Wyoming

4 Reasons Cody, Wyoming Still Stick to the ‘Code of the West’ | Big Horn Radio Network | Wyoming

Published

1 year ago

April 2, 2023

4 Reasons Cody, Wyoming Still Stick to the ‘Code of the West’ | Big Horn Radio Network | Wyoming

Of us from everywhere in the world come to Cody nation and the Yellowstone area to see the sights and expertise the American West — which continues to be alive and kicking, by the best way.

However many of those vacationers, good as they might be, miss what the individuals who name this place residence are all about. Lengthy earlier than hundreds of thousands of individuals crowded Yellowstone, earlier than the highway from Cody to Yellowstone was paved, and heck, earlier than Wyoming was even a state, the individuals who put down roots within the Bighorn Basin relied on a set of beliefs: the Code of the West.

Get on the web and also you’ll discover dozens of variations of this code. Gene Autry had his personal model, and there are many totally different values that folks see as important to cowboy tradition.

Let’s have a look at what the Code of the West actually is, and why — even on this period of streaming and smartphones — it’s nonetheless on the core of how Cody nation lives.

Wyoming Made the Code of the West Official

In 2010, the Wyoming Legislature made the Code of the West the official state code with Senate File 51.

As talked about beforehand, there are totally different variations of the code, and so they don’t all share the identical principals. The legislature, in Senate File 51, took its model of the code from James P. Owen’s e book Cowboy Ethics.

Right here’s the Code of the West, in response to Owens and the Wyoming Legislature:

Stay every day with braveness;
Take satisfaction in your work;
All the time end what you begin;
Do what must be carried out;
Be robust, however honest;
Whenever you make a promise, maintain it;
Journey for the model;
Speak much less, say extra;
Do not forget that some issues should not on the market;
Know the place to attract the road.

Some people from greater locations would possibly hear the time period “Code of the West” or “Cowboy Code” and picture some outdated, irrelevant how-to information for touring the Oregon Path. However if you happen to have a look at the code handed by the legislature, it’s straightforward to see that every of those tenets is efficacious to this present day.

Let’s focus on just a few the reason why the Code of the West is so vital to anybody residing and dealing in Cody or elsewhere in Wyoming.

We Have a Obligation to Do the Proper Factor

Check out objects primary, 4, and 6 within the Code of the West. These are all alternative ways of claiming “do the correct factor.” However like a lot of life, it’s simpler mentioned than carried out.

Doing the correct factor takes braveness, normally as a result of the correct factor isn’t the straightforward factor. Whether or not it’s a must to rise to a psychological or bodily problem, or rise up within the face of misguided friends, doing the correct factor for you household and your neighborhood typically takes guts — identical to it took guts to construct the Buffalo Invoice Dam and convey water to the Bighorn Basin within the early twentieth century.

As any veteran may inform you, doing what must be carried out means doing the correct factor for the group, whatever the private penalties you would possibly face. Typically, that merely means being accountable in your actions. On different events, it means taking one for the group, with no assure that you simply’ll see any particular person profit.

Doing the correct factor is on the very core of the Code of the West. It’s how we create and perserve a world match for generations to return.

We’re Devoted to Our Households and Neighborhood

Particularly, have a look at objects two, three, six, and 7 within the Code. There are occasions when we now have to ask ourselves that robust query: If not me, then who?

Taking satisfaction in your work and ending what you begin are about extra than simply being knowledgeable and having fun with gainful employment. Half measures beget half outcomes. In case you aren’t prepared to place your coronary heart into one thing, it most likely isn’t value doing.

It’s universally relevant, out of your newest woodworking challenge to how your elevate your loved ones.

Making this place livable within the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries wasn’t straightforward. Our forefathers needed to know they might rely on each other, so integrity was paramount. There was no room for shirkers or double-talkers. That’s why all of us have to carry ourselves accountable and maintain our guarantees.

We Play it Straight

Arguably, that’s the message from components 5 and eight of the Code. It’s all the time been true that when the going will get robust, the robust get going. That’s the way it needed to be to outlive within the early days of Cody, Powell, and the remainder of the Bighorn Basin.

