Business and Tourism Reporter

Renée Jean

Renée Jean is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Renée spent seven years covering energy and agriculture in North Dakota and Montana. She has won many writing awards over a 30-year career, and has written magazine articles for Guideposts.

Find Renée Jean

Latest from Renée Jean

When water is on the floor in the boiler room of the old Deming Elementary School in Cheyenne, it forms the outline of a body.

The Ghost At Cheyenne's Deming Elementary Hates Cussing, Sex And Drugs

A former custodian at Cheyenne’s Deming Elementary says the school’s ghost — reportedly a janitor murdered there 80 years ago — seems to hate cussing, sex and drugs. She’s heard footsteps and saw a mysterious man on stage vanish when she turned to him.

Renée JeanOctober 29, 2026

Tom Hirsig is stepping down as Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO following the 2027 Daddy of 'em All. He began his tenure leading the world's largest outdoor rodeo since 2015.

Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO Tom Hirsig Stepping Down, 2027 Will Be Last Year

Longtime Cheyenne Frontier Days CEO Tom Hirsig is stepping down after the 2027 Daddy of ’em All, the CFD board announced Thursday. He took heat after eliminating slack competition, but that didn’t influence the decision, said the CFD board chairman.

Renée JeanOctober 29, 2026

A child holds on tight as the sheep takes off during the Double Rafter Ranch's neighborhood block party and kid rodeo.

In Wyoming, A Block Party Could Mean A Gathering Of Neighbors From 100 Miles Away

At the Double Rafter Ranch near Parkman, a block party meant neighbors from 100 miles away brought food and horses. "Even if your block is 100 square miles, Wyoming's rural neighbors love a good party," said a guest.

Renée JeanOctober 25, 2026

"Mayor" Helen Edwards kept a close eye on remote Laurence Canyon in the foothills outside Fort Collins. A dispute over pioneer graves there connected her notes to the 1995 murder of filmmaker Allen Ross in Cheyenne, ultimately helping undermine a coverup. Above, Ross' home in Cheyenne. His body was found in the basement.

How A Colorado Snoop Helped Crack A Cult Murder In Cheyenne, Wyoming

Colorado's Markie Gregorio had an unusual vantage point on the murder of filmmaker Allen Ross, whose body was found in the crawl space of a Cheyenne home in 2000. She was a snoop and kept notes on everything she saw which led to the case being solved.

Renée JeanOctober 25, 2026

The Daddy of 'em All Cheyenne Fronteir Days Rodeo is one of the largest and most important events of the year for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which is moving its headquarters and hall of fame to Cheyenne.

Push Is On To Maximize Statewide Rodeo Impact From PRCA’s Move To Cheyenne

Cheyenne is getting the PRCA’s rodeo headquarters and Hall of Fame, but Wyoming tourism leaders are pushing for rodeo statewide to maximize the impact. Former Wyoming tourism director Diane Shober says the statewide economic potential is huge.

Renée JeanOctober 25, 2026

From the outside, there’s nothing special about these connected yurts near Pinedale, but inside they’re pure Wyoming Western luxury, listing for $550,000.

Want Acreage & Home Near Pinedale Without Spending A Bazillion Dollars? Buy A Yurt!

As home values continue to increase in Sublette County, there's a way to get 35 acres and a home without spending a bazillion dollars. These connected yurts, which list for $550,000, look gorgeous inside and a fraction of the cost for a traditional home.

Renée JeanOctober 25, 2026

Rodeo cowboys voted Summit’s elite bareback mare Game Trail as the second best bareback horse in the nation.

Cowboys Who Ride Them Say These Wyoming Rodeo Horses Are The Nation's Best

Summit Pro Rodeo, a professional rodeo stock contractor company in Centennial, has some of the best rodeo horses in the nation including the PRCA's Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. They have four of the nation's highest ranked horses and will be at the NFR.

Renée JeanOctober 25, 2026

Growing up, Marty Carollo had a front-row seat to the slow-motion decline of the historic Tomahawk Hotel in downtown Green River. Then he decided to do more than stare at the 1921 landmark and revive it — and the city’s downtown district.

Green River Man Saddened With Decline Of Historic Hotel, Organizes Team To Save It

Growing up, Marty Carollo had a front-row seat to the slow-motion decline of the historic 105-year-old Tomahawk Hotel in downtown Green River. Then he decided to do more than stare at the 1921 landmark and revive it — and the city’s downtown district.

Renée JeanOctober 24, 2026

Sen. Ogden Driskill smiles for a photograph just after accepting the Clarene Law Award recognizing a lifetime of tourism achievements for Wyoming.

Tears Flow As Driskill Accepts Tourism Award Named For His Mentor, Clarene Law

Sen. Ogden Driskill and Clarene Law’s daughter Charisse Haws, shared a tearful embrace as he accepted tourism's Clarene Law Award. “She invested a lot of time in me to help me be a better leader,” he said. “And was a friend right up to the day she died.”

Renée JeanOctober 23, 2026

Wyoming Postal Rep Filing Grievance Over Mail Going To Colorado Instead Of Cheyenne

A Wyoming postal rep is filing a grievance because magazines, catalogs, and large envelopes that were supposed to be processed in Cheyenne are now going to Denver, adding at least a day to some Wyoming deliveries. “That is ridiculous,” he said.

