After spending our morning at the local laundromat, we left Gillette, WY with our destination being our Nation's first National Monument, Devils Tower.

I had just mentioned to Steve that I wanted for visit a fish hatchery. How fun that one was right next to our campground. Established in 1896, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives, formerly Spearfish National Fish Hatchery, is one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country dedicated to fish culture and resource management.

And why the need for such a place? In the late 1860s, it was clear that fishers were wiping out salmon and American shad on the East Coast. The feds had to do something. Congress, with what in retrospect seems a strange confidence, charged the new Commission of Fish and Fisheries with the task of “supplementing declining native stocks of coastal and lake food fish through fish propagation."

The need for fish became very important. During World War I, governments launched "Eat More Fish" campaigns to conserve beef, pork, and lamb for troops fighting on the front lines. Agencies like the U.S. Food Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries urged citizens to replace meat with wild-caught seafood, reminding the public that fish “feed themselves” and save products of the land. At the time, meat indicated wealth while fish was often viewed as low-status (déclassé). Advocate Evelene Spencer traveled across the United States to teach citizens how to prepare and cook alternative seafood options like carp, bass, and trout.

This train car piqued my curiosity. Before the invention of refrigerated tanker trucks, fish hatcheries were faced with the problem of how to quickly move fish from hatcheries to lakes and rivers around the country. Voilà a train car. During the Fish Car Era, 66-year period that played a key role in fisheries propagation, ten specifically designed railcars were constructed; and by 1920, fish cars had carried over 72 billion fish across 2 million miles of railroad track. D.C. Booth displays the only federal fisheries railcar exhibit in the country, showcasing a replica of Fish Car No. 3.

The D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery is vital because it is a pioneer in western trout management, preserves the nation's largest collection of fisheries history, and actively stocks fish for regional tribal and military waters. The hatchery continues to raise thousands of catchable trout each year. Stocking tribal waters provides recreational fishing opportunities, but also food and a boost in economically depressed areas. How cool is that?!

Speaking of cool, this was our home for the night. All is groovy!

When we were strolling historic Sheridan, a banner strung across the Main St. announced that our timing was perfect for us to attend the 38th Annual Don King Days.

Believe it or not, the day's event began with POLO. The largest polo tournament of the Big Horn Polo Club’s season is played over this weekend. Teams composed of players from all over the world, face off in tournament bracket fashion vying for the coveted championship buckle.

Polo you say! According to US Polo, "There is arguably no other club in the United States that is as dedicated and devoted to developing horses for polo than Big Horn Polo Club. Nestled at the base of the Big Horn Mountains, near Sheridan, Wyoming, the club has evolved from a culture deeply and passionately intertwined with the horse. The mountainous backdrop surrounded by vast expanses of land cultivates an urgent sense of adventure that is hard to ignore."

Polo was established in the area in the late nineteenth century by English nobleman Oliver Henry Wallop and Scotsman Malcolm Moncreiffe who brought with them thoroughbred horses. According to the Big Horn Polo Club website, “The Polo Ranch, which Oliver Wallop inherited from Malcolm Moncreiffe and in turn handed it down to Senator Malcolm Wallop, was the center of polo in the Northern Rockies until the early 1980s when the ranch was sold. The sale of the Polo Ranch forced the Big Horn Polo Club to find another field.” The search for a new location led to Big Horn Polo Club’s present day establishment at the Big Horn Equestrian Center with a remarkable seven fields.

Us newbies were given a handbook of what polo is all about. I found this list quite worth sharing. Polo Myths vs. Fact: The Tailgate Edition. "What you'll see at a Polo Match (probably): someone confidently explaining the rules, incorrectly; a dog that thinks it's part of the team; a perfectly curated tailgate setup next to a folding chair and a cooler; at least one person asking, "Wait- what just happened?"; champagne, beer, or something in a Solo cup- no judgement here; kids running absolutely feral during the halftime divot stomp (highlight of their week); someone dressed like they're headed to the Kentucky Derby... sitting on the ground; a first-timer who becomes an expert by the end of the second chukker; and tailgate contributors ranging from 'Pinterest Masterpiece' to 'We brought chips'... you know how you are."