You’ve obtained to be robust to make it right here, however identical to anything, an excessive amount of of an excellent factor may be detrimental. There’s no sense flying off the deal with. Whenever you lose your cool or move the buck, you simply make it harder to unravel issues and get issues carried out. That’s why quantity 5 reminds us to be robust, however honest. Not simply to the folks round you, however to your self, too.

Quantity eight is a shorter method of claiming, “Don’t use 10 phrases when 4 will do.” That is stable recommendation for protecting conversations shorter and extra productive — ask your boss, may this assembly have been an electronic mail? Possibly they want to take a look on the Code of the West.

However what quantity eight is de facto saying requires us to tell apart between “speaking” and “saying.” It’s straightforward to speak with out conveying any actual that means, identical to it’s straightforward to model your self as no matter’s modern or stylish.

It’s harder to stroll the stroll. The way you conduct your self each day, the way you deal with adversity, and the way you deal with individuals who can do nothing for you — all this stuff “say” much more about who you actually are than any of the “speaking” you would ever do.

And, normally, the individuals who know what they wish to say in life don’t should do a lot speaking about it.

We Know There’s Extra to Life Than Cash

Sounds apparent, however witih the best way so many individuals stay and behave nowadays, perhaps widespread sense isn’t so widespread.

No, not every thing is on the market. However there are many people who’d such as you to imagine that’s the case. We’re fortunate to stay in a spot the place we’re free to make our personal method, however too many individuals conflate that with the power to purchase your method into or out of no matter you’d like.

Being rich is a scenario, not a personality trait. Conversely, if you happen to’re in a foul spot financially, it may be tough to understand that there are some issues it is best to by no means promote — in addition to issues that may by no means, ever be taken away from you.

Which brings us to the final merchandise on the Code of the West: figuring out the place to attract the road. Like doing the correct factor, this could take guts as nicely. It’s issues like, even when you might have the higher hand, figuring out when the opposite man has had sufficient. Or calling a good friend to choose you up from the bar.

Typically, it may be tougher — gut-wrenching, even. Like figuring out when a relationship has run its course, or when it’s time to say goodbye to a pet that’s clearly in ache. Or, perhaps you determine to not decide up that additional shift this weekend so you’ll be able to watch your child’s t-ball sport. As a result of not every thing’s on the market, proper?

Need to know extra about this historical past of the Bighorn Basin and Wyoming? Take a look at this story about how Absaroka virtually grew to become the forty ninth state.

Source link

Wyoming

2024 Wyoming Track Classic Comes to Casper on Friday

Published

3 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Press Room

2024 Wyoming Track Classic Comes to Casper on Friday

Aiming to bring together the best track and field athletes in the state, the Wyoming Track and Field Classic is in Casper on Friday, weather permitting. This outdoor track meet is for the top track student-athletes regardless of classification. It features the eight fastest times on the track for the sprints and mid-distance, the top 12 for the 1600 and 3200 meters, and the nine top marks and ties in field events. Student-athletes are only able to compete in a maximum of two events. Not all the top track athletes and schools choose to attend.

WYOMING TRACK CLASSIC 2024

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The 307 Track Classic starts at 4 p.m. on Friday from Harry Geldien Stadium in Casper at Kelly Walsh High School. At 4 p.m. will be the boys’ pole vault, long jump, and shot put, and the girls’ high jump, pole vault, long jump, and discus. The 3200-meter run will start at 4:30 p.m. with the girls’ race followed by the boys’ race. At 5 p.m. is the boys’ triple jump, discus, and high jump, and the girls’ triple jump and shot put. At 5:30 p.m. will be the 100 and 110 hurdle races. At 5:50 p.m. is the 100-meter dash. At 6:10 is the 1600-meter run. The 400-meter race is at 6:30 p.m. The 300-meter hurdle races are at 6:50 p.m. At 7:10 p.m. will be the 800-meter run, and the 200-meter dash will start at 7:30 p.m.

Here are the entries for the 2024 Wyoming Track Classic.

Girls Events:

100 meters = Brooklyn Ausmus (Torr), Avery Bever (Land), Kaitlyn Bradach (NC), Kalistynn Crippen (Wor), Desirae Iacovetto (Wht), Hannah Kurz (TB), Grace Miller (TB), Allie Scribner (KW).

