NEWSLETTERS
SUBSCRIBE
Colorado Politics

Print Edition

Log in
My Account
Log in
Subscribe
My Account
Log in

PHOTOS: High and Dry: Colorado in Drought – The Present

By 03/03/2021 | updated 5 years ago
Gary Paul drives past an old windmill, taken out by a microburst a few years ago, in a pasture where he keeps his cattle in September 2020. Paul remembers being five years old and driving down the county road in a stick shift Chevrolet pickup truck with his father, loaded down with this windmill, and putting it up in the pasture. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)

HIGH AND DRY: THE SERIES

The severe drought that swept through Colorado in 2020 could be a harbinger of what the future will hold. However, in the arid Southwest, it’s not the first time that such challenges have wrecked lives and livelihoods.

In this part of the series we’ll share images that explore the life of Gary Paul, a dryland rancher in Eastern El Paso County trying to survive one of the worst droughts in recent memory. Financial hardship, long days and brutally dry conditions have plagued Paul’s life since for the past 18 months, when drought first started to set in on his ranch east of Colorado Springs, near the small town of Yoder. 

Gary Paul drives past an old windmill, taken out by a microburst a few years ago, in a pasture where he keeps his cattle in September 2020. Paul remembers being five years old and driving down the county road in a stick shift Chevrolet pickup truck with his father, loaded down with this windmill, and putting it up in the pasture. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul drives past an old windmill, taken out by a microburst a few years ago, in a pasture where he keeps his cattle in September 2020. Paul remembers being five years old and driving down the county road in a stick shift Chevrolet pickup truck with his father, loaded down with this windmill, and putting it up in the pasture. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul watches his calves enter the sale ring during a livestock auction at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. Paul's calves and bulls were among the highest selling that day. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul watches his calves enter the sale ring during a livestock auction at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. Paul’s calves and bulls were among the highest selling that day. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul rubs his eyes and tries to relax for a quick moment after a long day on the ranch, including feeding his cattle, fixing a tractor and writing some checks. Paul still finds himself working 14 or 15 hour days more often than not, but sometimes he finds he gets tired much easier than he used to. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul rubs his eyes and tries to relax for a quick moment after a long day on the ranch, including feeding his cattle, fixing a tractor and writing some checks. Paul still finds himself working 14 or 15 hour days more often than not, but sometimes he finds he gets tired much easier than he used to. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A sunflower catches the soft evening light after a rainstorm moved through Yoder in late July 2020. This rainstorm was one of the last in the area for the season, and it brought spotty rain to the area, leaving Gary Paul's ranch untouched and just as parched as it was before. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A sunflower catches the soft evening light after a rainstorm moved through Yoder in late July 2020. This rainstorm was one of the last in the area for the season, and it brought spotty rain to the area, leaving Gary Paul’s ranch untouched and just as parched as it was before. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Cattle converge on a hay bale and watch Gary Paul as he heads back to his truck after feeding them in a barren pasture near his ranch in Yoder in September 2020. Paul has been feeding supplemental hay to his cattle since late 2019 due to the ongoing drought in Colorado, costing him thousands of dollars each month. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Cattle converge on a hay bale and watch Gary Paul as he heads back to his truck after feeding them in a barren pasture near his ranch in Yoder in September 2020. Paul has been feeding supplemental hay to his cattle since late 2019 due to the ongoing drought in Colorado, costing him thousands of dollars each month. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul jokes around with his longtime girlfriend Cassie Sharon outside of his ranch home during a recent visit from Sharon in February 2021. Sharon and Paul have been friends and partners for several years now, but after a traumatic year of dealing with the stress and struggle of the drought and unfair treatment from Paul, Sharon decided to take a step back from the relationship before making amends with Paul in early 2021. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul jokes around with his longtime girlfriend Cassie Sharon outside of his ranch home during a recent visit from Sharon in February 2021. Sharon and Paul have been friends and partners for several years now, but after a traumatic year of dealing with the stress and struggle of the drought and unfair treatment from Paul, Sharon decided to take a step back from the relationship before making amends with Paul in early 2021. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul takes a bale of hay from the top of a pile while feeding his cattle on his ranch in early February 2021. Paul has been feeding hay for months on end now, and there is no end in sight, at least not until the rain comes and the growing season arrives. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul takes a bale of hay from the top of a pile while feeding his cattle on his ranch in early February 2021. Paul has been feeding hay for months on end now, and there is no end in sight, at least not until the rain comes and the growing season arrives. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
