The Centennial Brand Door resides in Centennial Hall, Steamboat Springs' "21st Century Town Hall."

Routt County's heritage is based on the hard work and tradition of ranching in the area. The door displays brands from 116 local ranches, whose owners were eager and willing to leave their mark.

The front side of the door, viewed from the City Cafe, has brands from "Centennial Ranches" on the middle panel. These ranches must have been owned and operated by the same family for more than 100 years. In the year 2000, there were four ranches recognized as "Centennial Ranches" in Routt County. Additional information on these ranches is found below.

Come explore the door through the descriptions below which include the recorded owner, ranch location, description and registered date of the brand.

The Centennial Brand Door information is courtesy of Megan Baker, who compiled the listing, assisted by Judy Green with Routt County CattleWomen.

How to Read a Brand

Reading a brand can be very easy and very confusing all at the same time. You have to understand what the figures are and in what order they go. Brands are read from left to right or top to bottom or outside to inside.

They can consist of a letter, a numeral, a character, or a symbol. They can also be a combination of one or more of these. Common symbols include quarter circles, slashes, bars, lazy letters, numbers, and characters.

Front of the Centennial Hall Door

The front of the door displays 72 Routt County brands, with special designation of the center panel for ranches that had received "Centennial Ranch" designation in 2000.


The following brands are listed starting at the top left and going left to right; top to bottom:

1. Chuck and Vance Fulton of Hayden: Down F or Inverted F: Recorded 1904
2. Don and Judy Sherrod of Steamboat Springs: Slash Reverse 7 Reverse L: Recorded 1952
3. Bill and Cynthia May of Steamboat Springs: S Bar S: Recorded 1905
4. Elaine Gay of Steamboat Springs: Lazy Y to the left over Lazy Y to the right: Recorded 1914
5. David and Cori Sherrod of Steamboat Springs: Lazy L over Lazy L over Bar: Recorded 1900
6. Delbert and Lynn Sherrod of Steamboat Springs: U 7 over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1900
7. Ruth Warren of Steamboat Springs: O over Bar or Circle Bar: Recorded 1899
8. Bill and Judy Higby: Lazy Seven: Recorded 1920
9. Larry and Mary Kay Monger of Steamboat Springs: H T connected: Recorded 1899
10. Connie and Dan Wagner of Steamboat Springs: X L Quarter Circle: Recorded 1925
11. Carpenter Ranch/TNC of Hayden: Square Bottom V Square Topped A: Recorded 1921
12. Ed and Linda Meagher of Steamboat Springs: Lazy L over W over Lazy L: Recorded 1996
13. Floyd Mosher of Steamboat Springs: Reverse Z Down E: Recorded 1957
14. Camilletti and Sons of Milner: Quarter Circle H Lazy T Connected: Recorded 1926
15. Jim and Jo Stanko of Steamboat Springs: Seven over Seven: Recorded 1908
16. Hogue Ranch of Steamboat Springs: Three Quarter Circle stacked: Recorded 1899
17. Krista and Mark Monger of Steamboat Springs: Lazy H connected T Slash: Recorded 1992
18. Mabel Green of Hayden: L Bar Y stacked: Recorded 1943
19. Shawn Yeager of Steamboat Springs: L Y Slash: Recorded 1961
20. Rick and Karen Myers of Steamboat Springs: Slash R K: Recorded 1984
21. James and Wanda Redmond of Yampa: Lazy F over Two Bars: Recorded 1956
22. Don Bruchez of Hayden: Reverse L connected D over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1980
23. Medora and Ross Fralick of Hayden: S over F over Quarter Circle: Recorded 2000
24. Pat Barber of Steamboat Springs: Triangle One Hundred Eleven: Recorded 1904
25. Jay and Gael Fetcher of Clark: F over F: Recorded 1949
26. Monty Youngland of Yampa: ¾ Box ahead Diamond: Recorded 1942
27. Chip Herold of Yampa: Lazy C Lazy J connected: Recorded 1922
28. Mystic Land and Cattle of Steamboat Springs: Reverse Square S: Recorded 1924
29. Storm Mountain Ranch of Steamboat Springs: Lazy J Lazy J connected over M: Recorded 1999
30. Robert and Patty Bruchez of Hayden: Slash T Slash: Recorded 1913
31. Barnes Ranch of Hayden: Reverse S over Reverse S: Recorded 1915
32. Zane Youngland of Yampa: ¾ Box Triangle: Recorded 1942
33. Michael and Susanne Holloran of Steamboat Springs: H Reverse B Lazy L: Recorded 1979
34. Gary and Brita Horn of McCoy: Lazy L over Bar H: Recorded 1965
35. Gary and Hattie Yeager of Steamboat Springs: Bar over Lazy L: Recorded 1904
36. CJ and Nancy Mucklow of Steamboat Springs: C M over Lazy J: Recorded 1997
37. Lynn Whaley of Steamboat Springs: Slash over Lazy Y: Recorded 1922
38. Lewis and Betty Kemry of Steamboat Springs: L Quarter Circle K: Recorded 1937
39. Larry Belton of Steamboat Springs: Spade over Bar: Recorded 1907
40. Arthur Hudspeth of Steamboat Springs: Lazy C over Lazy K connected: Recorded 1915
41. Vernon Summer of Steamboat Springs: E over Lazy V: Recorded 1925
42. Jerry and Judy Green of Hayden: Quarter Circle Z connected: Recorded 1916
43. Diane Holly of Milner: 3 H over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1901
44. Carl and Rita Herold of Yampa: Club: Recorded 1899
45. Dale Look of Steamboat Springs: Bar over K over Bar: Recorded 1900
46. Sharon Clever of Oak Creek: Quarter Circle over Quarter Circle Mill Iron: Recorded 1993
47. Kurt and Vonnie Frentress of Hayden: Slash Lazy F: Recorded 1923
48. Lloyd and Evelyn Monger of Steamboat Springs: Reverse L Running M L connected: Recorded 1948
49. Bette and Landra White Kuntz of Steamboat Springs: Inverted U Bar Inverted U connected: Recorded 1932
50. Doug and Adele Carlson of Steamboat Springs: Bar over D over C: Recorded 1983
51. Carl and Rita Herold of Yampa: Lazy V I: Recorded 1914
52. Doug and Lauretta Monger of Hayden: Slash Lazy M 4 connected: Recorded 1979
53. Geri and Laura Crosby of Steamboat Springs: C slash Reverse 3: Recorded 1987
54. Sara and John Redmond of Yampa: Lazy V over I over Bar: Recorded 1995
55. Linda Kakela of Steamboat Springs: C Cross connected: Recorded approx. 1935 in South Dakota
56. Daren Clever of Oak Creek: Spear Left Spear Down: Recorded 1979
57. Mark and Jeannie Jo Logan of Steamboat Springs: Diamond Bracket Diamond: Recorded 1999
58. Kay Ellen Sharp Brooks of Hayden: Quarter Circle Greater K: Recorded 1996
59. R&R Land and Livestock of Yampa: Inverted J connected L Quarter Circle or Hook L Quarter Circle: Recorded 1946
60. Mary Baker of Steamboat Springs: Quarter Circle over Lazy V over T: Recorded 1971
61. John and Marsha Daughenbaugh of Steamboat Springs: C over Bar over Quarter Circle or Rocking C Bar: Recorded 1960
62. Humble Ranch of Steamboat Springs: H R connected: Recorded 1940
63. Monty Youngland of Yampa: Open A P connected over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1915
64. Lorraine Page and Landra White Robinson of Steamboat Springs: U D over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1907
65. Kevin and Chris Sherrod of Steamboat Springs: Stacked Quarter Circle U Quarter Circle: Recorded 1930
66. Dale and Becky Appel of Steamboat Springs: Reverse D Slash Lazy A: Recorded 1976
67. Dennis and Laurie Hallenbeck of Hayden: Lazy E H connected over Bar: Recorded 1963
68. Gilbert and Stephanie Anderson of Steamboat Springs: L Running M over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1940
69. Trenia Sanford of Steamboat Springs: Cross Bar Reverse K: Recorded 1902
70. Bill Gay of Steamboat Springs: V Slash: Recorded 1920
71. Elaine Gay of Steamboat Springs: H Triangle: Recorded 1939
72. Raymond Gray of Steamboat Springs: Bar Quarter Circle Reverse Z: Recorded 1943