200 meters = Brooklyn Ausmus (Torr), Kalistynn Crippen (Wor), Cherise Douzenis (Wor), Kalyanna Flores (Cent), Hannah Kurz (TB), Maddy Lloyd (Wor), Jaden Meyer (Doug), Taliah Morris (East).

400 meters = Lainey Berryhill (Lar), Cami Costello (NC), Cherise Douzenis (Wor), Kalyanna Flores (Cent), Addison Forry (Lar), Waycee Harvey (Pow), Ellie Kaufman (Land), Lily Nichols (Wht).

800 meters = Megan Doherty (TB), Briley Farris (Buff), Daisy Goklish (Land), Ashley Gross (NC), Kenna Jacobsen (Pow), Maggie Madsen (East), Ada Nelson (Cody), Ynes Ronnau (East).

1600 meters = Nicole Clark (NC), Kinley Cooley (Pow), Ameya Eddy (Land), Maya Hall (Buff), Emma Hofmeister (Cent), Kendra Jensen (Cam Cty), Ada Nelson (Cody), Reese Ostrander (NC), Adalyn Racines (Cent), Myah Rakness (Pow), Sofia Rose (Cent), Ava Tapia (Wor).

3200 meters = Karee Cooley (Pow), Kinley Cooley (Pow), Gracie Craig (East), Brynn Hillman (Pow), Mallory Jones (TB), Lexi Longhurst (KW), Maggie Madsen (East), Madison Melinkovich (Cam Cty), Reese Ostrander (NC), Zena Tapia (Wor), Ally Wheeler (NC), Shelby Zickefoose (Pow).

100 hurdles = Addison Alley (Riverton), Nadia Burdett (East), Tristyn Buss (KW), Paisley Hollingshead (Land), Jordan Kroeger (KW), Presley Nacey (RS), Carly Norman (Buff), Anna Richardson (Wor).

300 hurdles = Samantha Ablard (Riv), Caroline Crago (Buff), Natalie Hawes (Torr), Paisley Hollingshead (Land), Lillie Kirkham (Cody), Presley Nacey (RS), Shania Scheel (Raw), Bradie Schlabs (East).

Pole Vault = Ava Andrews (RS), Lauryn Bennett (Pow), Hailey Holeman (Cody), Elise Kovacs (Cent), Oliva Maertens (Buff), Isabelle Paddock (Cody), Kelsey Pomajzl (Cody), Jaesa Whitesell (Cent).

High Jump = Vinae Buford-Stillman (TB), Destiny Cleveland (Kayc), Jessica Hoffman (PB), Desirae Iacovetto (Wht), Davdine King (Therm), Sarah McNiven (Burl), Juli Moreno (East), Mackelle Moss (Rocky Mtn), Martina PlaGuix (Cent), Anna Richardson (Wor), Ashley Rogge (TB), Addy Thorington (Pow), Nicole Wilson (GR).

Long Jump = Brynn Bider (RS), Jaden Meyer (Doug), Taliah Morris (East), Lily Nichols (Wht), Carly Norman (Buff), Tess Rule (Buff), Allie Scribner (KW), Karson Tempel (Cent), Alyssa Wondercheck (Torr).

Triple Jump = Sophie Berglund (Buff), Nadia Burdett (East), Tristyn Buss (KW), Cami Costello (NC), Waycee Harvey (Pow), Ina King (Therm), Sophie Louderback (Upt), Trishell Pontarolo (Torr), Karson Tempel (Cent).

Discus = Lillian Allison (GR), Adelyn Anderson (Land), Teagan Becker (KW), Jessica Hoffman (PB), Katie O’Brien (Pow), Manaia Peterson (Wor), Emma Schubach (TB), Jalyn Shepherd (TB), Brynn Sybrant (NC).

Shot Put = Lillian Allison (GR), Adelyn Anderson (Land), Teagan Becker (KW), Harper Boche (SE), Haley Dibble (NC), Kate Lewis (Lar), Katie O’Brien (Pow), Emma Schubach (TB), Jalyn Shepherd (TB).

Boys Events:

100 meters = AJ Baustert (Cody), Logan Borden (NC), Dillon Brost (Cody), Jace Jarrett (Cody), Tegan Krause (Cent), Bridger Norton (TB), Landon Scalise (TB), Gavin Stafford (BH).

