WSF offers venue for continuing family tradition and maintaining Western heritage

Welcome to Douglas for the 111th Wyoming State Fair (WSF) and Rodeo! The state fair is a celebration of Wyoming’s past, present and future.

It is a family event which brings together generations of producers, competitors and guests. Families have been gathering in Douglas each year for decades to see old friends, share information and make new memories.

First Lady Jennie and I look forward to the fair each year to see friends from across the state and make new acquaintances every August.

As a young man, I remember exhibiting here and watching my dad Crow Gordon compete. My sister and I also showed here. I remember our dad encouraging my daughters in their projects and competitions here, and even now we enjoy supporting the kids of our friends as they compete. This is a tradition.

For more than a century, WSF has been a gathering place where we pay tribute to Wyoming’s farms and ranches and the hard-working families that keep them moving forward. Agriculture is one of Wyoming’s top industries, providing a strong economic benefit to our state while maintaining our Western culture and heritage.

These stewards of the land also help provide habitat for wildlife and preserve the open spaces we all enjoy. Agriculture has always been the constant thread woven through the fabric of our state and the WSF is the place to come celebrate this vital industry.

As a ranching family, Jennie and I know firsthand the value of this industry and the important role WSF plays in it through youth competition, education, relationship building and growing our young entrepreneurs.

I am committed to a strong and successful state fair, now and going forward. The development of the new WSF Board and the WSF Endowment are going to help not only sustain the fair but also strengthen and stabilize this great event for years to come. We want each fair to be better than the last.

To this end, whether you are attending for the first time or you come each year, it is important we hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions on what you enjoyed or what can be done to improve your experience on the state fair mobile app or website so this event can continue to improve.

We hope you enjoy your time on our beautiful fairgrounds here in Douglas and plan to bring your family, friends and people in your community with you when you return next year.

Jennie and I thank you for attending, and we look forward to visiting with you while you’re here. We thank the WSF Board, staff, volunteers and sponsors whose hard work and contributions make the WSF and Rodeo an event to remember.

Mark Gordon Governor of Wyoming