A tribute to Guy Knotwell
Written by his daughter Kamry Knotwell
Guy Knotwell has a rich history managing the Cow Creek division on the Silver Spur -Let’s take a look at his legacy over the past 47 years!
Guy Knotwell has worked for the Silver Spur Ranch in Encampment, Wy for 47 years and continues to do so. He is a walking testimony of working from the ground up. As a kid, he grew up in town with his parents and three siblings. His grandpa Dean Knotwell, “Gramps” is who he learned the basic knowledge of cowboying, horses, and cattle from. Other than his grandfather, he was essentially self-taught and called it “piece work.”
Guy grew up working for his father, Glen Knotwell’s custom haying business. As time went on, he learned from various people on what to do and what not to do when it came to horses. Guy had a passion for riding quality horses, his goals included perfecting the brokenness of a horse and making sure they were trained top tier.
He first got started with the Spur in high school, he would come out after school and on the weekends to help. Once he graduated, Young Jim York, the general manager, offered him a full-time job at the original operation called “Headquarters.” After a few years being full time, he then became the cow man for the Headquarters operation. In 1984 at the age of 27, Guy was offered to move to a newly added division called “Cow Creek.” His first years spent there, he did all aspects of ranch work and continued to help the Headquarters division.
In 1999, Thad York took over the General Management position from his father, Young Jim. In that same year, Thad offered Guy to move up, oversee, and manage both the Cow Creek and Headquarters divisions. This was a special moment in Knotwell’s career. When talking with Guy, he stated that he never regretted taking the opportunity to advance and move up in his career. Knotwell’s advice is “If you have the opportunity to advance, take it and try it, and don’t be afraid.”
Guy appreciates all aspects of ranch work from the cowboying, haying, irrigating, fence building, fall works, and more. Knotwell especially appreciates the fall works as it is more laid back, a peaceful time of year, and all the hard work from the year comes together.
He takes great pride in not only his livestock, but also the appearance of his place. Guy is very adamant about having good fence, which was a skill he taught himself and most would say, he fine-tuned. Driving into Cow Creek it is very apparent that he assumes high standards in his work no matter what it may be.
When he started at Headquarters, it was the original Silver Spur. Guy was able to witness and be part of the expansion of the ranch. Through the years the Spur slowly acquired places in Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nebraska. Expanding and purchasing the Bell Ranch with Thad was another special opportunity in Guy’s career. To see the advancement and traditions of forty plus years under two managers, is unheard of these days.
Guy implied that you must enjoy what you do and work for the right people. Knotwell stated, “Not many people will stay together and work 45 years, it has been a very stable & solid environment.” It has been a great experience and a wonderful life for Knotwell. While visiting with Guy, he discussed how he was very lucky and fortunate to be able to raise his family here and that they also enjoyed this lifestyle.
Knotwell has ran a successful operation for years and it’s due to his ability and willingness to do all ranching aspects that need to be done in the northern country. He stated that although he has a deep appreciation for it, the riding and cowboying is more seasonal than it is down south. Guy has always put forth his best effort whether it’s calving out heifers, feeding cows, building fence, irrigating, putting up hay, or cowboying. He knows that taking pride in each aspect is crucial for his operation to be successful.
One last piece of advice from Mr. Knotwell is that “The older you get, the smarter you get about the way you do things, never stop learning, sometimes you have to change, and always work hard.”
Quotes from his co-workers
“Guy has been a long-term manager for Silver Spur and more importantly from my perspective is his role as a mentor and the closest thing to a big brother that I have had. He is the kind of person that I give nearly complete autonomy to operate the ranch in the manner that he feels is best. I trust him completely and rarely if ever question his judgment. His expertise in livestock management and sustainable agricultural practices has been instrumental in the success of Silver Spur. Guy’s dedication goes beyond the operational aspects; he genuinely cares for the well-being of the animals and the land. His innovative approaches have led to a more efficient and environmentally friendly ranch. Guy is not just a manager; he is the heart and soul of Silver Spur, ensuring that the legacy of the ranch continues for future generations. Simply put, if I had more Guy Knotwells, my job would be much easier!”
-Thad York, General Manager
“Guy Knotwell is legendary. His stockmanship is undeniable. In today’s fast-paced world, figures like Guy serve as reminders of the importance of hard work, humility, and commitment to the industry.”
-Connie Turner
“He is very organized & consistent in the way he does things and the time frame doing them year to year, but will definitely change if needed or if he thinks something will work better. When planning a job, he can see all pros and cons to how to best get it done for it to be appealing, functional, and last the longest. He is a great teacher, I have learned most I know from him about all aspects of ranching. He is a good cowman, horseman, can irrigate, put hay up, and make ya piss your self-laughing.“
-Cody Miller
First of all, Guy is a stockman. He is business-minded and makes decisions based on efficiency and profitability. He does not chase trends, and although he respects tradition, he does not let it get in the way of efficiency. If I were to narrow it down to two attributes I respect most about Guy, it would be consistency and attention to detail. He has consistently managed a large-scale cow herd through good years, drought years, and many other adversities. Secondly his attention to detail is not matched by many. He cares about the appearance of the ranch overall. He does not take short cuts. When it comes to calving, irrigating, haying, or infrastructure maintenance he does quality work no matter the time period it takes to complete the ta
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