“Gillette on the Precipice”
(in progress)
Gillette, Wyoming has a decision to make; gamble and reinvest in coal mining, or spend its mineral tax revenue on diversifying its economy for the future. Local residents are fed up with the on-again-off relationship between national politics and the mining industry which upends their economic stability and daily lives every four years. In 2024, The Bureau of Land Management set a moratorium on new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, effectively setting a 2041, end date for Gillette’s staple industry. In April 2025, through an executive order, the Trump administration reversed the BLM policy. Gillette will likely reinvest in coal mining, potentially dooming the long-term economic future of its residents.
These are images from an ongoing documentary project photographed since the summer of 2024. They, along with many other photographs not shown here, are being edited and sequenced into a book. I am applying for grant funding to continue photographing this story.
Chapter One: “Retaining the Youth”
(in progress)
Gillette is facing the ever-growing reality that its youth population is being lured away to larger cities after graduating high school in search of a more stable job market . The promise of working in coal and being able to support a family on a single income is no longer a reality for most people in Campbell County. While a single salary can support a family, there is no guarantee that the job will last.
Gillette is working fast to create the best possible environment to raise a family, but the lack of a diversified job market that is not keeping pace makes it hard for the younger generation to justify staying in Campbell County once they finish schooling. Aggressive investments in the community college seem promising in retaining the new high school graduates, but many still decide to leave after they finish.
This chapter looks to examine the existing youth and family culture in Campbell County through the start of a new family, a high school football team, a rancher’s son, a family of six and a collection of singles.
The Thunder Basin High School football team cheers after a long practice Aug. 22, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo. The team is preparing for its first game the following week which will see them host Natrona County High School in Gillette. The team is looking to rebound after a losing season.
Blaine Christenson changes his two-week-old son’s diaper, Aug. 27, 2025, at his home in Gillette, Wyo. Blaine and his new wife Cassia are first time parents and working together to balance the load of parenthood. Blaine and his family are from Gillette and he never imagined staying here long enough to start a family. He has worked as an accountant for a mining company, a car salesman for a dealership in town and most recently he just started as a high school math teacher at Thunder Basin High School.
Selah Brunner rides on the front of her brother Noah’s bike as her mom Mary walks behind them June 24, 2024, during a family walk after dinner at their house in Rozet, Wyo.
Tanner Race holds a calf to the ground May 30, 2024, after it escaped the branding table at Sunnyside Livestock Ranch, in Recluse, Wyo. Eric Dearcorn holds the calf’s hind legs as Troy Swartz walks around to vaccinate the calf while the trio wait for Eric Race to arrive with the hot iron brand. Tanner Race, the son of ranch owner Eric Race, helps out with all of the day to day duties on the ranch as many youth do who live far out into the county.
A group of the young dancers at Dance Arts Gillette warm up as the studio holds their last dress rehearsal May 23, 2024, ahead of their performance, “The Sleeping Beauty” at the Cam-plex Heritage Center Theater in Gillette, Wyo.
Blaine Christenson and Cassia Christenson, leave their home to drive their new son to to his two week doctor appointment in Gillette, Wyo. Blaine and Cassia were looking to move away from Gillette and start a family elsewhere but when Cassia became pregnant with Sawyer, the young couple decided to stay in Gillette for the mean time to be close to family. They said they still wanted to move to a larger city before Sawyer starts school, but are happy to be near their support system as they adjust to becoming new parents.
The Thunder Basin High School football team defensive linemen and linebackers practice in 90 degree heat Aug. 22, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo. The largest sport in the school, the football team supports enough kids for a freshman, junior varsity and varsity team. Thunder Basin High School opened in 2017, making it the second high school in Campbell County, after it was clear Campbell County High School couldn’t support the growing student population on its own.
Selah Brunner, now 9, lays in her mother Mary Brunner’s lap during a Cowboy Church service Aug. 24, 2025, in Gillette, Wyo. Her brother Noah Brunner watches her and the rest of the Brunner family attends the service.
Tanner Race stands in the chute May 30, 2024, and takes a break at Sunnyside Livestock Ranch, in Recluse, Wyo. As is expected of him, Tanner, the son of ranch owner Eric Race helps out with all of the day to day duties on the ranch. Neighbors help during calving, branding and roundups, coming from far and wide to support each other.
A group of kids play tag in the back field of Cam-plex during the Demolition Derby at Morningside Park July 19, 2024, in Gillette, Wyo. to kick off the Campbell County Fair.
The Thunder Basin High School football team change in the lockerroom after practice Aug. 27, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo. The team is in its final week of summer practice before their first game of the season this upcoming Friday.
Cassia Christenson and Blaine Christenson listen to the doctor at their son Sawyer’s two week doctor appointment Aug. 21, 2025, at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette, Wyo. The young couple, who are first-time parents, ask their doctor questions and bring up normal concerns they have as they navigate caring for a newborn baby for the first time. The couple has contemplated moving to a new clinic that is set up primarily for pediatrics, but are unsure on the move since Campbell County Memorial Hospital is a one-stop-shop for all things health in Campbell County.
