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WWGA Auxiliary
History of Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary
July 31, 1936, at ten o'clock in the morning, 21 ladies in attendance at the
Thirty-Second Annual Convention of the Wyo. Wool Growers Association, at
Sheridan, Wyo., met in the dining room of Crescent Hotel and organized an
Auxiliary to the Association. Mrs. J.R. Eliason, President of the Women's
Auxiliary to the National Association was present to discuss with the group
the purposes and objectives of such an organization. Mrs. P.J. Quealy of
Kemmerer, Wyo., was elected President and Mrs. Helen Juel of Rock Springs,
Secretary-Treasurer.
The following year, at Kemmerer, Mrs. Juel
resigned as Secretary and Mrs. J.J. Frizzell, from Kemmerer was elected to
serve the unexpired term of Mrs. Juel. Dues for the organization were set at
fifty cents a year, and twenty-one members were recorded as paid.
From the organization date to 1039, the
organization was very active in behalf of the "Truth in Fabric" legislation.
Also at this time the organization was ready to be of service to the
furthering of the sheep and wool industry of the State, and to be of service
in protesting or furthering any legislative bills thought detrimental or of
benefit to the industry. In the year 1939, 74 members were recorded as paid.
By the year 1940, members of various countries
were being urged to form local Auxiliaries to further the use of wool and
wool products. Also it was being stressed to eat more lamb.
Dues were raised to $1.00 in 1041. Suggestions
were being made that prizes be offered for wool
garments made by 4-H club girls and exhibited at the State Fair. The year
1941 will stand out in the history of the Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary as
one of the most eventful years since its organization. Time and effort was
pledged to an "all out defense". The Auxiliary was responsible for 1,021
blankets,
and 1,402 blankets furnished from the State Penitentiary, being sent to
Bundles for British, all made from Wyo. wool. Five dollars was donated to
the Red Cross, and lamb consumption in the state was reported to have
increased 100%.
In the years 1942 and 1943 no meetings were
held and activities were curtailed due to the war. Also, no activities were
recorded in the years 1944, 1945, or 1946.
In 1947 activities were resumed and dues raised to $3.00 a year. Discussion
ensured regarding the Make It Yourself With Wool Contest. We do not know
when the contest actually started but the first recorded competition was
held in 1948 at Cody with 28 girls participating. Mrs. O.T. Evans, Casper,
was State Director.
In 1950, the membership rose to a total of 173 and four Auxiliaries were
organized, namely: Rock Springs, Rawlins, Casper and Buffalo. In 1955,
membership was recorded at 189 members.
 An
Effort was made in 1958 to get the group to sponsor a Miss Wool contest, but
failed. Apparently Texas was promoting this project and when Wyoming did not
accept the project, Texas said they would pick a girl from Wyoming. In 1959,
Wyoming decided they would pick their own Miss Wool from a student at the
University of Wyo. Miss Earlene West was selected as the first Miss Wool in
Wyoming. Her duties consisted of appearing at functions throughout the State
promoting the wear ability and beauty of Wool. In 1960, Mrs.. Charles
Vivion, assisted by Dr. Alex Johnston, of the University of Wyo., were named
Directors of the contest and their job was to pick a Miss Wool. Eventually
contests for the selection of Miss Wool were held. The program encountered
financial difficulties--each year it became increasingly difficult to raise
the money needed to sponsor the program. In 1963 the Auxiliary agreed not to
have a contest. It was resumed in 1964 but finally dropped permanently in
1973.
 The
Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary, since its organization , was involved in
promoting the eating of lamb. In 1958, the A.S.P.C. (American Sheep
Producers Council) made funds available in the amount of $250.00 to serve
lamb at State Fairs and in 1959, for the first time, lamb was served to 4-H
members at State Fair. In 1960, and award to 4-H lamb cookery projects was
made available. In 1961 Lamb-O-Ramas were started throughout the State and
lamburgers were grilled and given free to the public. The purpose of the
Lamb-O-Rama was to introduce the public to another delicious was to serve
lamb. In 1962 it was reported that 19,000 lamburgers had been given away.
Lamb-O-Ramas continued through 1966 with most local Auxiliaries
participating in them. Lamb promotion activities are still an active project
of the State Auxiliary, as well as the County Auxiliaries.
The Wyoming State Auxiliary was the sponsor of
the Golden Fleece project from 1984 to 1988. It was dropped because of
declining interest.
Throughout the years, the Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary and the County
Auxiliaries have been active in many projects designated to promoting the
sheep and lamb industry. The Make It Yourself With Wool project is the
largest promotion that is sponsored. The Sheep Lead project, at state and
local levels, is an extremely popular promotion. Several lamb promotion
projects are currently in force and have been highly successful.
At the present time, we have only six county
Auxiliaries and have had as many as nine. We are trying to boost our
membership, which has declined in recent years. The 1989 membership was 142
members.
The Wyoming Wool Growers Auxiliary will persevere in obtaining the goal set
at the time of its organization in 1936, and will continue to be an active
force in promoting our industry.
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