For the 14th annual Wyoming Women's Antelope Hunt, 14 women combined to harvest 14 pronghorns; all donated to first lady Jennie Gordon's charitable Food From the Field program, which produces tens of thousands of pounds of much needed protein for those in the state needing a hand up.

Gordon doesn't simply lend her name to the hunt, she's a good shot and has years of stories developed during the last 14 years of harvesting wild game on the family ranch near Buffalo.

Her father, Senior Master Sgt. Robert Muir, made a career in the military and taught all of his children how to shoot straight while the large family hailed from Omaha. Yet, she had never harvested wild game until the women's group took to the field.

"I never really took to hunting until I was a little bit older in life," she said during a Tuesday interview with the Tribune. "I started doing that ladies' antelope hunt 14 years ago, and that was the first time I actually harvested [wild game]."

Nobody ties a speedgoat to a tree for the first lady's hunts. The trips afield are often difficult, typical of Wyoming terrain. And Gordon hasn't always been successful. She broke her ankle while participating in the 2018 hunt. A couple other years she had state business, but donated her tags to women who would donate their prey.

This year's hunt was one of the easier events in which Gordon has participated. Along with a hunting partner, who was up to take the first shot, the two women found a herd of pronghorns — figuring the herd would run after the first shot was taken. Oddly, they stayed put after the first goat was harvested, making an easy opportunity for Gordon.

"I've crawled through alfalfa stubble and I stepped in a hole and broke my ankle one year, so [this year] was certainly an easier hunt," she said. "Every time I am so grateful for the ability to harvest and the animal giving its life so that others can receive [assistance.]"

Gordon is proud of the Food From the Field program, which has grown quickly since she founded it in 2020.

"This hunt is incredible in every way and to see ladies giving back to this local community through the donation of protein is an ultimate Wyoming solution to hunger," Gordon said.

In the first four years of the program, Wyoming hunters donated 78,529 pounds of wild game meat. But last year the program brought in over 20,000 pounds of meat and outdoor sports enthusiasts are on track to match the effort this year.

There were only two processors in the state when the program began. Now a dozen processors have joined the program, including Wapiti Valley Meats in Park County.

"We got involved because we believed in the process," said Wapiti Valley Meat Manager Tricia Zimbelman in an unmistakable Texan accent. "We believe in giving meat to the hungry. When the First Lady approached us, we decided we would go with the program because it gives meat to the people in need across Wyoming."

Zimbelman said hunters donating an elk or a deer are required to get a chronic wasting disease test before they bring the meat to their participating processor.

"We need that little coupon so we know if it's negative or positive. If it's positive, the animal is destroyed. If it's negative, then we can grind it for the program," she said.

All deer and elk undergo appropriate chronic wasting disease testing to ensure safety prior to entering the food bank system. Wapiti Valley Meats, which only processes wild game, has already received a few donations and Zimbelman said she has already received more calls asking about the donation process than in previous years.

Partners in the program

Food from the Field was created under the umbrella of the Wyoming Hunger Initiative. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is a partner, along with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture and participating meat processors "to build a bridge between sportspeople and organizations fighting hunger," Game and Fish reported earlier this week in a release touting the program.

Giving back through the harvest is straightforward. Hunters bring their game to a participating meat processor and elect to donate either a few packages or the whole animal. While optional donations toward processing fees are always appreciated to keep the program growing, the program is free for hunters participating.

“We are grateful to Wyoming’s hunters, whose willingness to share their harvest provides a sustainable solution to hunger in our community,” Game and Fish Interim Director Eric Wiltanger said in a Tuesday statement. “Sharing all or part of your harvest, knowing it will directly feed a local family, is a win for everyone.”

Gordon said her Christian values drives her desire to help feed those struggling to afford protein.

"[Christian values] are a huge part of [my efforts]. Also, in Wyoming, we take care of our neighbors," she said.

Donations often go to "neighbors down the street," she said, adding donations are quietly made to those who may have lost their job or someone is severely ill in the family.

The program dovetails with Gordon's other efforts as first lady to provide food to low income families in the state, an effort that has taken a lot of her time since her husband, Gov. Mark Gordon, first took office in 2018.

She said her life will change dramatically in January after her husband steps down.

"It's a very bittersweet thing because we've enjoyed serving," she said. "It's the toughest job you'll ever do. I can tell you that much."

Jennie said the program will continue into the future with a new governor.

"We have funding still in place, and we'll continue to pursue that. And so we look forward to just having that program grow even more and creating new partnerships," she said.

Gordon also encourages nonhunters to participate by donating to the program. Processing fees take up the vast majority of the program's funding. For example, processing costs more than $2 per pound. A donated elk produces about 200 pounds of ground meat; all donated meat is ground for ease to both the processors and the recipients.

"We chose to do a ground product just because I think people are more familiar with cooking that, as well as equitably getting it distributed around the state," Gordon said.

For more information: nohungerwyo.org/field