Friends of the Mustangs (FOM) as a nonprofit organization and individual members of FOM have been recognized as valued volunteers working to protect wild mustangs in the Little Book Cliffs Horse Range. On this page you will see a sampling of documentation of that recognition over the years.
Photos below were provided by Marty Felix, FOM Co-Founder & FOM Historian, except where otherwise noted. Thank you, Marty!
In 1974, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range was formed when local area ranchers and the Bureau of Land Management agreed to allow wild horses to inhabit the land, within a fenced area, and to allow domestic cattle in a different area. On Nov. 7, 1980, a dedication ceremony was conducted at the site and Marty Felix was presented with an award along with a plaque commemorating Wild Horse Annie. The plaque has been placed on the range.
Marty Felix with her award and the Wild Horse Annie plaque placed in the Little Book Cliffs HMA:
Helen Reilly, who carried on the work of Wild Horse Annie, was also at the dedication ceremony.
In May 1997, Marty Felix was again honored for her volunteer work protecting wild horses. See the article clipping pictured here, for additional information.
1997 BLM volunteer award winners in Washington, D.C.
With respect to the two following photos, Marty shares: "These are the shots of my President's Volunteer Service Award for which I flew to Denver in 2003. They told me to wear "range clothes," so that's why I'm not dressed up." Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior (2001 - 2006), presented the President's Volunteer Service Award to Marty Felix.
The BLM helped make the celebration of FOM's 30th anniversary special in 2012. Here are some photos from that event.
Pictured FOM members who attended the 30th anniversary celebration: Karen O'Roarke, Marty Felix, Patty Fennel, Sam Callahan, Barbara Townes & Gerald Thygerson
In 2013 the BLM recognized and thanked a number of FOM volunteers for their dedication of time and expertise to the Little Book Cliffs HMA and the mustangs who reside there. For more information, click here to read the BLM press release.
FOM's 2014 Darting Team's Volunteer of the Year Award from the Colorado Bureau of Land Management
FOM's 2014 Darting Team's Volunteer of the Year award presentation: Ruth Welch (BLM Colorado State Director), FOM darting team members: John Boughton, Marty Felix, Gerald Thygerson, Georgia Manus, and Jim Dollerschell
Left to right: Gerald Thygerson, Marty Felix, and Georgia Manus.
Here's an additional photo Billie Hutchings has shared of some of the FOM members who received the 2014 darting team award. Pictured, left to right: Billie Hutchings, Georgia Manus, Marty Felix, and Jim Dollerschell.
Marty Felix has kindly shared photos of some of the awards she, and the FOM, have received over the years. Here's a sampling:
On November 6, 2019, FOM was thanked during a BLM Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the BLM's Grand Junction Field Office. From Nov. 1, 2018 to Oct. 31, 2019, FOM members volunteered the equivalent of 4.6 employees working 40-hour weeks without vacation or leave for the entire year!
FOM celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2022 with a post-meeting dinner in November. Attending members enjoyed a great time together and appreciate all the work that went into making this event a success. Beckie Diehl, Diann Lesko, and Dora Bensch worked hard to put this all together. Lynae Rogers provided the delicious pulled pork and the beautiful cake. Pat Martin recited some of her cowboy poems. Beckie Diehl created and shared a PowerPoint presentation on the history of FOM. Judy Cady regaled us with FOM stories of the past. Here are a few photo highlights.
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