Wyoming Ag Leaders: Philip Ellis and Laurie Boner selected as 2024 Wyoming Ag Hall of Fame inductees
The Wyoming Livestock Roundup is pleased to announce Philip Ellis of Chugwater and Laurie Boner of Glenrock have been selected as the 2024 Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame (HOF) inductees and will join an elite list of prestigious honorees.
The Wyoming Agriculture HOF has been honoring Wyoming’s agriculture leaders since 1992, and Ellis and Boner will be recognized for their lifetimes of dedication to the state’s ag industry during the Wyoming Agriculture HOF Picnic at 5 p.m. on Aug. 14 at Riverside Park in Douglas.
“I am excited to announce the awardees of the 2024 Wyoming Agriculture HOF,” states Wyoming Livestock Roundup Publisher Dennis Sun, an inaugural Wyoming Agriculture HOF inductee. “Both Laurie and Philip have put in a lot of time and work and continue to be involved in many services to help make agriculture better in Wyoming.”
“We all appreciate their dedication throughout the years,” he continues.
Lifetime ag leader
Ellis, a fifth-generation rancher, grew up near Chugwater where he developed a passion for agriculture at a young age and has since been actively involved in the Wyoming ag industry.
Ellis is a University of Wyoming (UW) graduate and the current owner and operator of the Marsh and Ellis Ranch.
He has a long history of involvement in organizations supporting the beef industry, and over the years, he has advocated for the agricultural industry while serving on several policy committees and holding various state and national positions along the way.
Ellis has spent most of his life serving the Wyoming ag industry and his community. He had an extensive career in banking as a young ag lender in Cheyenne and later as the board chairman of the Oregon Trail Bank in Guernsey.
While in agricultural lending, Ellis learned how to manage multiple projects and build relationships which helped him excel in state-level leadership roles.
He continued to advance his leadership in roles at the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), where he served as president from 2003-05.
Ellis also served on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Board of Directors and several policy committees.
He then served as the NCBA Region Five vice president, which includes Wyoming and the Northwest and became a NCBA national officer in 2012, rising to the position of national president in 2015.
In 2017, he received WSGA’s Guardian of the Grasslands Award.
“Ellis’ experience and commitment were instrumental in strengthening the financial position of WSGA under his leadership,” states WSGA Executive Vice President Jim Magagna in his nomination letter.
Magagna continues, “Over the past two decades, Ellis has earned the respect and admiration of cattle producers across the nation and remains fully engaged in the efforts of NCBA in our region.”
NCBA Chief Executive Officer Colin Woodall states, “Ellis’ engagement ensured the voice of Wyoming cattle producers, which he always expressed and considered during committee debates.”
“His ability to provide strong and steady leadership during uncertain times was invaluable to the association,” Woodall adds.
Kansas Livestock Association Emeritus Chief Executive Officer Dee Likes says, “As a young ranch-raised youth, Ellis has shown leadership abilities and commitment to organizations aimed at the betterment of agriculture and the beef industry. He is well known across Wyoming and the nation and is recognized for dedication and integrity to his community and industry.”
“I am honored to be thought of for this award,” Ellis states. “I am so thankful to have been raised in a pioneering ag family here in Wyoming, teaching me how to be a steward of the land and advocate for agriculture.”
Devoted to ag
Joining Ellis in the 2024 Wyoming Agriculture HOF, Boner’s passion for agriculture has led her to a robust career in the ag industry.
From an early age, Boner’s influence, knowledge and passion in ranching and agriculture came from her grandparents who raised sheep and cattle and her mom who raised and trained Quarter Horses on land east of Casper.
After graduating from UW, Boner worked for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) for over 15 years and influenced state and national agricultural policies while being an advocate for agricultural producers.
While employed with WDA, she served as a meat inspector, working her way up to a management position in the Consumer Health Services program.
In 2008, to combine her passions of ag and design, Boner opened LB Designs, a website and promotional design company.
Throughout her career, she has been a member of multiple associations including the Wyoming Quarter Horse Association (WQHA), Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA), Converse County Stock Growers and WSGA.
She served on the board of the WQHA for many years and was appointed to the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) in 2015 by former Gov. Matt Mead.
“She served on the WLSB until 2021 when her term ended, but during her time on the board she was instrumental in helping protect the Wyoming livestock industry from diseases and hand developed rules and polices which were beneficial to agriculture in general,” states Dr. Jim Logan, former Wyoming state veterinarian.
“She was an active and influential board member who carefully considered the issues and impacts of her votes as she represented her district and Wyoming livestock producers,” Logan continues.
In 2021, Boner was also was honored as the Heart of Agriculture Award winner and is currently serving on the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust Board, Wyoming SHEEP Foundation, Converse County Stock Growers and the Wyoming State Fair Board.
Boner is also a graduate from the Wyoming Ag Leadership Education and Development Program, and most recently, Boner and her husband Brad received the Harold Josendahl Patron Award which is presented to sheep producers who have made a substantial contribution to the Wyoming sheep industry and WWGA.
“Boner has been an integral part of the agriculture industry in Wyoming across many sectors,” states WWGA Executive Director Alison Crane. “She volunteers much of her time in designing and maintaining websites for different entities and has aided in the coordination of the Wyoming State Ram Sale for many years.”
“I am very honored and humbled to receive the Wyoming Ag HOF award, and I want to extend my gratitude to those in Wyoming’s agriculture community for this recognition,” Boner states.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