200 meters = AJ Baustert (Cody), Tyler Bohnen (Wht), Dillon Brost (Cody), Bradley Ekstrom (TB), Tegan Krause (Cent), Carson Lundberg (NC), Bridger Norton (TB), Jackson Reed (Lar).

400 meters = Flynn Arnold (Lar), Logan Borden (NC), Bradley Ekstrom (TB), Chase Holler (Doug), Braden Killpack (RS), Seth Needham (Therm), Kalub Padilla (RS), Cameron Pilcher (TB).

800 meters = Kalel Brubaker (NC), Bridger Brokaw (Cent), Zach Freise (Buff), Charlie Hulbert (Cody), Tanner Johnson (Doug), Race Morrell (Cent), Jonah Rigg (Cent), Brody Roberts (LFL).

1600 meters = Jaxson Allard (Raw), Patrick Hardesty (TB), Charlie Hulbert (Cody), Howard McNiven (Burl), Paul McNiven (Burl), Ethan Miller (Wor), Race Morrell (Cent), Trevor Schmidt (Cent), Ben Stewart (Cody), Trajn Swalstad (Wor), Liam Taylor (Pow), Ivan Thomas (Wor), Sullivan Wilson (LFL).

3200 meters = Will Bishop (Wor), Ira Croft (Wor), Jadeth Elder (Therm), Diego Lobatos (Land), Logan Milek (Land), Jameson Munari (NC), Ethan Rayo (Buff), Davian Spoonhunter (Riv), Lucas Steveson (East), Korbyn Warren (Pow), Marshall Walton (Riv), Aden Zwonitzer (East).

110 hurdles = Bridger Anderson (NC), Shawn Basart (Cent), Reed McFadden (Land), Noah Mitchell (Wor), Jack Nicholls (KW), Caleb Ortberg (KW), Kaecen Paden (KW), Stuart Shoopman (Pow), Wyatt Trembly (Dub).

300 hurdles = Shawn Basart (Cent), Neven Coleman (NC), Boston Cronebaugh (Cody), Noah Mitchell (Wor), Matthew Newman (Lovell), Caleb Ortberg (KW), Wyatt Trembly (Dub), Christopher Wilson (GR).

Pole Vault = Maddix Blazovich (RS), Kaden Clark (Cody), Keagan Eicholtz (East), Fisher Frude (Lar), Kavin Hoff (NC), Ethan Jackson (Wht), Nicholas Lewis (Cent), Carson Shear (TB), Adam Williams (Pow), Kyler Winters (Burl).

High Jump = Maddax Ball (Cody), Josiah Coleman (NC), Levi Curtis (Doug), Cage Hardy (Newc), Ben Hogan (Cody), Kaiden Lee (NC), Nathan Miller (Lusk), Keaton Mills (Sund), Quincy Paris (Mid), Trennan Pearson (Doug), Jake Schommer (Sund), Jonas Slater (RS), Owen Walker (Lovell), Eric Whitley (KW), Isaiah Woyack (Lusk).

Long Jump = Bridger Anderson (NC), Charlie Fonseca (Raw), Luke Moulton (Cody), Kaiden Lee (NC), Gavin Stafford (BH), Zaven Thomas (NC), Landon Walker (KW), Christopher Wilson (GR), Seth Wilson (NC).

Triple Jump = Corey Bruegger (Lusk), Adnan Khan (Lovell), Luke Moulton (Cody), Matthew Newman (Lovell), Quincy Paris (Mid), Ethan Schiller (Upt), AJ Sirdoreus (Lar), Landon Walker (KW), Isaiah Woyack (Pow).

Shot Put = Carter Archuleta (Doug), Braydn Ballard (Cam Cty), Tyler Bennick (Torr), Quade Jordan (Enc), Trey Parriott (Torr), Kaben Pickett (Enc), Raynor Ranum (Cam Cty), Tegen Seeds (Doug), Ben Spencer (NC).

Discus = Braydn Ballard (Cam Cty), Tyler Bennick (Torr), Brayden Brastrup (Cam Cty), Logan Class (Cody), Quade Jordan (Enc), Keaton Mills (Sund), Kaben Pickett (Enc), Tegen Seeds (Doug), Ben Spencer (NC).

