“Oh my gosh! This is heaven, right?! This is amazing!” host Patty Kim exclaims from SCLT’s Soldier Ridge Trail as she kicks off AARP’s newest episode of Great Places to Live. The series highlights communities that score well for people 50+ in AARP’s Livability Index—and Sheridan definitely caught their attention.

“By many measures, Sheridan is a great place to live, especially if you want to live your best years every year,” Patty says. She notes that Sheridan stands out in the Index’s environment category — clean air, clean water, and land free of pollution.

“But you know what? People don’t come here just because it’s pretty. And nobody seems to understand that better than the people at the Sheridan Community Land Trust. For over 15 years, the volunteers there have been building and maintaining this incredibly vast network of trails that has really become the backbone of outdoor life here.”

The episode features longtime SCLT volunteer and Discovery Session leader Steve Stresky, who shares stories about the Bighorns’ geologic history while surrounded by the soft fall colors along Soldier Ridge Trail. When Patty asks why he gives so much of his time, Steve says, “For me, it’s a sense of community and being connected to people.”

He adds that it’s important for young folks to see older adults active on the trails: “I think it’s important that young people see what it’s going to be like when they’re older, and that we can still participate. They look at me and go, ‘Ah, that guy’s like a hundred years old. You know, he can’t do anything.’ And I can.”

And he truly does. Steve helped build and maintain SCLT’s trails, has led countless geology hikes on Red Grade Trails, and continues to guide outings with The Hub on Smith — helping people of all ages explore our Bighorns backyard.

The episode, Small Town Cool in the Bighorn Mountains, also spotlights many SCLT partners: Patty tries leathercraft at The Brinton Museum, sees how Rooted in Wyoming and The Hub on Smith share freshly grown produce, and visits The Mint to see how they raise a glass (and some support!) for local nonprofits.

Sheridan County really is a great place to live — and it’s the people, partners, and places like these that make it shine.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older to improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.

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