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Frankie Addington
A true woman of the west, Frankie Addington has proven to be a strong and inspiring fixture in Wyoming’s ranching landscape. She and her husband Bill, raise Rambouillet Sheep, commercial Angus Cattle, Texas Longhorns and South African Boer Goats on a fourth generation sheep and cattle ranch northwest of Douglas, Wyoming. Ranching is a feat in and of itself, but Addington goes beyond traditional ranching activities, and chooses to be involved in the energy activities that also affect a rancher’s way of life.
Her involvement is in almost every kind of energy activity with the exception of wind and coal and she diligently works to be a voice for Wyoming’s rancher. Her passion and knowledge of the issues led to her appointment by former Governor Dave Freudenthal to the Split Estate Task Force in 2004. The task force was charged with studying issues and drafting legislation with respect to estates in which the mineral rights and surface rights are held by different parties. Addington worked extensively in most all phases of energy negotiations; of dealing with on site and right of way issues. She helped get signed into law in 2005 the Surface Owner Accommodation Act; and in 2007 Eminent Domain Legislation, and continues to be a citizen advocate, exercising what she calls, “a basic fundamental freedom of speech,” which allows her to, “stay involved in the issues and wield a definitive voice in her future when it comes to private property rights.”
Her work does not stop there though. Addington also serves on LAW—Landowners Association of Wyoming, a group she is proud to be a part of and describes as, “highly dedicated, selfless, driven individual citizen advocates “who walked the walk” against all odds and won.” She also serves on or has served on ICOW—Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming, and the Wyoming Texas Longhorn Association. She is a member of the Landowners Association of Wyoming, Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming, Wyoming Farm Bureau, Wyoming Wool Growers Association, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, and the Powder River Basin Resource Council.
For Addington, “watching years of sweat and hard work pay off in improving the land, water and livestock” is something to be proud of.
But perhaps her proudest accomplishment has been raising “two fine young women who will definitely make a difference in this world.” Her daughter’s, Sabre and Stirling, both have pride in their heritage and are excited about ranching. In fact they own the cattle company, Moore & Moore Livestock. Addington says the girls have worked and been involved on the ranch since they could steer the feed pickup at age three. They too are well versed on right of ways, surface use agreements and all aspects of livestock production and, Addington adds, “They could run the ranch today without missing a beat.”
Addington’s dedication to ranching and Wyoming is clear. She is a role model for not only her own girls, but for other girls and women across the state. She has, and continues to, blaze trails for future generations of ranchers!
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