WyoPreps Wyoming Track Classic Recap 2023

Wyoming Track Classic-2023

Gallery Credit: Shannon Dutcher

Source link

Wyoming

Don Day Wyoming Weather Forecast: Friday, April 26, 2024

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Press Room

Don Day Wyoming Weather Forecast: Friday, April 26, 2024

Central:

Casper: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight mainly after midnight. Otherwise, expect it to be cloudy today with a high near 57 and mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 43 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Lander: Rain is near certain today and overnight. Look for a high near 54 today and a low near 40 overnight.

Jeffrey City: Rain is likely today and near certain overnight. The high today should be near 53 and it should be breezy overnight with a low near 39 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph.

Southwest:

Evanston: Rain is near certain today and overnight. Look for a high today near 50 and a low overnight near 34.

Green River: There’s a chance of rain today and rain is likely overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be partly sunny today with a high near 57 and the low overnight should be near 38.

Kemmerer: There’s a chance of rain and snow followed by just rain today and there’s a chance of rain overnight followed by rain and snow after 4 a.m. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy today with a high near 55 and mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 34 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph.

Western Wyoming:

Pinedale: There’s a chance of rain after noon today and rain is likely overnight followed by rain and snow after 4 a.m. Otherwise, expect it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 56 and overnight the low should be near 33.

Afton: There’s a chance of snow and rain in the morning then rain is likely today and rain then rain and snow are likely overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 53 and the low overnight should be near 34.

La Barge: There’s a chance of rain today and rain is likely overnight. Otherwise, it should be partly sunny today with a high near 57 and mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 35 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

Northwest:

Dubois: Snow and rain followed by rain is near certain today and rain followed by rain and snow after 2 a.m. is near certain overnight. Otherwise, expect the high today to be near 51 and the low overnight to be near 35.

Jackson: Snow and rain followed by rain is likely today. Rain followed by rain and snow after 4 a.m. is near certain overnight. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy today with a high near 56 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 34.

Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park: Snow then rain and snow followed by just rain after 10 a.m. is near certain today. Rain followed by rain and snow then just snow after midnight is likely overnight. Otherwise, look for a high today near 46 and a low overnight near 29.

Bighorn Basin:

Thermopolis: Rain is likely today and overnight. The high today should be near 56 and winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Overnight the low should be near 45 and winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Cody: Rain is likely today and overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 53 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. It should be cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 42 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

Greybull: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 62 and cloudy overnight with a low near 42.

North Central:

Buffalo: Rain mainly after 11 a.m. is possible today and there’s a chance of rain overnight. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy and windy today with a high near 57 and wind gusts as high as 40 mph. It should be cloudy and windy overnight with a low near 43 and wind gusts as high as 37 mph.

Sheridan: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 64 and wind from 10-17 mph. It should be mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 40 and wind from 6-16 mph.

Ranchester: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 61 and wind from 14-17 mph. Overnight it should be mostly cloudy with a low near 40 and wind from 6-15 mph.

Northeast:

Gillette: There’s a chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m. today and overnight. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 63 and winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Overnight it should be mostly cloudy and breezy with a low near 41 and wind gusts as high as 31 mph.

Newcastle: Rain is likely today and possible overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 60 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph. Overnight it should be mostly cloudy and breezy with a low near 42 and wind gusts as high as 26 mph.

Moorcroft: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 63 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph. Overnight it should be mostly cloudy with a low near 40 and wind gusts as high as 25 mph.

Eastern Plains:

Torrington: Rain is likely today and possible overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 63 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. It should be mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 38.

Wheatland: Rain, mainly after noon, is possible today and there’s a chance of rain overnight. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 60 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Overnight it should be mostly cloudy with a low near 42 and wind gusts as high as 25 mph.

Guernsey: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be partly sunny and breezy today with a high near 62 and wind gusts as high as 40 mph. It should be mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 41 and wind from 10-20 mph.

Southeast:

Cheyenne: There’s a chance of rain today and rain is likely overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be partly sunny and breezy today with a high near 57 and wind gusts as high as 40 mph. Clouds should increase overnight and it should be breezy with a low near 36 and wind from 10-20 mph.

Laramie: Rain is likely today and overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be partly sunny and breezy today with a high near 53 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph. The low overnight should be near 34.

