GUEST OPINIONS

Speaker of the House: Focusing on Wyoming Solutions, Not Out-of-State Influences

Throughout the last decade serving as a representative in the Wyoming State Legislature, I have consistently used the following metric to assess legislation: does it solve a Wyoming problem with a Wyoming solution?

Some bills coming to the legislature do not come from Wyoming, but instead from another state, or they are templates from a national organization. Bills not crafted in Wyoming often take a one-size-fits-all approach, which demands the Wyoming Legislature’s due diligence to ensure a bill solves a problem and does not create a new one.

As Speaker of the House, I have the added

By Albert Sommers

responsibility of keeping the House of Representatives focused on getting work done for the people of Wyoming. Part of this leadership responsibility is choosing which standing committee a bill goes to and whether it gets sent to a committee at all.

I take this responsibility seriously – bad policy can create major consequences for Wyoming.

Bills that are unconstitutional, not well vetted, poorly written, duplicate bills or debates and bills which negate local control, restrict the rights of people or risk costly litigation financed by the people of Wyoming should not become law.

Working with Appropriations and Revenue

I depend heavily on two particular committees – the Appropriations and Revenue Committees. These committees work on many of the most important bills during the session and are comprised of seasoned legislators with critical expertise. Their members currently hold a combined 106 years of experience in the legislature.

I rely on those bodies to scrutinize weighty legislation because they understand the repercussions of legislation on Wyoming’s citizens. These two committees are led by four chairmen and other pillars of the legislature.

The members of Appropriations and Revenue Committees are workhorses who use their experience to critically examine tough issues without letting rhetoric and intimidation get in the way.

As an example, bills like Senate File (SF) 0172, Stop ESG – state funds fiduciary duty act, in theory, have merit. However, it’s our job to determine how bills will play out in Wyoming’s reality.

I sent SF 0172 to the Appropriations Committee to ensure it was evaluated on its substance. The bill bans Wyoming government officials from contracting with businesses which have

NCBA hires director

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca Barnett as director of animal health and food safety policy in their Washington, D.C. office.

Barnett will work on issues such as traceability, dietary guidelines, animal welfare and food safety. She is from a small California ranching community in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and received her bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems from the University of California (UC), Davis.

While attending UC Davis, Barnett served on the 2017 California Young Cattlemen’s State Committee and managed the UC Davis Research, Teaching and Outreach Sheep facility. She gained experience in policy and animal health through working at the California State Assembly and UC Davis Veterinary Hospital.

Barnett graduated from Texas A&M University with a master’s degree in agribusiness in 2020.

Applicator education offered

The University of Wyoming (UW) Extension will offer private pesticide applicator education programs across the state this March.

These two- to four-hour educational sessions provide an overview of certification requirements for private applicators, pertinent laws and regulations, pesticide safety and handling, groundwater contamination, pesticide disposal and more.

Upon completion of an educational session, applications for private applicator licenses will be submitted to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture for approval and issuance of licenses.

Dates, locations and contacts for the spring 2023 education programs are available at bit.ly/wy-psep-private and listed in the calendar of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup on page A12.

For more information, contact UW Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator Jeff Edwards at jedward4@uwyo.edu or call 307-837-2956.

Camp applications open

Applications are now open for the 2023 Inspire a Kid Camp and will close on March 13. The Inspire a Kid Camp focuses on exploration of nature, introduction to conservation principles, leadership development and learning new recreational outdoor activities while giving participants experiences to successfully navigate and positively interact with the great outdoors.

Campers will partake in a five-night, six-day, one-of-a-kind Western experience where they will be immersed in Western conservation lessons, leadership development and numerous outdoor activities including horseback riding, fly rod building, fly fishing, hiking, archery and star gazing, amongst many others.

Campers will stay in tents in the Gros Ventre wilderness, a short ride away from Little Jennie Ranch Headquarters in Bondurant. The historic Craig Cabin Camp provides a great setting for the Inspire a Kid Camp. The boysʼ camp will be held June 19-24, and the girlsʼ camp will run from June 26 to July 1.

For more information, call 307-316-3863 or e-mail chris@thewyldlifefund.org.

Bee College announced

Laramie County Extension announced they will be hosting the Wyoming Bee College and High Plains Garden-to-Market Conference at Laramie County Community College located at 1400 E. College Drive in Cheyenne on March 24-25.