Reverse side of the Brand Door

The back of the Centennial Hall Door displays 39 Routt County brands.
The following brands are listed starting at the top left and going left to right; top to bottom:

1. Tim Frentress, Sr. of Hayden: Reverse N over F (called the Dutch N over F): Recorded 1955
2. R.H. and Marge Miles of Oak Creek: Stacked V X Open A: Recorded 1899
3. Gordon Campbell of Steamboat Springs : Three over Open Four: Recorded 1916
4. J and Sara May of Steamboat Springs: Lazy U Slash Lazy U (called Shoe Swipe Shoe): Recorded 1987
5. Ted and Karen Gilroy of Hayden: Bar F: Recorded 1903
6. Richard Baker of Steamboat Springs: Bar over Reverse B F: Recorded 1979
7. Ed and Kathy Duncan of Steamboat Springs: K Slung Quarter Circle: Recorded 1916
8. Diane Holly of Milner: 4 H over Bar: Recorded 1985
9. Zabel Family Ranch of Steamboat Springs: Quarter Circle over Inverted Shield: Recorded 1915
10. Betsy Zimmerman of Steamboat Springs: Lazy T Slash X: Recorded 1952
11. Steve Cobb of Steamboat Springs: Stacked H Reverse C C: Recorded 2000
12. Dick Clyncke of Yampa: Reverse C connected W: Recorded 1945
13. Peter Kurtz of Clark: Two over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1921
14. Curtis and Shirley Zabel of Steamboat Springs: Z Cross: Recorded 1899
15. Wesley Signs of Hayden: Reverse S Quarter Circle: Recorded 1931
16. Frank and Ella Murphy of Steamboat Springs: Bar over M connected Slash: Recorded 1992
17. Nicki and Tom Boulger of Craig: Quarter Circle Bar Y: Recorded 1942
18. Andy and Cassidy Kurtz of Clark: Spear over Quarter Circle or Spear Quarter Circle: Recorded 1946
19. Kody and Renae May of Steamboat Springs: Lazy U ahead M U behind over Quarter Circle or the Black Hat: Recorded 2000
20. Dean Look of Steamboat Springs: Bar over K V: Recorded 1900
21. Chuck Perry of Toponas: Bar H A: Recorded 1962
22. LeRoy Mclaughlin of Crawford: Seven open A Slash: Recorded 1921
23. Albert and Afton Bruchez of Hayden: E over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1938
24. Pat and Mike Robson of Craig: H Three Dots: Recorded 1918
25. Bueford Huffstetler of Yampa: J P: Recorded 1899
26. Marian and Robert Kagie of Craig: Reverse Seventy-seven: Recorded 1900
27. Gordon and Gloria Lee Campbell of Steamboat Springs: J X Reverse 7 connected or the Flying J: Recorded 1916
28. Don Lufkin of Steamboat Springs: H connected J or H J: Recorded 1899
29. Matthew Weaver of Park City, UT: I over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1900
30. Monty Davis of Walden: T Bar J: Recorded 1899
31. Roberta and Marvin Elkins of Steamboat Springs: Lazy Y Double Quarter Circle: Recorded 1930
32. Mabel Green of Hayden: Lazy T connected Z connected Lazy T or TZT: Recorded 1916
33. Patsy Wilhelm of Steamboat Springs: Bar L connected Lazy T: Recorded 1940
34. David Joe and Judith Zehner of Hayden: Lazy Three over Three: Recorded 1899
35. Wesley Signs of Hayden: Diamond Dot: Recorded 1936
36. Mike Bunn of Hayden: Bar over Lazy H Lazy T: Recorded 1948
37. LaVergne More of Craig: Y Lazy H: Recorded 1941
38. Arlene Van Baak of Steamboat Springs: Lazy V connected Lazy B over Quarter Circle or Rocking Lazy VB: Recorded 1996
39. Doug and Fran Meacham of Hayden: Stacked Quarter Circle Mill Iron Two: Recorded 1979
40. Charles Perry of Yampa: Reverse C Reverse P over Quarter Circle: Recorded 1912
41. Carl Ingersoll of Big Piney, WY: Reverse S Quarter Circle Bar: Recorded 1942
42. Kimball Frentress of Craig: Open Four Slash: Recorded 1912
43. Jerry and Judy Green of Hayden: K Bar Lazy A: Recorded 1939
44. William Yoast of Craig: Y Spear connected: Recorded 1920