Chugwater: There’s a chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, it should be mostly cloudy and breezy today with a high near 57 and wind gusts as high as 35 mph. Overnight clouds should increase and it should be breezy with a low near 38 and wind gusts as high as 30 mph.

South Central:

Rawlins: Rain is likely today and overnight. The high today should be near 54 and the low overnight near 37.

Saratoga: Rain is likely today and overnight. Otherwise, look for it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 56 and cloudy overnight with a low near 35.

Hanna: Rain is likely today and overnight. Otherwise, expect it to be mostly cloudy today with a high near 52 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 36.

Source link

Wyoming

Wyoming-Based On The Hook Fish And Chips Empire To Expand, Sell Franchises

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Press Room

Wyoming-Based On The Hook Fish And Chips Empire To Expand, Sell Franchises

When Ocean Andrew started his popular On the Hook Fish and Chips food truck in Laramie, Wyoming, he had no intention of franchising the concept.

He had always expected to grow the business beyond Wyoming, but thought keeping On the Hook a corporate chain would be the way to go.

But as his territory has grown over the past 10 years with 13 trucks that operate in 17 different states, including Wyoming, Andrew said he’s realized something else — something that made him change his mind about franchising.

“Building that infrastructure, building the whole organization, is very, very difficult,” Andrew told Cowboy State Daily. “And what we’ve done so far, I think we’ve done well. But we felt that it was out of our capacity to keep doing that. It would just become more and more hard, and we were worried that the quality might suffer.”

As he thought back to what made the business fun in the beginning, it was having boots on the ground in a community, and getting to know customers well.

“That’s really what franchising does,” Andrew said. “You have people who own it really close to what’s happening and close to customers.”

So, Andrew’s company is taking the plunge to get to the next level, and will soon offer franchises in states all across America.

Right now, the franchise is only available where the company is duly registered, Andrew said, but he is pursuing registration across the United States, and eventually he envisions the company having franchises in every state from New York to Texas, California and Wyoming, and all points in between.

In the meantime, the first franchise has already been sold in Northwest Montana, and discussions are already underway for other new locations.

There will be two kinds of franchises. The main type will be a district with two trucks, with a building to park in at night and an office. The other will be more of a rural setup with just one truck.

Skipping The Summer Walmart Job

On the Hook Fish and Chips started as a way for two University of Wyoming students to avoid working at Walmart for the summer.

The original concept was simple. They were going to sell one basic thing: Andrew’s father’s fresh, line-caught Alaska cod, beer-battered with thick-cut French fries — classic fish and chips.

The concept didn’t only get them out of working at Walmart. It was such a big hit, it ultimately became the career Andrew had been dreaming of when he decided to pick the University of Wyoming to earn an energy-related degree.

“I was trying to do that so I could make good money to start a business eventually,” Andrew told Cowboy State Daily. “And that was always kind of my passion was owning a business and running something on my own.”

So, he and a college friend went into business together with a refurbished FedEx truck they bought in Denver.

As co-founder Hunter Anderson tells it, Ocean asked Anderson what he was doing for the summer. When Anderson said he’d probably work at Walmart, Andrew said he had a better idea.

Start a food truck with him, selling the wild Alaska cod his father line-catches in Alaska.

At first, Anderson refused, fearing the food truck would probably fail. But eventually he came around, and he helped Andrew taste test more than 50 recipes for what is still their signature crispy-crunchy, beer-battered fish.

Although Hunter and Anderson have continued to try different recipes, even visiting England and coastal cities to try the fish and chips there, they have yet to find a better recipe.

Their original has stood the test of time.

The On the Hook Fish And Chips truck was doing a brisk business parked on the east side of Casper on Monday. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)

Nearly Over After A Day

Their first day of business was almost the last.

The truck’s propane tanks went out, and they had seriously underestimated just how many people would want to buy fish and chips from their fledgling business.

With some help from other local food trucks, they made it past the first day, barely.

Right off the bat, they decided they needed to simplify their menu if they were going to stay in business.

“We were trying to do tacos and coconut shrimp and fried shrimp and all this stuff,” Andrew recalled. “And we found out it’s a lot harder to run a kitchen than it looks.”

So, they cut the menu back to just fish and chips, all day every day.

However, now that they’re franchising, Andrew said the company is rethinking a few things. That includes the menu.