The Garden-to-Market Conference will offer educational seminars on how and why to grow medicinal herbs, native plants, flowers for cutting and growing grapes, fruit trees, hazelnuts, small fruits and more.

There will be several vendors and a vendor reception on the afternoon of March 25. Registration is $125 for March 24, $85 for March 25 or $195 for both days and includes lunch, coffee, tea and snacks.

For more information and to register, visit wyomingbeecollege.org. Registration closes March 21 at 11:59 p.m.

4-H program inspires youth

A new twist on a traditional 4-H project area has inspired culinary adventures in Wyoming kitchens across the state.

Wyoming’s Food, Fun and 4-H Program provides young chefs with recipes and utensils to make their own home-cooked meals.

Designed to help young chefs hone their cooking skills at home, the Food, Fun and 4-H Program provides monthly recipes, cooking utensils and informational materials to Wyoming 4-H members.

Launched in November 2022 with funding from the Ellbogen Foundation, the program is coordinated by University of Wyoming Extension Educators Kellie Chichester of Niobrara County, Joddee Jacobsen of Natrona County, Erin Persche of Weston County and Mary Louise Wood of Park County.

Food, Fun and 4-H is open to all Wyoming 4-H members at no cost to participants aside from groceries. The program runs through May 2023 and new participants are welcome to join at any time.

To join the Food, Fun and 4-H Program, contact Kellie Chichester at kelliec@uwyo.edu or 307-334-3534.

For Sale Privately

Yearling Hereford Bulls

• BALDY MAKERS

• VIGOR

• DOCILITY

• ADDED VALUE

• ADDED FEED EFFICIENCY

Bryan: 970-381-0264

Linda: 970-381-6811

54286 CR 27, Carr, CO 80612

Catalogs available upon request

Videos on Facebook: Sidwell Herefords, RLLP or YouTube: Sidwell Herefords

SIRED BY STEERLING PACIFIC

LOT less frame performance will work in pastue conditions or for smaller heifers Top 20% for CED @ +10 - Top 30% For BW @+.2 - WW +51 - YW +92 - Carcass Top 20% IMF @+.93 - RE +.45 ADG 3.33 - WDA 2.79 - Weaned 560’s - 90 WR - Feed Test -feed 6.33 : 1# gain

Bulls were fed a ration to gain 3.25 pounds a day. This is a cross section of the bulls we are selling not just the biggest and best numbers just like everyone else; We have had quite the winter we'll have pictures coming right up and the sale book will be right along perhaps with a few less pictues because of the weather

On Feb. 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 86 U.S. manufacturing plants earned the agency’s Energy Star Certification in 2022, a designation reserved for manufacturing plants in the top 25 percent of energy efficiency in their sector.

Together, these plants saved over 105 trillion British thermal units (Btus) of energy and prevented more than six million metric tons of carbon

EPA recognizes companies

dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions from the electricity use of more than 1.1 million American homes.

Manufacturing plants use EPA’s Energy Star energy performance indicators or, in the case of petroleum refineries, the Solomon Associates Energy Intensity Index Scoring System to assess their energy performance.

Plants scoring a 75 out of 100 or higher – indicating they are more energy

Torrington Livestock Markets PO Box 1097 • Torrington, WY 82240 307.532.3333 Fax: 307.532.2040 www.torringtonlivestock.com efficient than 75 percent of similar facilities nationwide – are eligible to earn Energy Star Certification. The certification is available for 20 manufacturing sectors, from cement and steel to glass and commercial bakeries.

Several companies from across the West earned Energy Star Certification including J.R. Simplot Company of Rock Springs; Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. and TreeHouse Foods Inc. of Utah; GCC

Pueblo and Rocky Mountain Bottle Company, Wheat Ridge of Colorado; Koch Ag and Energy Solutions of Nebraska; Flowers Baking Company of Nevada; Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., Drake Cement, LLC, Holsum Bakery of Tolleson, Mesa Organic Baking Company and Salt River Materials Group of Arizona and Ardaugh Glass, Inc., Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. and J.R. Simplot Compay of California.