Tanner Race ropes a goat July 22, 2024, in a barn at Cam-plex during the Campbell County fair in Gillette, Wyo. A large group of kids from across the county gather to rope the goats after a day full of fair activities. The fair provides an opportunity for kids to make friends with one another who wouldn’t typically have the chance to see each other far out in the county. Ranching is something many kids grow up participating in, especially those who live far out into Campbell County. Tanner Races lives in Recluse and works with his father, Eric Race, to run Sunnyside Livestock Ranch.
Selah Brunner, 8, runs on a treadmill June 17, 2024, during a physical therapy session at Campbell County Health in Gillette, Wyo. Selah is working with physical therapist Lisa Haugen as she continues to improve her mobility with her prothesis that uniquely has a knee joint.
People sit on the guard rail of Gillette Thunder Speedway June 15, 2024, after the candy drop during the 2024, “Pack the Stands” free admission night in Gillette, Wyo. The community came out in droves to watch a mid-season dirt track race and stayed through heavy winds.
The Thunder Basin High School football team has a team dinner Aug. 28, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo. the day before their first game. The coaching staff and parents put together the dinner.
Photos of Cassia Christenson throughout her pregnancy sit on a dresser in the nursery of her home Aug. 27, 2025, in Gillette, Wyo. Her husband Blaine Christenson took polaroid pictures just about every week during Cassia’s pregnancy as a log of her progress.
Blaine Christenson makes sure his wife Cassia Christenson and their new baby Sawyer are comfortable in the nursery before feeding time Aug. 25, 2025, in their home in Gillette, Wyo.
The Brunner family gets ready for dinner at their family home June 24, 2024, in Rozet, Wyo. A “family dinner” is a rare occurrence for the Brunner family since they are juggling the schedules of four kids, Selah, 8, Eli, 11, Noah, 13, and Dottie, 14.
Local kids take part in activities during summer kid’s camp at the Campbell County Recreation Center June 6, 2025, in Gillette, Wyo. The Campbell County Recreation Center has four indoor tennis courts, a 200m indoor track, a three story indoor rock climbing wall, an indoor six lane lap pool, two three story indoor water slides and anything else anyone could ever want.
The Thunder Basin High School football team prays before their team dinner Aug. 28, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo. The team’s first game is the next day.
The Thunder Basin High School football team runs onto the field as they prepare to take on Natrona County Aug. 29, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo.
Blaine Christenson and Cassia Christenson, bathe their son sawyer Aug. 27, 2025, for the first time at their home in Gillette, Wyo. The couple had waited two weeks to give Sawyer his first bath, relying on sponge baths up to this point.
Magnolia Edwards, 7, compares shirts with Selah Brunner as Aubrey Beam, 9, and Lilly Gomez, 9, put their shoes on after gymnastics practice June 11, 2024, at Wyoming Academy of Gymnastics and Dance in Gillette, Wyo.
Aly Hudson naps on her market swine July 28, 2024, during the youth livestock auction at the Campbell County Fair in Gillette, Wyo. This was the last time she got to see the pig she had raised.
Thunder Basin High School head coach Trent Pikula walks up the sideline with his head hung as his team gets blown out in their first game of the year Aug. 29, 2025, at Thunder Basin High School in Gillette, Wyo. The Bolts ended up losing to Natrona County 37-14 in front of their home crowd and started the season 0-1.
Selah Brunner, now 9, sits on her bed before getting ready to go to sleep for the night Aug. 28, 2025, at her family’s home in Rozet, Wyo.
Selah Brunner’s prothesis sits on Brodie Rice’s work bench June 13, 2024, at Pivot Prosthetics and Orthotics in Gillette, Wyo. Brodie Rice is a certified prosthetist-orthotist who has been working with Selah and the Brunner family to design and build Selah’s prosthetic leg. Selah’s leg is adjustable in ten areas and uniquely has a knee joint which she can operate even though she is lacking a hip joint to control such movement.
Blaine Christenson reads a book as his wife Cassia Christenson breastfeeds their two-week old son Aug. 27, 2025, in the nursery of their home in Gillette, Wyo. The new couple navigate the realities of having a newborn baby for the first time and have been focusing on establishing a routine that works for them. They said the first two weeks have drained them extensively, even seeing Cassia spend an afternoon in the emergency room after spiking a high fever.
Chapter 2-5: “In Progress”
(in progress)
Below is a gallery of miscellaneous images from the project as a whole. The remaining chapters will dive into how national politics is reflected in the local political theatre. They will look at how Campbell County is positioning itself economically amidst the uncertainty of fossil fuels. They will cover how ranchers are moving from a subsistence model of ranching to selling their mineral rights to sustain their lifestyles. There will also be deep dive into the history of the railroad in Campbell County.