“As things are being very well run right now, I think the franchises will be able to manage doing a few more things,” he said. “So, we’re starting to add a couple of things, like we’ve just started releasing coleslaw at a few limited locations to test that, and we’re doing private-labeled sodas. We have a strawberry soda that we’re going to have on all the trucks as well. So, we’re testing a few things. We’re trying to have a bit more variety, but in a way that we can manage and not ruin the quality of anything else.”

Fresh, Line-Caught Alaska Fish

One of the things that won’t be changing is the thing that truly sets On the Hook Fish and Chips apart from all others. That’s the quality of the fish, and that’s because of how these fish are caught.

All of On the Hook’s fish are individually line-caught, and every fish is processed and flash frozen within an hour of being caught.

Nets are never, ever used. The problem with net-caught fish, Andrew told Cowboy State Daily, is that the fish often go into rigor mortis before they can be processed. In addition, the fish are subjected to more stress before dying, which affects the taste and quality of the meat.

There’s something else that makes these fish particularly special though.

The fish are caught by Ocean Andrew’s dad, Shaun Andrew, who is captain of the 187-foot Northern Leader and owner/operator of Alaskan Leader Fisheries. The ship was featured on an episode of Discovery Channel’s “Mighty Ships.”

During the episode, the crew fished right through a hurricane.

Andrew told Cowboy State Daily the show was meant to showcase the high-tech aboard modern, seafaring ships like the Northern Leader. But it also offered a glimpse into just how dangerous a job it is to catch fish for American tables.

Another television show that offers a glimpse into the seafaring life of the Northern Leader and her crew would be Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” which follows the life of Alaskan crab fishermen. They fish some of the same waters as the Northern Leader.

Andrew told Cowboy State Daily that his parents had always talked about doing a restaurant that served fish and chips using their own line-caught Alaska cod.

“But we never did it,” he said. “So, we were sort of in the middle of when food trucks, there was just this huge upwell in popularity, and there were even people doing it in Laramie.”

That made shifting the idea into a food truck a natural.

Devon Hay and Karsen Kling of Casper were trying out On the Hook Fish and Chips for the first time. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
On the Hook Fish and Chips standard meal includes three pieces of fish and fries or chips with choice of sauce to go with it. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Laurie Fletcher of Casper said she regularly tries to seek out the On the Hook Fish and Chips truck when it is in Casper because she enjoys the food (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
Manning the On the Hook Fish and Chips food truck Tuesday in Casper were, from left, Matt Hall, Mark Hall and Sam Sherrill. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)

No More All Blue Trucks

One of the other changes customers are going to notice now that the company is franchising is that the color of the trucks will change.

While they had been two layers of sky and ocean blue, now they’re going to be bright sunshine yellow over an ocean blue wave at the bottom. That will make the trucks much more visible.

The logos will be a little bit different too, to bring more focus to the brand.

But one thing that will never change, Andrew told Cowboy State Daily, is the line-caught Alaska fish that his company uses.

“We are one of (Alaskan Leader Fisheries) largest customers, but we don’t even make a dent in all the fish they catch,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I mean, their boats are huge and there’s four of them, and they work year-round.”

That means there will always be plenty of line-caught Alaska cod to go around, no matter how big On the Hook gets.

Reaction to On the Hook’s Facebook announcement it is now offering franchises was overwhelmingly positive this week. Many of those commenting recommended their own states and towns for a franchise.

“When are you coming to Grand Forks, ND?” Kristine Stanislowski asked.

“I sure hope someone in Sioux Falls takes this great opportunity, it’s a sure thing here!!!!” Linda Olson Elhassy wrote.

“Franchise to Texarkana, Texas ….. We need a good fish and chips here!!!” Yvonne Danielle Rivers wrote.

Customers waiting in line for fish and chips in Casper on Tuesday seemed equally excited about the announcement.

“I first found them at the eclipse,” Laurie Fletcher told Cowboy State Daily. “They were so good and fresh. We try and see them when they come to town.”

Fletcher felt the food is a “cut above” what others serve.

“And they are really nice people,” she added.

Devon Hay and Karen Kling were trying the fish and chips for the first time after seeing the post on Facebook.

“It looks really good,” Hay said.

Renée Jean can be reached at renee@cowboystatedaily.com.

Source link