The Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame (WCHF) has selected 43 inductees for the class of 2021. Among those 43 inductees is Jim Caines of Hyattville.
“It’s an honor,” he said.
According to its website, WCHF’s chief goal is “to preserve, promote, perpetuate, publish and document Wyoming’s working cowboy and ranching history through researching, profiling and honoring individuals who broke the first trails and introduced that culture to this state. WCHF plans to collect, display and preserve the stories, and photos of such individuals and anything else that will honor and highlight their contributions to our history.”
In a press release, the WCHF accepted nominations from December 2020 through Feb. 28, 2021. From there, regional committees in 10 different areas of Wyoming researched and scored over 70 nominations. The top 50 picks were sent to the WCHF State Board of Directors.
Caines is a native of Hyattville. He was born and raised in the area, going to school when there was a school in Hyattville. He completed his junior and senior years in Basin, graduating in 1953. After high school, he attended the University of Wyoming for one year and then transferred to what was Black Hills, graduating in 1960. He was a teacher and taught in schools in Greybull, Manderson and Belle Fourche, S.D.
He has been married to his wife, Deanna, for 64 years. Together they had their daughter, Kelly Darling, and two sons, Philip and Pat. Darling is the PE teacher for Laura Irwin Elementary in Basin. Pat is a superior livestock representative. Philip is the president of McGarvin-Moberly Construction Company.
Caines and his wife had always wanted a ranch and in 1978 bought the Jackson River Ranch in Hyattville and the ranch grew with the purchase of another parcel of land. Caines said they bought some property from the Mercers, but they later sold that property. He added that his kids are now running the two properties and they help when they can.
The Caines’ ranch raised Hereford cattle along with a large band of quarter horses. “We had a lot of horses,” said Caines. He added he enjoyed having horses. They did farm a little, producing hay.
As for ranching, Caines said it is hard work with not a lot of return. He added that it was very satisfying.
He served on the district livestock raising board and called individuals he knew who have served on the state livestock raising board outstanding people.
Rodeo was also part of Caines’ life. He said he didn’t get much of an opportunity to rodeo; however, his boys have roped. Caines mentioned he and his wife have been to Arizona where he roped a lot.
“It was a fun life,” he said.
Caines said it is a terrific honor to be inducted and is very appreciative.
An induction ceremony will take place at the Little America in Cheyenne on Sept. 11-12. The event kicks of the annual Wyoming Cowboy and Cowgirl Legacy Week, which was established by the state legislature in 2019.