Lex Madden 307-532-1580

Chuck Petersen 307-575-4015 Lander Nicodemus 307-421-8141

FEEDERS Trowbridge Ranch 215 Blk few Red Hfrs, 650-750#, Been Weaned a long time, Been on Ground Hay & Silage, Branding and Weaning Shots, Poured last fall

Dr. Joe Skavdahl & Jared Klein 160 Red/Blk Hfrs (60 hd Red/100 Blk), 700#, Weaned a long time, Been on a Grower Ration, Shots: Vista Once (1x), Bovi-Shield Gold 5 (2x), 7-way (2x), Pinkeye (2x), Wormed w/Synanthic, Poured w/Clean-up, Bangs Vac., Replacement Quality

T-Chair 108 Red Angus Hfrs, 1000#, Ran Open, Shots: Bovi-Shield Gold 5, Blackleg, Comng off grass, Home Raised

Loren & Jim Smart 55 Mx Strs & Hfrs, 750-800#, Weaned since Oct., Bunk Broke, A Silage/Hay

Ration, Branding Shots Only

Butch White 69 Blk few Bwf Strs & Hfrs, 625-725#, Weaned a long time, Bunk Broke, Been on a Grower Ration, Complete Modified Live Vac. Program,

WEANED CALVES

Doug Derouchey 250 Blk (2 Char/3 Rd) Strs & Hfrs, 500-600#, Weaned a long time, Bunk Broke,

Barley Hay, Silage, No Grain, 3 Rounds of Shots, Poured

Paul & Nancy Landeck 122 Mx Strs, 450-800#, Weaned a long time, Bunk Broke, Been on a Grower Ration, Branding Shots: 7-way,

Educator joins Extension team

After 15 years serving both youth and families in Albany County, 4-H Educator Mary Louise Wood has transferred to the University of Wyoming (UW) Extension’s Park County office in Cody.

“Mary Louise leaves big shoes to fill in Albany County,” says Amanda Marney, senior associate director of UW Extension. “She is the best of 4-H, and it can be seen in everything she does. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Park County.”

As a Park County native, Wood welcomes the opportunity to mentor a new generation of 4-H’ers.

“I’m excited because I grew up in Park County, and I’m a product of the Park County 4-H program,” she comments.

Cattle Country Video - 1:00 pm

Lot 305 Wright Bros. 172 Weaned Steer Calves. 85% Blk/Bwf; 15% Red/Rwf. Base Wt: 660 lbs. Wt Stop: 695 lbs. Slide: .12 cents. Located: Brandon, SD. Delivery: 3/11/23 to 3/18/23. Branding, Precond & Booster Shots. Weigh: load on buyer’s pre-weighed truck, haul approx. 6 miles and weigh w/a 3%. Comments: Nice home raised purchased steers. Purchased steers off one ranch from Wyoming. Great location and health program. 3 rounds of shots and 2 rounds of tetnus shots. Not being pushed 50 megacal ration. Lots of room to grow and gain. BQA. Rep: Richard Zweifel 605209-6307. www.cattlecountryvideo.com

Kerbs Four Bar 90 Blk Hfrs, few Strs, 450-600#, Weaned 100+ days, Hay Fed, 3 Rounds of Shots: Pyramid 5+Presponse, Vision 7 w/Somnus,

Home Raised, High Elevation

Rodgers Ranch/Mike Rodgers 70 Blk/Bwf few Rd Strs & Hfrs, 550-650#, Weaned 70+ days, Been on a Light Grower Ration, Bunk Broke, Complete Vac. Program, High Elevation

Smith Sheep Company 60 Blk Hfrs, 600#, Weaned since Nov., Bunk Broke, Been on a Grower Ration, Full Vac. Program, Bangs Vac

Joel Sandlian 37 Blk few Red Hfrs (1 Blk Str), 600-700#, Weaned a long time, Running out, Bunk Broke, Ground Hay and Silage Ration, Branding & Weaning Shots, Poured last Fall, Electric Fence Broke

COMPLETE DISPERSALS

Guy Givens 200 Fancy Blk few Bwf Cows, Complete Dispersal, Coming 4”s to 9 yr olds, Bred to Gardner, Seeley & Hancock Blk Angus Bulls, CF: March 15, Complete Vac. Program but No Shots this Fall, Poured, Bangs Vac.

