Hamilton, George receive WyFB leadership awards

Cody – Keith Hamilton of Big Horn County was awarded the 2010 Farm Bureau Leadership Award at the 91st annual meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB), while Scott George of Park County was presented with his 2009 Farm Bureau Leadership Award.
The award is given to those who have gone above and beyond in their agricultural leadership service in the organization, and due to unforeseen circumstances George was not able to receive his award last year.
“For 35 years, Keith has given his time and talent to his county, district and state Farm Bureau, and 22 of those years were spent serving on the WyFB Board of Directors,” says WyFB President Perry Livingston. “Keith’s knowledge about the agriculture industry and his ability to work with people has been a tremendous asset for the organization.”
“Scott’s service to Farm Bureau through his leadership at the county and state level has provided great direction,” continues Livingston. “His humor always provides a relaxing environment to start a business meeting. He is always able to get a point across about the importance of committee work. His people skills are a tremendous asset.”
Hamilton joined Farm Bureau in 1975 and began his leadership service in 1981 on the county level as Big Horn County Farm Bureau vice president. He went on to serve as county president and also served the Northwest District as vice president. Hamilton joined the WyFB Board of Directors in 1988 when he was elected as the Northwest District Director, a position he held until 2010. The Northwest District represents the counties of Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie.
Hamilton is a 1976 honors graduate from the University of Wyoming where he received a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He represents the fourth generation on his family ranch located in the Big Horn Basin. A diversified operation, they run cattle and sheep as well as irrigated farming. Keith and his wife Linda raised two children, Doug and Diane, on the ranch. They have three grandchildren.
“It has been a real honor to serve the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation,” says Hamilton. “I serve on several boards, and this is by far my favorite to work on. The Wyoming Farm Bureau staff and the Mountain West Farm Bureau staff are second to none. In my view, it makes this job so much easier when you get to work with that kind of professional people.”
George has served as a member of the Park County Farm Bureau board since 2000, holding various leadership positions. He served as the WyFB General Issues Committee State Chair for four years, and he has also been involved with the Wyoming Beef Council since 1991, and he is the current chair of the State Federation of Beef Councils. George is also active in his church and with the Boys Scouts in Park County.
The George family homesteaded in Park County in 1947 and began their dairy operation in 1954, and the family now raises their own dairy herd replacements and bulls. They run steers, have a commercial beef herd and farm 1,500 acres of corn for silage and feed grain, some small grains and alfalfa for their beef cattle.
“The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is proud to honor Scott George with the 2009 Leadership Award,” says Livingston. “We thank him for his dedicated leadership on behalf of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation and the state’s agriculture industry.”
Information courtesy WyFB.