Ollie Hill’s love of the outdoors has influenced his family and work life.
By John Johnston, Associate Editor
June 2018
Ollie Hill, F159603, received a phone call a few years ago from the corporate headquarters of Cabela’s, a large retailer that sells hunting, fishing, and camping supplies. They had a request, which involved helping with a photo that would grace the cover of the company’s Christmas catalog.
“They said, ‘We need two pack horses and a lead horse. We want red and green packages in the panniers on the horses’ sides. And we want a Christmas tree packed on one horse,’” Ollie recalled.
“And they said, ‘Oh yeah, we want at least a foot of snow.’”
Cabela’s turned to the right person. Ollie, the owner of High Country Horse LLC, has been a horse guy for most of his 76 years. He has written five books and booklets on how to pack a horse for high-country adventures. He has taught horse-packing skills to thousands of people. And he’s nothing if not accommodating.
“It took us about 2 1/2 months to get all those things put together,” Ollie said. The only thing out of his control was the snow. For that, the crew headed into the Wyoming mountains about 40 miles west of the Laramie ranch owned by Ollie and his wife, Joyce.
Ollie Hill provided the gear, and he and son Lynn lent their packing know-how, while Jason Sherwood (pictured) supplied the horses for this Cabela’s photo.
By Ollie’s estimate, the photographers on the Cabela’s assignment shot more than 3,000 photos that day. The one selected for the catalog cover met the requirements perfectly.
Had Cabela’s wanted an RV in the photo, Ollie would have been able to provide that, too. Horses, RVing, boating, hunting and fishing trips, and square dancing are threads woven tightly into the fabric of the entire Hill family.
Ollie and Joyce grew up in Wiggins, Colorado. Ollie’s first high-country horse experience was a high school graduation fishing trip with his brother. “We knew nothing about horses at that time,” Ollie said, chuckling. The brothers walked alongside a rented horse that carried their gear, which they somehow managed to tie to a riding saddle, rather than a packsaddle with panniers.
“That inspires you to get on the ball and learn things,” Ollie said. In fact, his personal motto is: “It’s a bad day if you don’t learn something new.”
After enrolling at Colorado State University, he learned a lot from a horse-packing course. “That was really the spark that got me going on more horse trips to the high country,” Ollie said.
He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and began a long stint with the Cooperative Extension Service, first at CSU, then at the University of Wyoming. His career focused on 4-H, a youth development and mentoring program.
“Loved working with 4-H kids,” he said. Many of them accompanied him on trail rides and horse-packing trips, where he could impart his knowledge and skills. “People were good enough to take me under their wing and provide information so that I could enjoy these things. I just wanted to share that with others.”
Meanwhile, Ollie shared his love of camping with Joyce. They started with tents, but not long after they married 57 years ago, her father gave them a small wooden shell for their 1949 Chevy pickup, and they began RVing. When their family grew to include a son, Lynn, and a daughter, Crystal, Ollie built a larger plywood-shell camper.
A few years later, they graduated to an 8-foot factory-made, slide-in cab-over camper with a furnace, water heater, stove, and toilet. To the Hills, it felt like camper heaven. Then they found an 11-footer with a full bathroom. But they were just getting started.
After the family moved to Wyoming in 1975, the Hills bought their first motorhome, a Fleetwood Pace Arrow. Over the decades to come, each time they sought an RV upgrade, they bought another Fleetwood. They’ve had six in all, including the 39-foot 2007 Fleetwood Excursion they now own.
Their motorhomes have taken Ollie and Joyce, their two children, their four grandsons, and friends on many camping, hunting, and fishing trips. Sometimes they hauled a horse trailer behind their coach; sometimes a boat.
Whatever the outing, Ollie said Joyce has been the glue that bonds the family. Indeed, Joyce said the best part about the trips is the time spent with loved ones. “Time to visit, and cook together, and have campfires, and tell stories, and see the kids grow up,” she said. The Hills’ grandsons are now in their 20s and 30s.
The Hills’ motorhomes also have traveled to numerous 4-H horse shows. Ollie, who has been a judge at many such events, said he finds a way to encourage every participant, “and (I) always try to get the kids to leave the arena with a smile on their face.”
What’s been most rewarding? “To see kids grow up and achieve.”
Ollie, who retired from the Cooperative Extension Service in 1996, has achieved plenty. During his career, he helped raise millions of dollars for the Wyoming State 4-H Foundation, county-based programs, and national 4-H events. He served as president of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. And in 2014, he was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame in recognition of a lifetime of dedication to the organization.
Ollie and Joyce continue to enjoy motorhoming. In July they hope to attend FMCA’s 98th international convention in Gillette, Wyoming, which is about 250 miles north of their Laramie home. The Hills love Wyoming. “There are big-game animals you don’t see in many states,” Ollie said. “There are wonderful mountains. There are wide-open spaces.”
And there are horses, sometimes pressed into service to carry pretty Christmas packages.
SUGGESTIONS WELCOME
If you know FMCA members whose stories beg to be told — and yes, you can nominate yourself — let us know and we’ll consider featuring them. Tell us a little about them and send their email address and/or phone number to Associate Editor John Johnston, jjohnston@fmca.com.