Wyoming PLC Encourages Public Permittee Contribution
By Jim Hellyer
Together, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), the Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) and the Wyoming State Grazing Board form the Wyoming Public Lands Coalition (PLC).
PLC is a people organization. It arrives at decisions by participating in thoughtful processes, which involve input from the 13 Western states. This process allows Western states’ grazing interests to produce solid federal grazing program input and solutions involving the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
There is work to be done in each state, but more often than not, the need for action and input comes from the federal agencies in Washington, D.C.
PLC commitment and involvement
A current example of PLC involvement is the land use process in southwestern Wyoming. Friendly and unfriendly administrations come and go. But, today we are faced with the familiar situation where our traditional allies are not in positions to make bureaucratic decisions that our industry would consider favorable.
BLM’s proposed plan is not an ideal situation. Instead, it is one of the many challenges PLC was formed to address.
The problem comes from a distant capital. To a large extent, the solutions are going to be found here at home, but it will take a concerted effort by a team of people to present this solution in a manner and place producing a desired result.
Our PLC team has the skills and contacts to meet our needs and relay our concerns to the agencies in Washington, D.C. PLC also recognizes and utilizes knowledge, input and contacts from within Wyoming, which are also valuable and irreplaceable.
The national Public Lands Council staff is determined, has a hard work ethic and is full of skill and professionalism. In Washington, D.C., Wyoming can be proud of the team prowling the halls of agencies and Congress, always looking out for our federal lands interests.
Supporting Wyoming PLC
Within PLC, each group has a representative with a Wyoming delegate to the national board of directors, which rotate among the three groups.
The Wyoming PLC WSGA representative is Joe Crofts of Riverton, the WWGA representative is Shaun Sims of Evanston and the Wyoming State Grazing Board representative is Ty Hunt of LaBarge.
On the national Public Lands Council, Kaitlynn Glover is the executive director, Sigrid Johannes is associate director and Will Baugh rounds out the Washington, D.C. team as associate director of operations.
These three are the folks on the ground in the Capital who do daily business on our behalf.
So today, on behalf of the three groups comprising the Wyoming PLC, I am asking for financial support as the coalition sends out our annual assessment.
I encourage individuals to donate to the Wyoming Public Lands Solicitation. I also encourage them to contact myself or any of the above Wyoming members with questions, comments or input.
Please consider supporting our efforts to promote commonsense grazing policy across the Western U.S.
Jim Hellyer is the Wyoming Public Lands Coalition director and can be reached at jimhellyer@gmail.com.