Bill & Michele Homrighausen 30 Red/Rwf Angus Cows, Complete Dispersal, 4-ST, Bred to Schuler Red Angus Cows, CF: April 12 for 60 days, Calves weaned 692# avg. last fall coming off the cows

BRED COWS

Johnson Hill Land and Livestock 31 Blk Cows, ST, Bred to Blk Bulls, CF: End of April/May, 1-iron

-BRED/ALL

In Albany County, Wood has worked with volunteers to develop a strong, holistic program offering opportunities for all 4-H youth.

Wood has also collaborated with 4-H educators across the state to develop innovative new initiatives like the Rocky Mountain Youth Entrepreneur Program, designed to equip young people with the skills required to build successful businesses.

In fall 2022, she helped launch the ongoing Wyoming Food, Fun and 4-H Program to encourage 4-H participants and their families to experiment in the kitchen together.

Open house postponed

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails are seeking input in the planning of new hiking, horseback and trail running opportunities on public land in the South Pass City area.

To kick off this effort, the partners are hosting an open house at the Lander Library from 5:30-7 p.m., followed by an initial public input period through May 31. This open house was previously scheduled for Feb. 23, but has been rescheduled for March 16.

During this first comment period, public input is needed as trail locations, designs and desired experiences are planned. The open house will provide an opportunity to discuss possible options for these trails with South Pass City State Historic Site Superintendent Joe Ellis and BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Jared Oakleaf.

While input is welcome at any time, comments at this stage of the process should be submitted by May 31 to joakleaf@blm.gov or joe.ellis@wyo.gov.

For more information, including to request a map depicting possible trail options, contact Oakleaf at 307-332-8400 or Ellis at 307-332-3684.

Conservation defended

On Feb. 27, advocates of conservation programs delivered a letter to leadership in the House and Senate Agriculture Committees calling for the defense of climate focused conservation spending in the 2023 Farm Bill.

Brickman 11 Red Brd Cow

1401# 1410.00

VIEW SALES & BID ONLINE ON

TORRINGTON LIVESTOCK AREA REPS

Michael Schmitt - Torrington, WY 307-532-1776*** Ty Thompson – Lusk, WY 307-340-0770

Cody Thompson - Lusk, WY 307-340-0150***Zach Johnson Lingle, WY –307-575-2171

Jeff Ward – Laramie, WY 307-399-9863***Tam Staman – Crawford, NE 308-631-8513

Justin Smith - Lusk, WY 307-340-0724***Danny Nicodemus – Cheyenne, WY 307-632-4325

Chris Williams - Greybull, WY 307-272-4567***Hunter Dockery - Lusk, WY 307-340-1202

- Lusk, WY 307-216-0033 ***Ben Kukowski - Kaycee, WY www.torringtonlivestock.com

The letter, signed by 644 organizations, businesses and farmers, makes it clear to Congress the historic investment in conservation programs made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 must be preserved in the 2023 Farm Bill. The IRA provided sweeping greenhouse gas reductions across sectors including farming.

Alongside several conservation partners, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) helped lead this recent effort calling for durable, increased spending on climate change through conservation programs in the next farm bill.

“NSAC is pleased to see the letter reflect the overwhelming support for climate focused spending in conservation programs,” stated NSAC Climate Policy Coordinator Dr. Cathy Day. “By highlighting the simultaneous benefits possible through climate focused conservation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can ensure climate benefits are also benefits for biodiversity as well as water, soil and air quality.”

“Climate solutions must build farm resilience, and this requires holistic, systems-based farm support. Along with an agroecological focus, we look forward to seeing USDA prioritize spending conservation funds on farmers of color as IRA funds are rolled out. Protecting USDA’s ability to do this work in the next farm bill is one of our top priorities,” added Day.

For more information, visit sustainableagriculture.net boycotted fossil fuels or are considering climate change in their investments.

Members of the Appropriations Committee identified significant gaps in the language, and the Treasurer’s Office raised questions about how this bill may impact Wyoming’s investment portfolio.

This bill is not worth risking our state’s fiscal future just to send a message. I am hopeful the language in this policy can be tightened up in the interim to allow us to support our base industries while preserving our investment strategies.

Bills focused on Wyoming issues

Keeping bills in my drawer is another way to ensure we stay focused on solving pressing issues for Wyoming. Here is a list of the bills I currently have in my drawer and why.

SF 0086, Voter identification – concealed carry permit, allows Wyomingites to use their concealed carry permits as voter identification.

