News – Sheridan Media
On Wednesday night, September 27, Ucross held their 40th Anniversary Gala, with a supper, auction, and awards. A large crowd attended the event, which was held in the Ucross Art Gallery, and under a large tent. Several attendees commented on the warm, dry weather for the event.
Cyrus Western, Representative of House District #51 in Wyoming Legislature, attended the event and had this say.
Western
William Belcher, Ucross president, welcomed the attendees, and introduced the honorees, Governor Mark Gordon and his wife, Jennie, and chair of the board of trustees, Jim Nelson.
Musicial entertainment was provided by two Ucross alumas, songwriters Sarah Sample and Kate Schutt.
Schutt was at Ucross during Feb. 2023, and talked about her time there.
Schutt
She added that sometimes however,
Schutt
She said that she checked the weather and the weatherman said on Feb. 14, there was going to be ‘freezing fog’, mist, light snow, heavy snow, and snow. She said she wrote a new song about her ‘Snowy Valentine’ that she performed at the gala.
Jim Nelson and Craig Johnson
Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire series of books and longtime friend of Ucross. introduced Jim Nelson, who was honored with the Raymond Plank Award for Visionary Leadership. Nelson is a founding member of the Ucross board and has served as treasurer since the inception of the Foundation. Founder Raymond Plank asked Jim to take over as Chair in November 2013, when Raymond elected to step aside from day-to-day activities.
Nelson said that Raymond Plank was the visionary, and he said that when Plank had the ideas, and would take his ideas before the board,
Nelson
Governor Mark Gordon and his wife, Jennie, were honored with the Outstanding Patrons of the Arts Awards.
Gordon talked about his friendship with Raymond Plank and Ucross
Gov. Gordon
Paddle raise.
There was a live auction and a paddle raise. Auction items included a guided tour of the Wyoming Capitol with Governor Gordon in Cheyenne, a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival, and a ‘Signature Bottle’ of Wyoming Whiskey signed by four Wyoming Governors and Senator Al Simpson. It costs Ucross $12000 for each fellow at Ucross, money raised will help Ucross continue to give artists ‘time and space.’
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Last modified: September 28, 2023