Mystery of the Missing Lobo

Last summer, Conifer’s iconic lobo statue went missing.
After 16 years of standing in the circle in front of Conifer High School, the wooden lobo statue, a gift from the class of ‘07, dry rotted and blew over in the wind, just prior to the 23-24 school year. The school took the statue away but didn’t tell students what had happened to the beloved mascot. 

     “My theory was that Evergreen took it, but that’s all I know of,” senior Vincent Rutter said. “I feel like the communication between the school and the students wasn’t the best there.” Though many believed the missing lobo was due to Conifer and Evergreen’s long-standing rivalry, it was really because the lobo had yet to be replaced. 

     After looking online for a metal sculptor, Conifer’s principal, Greg Manier, hired the artist Jeff Bates to construct a new statue for the school. The statue will be made out of metal and “will be a hundred year mascot,” Manier said. 

     Jeff Bates is based in Sky River Ranch in Fruita, Colorado. He makes metal art sculptures, furniture, and public projects including benches, abstract art, and realistic animal and human statues. Many of his sculptures stand in roundabouts, especially in the Grand Junction area. His art can be found on his Facebook page, Jeff Bates Art.

     He started welding in high school and eventually decided to make art full-time, which he has been doing for 20 years now. “The art part came easy to me,” Bates said.

     Manier wants the school to decide what pose the new statue will be in before Bates can start on it. He plans to set up a school vote for its pose, which will likely take place in the commons. 

     “Eat a jolly rancher and put the wrapper in whichever one you like best, something fun,” Manier said. 

     The references for the pose will have to be drawn in multiple angles, as Bates said that “It has to look lifelike from every angle.”

      Bates plans to be able to finish the statue by the end of the year, likely from November to December. 

      Once it’s complete, Manier plans to have a reveal for the statue. It may take place the day back from winter break, or it may take place during an event such as homecoming or a home football game against Evergreen. “We’ll plan that as an all school participation opportunity,” he said.

      Once it is installed and revealed, Manier plans to hold a secondary vote for the name of the statue if Bates does not give it one, his reasoning being that once Conifer has its new lobo, “it would have a personality,” which Manier says could inspire students to think of potential names.

      “I know when I first saw it gone, I felt really confused, so it’d be great for us to get a new statue,” senior Vincent Rutter said.