Volume 34 Number 9 • June 25, 2022
®
The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net
A Look Inside Publisher Dennis Sun discusses fluctuating ag prices...... .......................................Page 2 Tressa Lawrence shares quinoa taco bowl recipe......Page 7 Windy Kelley highlights recent and current weather conditions. .......................................Page 8 Extension Educator provides rangeland considerations.......... .....................................Page 15
Quick Bits Beef Workshop
Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame honors 2022 inductees Pat and Sharon O’Toole and Scott Keith are recognized as this year’s Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees. The Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame has been honoring Wyoming’s agriculture
leaders since 1992. Scott Keith Scott grew up ranching near Kaycee and developed a passion for agriculture at a young age, according to his loved ones. He was extremely involved
with Wyoming agriculture and left a lasting impact on the state. Scott passed away in 2021. “Scott was a passionate advocate for the livestock and forage industry in Wyoming and a cherished
friend,” writes nominator Cindy Garretson-Weibel. Ag involvement Scott served as a spokesperson for Wyoming agriculture and advocated for the ranching industry
Please see INDUCTEES on page 5
College Champions
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a self-driven program in which producers assume responsibility for producing a high-quality, safe and wholesome food product. The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be hosting a BQA and beef management workshop on June 30 in Sundance and July 1 in Sheridan from 3-6 p.m. For more information, contact Alex Orozco-Lopez at 559-201-3433 or e-mail aorozcol@uwyo.edu.
Sale Date
The Wyoming Bureau of Land Management announced the oil and gas lease sale originally scheduled for June 22-23, 2020 is now scheduled for June 29-30, 2022. The date for this sale has shifted slightly to complete the analyses required under the National Environmental Policy Act and allow time for protest resolution. To view the errata announcing the adjusted sale dates, visit eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2015621/570.
Beef Council
Gov. Gordon recently appointed Arley George of Cody to the Wyoming Beef Council (WBC). WBC programs are funded by the $1-per-head Beef Checkoff collected on all Wyoming cattle. George’s term on the board begins immediately and will expire June 30, 2025 with the possibility of reappointment for an additional threeyear term.
Loans Available
Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in Montana. These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Carbon, Park and Stillwater counties. The deadline to apply for property damage is Aug. 15. The deadline to apply for economic injury is March 16, 2023. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/, call 800659-2955 or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information.
CNFR champion – Saddle bronc rider Shae Fournier of McNeese State University won the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) Saddle Bronc Champion title on June 18 in Casper at the Ford Wyoming Center. Shae rode Jerry’s Delight for an 81-point ride, earning him third place in the short round. Overall, he rode for a cumulative of 315 points. Jackie Jensen Photography photo
NIRA crowns national champions during CNFR in Casper Casper – The College Nationals Finals Rodeo (CNFR) hosted top contestants in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) June 14-18 at the Ford Wyoming Center. Several contestants representing the Cowboy State were in attendance, and 2022 CNFR champions were crowned. Bareback riding Ty Pope of Missouri Valley College (MVC) took
WAIC recognizes Cooley Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC) named Andrea Cooley, a fourth grade teacher at West Side Elementary in Worland, as the 2022 Educator of the Year. WAIC was formed in 1986 with the vision to help students understand Wyoming resources. The statewide nonprofit is committed to making a difference and provide educational resources. A highlight of the program is the bookmark contest. Within the last seven years, the focus has been on developing a curriculum and finding educators who will champion the resource for their students, classrooms and their school. Cooley is a teacher who has done just that. Cooley has inspired the movement to introduce WAIC curriculum, and her entire grade-level team has used the Wyoming Stewardship Project curriculum extensively inside their classrooms. Stewardship project and standards The Wyoming Stewardship Project is aligned to the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards, focusing on science and social studies. The project focuses on second through fifth grade and has three units for each grade level: agriculture; minerals and energy; and outdoor recreation and tourism. The Wyoming Stewardship Project only comes alive for students when a teacher tells the story and connects the story to the community. Cooley has also been the driving force in creating a new school garden and partners with local services, including the Washakie County Extension Office, the community garden Please see WAIC on page 4
home the gold buckle as the CNFR Bareback World Champion. Pope finished in fourth place in the first round with a 79.5-point ride, and tied for second-place in round two with Cole Franks, also of MVC, with a 79.5-point ride. In round three he tied for seventh place in round three with Gauge McBride of Panola College (PANOLA) with a 74.5-point ride and placed first in Please see CNFR on page 14
Annual celebration 110th WSF brings summer fun to Douglas This year’s Wyoming State Fair (WSF) offers new, exciting entertainment, along with traditional fair favorites for the whole family to enjoy. Stop by the Wyoming State Fairgrounds in Douglas Aug. 16-20 to enjoy Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association PRCA rodeos, livestock shows, carnival rides, fried foods, entertainment and to celebrate the WSF’s 110th anniversary. “I’m so excited to see the state of Wyoming come together,” says WSF General Manager Courtny Conkle. “I view the WSF as a giant family reunion, and being able to create something that’s a representation of everything we have to be grateful for and proud of in our state is something we all deserve.” Entertainment There will be no shortage of entertaining events at this year’s WSF. “We are looking forward to a really fun 110th WSF this year,” says Conkle. “We’ve got some new entertainment we will be featuring.” Conkle is especially excited for the Nerveless Nocks performances, featuring a motor sports and Please see WSF on page 6
CWFR celebrates 75th anniversary Casper – The Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo (CWFR) will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with events July 8-16. Fair goers won’t want to miss nine actionpacked days of fun and excitement. From carnival rides, a parade, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo performances and livestock shows, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Youth exhibitors looks forward to fair Casper natives, 13-year-old Bridger and 12-year-old Josie Haigler are looking forward to showing their sheep and goat projects at the CWFR. Bridger will be going into eighth grade, but is most excited to show his two
sheep, Kimber and Bergara. This year marks his fifth year as a 4-H exhibitor at the fair. He says, “Showing sheep is a lot easier than showing pigs, but being able to show livestock is really my favorite part about going to the CWFR.” One of his proudest accomplishments showing at the fair was winning the Grand Champion Award in his division with his pig project in 2020. Today, he focuses on showing sheep, but he offers future contestants some words of advice, “Just try your hardest, do your best and enjoy it.” Josie will be going into seventh grade
periodical
periodical
Please see FAIR on page 16