"Stampede" artist Jerry Palen was born in Paris, Tennessee, on July 9, 1943, to J.S. ("Doc") and Ruth Palen. At the end of World War II the family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Doc worked as a large animal veterinarian for thirty-two years. Jerry grew up surrounded by the experiences and stories of Wyoming agriculture.

Despite an early aptitude for art, Jerry earned his B.A. in economics from the University of Wyoming in 1969.

Jerry and his wife, Ann, together with their sons, owned and operated a Wyoming ranch for several years.

Jerry says that Flo and Elmo, the farm couple in "Stampede," are a composite of many agricultural families. This may explain the comments Jerry receives from fans: "My husband is just like Elmo!" and "My wife is just like Flo!"

Today Jerry and Ann reside in Saratoga, Wyoming, and operate the Saratoga Publishing Group. "Stampede" has the largest circulation of any rural cartoon series in the U.S. and Canada.

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