The old home where Gary Paul grew up is pictured through the windshield of his ranch truck as he makes his way back to his ranch headquarters after feeding supplemental hay in September 2020. The home where Paul grew up is now on the market and he is facing the prospect of selling it, despite not wanting to lose a property that has so much family history tied up in it. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
The old home where Gary Paul grew up is pictured through the windshield of his ranch truck as he makes his way back to his ranch headquarters after feeding supplemental hay in September 2020. The home where Paul grew up is now on the market and he is facing the prospect of selling it, despite not wanting to lose a property that has so much family history tied up in it. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul opens up the ranch gate leading into one of the pastures he leases near his home in Yoder in September 2020. With little moisture all summer and hot temperatures for much of the year, many of Paul's pastures were brown, dry and dusty from spring through the fall. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul opens up the ranch gate leading into one of the pastures he leases near his home in Yoder in September 2020. With little moisture all summer and hot temperatures for much of the year, many of Paul’s pastures were brown, dry and dusty from spring through the fall. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Jace Honey, in black cowboy hat atop the podium, calls out bids on Gary Paul's calves during an auction at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. Paul began his cattleman career in this very sale barn one six decades ago, selling his first calf, Arnie, who was an orphan and Paul bottle fed and raised himself, in the same sale ring. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Jace Honey, in black cowboy hat atop the podium, calls out bids on Gary Paul’s calves during an auction at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. Paul began his cattleman career in this very sale barn one six decades ago, selling his first calf, Arnie, who was an orphan and Paul bottle fed and raised himself, in the same sale ring. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul's semi truck idles down outside of his ranch house near Yoder after returning from a hay trip to Kansas in December 2020. The hay trips that Paul makes are a way for him to turn over a few bucks, but the profits don't last long, as the average trip is 600 miles and his expenses are often close to what he charges neighbors for his delivery services. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul’s semi truck idles down outside of his ranch house near Yoder after returning from a hay trip to Kansas in December 2020. The hay trips that Paul makes are a way for him to turn over a few bucks, but the profits don’t last long, as the average trip is 600 miles and his expenses are often close to what he charges neighbors for his delivery services. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul's calves run around the sale ring at an auction at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. “They did real well. Very well,” Paul said shortly after all his calves were sold. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul’s calves run around the sale ring at an auction at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. “They did real well. Very well,” Paul said shortly after all his calves were sold. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul moves a bull out of a pen before taking it to a livestock auction in La Junta in February 2021. Because of the drought Paul has sold off much of his herd in the last 14 months, decreasing his numbers from around 165 to just over 50 cattle in that time period. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul moves a bull out of a pen before taking it to a livestock auction in La Junta in February 2021. Because of the drought Paul has sold off much of his herd in the last 14 months, decreasing his numbers from around 165 to just over 50 cattle in that time period. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul and his longtime companion, Cassie Sharon, share a moment together in Paul's kitchen during a recent visit by Sharon in early February 2021. Paul and Sharon's relationship was tested by the drought and all the stress that came with it for Paul, and ultimately Sharon left Paul, but she has since come back into his life after making amends. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul and his longtime companion, Cassie Sharon, share a moment together in Paul’s kitchen during a recent visit by Sharon in early February 2021. Paul and Sharon’s relationship was tested by the drought and all the stress that came with it for Paul, and ultimately Sharon left Paul, but she has since come back into his life after making amends. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul takes a quick break and rests his hands on a cattle sorting stick while moving a couple of his bulls into a stock trailer in February 2021. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul takes a quick break and rests his hands on a cattle sorting stick while moving a couple of his bulls into a stock trailer in February 2021. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A cow feeds on a bale of hay in the paddock behind Gary Paul's barn at his ranch near Yoder in November 2020. Supplemental hay feedings have cost Paul near $100,000 dollars in 2020 alone, and there is no end in sight for the financial drain of barren pastures and the need to buy hay. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A cow feeds on a bale of hay in the paddock behind Gary Paul’s barn at his ranch near Yoder in November 2020. Supplemental hay feedings have cost Paul near $100,000 dollars in 2020 alone, and there is no end in sight for the financial drain of barren pastures and the need to buy hay. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