Renée JeanOctober 20, 2026

A debate over whether it's unprofessional to bring a coffee drink to a job interview is heating up. In Wyoming, employers are mixed, with some saying they wouldn't like it to others who say they wouldn't be bothered at all.

Is Bringing A Latte To A Job Interview Unprofessional? Wyoming Employers Split

Wyoming has become part of a growing debate over whether it’s unprofessional for Gen Z job applicants to bring coffee drinks to interviews. Some employers told Cowboy Sate Daily it's not impressive, while others say it's no big deal.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

Melody Rupple, in Lander, has already started an adaptive equipment lending library called TrekAbility, helping people with mobility challenges get outside without first buying thousands of dollars worth of specialized gear.

How A Jackson Quadriplegic And Lander Mom Are Opening Outdoors To The Disabled

Wyoming’s rugged terrain is difficult for people in top physical shape to navigate, and nearly impossible for those with disabilities. A Jackson quadriplegic and mom from Lander are changing that, making adaptive devices available when insurance won’t.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

Other Authors

Wyoming Hereford Ranch is the nation’s oldest continuously registered livestock operation, but was once almost decimated by bad genetics. The Cheyenne ranch’s rise, fall, and resurrection includes John Wayne attending sales and a pair of historic bulls.

Inside The Wyoming Hereford Ranch, Oldest Registered Livestock Operations In U.S.

Wyoming Hereford Ranch is the nation’s oldest continuously registered livestock operation. John Wayne had a favorite seat at its sale barn and two of its legendary bulls are a through line for much of the nation’s Hereford cattle today.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

A crowd gathers for the dedication for the Waiomina boot in Waimea, Hawaii. Waiomina is how Hawaiians pronounce "Wyoming."

How An 8-Foot-Tall Cheyenne Cowboy Boot Wound Up In Hawaii

One of Cheyenne’s giant hand-painted 8-foot-tall cowboy boots — that are located all over Wyoming's capital city — is located 3,300 miles away in Waimea, Hawaii. The boot honors a Hawaiian cowboy’s 1908 steer-roping win at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

When a Pennsylvania couple saw photos of a big Bat-Signal lighting up a hillside over Afton, Wyoming, Emily and Justin Sweitzer drove 2,000 miles to see it. It was a tribute to their 7-year-old son Issac, a huge Batman fan, who died seven years ago in a car crash.

Grieving Parents Drive 2,000 Miles To See Afton Man's Bat-Signal On Hillside

When a Pennsylvania couple saw photos of a big Bat-Signal lighting up a hillside over Afton, Wyoming, they drove 2,000 miles to see it. It was a tribute to their 7-year-old son, a huge Batman fan, who died seven years ago in a car crash.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

Members of the Alliance for Historic Wyoming Lincoln Highway "Unbarred" tour visited the Fossil Cabin Museum, 5 miles from Medicine Bow.

Wyoming’s Famous Fossil Cabin Off Limits To Public Because It Can’t Get Insured

Wyoming’s famous Fossil Cabin, billed as the “world’s oldest cabin,” has been moved to Medicine Bow. But it hasn’t reopened to the public because until the town’s insurance company will cover it. “There’s no way to put a price on it,” the mayor said.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day says southern Wyoming ski resorts are likely to get more snow this winter than those in the north part of the state.

This Year's El Niño Means Ski Resorts In Southern Wyoming Likely To Get More Snow

While the first snow is encouraging, Meteorologist Don Day expects this winter’s El Niño pattern to divide Wyoming’s ski outlook, with better snow conditions in the south than in the north. “It’s really hard to get any worse than what we had last year."

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

Harvey Deselms inspects one of the statues at the PRCA that will be moving to Wyoming.

Behind The Scenes Of The Massive Effort To Move PRCA Headquarters To Cheyenne

Moving huge bronze sculptures is just one piece of the massive effort underway to move the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association headquarters from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne. Behind the scenes, a small army is working to get the move finished by December 2028.

Renée JeanOctober 17, 2026

The Bates family spent five years rebuilding its meat plant near Byron after a devastating fire, despite no insurance and repeated setbacks.

Five Years After Fire — And With No Insurance — Byron Family Rebuilds Meat Plant

Rebekah and Martin Bates spent five years rebuilding its meat plant near Byron after a devastating fire, despite no insurance and repeated setbacks. “It was a hard comeback,” Rebekah said. “But we’re back, and we are cutting meat again.”

Renée JeanOctober 17, 2026

Billionaire Ricketts Not Giving Up On Resort Near Bondurant After Rejection

Joe Ricketts’ team says the billionaire still wants to build a resort near Bondurant despite Sublette County commissioners shutting it down earlier this month. “We maintain that private property rights are a cornerstone of our state,” said a Ricketts spokesperson.

Renée JeanOctober 17, 2026

An outdoor camera shows a postal carrier using a flashlight after 1:30 a.m. to deliver mail in a Cheyenne neighborhood.

You’ve Got Mail — At 1:39 A.M.: Cheyenne Postal Deliveries Stretch Past Midnight

A Cheyenne woman’s camera caught mail arriving at 1:39 a.m. one day last week, raising safety concerns for the carrier. The Postal Service says heavy volume and absences prompted management to help deliver, and some didn't finish up until 4:30 a.m.

Renée JeanOctober 13, 2026