Sherri Lea Hammond was born July 20th, 1972 to Jack and Carolyn Hammond at the Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, Wyoming.  She was quite overdue and had everyone on pins and needles.

She came home to two excited sisters and the Lance Creek community that would be her home till she left for college.

Sherri had been living and breathing horses since she was old enough to toddle.  Dad, Jack, had horses from a young age and Mom, Carolyn, had a pony as a child but always wanted a horse of her own.  They both relayed stories of making enough money to have horses as children.  Jack roped steers in the local roping clubs and Carolyn helped neighbors with trailing cattle whenever the opportunity arose.

Sherri loved being on a horse and at 6 months of age she sat a horse like she knew what she was doing!  If Sherri couldn’t be found we headed straight to the corral.  She would be feeding a piece of grass or hay or if she could get them next to the fence she would be on top!  Most girls for Christmas want dolls or toys, but not Sherri all she wanted for her 6th Christmas was a horse.  She was so proud when she got Twister.

Jack and Carolyn enrolled Sherri’s two older sisters, Julie and Lisa, in the 4-H horse program.  Carolyn was the horse leader for all the girls and did that for 30 years.  Sherri was always in tow to the horse meetings and if she didn’t have a horse she was always begging to ride someone’s horse.

Sherri was always active in her church youth group.  High School activities she enjoyed were the Rodeo team, FFA, and she continued to be in the 4-H program where she was a junior leader training other younger horsemen.  She was also breaking and training horses for numerous neighbors. 
 

Jack and Carolyn saw Sherri’s interest in horses and showing and began fostering that interest by taking her to local shows all over the area. 

Sherri won many awards and honors, but the most amazing thing about Sherri was it didn’t matter who riding what came into the arena, she wasn’t ever concerned because she had put the training in on that horse and she knew she could win.  Sherri was quiet, not cocky in any way and that never changed.  She always let her showing do her talking for her.  By the time Sherri graduated from Niobrara County High School she knew riding and training horses was her chosen vocation.

Sherri attended Laramie County Community College (LCCC) on a horse judging scholarship, and was an active LCCC Rodeo Team member.  While Sherri was home for the summer she was crowned Miss Rodeo Niobrara in 1992 and then was the second runner-up at the Miss Rodeo Wyoming contest in 1993.

During her 2 years at LCCC she earned a double major Associate of Applied Science Degree/Business Administration and a Horse Management Degree.  While getting her degree, she did an internship with Dr. Joe Armstrong at La Mesa, NM.

After graduation she joined back up with Dr. Armstrong in his horse management program. 

December 31, 1994 was one of the happiest days of Sherri’s life.  That was the day she married her lifetime friend and partner, Marc Gilkerson and she became Sherri Gilkerson!!!! 

They took employment with the Cheyenne River Quarter Horse Ranch at Hot Springs, SD.  From South Dakota, they moved to Glenwood Springs, CO to help a friend and then later bought a home in Silt, CO. 

When Sherri wasn’t training she was showing.  She spent her last two years training cow horses in the Cave Creek, AZ, area with Jim and Jimmie Paul.

In 2005 Sherri won the NRCHA Limited Open and the Open Bridle Sweepstakes riding Camiseta Pappy, owned by Linda Mars of Jackson, WY.  Sherri knew that all “Norman” had to do was show his stuff and he did just that.  They got a good cow, something she and her mom had prayed for, and Norman did what he does best. 

Sherri also was 3rd in the Limited Open Hackamore on Lenas San Lena, a 4 year old stallion that Marc and Sherri owned.  Sherri had the high fence score and placed on Colonel Brooksinic, owned by Leslie Wright in the Limited Open Bridle.
 

Sherri died October 30, 2006 from a horse related accident.

Sherri inspired many people but the thing that Sherri would want everyone to understand is that all the awards don’t compare to the joy of knowing Jesus as her Savior.  That’s what people saw in Sherri as she lived out her love for Christ. 

She was an honest, loving person and that was all from the heart.  She was truly a remarkable young woman and she always wanted the best for everyone.  She is missed greatly by her family and so many friends.  She truly was an amazing person that touched so many lives in her short life. Sherri will be remembered with the Memorial Spectacular Horse Show put on by the SCRCHA and AZRCHA in Temecula, CA each year.  There are also scholarships that are given to encourage education for the youth coming up.