James Albert Cotton

At Jim’s request, there will not be a service. In lieu of flowers, those that wish may donate to a charity of their choice or in honor and memory of Jim Cotton, please consider making donations to the Wyoming FFA Foundation, PO BOX 7311, Sheridan, WY 82801.

Jim Cotton was born and raised on a ranch in Weston County Wyoming, the only son of Clarence and Marjorie Cotton. Jim learned to live his life the Wyoming way while helping his father run the ranch and became competitive in all things agriculture as well as in wrestling and football. The hard work sealed his love for all things agriculture, especially raising cows and sheep as well as competition in the Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Jim loved playing cards, telling stories and jokes and above all, he traveled the world. He loved all things, people and places that were new and different. Jim visited 53 countries and talked often about his experiences in India, New Zealand, Russia, China, and Cuba.

Jim was always dedicated and kind in his family life in Cheyenne where he also thrived in his 28-year career teaching agriculture. Jim married his first wife Maryann Flom and had his son, Justin Cotton. He later married Jean K. Cotton, DVM in Cheyenne, adopting her two daughters Katy and Ruth. He also loved and treated his late wife, Sandi Cotton’s extended family as his own. Jim is predeceased by his parents, Clarence and Marjorie Cotton, second wife, Jean and third wife Sandi. Jim is survived by his sisters Patricia Haglund and Sandy Wasmuth; three children, Justin Cotton, Katy Cotton (Wade Vielhak) and Ruth Cotton-Myers (Kevin Myers); nieces and nephews, Sherry Garhart (Kevin), Richard Haglund Jr. (Christian), Debbie Fisher (Rob) and Jim Wasmuth (SueAnn), as well as many grand nieces and nephews. Jim also left behind Sandi Cotton’s children, Bryon Kerbs (Veronica), Leah Dennon (Gary); grandchildren Rhiannan, Elizabeth, Ted Dennon, Naomi, Faith, Madison Kerbs; great grandchildren Makenleigh, Kira, Evren and Owen.

Jim obtained his bachelors and graduate degrees from the University of Wyoming then excelled in his twenty-eight years teaching agriculture in Laramie County school district #1. The following article was written for the Wyoming FFA Times and details his storied career and success in helping future generations to excel at and enjoy agriculture and live successfully in and outside of agriculture.
Cows, plows and winning – Cotton Left a Legacy of Champions Wyoming FFA Times article, fall 2014
CHEYENNE— Before there was the High Plains FFA, Frontier FFA or Big Country FFA, there was just the Cheyenne FFA. One program, one chapter that dominated the state in almost every competition for nearly a decade.

Jim Cotton is the former ag teacher and FFA Advisor for the Cheyenne FFA Chapter, teaching from 1969 to 1997. He was instrumental in building one of the most competitive and prolific FFA chapters in Wyoming FFA history, the original Cheyenne FFA.

Like most farm and ranch kids growing up in Newcastle, Wyo., in the 1950s and 1960s, Cotton enrolled in FFA. Cotton started his supervised agriculture experience with a heifer and a flock of Columbia lambs, thanks to the Sears Roebuck Foundation flock program. Cotton was awarded several ewes from the foundation, then the first female offspring from his flock was donated to another FFA member, expanding the program and improving the genetics of the breeding herd.

“I pretty much dominated the state fair all the way through school,” Cotton said. “I also earned my state farmer (now the State FFA Degree). I was one of only 26 kids in the whole state selected.”
Cotton went on to attend the University of Wyoming, where he received what he called a “practical and relevant education from great teachers.” After working three summers for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Cotton decided to become an ag teacher.

“I wanted a place of my own, some land where I could ranch and stay put,” he explained. “The BLM wanted a guy to move all over the country and I wanted stability.”

He found that stability teaching agriculture education at East High School in Cheyenne, embarking on a successful and storied 28 year career. He had help along the way with a number of co-teachers and co-FFA advisors, but much of what Cotton accomplished he did as a solo teacher. And what he created was a judging powerhouse FFA chapter in Wyoming’s capitol city. “I trained all the judging teams myself,” he said. “I think my biggest highlight would be winning eight consecutive sweepstakes awards from 1975 to 1982.”

That record of winning the most judging contests each year (now known as career development events, or CDEs), stood for more than 15 years before Cotton’s record was beaten by his former student, Randy Epler.

“I coached 23 state champion teams— seven agronomy, six livestock, four poultry, three meats, two dairy and one farm mechanics team in those eight years. Not many guys, can or will ever match that,” he said, the pride still obvious in his voice.

Cotton’s career also included 21 gold emblem individuals at the national level, two reserve champion poultry teams and numerous other top ten team finishes at national convention.

He was instrumental in creating Cheyenne’s “school farm,” a school-owned facility where town kids could house their livestock. For years, Cotton lived at the school farm, overseeing about 40 lambs and hogs and 50 head of yearling cattle each summer, teaching students how to care for their livestock. While best known for his skills as a judging coach, Cotton also prided himself on his ability to help coach students on animal fitting, husbandry and show ring success. “At the time, Cheyenne was the only chapter to have the grand champion steer, lamb and hog at the Wyoming State Fair in the same year,” Cotton said.

During his time as an FFA advisor, Cotton saw the organization change from one centered around strictly production agriculture to one focused more on leadership and career skills. “There aren’t as many farm and ranch kids in the program these days. I grew up and taught with a cows and plows mentality, and that’s really changed,” he said. “FFA has moved to what appeals to town kids. Being in Cheyenne, I had to teach to that. The leadership is great, but I hope FFA keeps that cows and plows component. It’s too important to agriculture not to.” But whether town kids or ranch kids, Cotton said he is most proud of the students he was able to teach over the years.

“Many went on to teach ag themselves. I even won the Proven Sire Award from the other ag teachers, because I had the most former students who went on to teach ag. They liked the program so much they wanted to do it themselves.”

Those former students include current FFA advisors Ty Berry (Cheyenne High Plains), Craig Spatz (Burns FFA) and Damein Christensen (Shoshoni FFA), as well as State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda.
“But it’s not just ag teachers,” Cotton said. “When you get to looking at my former students, it’s like a Who’s Who in America, or at least Wyoming.”

Cotton’s former students also include Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Jason Fearneyhough, Wyoming Association of Conservation District Executive Director Bobbie Frank, and Wyoming Insurance Department Director Tommy Hirsig, as well as numerous other government leaders, bankers, attorneys, doctors and agriculture producers.
“Without a doubt, my biggest accomplishment is the success of my students in their careers and their lives. I can’t take all the credit, but I’d like to think I had a hand in it somewhere along the way.”

God bless you Jim Cotton, you enriched many lives and now leave a gaping hole in this world. You are heartily missed and will be for years to come.