Ucross Gala held on Thursday

Ucross held its Gala fundraiser on Thursday, September 26. There was music, supper, a live auction and a paddle raise fundraiser, and Ucross honored Former U.S. Senator Alan and his wife, Ann Simpson with the Raymond Plank Award for Visionary Leadership.

This award honors and celebrates business leaders, philanthropists and innovators who have forged their own path and had an enduring impact on business, the arts or land stewardship. A story on the award ceremony was posted in a prior Sheridan Media story.

David Romtvedt, emeritus professor of creative writing at the University of Wyoming, was a Ucross Fellow during the second year of the program in 1984, and again in 2007. He was invited to the Gala to share some of his poetry at the VIP reception, held before the event.

Music was provided by Beth (Crawford) McIntosh and her son, Wilden McIntosh-Round. Beth was a Ucross fellow in 2007 and again in 2011. They performed one of her original compositions.

Two paintings that were auctioned off were created by Ucross alumna Roxanne Everett, who created one on them on-site en plein air, during the event. The painting was a one-of-a-kind landscape, giving the winning high bidder a reminder of the event.

Other auction items included a bottle of Wyoming Whiskey signed by Senator Simpson, and a sourdough workshop with Ucross Chef Jackie Vitale.

A large crowd attended the gala.