CENTENNIAL RANCHES

THE CRAGS RANCH

The Crags Ranch is located about twenty miles south of Hayden on the East Williams Fork River. It has been in existence since 1895 when Leon H. Green came from Sterling, CO and homesteaded. Mr. Jerry Green, great grandson of Leon H. Green, and his mother, Mrs. Mabel Green, are in partnership running approximately 140-cow/calf pairs of cross bred and registered Black Angus. Currently the ranch consists of 1,906 acres which produces irrigated and dry land hay. Their brands are Quarter Circle Connected Z; K Bar Lazy A; L Bar Y; and Lazy T Z Lazy T . The ranch has been in the family now for four generations.

THE CLOVERLEAF RANCH

The Cloverleaf Ranch is located about one and a half miles north of Yampa on RCR 21. Carl and Rita (Moore) Herold and family are running approximately 150 cow/calf pair in their operation. The ranch was started in 1887 by Rita Herold’s great-grandfather, Robert Laughlin. It has been passed down for four generations and Carl and Rita’s children will be the fifth generation of ownership. The Moores and Carl and Rita Herold have a partnership in the 3500 acre ranch. There are three brands used by the family: the Club; the Lazy V I; and the Lazy C connected Lazy J.

THE HITCHENS RANCH
In 1884 James Hitchens came to America from England wanting to start a new life. To make money, he resided in Central City working in coal or silver mines as an ore hauler. He owned an ore hauling business and was finally able to gain enough money to bring his wife to America. In about 1886, James and his two brothers came to Routt County and bought a ranch. The Hitchens Ranch or now known as the Overlook Ranch is located about ten miles west of Steamboat Springs on Highway 40 or one mile east of Milner. The ranch consists of about 1800 acres and has been passed down for four generations with the fifth generation ready. Traditionally the ranch was used to grow dryland wheat, barley, and oats while raising about 100 plus pairs of cows and calves. Diane Holly, the great-granddaughter of James Hitchens, currently has full ownership of the ranch. She is working on putting it into a family limited partnership (FLP) with her children. The brands that the family has recorded are the 3 H Quarter Circle and the 4H Bar. Diane uses the ranch also as a tourism attraction by offering horseback riding, cattle drives, team penning, and pheasant hunting.

THE SUMMER RANCH
Located about eight miles south of Steamboat Springs on RCR 14, the Summer Ranch was started by John Summer in 1889. At that time he bought 320 acres and prospered with hard work. Annually, the family raised less than one hundred head of cattle, and produced oats, barley, wheat and potatoes on approximately 100 acres. The ranch now consists of 438 acres and produces hay and grass. The Summer family raised strait Hereford cattle until around 1963, when they started crossbreeding Hereford and Angus. Mr. Vernon Summer is a third generation rancher with full ownership of the ranch. His brand is E Lazy V.
Every summer ranchers would get together and help each other brand. Vernon recalls that it was a lot of hard work and took up most of the day. After all of the branding was done, there would usually be a party so that everyone could relax. In the fall, when shipping time came, ranchers would drive their cattle to the nearest train stockyard at Toponas, CO. A brand inspector was always there to check brands. The brand inspector had a huge responsibility and if a brand were unreadable, they would have to shave the animal in the spot of the brand to correctly identify the brand.