The Eastern Wyoming College Communication program recently created a documentary film in partnership and with assistance from a grant from Wyoming Humanities. The film is entitled: Torrington Tales and Trails featuring Larry Cundall. The documentary film features Mr. Cundall who wears many hats – historian, Wyoming cowboy, award-winning conservationist, Vietnam veteran, and Eastern Wyoming College alumnus.

Early in 2020 the EWC Communication program secured a grant from Wyoming Humanities at www.thinkwy.org. Wyoming Humanities initiatives bring scholars and subject matter experts to the entire state of Wyoming. The Humanities help the citizens of Wyoming take a closer look at life. The grant with Wyoming Humanities was initially intended to include a live event featuring three speakers. Due to COVID-19, the event was canceled and the scope of the grant project was changed to develop this documentary film. The project was led by EWC Associate Professor of Communications, Dr. Brandon J. Semler (BJ). Colleagues assisting with the project include EWC President Dr. Lesley Travers and Director of Institutional Development Mr. John Hansen.

Dr. Semler and Mr. Hansen traveled to the Cundall Ranch, outside of Glendo, WY to spend the day with Mr. Cundall and capture footage for the film. He was selected as the star of the documentary because of the Cundall family’s deep connection to Wyoming. The family discovered bones on their ranch which were later discovered to be from a campsite at Boxelder Creek used by pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Because of Mr. Cundall’s preservation of the site, it led to the preservation of a pioneer graveyard.

The documentary is rich with history from the Cundall Ranch and their conversation and preservation of the area. Dr. Semler has spent edited the film together over the past several months and used music for the documentary from his band, Broadacre12.

“It was an honor to meet and learn about Larry,” shared Dr. Semler. “The EWC Communication program is excited to be a part of sharing Larry Cundall and his family, ranch and stories with everyone.”

The film can be viewed at https://ewc.wy.edu/academic-services/majors/communication/.