For two Wyoming high schools, the fake grass is proving to be much greener on the other side.

The football teams from both Sheridan and Star Valley will be playing on brand new artificial turf sufaces this fall.

Sheridan's stadium underwent a renovation costing $1.1 million, $900,000 of which was raised privately in the community. In addition to the turf field, the renovation included new visitors bleachers and revamped home bleachers, a new unattached three-story press box and new fan walkways around the stadium.

"We probably had close to 200 people donate, anywhere from $5 to $100,000 or more," Sheridan football coach and activities director Don Julian said. "There appears to be a lot of excitement for it. The community really wants to see Bronc football back where it was.

"The field doesn't make a football team, but there's a lot of excitement for our program right now, so this was a good time to do this."

The new playing facility at Star Valley, including the field and a new running track, will finish with a final tab of $1.4 million, of which more than half was picked up by Star Valley's school district. While the field is complete, the surface for the new track has yet to be put down - a task Star Valley AD Jamie Holyoak said should be completed by Sept. 26.

"It exceeds expectations," Holyoak said. "It's a great field, a great surface, the kids love to play on it. It's a shot in the arm to our programs."

Holyoak said the biggest benefit of the field will be evident in the spring, when the Braves' soccer squads can use it.

"We have such long winters and our spring sports really struggle for a real playable surface," he said. "We're usually up to our ankles in mud and the kids all have trench foot by the end of the first month of spring soccer."

Julian, too, said the benefits of the field go well beyond football. He said the usage of the field will quadruple thanks to the new surface, which will also be used for Sheridan's soccer teams this spring.

"This isn't just a football thing," Julian said. " … Our PE classes are out on it every day and they weren't ever able to do that before.

"In the month that it's been installed, we've probably used it more than we would have in a year (without the artificial surface)."

Sheridan will play its first home game on its new surface tonight against Miles City, Mont.

Star Valley debuted its field last week against Riverton and will play on it again tonight in a game against Snake River, Idaho. The Braves' first three games of the season are at home.

Contact high school sports coordinator Patrick Schmiedt at (307) 266-0615 or patrick.schmiedt@trib.com.