Need Your Support
If you are involved in agriculture and haven’t registered for the upcoming Wyoming Natural Resource Rendezvous (WNRR), you need to get it done. If you are not able to come, at least send a family member. The same goes if you, a family member or someone from your business is going to the Range Beef Cow Symposium in Cheyenne.
Both have a lot to offer and are important. It’s too bad they are held at the same time, but this year it couldn’t be helped, and everyone feels bad about it. But life will go on, and we all hope it doesn’t happen again.
WNRR is in Casper at the Ramkota Hotel from Nov. 27-30, and the Range Beef Cow event is in Cheyenne at Little America from Nov. 28-30. Both events have a good number of folks already registered, and both trade shows are sold out.
WNRR is going to be a big event. As most of you know, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) and the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) are partnering, as they do every five years, for a joint convention, and it has worked out well in the past.
While they have different missions, WACD and WSGA have a lot of common interests in Wyoming’s natural resources. In fact, many in the state are members of both associations. These two associations complement each other.
WNRR starts Nov. 27 at 10:30 a.m. with the Progressive Resource Manager Forum, featuring concurrent sessions all day. These sessions are developed with assistance from the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension. There is information for everyone in these sessions on Monday.
On Nov. 28, there are a number of board meetings in the morning and another set of concurrent sessions in the morning with a Soil Health Workshop and an Agriculture Taxation Workshop. Both are important. The Opening Ceremonies begin after lunch with Gov. Matt Mead as the speaker and a presentation of the Landowner Access Awards by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. That afternoon there will be talks by Dr. Laurie Nichols, UW president, and Dr. David Naugle from the University of Montana, who will speak on his recent study that proves livestock grazing is not a deterrent to sage grouse. This is a talk you don’t want to miss. Later, Ethan Lane from Public Lands Council and Chris Heck from the National Association of Conservation Districts will speak.
That evening will feature a reception and the Live Auction with Lex Madden from Torrington Livestock as auctioneer. This is a really fun event, and there are some great items in the auction. From a seven-day safari hunt in South Africa, art and fancy tack to horse feed, cattle mineral and jewelry, this is a great place to pick up some great Christmas gifts.
The morning of Nov. 29 will start with talks by our Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C. and a talk on the beef checkoff challenges by Dee Likes from Kansas. Then, committee meetings will fill the rest of the day. Some will be joint meetings.
The evening social and entertainment is going to be great. This year, WNRR is hosting an agriculture team game show. Audience members can bet on the teams, and this has proven to be a fun evening in the past.
The final day of the event, Nov. 30, will start with the Legislative Breakfast, and then business meetings will start for both associations before the event adjourns at noon. It’s a great event.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