City lights from Colorado Springs and some of the development beyond the city limits light up the sky near Yoder. Gary Paul remembers a time when he could count 11 yard lights from one of his pastures at night. “But right now, I bet from that same place, you could probably see 5,000 or 6,000 yard lights,” Paul said. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
City lights from Colorado Springs and some of the development beyond the city limits light up the sky near Yoder. Gary Paul remembers a time when he could count 11 yard lights from one of his pastures at night. “But right now, I bet from that same place, you could probably see 5,000 or 6,000 yard lights,” Paul said. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul's custom accounting books is branded with the name of his cattle company, which has been around for several decades now. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul’s custom accounting books is branded with the name of his cattle company, which has been around for several decades now. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A cowboy sits on his horse out in the stock pens at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. Gary Paul has been bringing his cattle to this barn for auctions for over six decades, and he hopes his trip in February was the last one he makes for a while. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A cowboy sits on his horse out in the stock pens at the La Junta Livestock Commission sale barn in early February 2021. Gary Paul has been bringing his cattle to this barn for auctions for over six decades, and he hopes his trip in February was the last one he makes for a while. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A lone Farm Bureau sign stands out in one of Gary Paul's pastures beneath the moon in September 2020. Paul is the secretary at the state level for the Farm Bureau, where he works on policy initiatives and public engagement surrounding agriculture. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A lone Farm Bureau sign stands out in one of Gary Paul’s pastures beneath the moon in September 2020. Paul is the secretary at the state level for the Farm Bureau, where he works on policy initiatives and public engagement surrounding agriculture. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul works on some of his finances at his ranch home near Yoder in November 2020. After a long year of bleeding money because of the economic demands brought on by fighting an extreme drought, Paul finds it best to ignore some of the long-term financial consequences he faces, citing the fear and sadness that might come with totaling up everything when he is already stressed enough. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul works on some of his finances at his ranch home near Yoder in November 2020. After a long year of bleeding money because of the economic demands brought on by fighting an extreme drought, Paul finds it best to ignore some of the long-term financial consequences he faces, citing the fear and sadness that might come with totaling up everything when he is already stressed enough. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A piece of Western art, depicting a cowboy herding a lone cow on the open prairie, hangs from the wall in Gary Paul's ranch home. Paul is among a growing demographic of farmers and ranchers – those who don't have a next in line son or daughter who will take over the operation, and once he is gone, five generations of ranching will come to an end. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
A piece of Western art, depicting a cowboy herding a lone cow on the open prairie, hangs from the wall in Gary Paul’s ranch home. Paul is among a growing demographic of farmers and ranchers – those who don’t have a next in line son or daughter who will take over the operation, and once he is gone, five generations of ranching will come to an end. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul is a fifth-generation cattle rancher who has a small operation south of Yoder. To him, the ultimatum brought on by one of Colorado’s worst droughts on record is pretty clear. “What else am I going to do?” Paul says about his occupation, “It's a good way of life. It's a very hard way of life, but it's something to be proud of, and I enjoy it.” (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Gary Paul is a fifth-generation cattle rancher who has a small operation south of Yoder. To him, the ultimatum brought on by one of Colorado’s worst droughts on record is pretty clear. “What else am I going to do?” Paul says about his occupation, “It’s a good way of life. It’s a very hard way of life, but it’s something to be proud of, and I enjoy it.” (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
Tags
Avatar photo
Colorado Politics

Reporter

Welcome Back.

Streak: 9 days i

Stories you've missed since your last login:

Stories you've saved for later:

Recommended stories based on your interests:

Edit my interests