Mrs. Carol A. Farthing

Carol Farthing, Ex-Officio

Carol Farthing - 2004

Mrs. Farthing is described as an inspirational leader by those she has worked with on a wide variety of civic organizations and projects.

She has been active with many organizations including the Old West Museum, Cheyenne Civic League, Cheyenne Frontier Days, the United Medical Center Foundation and Laramie County Cowbelles.Her long-time love of sewing has resulted in her making more than 100 costumes for CFD parades.

"There are events in your life that define your future and I had one of those about twenty years ago," Mrs. Farthing said.

CHEYENNE (WTE) - Carol A. Farthing, dedicated volunteer and active member of a long-time local ranching family, has been chosen to receive the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle's seventh annual Community Spirit Award.
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The award will be presented to Farthing at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, 4610 Carey Ave.The public is invited to attend.

"Carol is not only the second woman to receive this award, she also is the youngest, proving that people can give a tremendous amount of beneficial service to the community when they start early," said Tribune-Eagle Publisher L. Michael McCraken.
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Farthing was nominated for the award by 27 women she has worked with on various boards, committees and volunteer community projects over the years.

"Carol has done more volunteer service and giving to others in her 48 years of life than many of us could ever do in a couple of lifetimes," the women said in their nomination."Many of us have worked in various capacities of community service, and all of us are in awe of Carol and all that she gets done.There are many great volunteers in our community, but we believe Carol has the 'spirit' you are looking for."

Farthing and her husband of 26 years, Charlie, operate the Farthing Ranch about 45 miles northwest of Cheyenne at Iron Mountain.
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It makes me really proud to represent Cheyenne and that my friends are so kind to do that for me," Farthing said.
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Farthing has a long history of community service, and her nominators noted that she has often been responsible for more than one major project at a time.Her enthusiasm for civic involvement has been contagious, and through the years, she has recruited many volunteers for worthwhile projects.

Farthing said ranching is a difficult business, and her volunteer activities are a great outlet - even with an hour-long drive to get from the ranch to Cheyenne, where most of her volunteer work takes place.
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Farthing is a member of the Old West Museum board of directors and has been president for the past two years.She also serves on four of the museum's committees: collections, events, strategic planning and Carriage Ball.

In 2003, she was co-chairman of the museum's Carriage Ball and co-chairman of the Civic League Christmas House, which netted about $30,000 for various charities.

She has been active in Cheyenne Frontier Days, and through the past 10 years has put her love of sewing to work by making more than 100 costumes for CFD parades.Farthing developed an interest in sewing at age 12 when she participated in 4-H, and she also enjoys making quilts for friends and family.

Farthing has co-chaired the CFD Historic Costume Contest for the past 17 years.She also organized the historic costume fashion show for the recent Cowboy Symposium.

She is past president of the Cheyenne Frontier Days W-Heels and is a past CFD Dandy.

In 2001, Farthing was chairwoman of the United Medical Center Foundation, and she has volunteered for many of its committees.In past years she served as publicity committee chairwoman for Denim and Diamonds, the foundation's primary fundraiser.

She is a past president of the Laramie County Cowbelles and for several years organized that group's Beef Cook-Off.

When her three sons were younger, she volunteered for various functions at Clawson Elementary, and she still organizes many family activities for the Iron Mountain community, such as the Halloween party and the annual Christmas church service.

"I wouldn't be able to do any of it without the support of my family," Farthing said of her community involvement.

Farthing attended Cheyenne's Central High and went to the University of Wyoming on a music scholarship.She was vice-president and later president of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and in 1978 was named Outstanding Greek Woman of UW.She graduated in 1978 with a degree in Music Education and was honored as an outstanding student.She also played violin and viola for the Symphony Orchestra through high school and in 1978 and 1979.

At Thursday's award presentation, Farthing will receive a tabletop version of the life-sized bronze statue of Col. E. A. Slack at the Old West Museum.