I like this idea, but House Bill (HB) 79 is a mirror bill which has already passed through the legislature and became law during this session. Consideration of this bill would have wasted time with duplicate debate.

SF 0117, Parental rights in education is a bill which disallows public school teachers from teaching sexual orientation and gender identity themes to children from kindergarten through third grade and directs schoolboards on how to interact with parents.

This type of teaching is not happening in Wyoming schools. Moreover, the bill strips local control.

Regardless of the issue, I’ve always fought against taking authority away from local schoolboards, town councils and county commissions. Additionally, I believe this bill is unconstitutional as it violates the single-subject rule.

SF 111, Child abuse –change of sex is one of two bills taking on the subject of gender change in children. I sent a similar bill, SF 144, Chloe’s law – children gender change prohibition out to a committee.

I did not see the need to spend time debating two similar bills.

I thought SF 144 had a more appropriate policy position, and I sent it to the Appropriations Committee to be vetted. The bill was passed out of committee continued from page A2 with a “Do Not Pass” recommendation, but is available for debate if the Majority Floor Leader so chooses.

SF 143, Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act is virtually the same bill as HB 194, which would have created an education savings account (ESA).

An ESA account is similar to a school voucher system, giving parents state money to put their children in private schools or homeschool. However, HB 194 died in the House Education Committee.

The committee heard this bill once, and it failed. There was no need to waste time hearing the bill twice. I do not support this bill because I believe it is unconstitutional, and it is a major policy shift for the state of Wyoming.

I do believe this issue will be taken up as an interim topic in the Joint Education Committee, where the idea can be fully vetted.

Senate Joint Resolution 0001, Amending Wyoming’s act of admission for leases and earnings would request Congress introduce a bill and enact a law to amend Wyoming’s Act of Admission.

It changes the very language which made Wyoming a state, and I have serious concerns about its consequences. I believe it is a bad precedent to alter the document that created our statehood.

Bills not sent to committee

Bills I also did not send to committee included HB 0162, County optional tax – affordable housing, which would have allowed a county to impose a real-estate transfer tax; HB 0193 – Carbon capture energy standardsrepeal, which would have gutted Wyoming’s carbon capture policy and HB 0115, Elections administration, which would have taken away election administration authority from the Secretary of State.

The Wyoming Constitution allows the legislature to meet in session for only 60 working days over two years. This time constraint is by design and helps curtail frivolous bills being debated over a lengthy period.

I will continue to do my best to keep us focused in the brief time remaining in the session.

Albert Sommers is the Wyoming Legislature Speaker of the House and Republican representative for Wyoming House District 20. He can be reached by visiting wyoleg.gov

Another round of aerial slaughter of estray cattle in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico came to an end on Feb. 28. Over a three-day operation, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), with a contracted Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services shooter reported to have killed 19 head.

As stated in a Feb. 28 release from the Gila National Forest (GNF), the entire project area was searched by naked eye and thermal imagery, and no additional cattle were seen. Temporary closure of the operation area ended on March 1.

“What a waste of taxpayers’ money,” said New Mexico Cattle Growersʼ Association (NMCGA) President Loren Patterson. “Reporting 19 head killed over several days of flight shows the USFS has absolutely no idea

Concludes Aerial Gunning

about actual herd numbers in the wilderness, and has no evidence to support its claims a herd of 150 head was causing dire terror and environmental damage. The environmental organization the USFS apparently listens to has failed it.”

In a Feb. 28 press release, GNF Supervisor Camille Howes expressed their commitment to working collaboratively with the ranching community saying, “GNF will continue to coordinate with permittees in their efforts to locate, gather and remove their branded cattle from areas where they are not authorized.”

This statement of willingness to coordinate and cooperate falls flat, however, because for over a year, NMCGA has met with USFS on a monthly basis to offer solutions to avoid lethal aeri-al slaughter. The USFS was not interested, preferring aerial slaughter to any other approach.

Solutions NMCGA offered included a request to give a recent New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) directive a year to show whether it would be effective. The directive would authorize any valid allotment owner within the GNF and the Gila Wilderness to gather unbranded cattle, hold them for proper inspection and purchase them from NMLB.

Another proposal was to ask USFS to allocate funds to repair existing infrastructure in the wilderness to facilitate the humane gathering of cattle. Those facilities would aid in holding captured cattle as well as serve a useful purpose for the use of bait traps with salt blocks, water or feed.