2026 Annual Brinton Gala – Thank you!
Presented by
Thank you for helping to make The Brinton Museum’s 2026 Annual Brinton Gala, Our Legends: Preserving a Lasting Legacy, presented by First Federal Bank & Trust, an unforgettable evening. Together, we celebrated the remarkable career of Wyoming artist and master leather craftsman James F. Jackson, and we are so grateful you joined us in honoring his legacy.
As a community, we raised record-breaking support for The Brinton Museum, more than doubling our previous fundraising record. Your generosity will have a lasting impact on our exhibitions, collections, educational programming, and our ongoing work to preserve and share the stories, art, and cultures of the American West.
This year’s Raise the Paddle focused on establishing a permanent, museum-quality exhibition dedicated to preserving the tools, techniques, and traditions of Sheridan-style leather tooling while creating opportunities for demonstrations, workshops, and educational programming for generations to come. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support of our matching challenge, the campaign exceeded expectations and will provide the foundation to begin planning and developing the exhibition. We’re excited to bring this vision to life in partnership with Jim Jackson.
Watch the James F. Jackson – Preserving a Lasting Legacy Video
This remarkable evening would not have been possible without the generous support of so many. We extend our sincere gratitude to our longtime Presenting Sponsor, First Federal Bank & Trust, our Corporate Sponsors, Patron Table Hosts, live and silent auction donors, Gala Committee, Advisory Councils, volunteers, participating vendors, and the many individuals who share their time, talents, and resources to make this event possible.
Presenting Sponsor
First Federal Bank & Trust
Corporate Sponsors
Bobcat Estates
Legacy Ridge – Private Wealth
Mystic Tree Farm
Powder Horn Realty, Inc.
Sheridan Inn
Tracy’s Custom Framing
Wells Fargo Advisors
Patron Tables
Tommy & Lisa Bernard
Big Goose, LLC | Boyle & Bratten
Ceci Butler & Emerson Scott
Chip & Kim Campbell | Clearwater Polo
Richard & Tami Davis
Colleen & Shawn Delaney
Bill & Tracy Hamil | Century 21
BHJ Realty, Inc.
Kendall & Joseph Hartman
Jane’s Garden
Little Goose Creek Lodge
Jacomien Mars
Steve McLean & Priscilla Welles
Doreen & Jim McElvany
Austin & Janie Musselman
Mustard Seed Montessori School
Conner & Osborne
Homer & Mildred Scott Foundation
Tucker Foundation
Ucross Foundation
Widener & Jenny
Live Auction Donors
Eric Hutchins & Pamela Fagan Hutchins
Bighorn Mountain Farms
The Fly Shop of the Bighorns
Callahan Glass Firehouse
Kiki Kruse
Tracy Hamil
Ali Osbourne
James F. Jackson
HF Bar Ranch
Frank & Georgia Boley
Dean States
Barry King
Churchill Downs
Rhonda Jo & Jimmy Dan Conner
Austin & Janie Musselman
Most importantly, thank you to each and every guest who joined us. Your generosity and belief in The Brinton Museum’s mission ensure that we remain a place where people enrich their connections to the land, people and cultures of the West.
We hope you’ll enjoy reliving the evening through our event photos.
Thank you for helping preserve a lasting legacy.
With appreciation,
The Brinton Museum Staff, Board of Directors, and 2026 Gala Committee
2026 GALA COMMITTEE
Georgia Boley, co-chair
Lisa Thompson, co-chair
Tracy Boyle
Rosie Berger
Laurie Bratten
Rhonda Jo Conner
Karen Chase
Carla Dunham
Don Erbschloe
Jan Guynn
Barbara Jenny
Tracy Knode-Hamil
Kiki Kruse
Lucy Widener
Cathy Wilson
Ali Osborne
Brinton Museum Board of Directors
David Hubert, Chair
Thomas Thompson, Vice-Chair
Bruce Garber, Treasurer
Ceci Butler, Secretary
Wallace Bear Chum
Robert Berger
Tommy Bernard
Leslie Johnston
Nichol MacManus
Tom Meredith
Christina Powell
Sam J. Scott
Bruce Eldredge, Advisor
Jacomien Mars, Emeritus
Forrest E. Mars, Emeritus (in memoriam)
Joan F. Wallick, Emeritus (in memoriam)
Supported by The Brinton Museum Staff:
Kendra Heimbuck, Executive Director
Jennifer Cox, Director of Business Operations
Andrew Sutphin, Grounds and Facilities Director
Jacob Ruleaux, Communications Director
Keri McMeans, Director of Advancement
Danielle Arnoux, Advancement Associate
Jaron Mentock, Bistro & Catering Services Manager