For more than a decade, the Wyoming Sportsman’s Group has been dedicated to supporting outdoor recreation and conservation efforts in northeast Wyoming, Gillette News Record reports.
Unlike many national organizations, where donations may not directly benefit the local community, the Wyoming Sportsman’s Group ensures that all funds raised stay in the state.
Since its founding, the volunteer-run organization has donated more than $1.1 million to over 160 projects, including $338,226 in 2024 alone. These funds have supported initiatives ranging from youth outdoor programs to conservation efforts and accessibility improvements.
The group was formed out of frustration. Ken Ford, one of the founders, had previously been involved with national outdoor and conservation organizations but struggled to bring funding to Campbell County despite strong local contributions. Along with Rusty Bell and Murphy Love, Ford launched the Wyoming Sportsman’s Group to keep funds local and directly support projects benefiting Wyoming’s outdoor community.
The 11th annual fundraising banquet took place at the Cam-plex Wyoming Center, drawing 1,200 attendees. The sold-out event highlighted the generosity of the Gillette community, which has played a crucial role in the group’s success.
Katie Ford, the organization’s president and Ken Ford’s daughter, emphasized the importance of keeping donations within Wyoming. After living in Dallas for a decade, she returned to Campbell County and became actively involved in the organization.
“Our big push is that everything that gets donated to us stays right here,” she said.
The Wyoming Sportsman’s Group has funded a wide range of projects, including:
- Wildlife conservation efforts, such as installing wildlife guzzlers—water tanks that provide drinking water for animals—in Johnson and Sheridan counties.
- Youth programs, including YES House Hike Club, which funds hiking trips for local youth, and financial incentives for children in the Johnson County Weed and Pest District to remove invasive weeds.
- Hunter safety education, providing hunter safety backpacks to students who pass their course with a 90% or higher score.
- 4-H and high school shooting sports, supporting trap shooting teams at Campbell County and Thunder Basin high schools.
- Improving outdoor accessibility, including funding a handicap-accessible dock at a pond in Newcastle, with more sites in development.
One of the organization’s largest projects was installing a $70,000 fish cleaning station at Keyhole State Park last spring, after the state was unable to replace the old facility.
In addition to long-term projects, the Wyoming Sportsman’s Group has stepped in to solve urgent challenges. Last summer, Campbell County officials were preparing to host a state task force evaluating Gillette as a potential site for a state shooting complex. However, days before the visit, they realized they needed a way to cross Donkey Creek during the site tour.
Ken Ford and the Wyoming Sportsman’s Group quickly organized volunteers and partnered with Powder River Construction, T&T Cranes, and Cyclone Drilling to install a bridge at no cost to the county—just in time for the visit.
“That right there is what Wyoming Sportsman’s Group is all about,” said Katie Ford.
Above all, the Wyoming Sportsman’s Group is committed to preserving Wyoming’s natural beauty and ensuring that future generations have opportunities to enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly.
“You just really take it for granted, living somewhere where you’re 90 minutes from the Big Horns and Black Hills,” Katie Ford said. “(We want to) keep it so we can enjoy it for the next 100 years.”
