The Four Seasons

By Wyoming Governor Matt Mead

Looking back at spring, I was pleased to see good economic results for Wyoming ag producers for the first quarter of 2011. According to a Wyoming Economic Summary from July 2011, our state’s agricultural industry has benefited from a variety of factors, including increased exports and some recovery in domestic demand. In the first quarter of 2011, which ended March 31, these trends resulted in total farm earnings in the state reaching $220 million, the highest since the third quarter of 2005. It was also reported that with global economic recovery, a strong beef export market has benefitted ranchers.

I hope this good news continues for the rest of 2011 and into the future. Agriculture is Wyoming’s third-largest industry, and its success bodes well for the economy of our state.
With summer upon us now, our thoughts turn to rodeos, community festivals and county and state fairs. Summertime is show time in Wyoming. Carol and I, and our children Mary and Pete, have been making the rounds to as many rodeos and fair events as we can, and we have enjoyed every minute of it.

The 99th celebration of the Wyoming State Fair is fast approaching and will take place from Aug. 13 to the 20th. It will be a great week to be in Douglas. Among all the marvelous events, it will be gratifying, as it always is, to see the many young exhibitors who have earned their way to the State Fair by competing successfully with their animals and exhibits at Wyoming’s county fairs. It will be show time in Douglas, and I wish good luck to all the exhibitors and good times to all those attending. Perhaps we’ll see each other there.

When the summer season ends and another school year begins, we will turn to fall harvests and hunting, to the last of the farmers’ markets, bringing the cows home and getting ready for winter. I hope the fall is a bountiful time for everyone in the Wyoming ag community.
The beginning of winter will close out the year. I believe we will be able to look back at 2011 and say it was a very good year and we will look forward to 2012 as another one. We are very fortunate to

live in Wyoming in every season of the year, and none of us take it for granted – we work hard spring, summer, fall and winter to make sure Wyoming remains the best place to live, work, play and raise a family. Thanks for all you do toward that end.