons, trophies and prizes. They have also sold sheep that were shipped to Japan. In 1973 the Mitchells received the Leroy Combs Best Herdsman Award trophy at Wyoming State Fair.
In 1973 the Mitchells joined together with 16 other ranchers and bought 20,845 acres of Walt Peters estate, forming the Peters Grazing Assn.
The Mitchells also had their share of bad luck when a spring storm hit, suffocating seventy-four Suffolk ewes which were the cream of the crop in a gully about a mile from the house. The kids lost some of their sheep they had had as 4-H projects, so they had to build their herd back again.
Junior has many credits in the community involvement ledger. He held offices in the Cadiz Corp. Lower Clear Creek Water Users Assn., Farmers Union, Pratt and Ferris Ditch Co., and the school board. He is a member of the National Farmers Organization, Wyoming Wool Growers Assn., American Suffolk Sheep Society and the Sheridan county Wool Pool, a committeeman on the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Board, and a Democratic precinct committeeman.
Junior has been the U.S. Weather Observer for the Clearmont area since 1954. In 1979, he received his 25 year Service Award.
In 1980 the local newspaper nominate Junior and Helen as outstanding man and woman in agriculture, and Jessie as outstanding youth. For 16 years they operated their egg production operation with 10,000 hens. In 1977 decided to quit the egg business and just raise more sheep and cattle.
-------------------------
Helen M. Mitchell owned the plot according to cemetery records.
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