Norwood’s 90th Pioneer Day happens Sept. 26, and this year’s theme is “ The Hands that Forged Wright's Mesa.” At 10:30 a.m. Jeanne Yamnitz will be crowned Pioneer Day Queen on Grand Avenue, accompanied by her husband, Gary, this year’s king. Afterward, the parade will travel down the main street at 11 a.m., though lineup begins at 10:15 a.m. at Norwood Town Hall.
All are welcome to enter the parade, and categories include youth, school, business, organizations, auto and private entries. With questions, the public may contact Terri Snyder Lamers at 970-708-9906.
In keeping with tradition, the annual chuckwagon dinner, sponsored by Norwood FFA, begins at noon. Cost is $20 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens. The street games begin at 1:30 p.m. on Norwood High School’s football field.
At the same time, there will be a car show on Grand Avenue, from noon to 4 p.m., sponsored by Norwood Pit Stop. Then, the family dance happens from 7 to 10 p.m. at The Livery, sponsored by Norwood Park and Recreation District. The band New Vision will perform; tickets at the door are $10; youth are $5. A cash bar will be present.
About queen Jeanne Yamnitz
Just a few years ago, Jeanne Yamnitz was part of the Pioneer Day festivities when Linda Porter was named queen. Then, she and Bernice White were Porter’s attendants.
Now the 2026 queen, Yamnitz wanted her husband Gary to join her in sharing the honors.
Her family history goes far back on Wright’s Mesa to the early 1900s with her great-great-grandfather who came as a teen from Missouri to the Coventry area.
Her grandfather graduated Norwood High School, married and had six children, including Yamnitz’ father Edwin Jacobs, born on the family ranch in 1916. Edwin’s brother was Albert Jacobs, whom Jeanne was close to, born at Mailbox in 1914.
As a girl, Jeanne was in 4-H, from ages 9 to 18. She sewed a lot, and a dress she made won grand champion at the county fair in Norwood. She then got to model it at the state fair and won a blue ribbon there.
Jeanne spent a lot of time on a horse when she was a young woman.
“As kids growing up, we spent a lot of time on Wilson Mesa riding,” she said. “My dad at that point had sheep.”
They moved sheep up one side of the mountain and down the other, delivering food to the sheep herder. She remembers riding Henrietta, and also Babe, another favorite family horse.
She’s got many memories of the old days. Her grandparents had a wagon and took their own children to camp at Beaver Park for weeks at a time, with her grandfather fishing. Her grandmother cooked on a wood stove.
“She made bread and cookies and wonderful meals,” Yamnitz said. “You have to know the different woods and the heat you get (on those).”
Ranch life for the last 47 years
Her parents had four daughters and no sons. Her father was in the hospital after tipping a tractor over and breaking his leg, during the time her mother went into labor with twins, Jeanne and sister Joanne. The girls names are tributes to their grandmothers on each side.
Gary Yamnitz agreed to take over the family ranch, with the couple coming back to Norwood in 1979. They had two children, Jennifer and Lane. For nearly 50 years, they’ve been raising beef. These days drought is really affecting them.
“It’s a terrible drought situation,” Jeanne said. “We don’t have the water and hay to feed as many cows as we used to have.”
Over the years, the Yamnitz have spent a lot of time watching cows, moving cows, feeding cows. Yes, they have brandings, but they’re more quiet affairs, just focusing on getting the job done.
In the past, they’ve also enjoyed visiting the old pioneer cemeteries. In recent years, out in the Basin, Sarah Joseph and Travis Stamm uncovered a stone with Jeanne’s great uncle’s initials, HL Jacobs.
The family has always been out hunting, including the Yamnitz’ son and grandson, who are avid sportsmen. Gary still goes out, mostly for the camaraderie with fellow hunters.
They’ve never been without dogs, and currently they’ve got a Border Collie named Sadie they got from Lance Bray. Yes, Sadie loves to check on cows, and horses too.
Jeanne has many old photos and frames from her uncle Albert Jacobs, who also worked on the family ranch. Some she’s taken to Montrose and given them a brownish tint, to make them feel even more antique. Many know that some of Albert’s photos have been hung in Norwood businesses.
One photo Jeanne doesn’t have, however, is of her wedding day. She and Gary were married at the courthouse in Telluride by the justice of the peace.
For Pioneer Day, Jeanne will wear either the attendant dress she wore for Linda Porter, or a new one she recently purchased. She will likely wear an old brooch, a piece she has from her grandmother who lived in Custer, SD. The antique brooch is Black Hills Gold.
Jeanne is looking forward to the day’s celebration.
“This is an honor for us,” she told the Forum.
Pioneer Day is sponsored by the Town of Norwood, the Norwood Study Club, the Norwood Chamber of Commerce of Wright's Mesa, Norwood Park and Recreation District and Norwood Pit Stop.
