The State Fair Times

WSF Seeks Individuals to Fill Open Job Positions

The Wyoming State Fair (WSF) is a celebration of agriculture and the Western way of life, and it wouldn’t be possible without the hardworking superintendents and coordinators who work behind the scenes to make the fair a success.

“These individuals are the backbone of the fair, working tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the event runs smoothly,” states Courtny Conkle, WSF general manager.

Conkle notes the WSF Board is currently seeking individuals to fill several open superintendent and coordinator positions for the 2023 WSF, including a youth beef superintendent, youth beef coordinator, youth poultry superintendent, open beef superintendent, open culinary superintendent, open crafted arts coordinator, open visual

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Legislative Conference is specifically designed to give U.S. cattle producers a chance to visit Capitol Hill and speak directly to members of Congress on current concerns in the agriculture industry.

“They are able to brief members of Congress on the things that are important to them and their states – things they really need to be paying attention to,” she says. “They get to sit down and tell their stories to individuals who are part of the regulatory process, which is so impactful.”

Rivera further notes one of the overarching concerns she heard from producers during the conference related to priorities in the upcoming farm bill.

“Some of these priorities include voluntary conservation and how producers are the best stewards of the land, maintaining and furthering funding for ani- mal health provisions and making sure disaster and risk management programs will continue to be available to producers down the road,” she explains.

“We have a great staff here at NCBA, and we spend a lot of time on the Hill sharing producer stories. But, nothing beats hearing directly from cattle producers,” she continues.

“I know it is hard for them to leave their farms and ranches, but it really does matter when they come to town, and it is extremely impactful.”

Celebrating conservation

On the last day of the conference, NCBA held their Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) Reception and Award Ceremony, where they announced Carter Cattle Company, LLC of Pintlala, Ala. as the 2022 National ESAP Award winner.

The operation was

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Students can earn multiple agriculture related certifications through classroom theory and direct experience working in a ranch environment, including operating equipment, managing livestock, fencing, carpentry, range management, water management, community relations and much more.

“WyoTech’s hands-on ranching program has students eating, breathing and sleeping the ranch life,” their website reads. “This will be an experience like none other, where students will be responsible for all aspects of the ranch.”

WyoTech contin- arts coordinator, open floriculture and horticulture coordinator and exhibit office superintendent.

“If you’re looking to get more involved with WSF and have the skills and passion to help make the livestock shows or exhibits even more amazing, we want to hear from you,” says Conkle. “We’re currently seeking highlymotivated, organized individuals with good attention to detail who are comfortable working with people of all ages in a fast-paced, positive environment.”

Livestock superintendents

According to Conkle, livestock superintendents are contracted positions, running the course of Aug. 12-20.

From Aug. 12-14, superintendents will be responsible for pre-fair duties including set-up selected from a group of six other regional winners who were recognized during the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans in February.

These regional winners include Lamb Farms, Inc. of Oakfield, N.Y.; Huth Polled Herefords and S&H Livestock Enterprises, LLC of Oakfield, Wis.; Parks Ranch of Goliad County, Texas; Mannix Brothers Ranch of Helmville, Mont.; Fulstone Ranches of Smith, Nevada and Jorgensen Land and Cattle Partnership of Ideal, S.D.

NCBA explains the award annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers throughout the country who work daily to improve public and private lands and run sustainable businesses.

During the ceremony, NCBA President Todd Wilkinson stated, “Carter Cattle Company is an excellent example of how cattle preparation and assigning stalls and pens for fair week.

From Aug. 15-19, superintendents are responsible for running and managing shows and live exhibits, checking in and stalling animals, facilitating market animal weighins, breaking up market animal classes, judging, assisting as a clerk during judging, handing out ribbons and awards, recording show placings, supervising the release of entries and completing a Superintendent’s Report.

Open static superintendents

Like livestock superintendents, the open static superintendent position is contracted for the length of Aug. 12-20.

On Aug. 12, these superintendents will be responsible for check- producers across the country undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources. The Carters are keenly focused on conserving natural resources for future generations.”

Dr. Will Carter expressed his gratitude while accepting the award.

“It is an honor and lifelong dream to receive this award and extremely humbling. We are in the cat- ing and preparing display areas, taking exhibit entries and printing tags for online entries.

On Aug. 14, open static superintendent duties include judging, assisting as a clerk during judging, placing ribbons and rosettes on items after judging and recording class placings. After judging, they will be responsible for ensuring entries are neatly arranged in appropriate display areas.

Over the course of the fair, Aug. 15-19, these individuals will be in charge of exhibit hall supervision, which includes locking and unlocking the exhibit hall during daily viewing hours – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. – and coordinating supervision hours to ensure there is at least one person staffing the hall at all times.

On Aug. 20, open tle business, but we are in the grass business first. Our job is to manage the grass and allocate it to the cattle that then take the resource and produce something of greater value,” he said.

“I think the biggest take away from the ceremony was the fact our producers are the best stewards of the land and how important it is for them, particularly the winners from the great state of Alabama,” Rivera notes static superintendents will help with supervising the release of entries and will be required to complete a Superintendent’s Report.

Job applications in the podcast. ues, “This will not be a typical agriculture program, where theory leads with very little hands-on experience. This will be hands-on, with the theory being explained as students drive to and from the ranch, or after feeding, or it’s too cold to be out fixing fences, or at night while they are paying bills for the ranch.”

Applications for these open positions are now open, and Conkle highly encourages interested individuals to apply today.

“These are paid positions, and we’re excited to partner with you to make the 2023 WSF the best one yet,” she says.

Applications can be submitted to wystatefair. com/superintendent-andcoordinator/. For more information on the open positions, contact the WSF Office at 307-358-2398.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

“Sometimes, it is hard to break through those Washington, D.C. bubbles, so it was great to hold the event here and be able to showcase what producers are out there doing every day to a wide array of agency officials and Hill staffers,” she concludes.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

“The thing that excites me the most about the new ranch program is the fact it is skills-based,” said Che Balcom, Wyoming Ranch Training instructor. “We have been taught to sit down and be quiet in the classroom, and this is going to be a very different style.”

For more information on WyoTech’s Ranch Operations Program, visit ranching.wyotech.edu.

Involvement and funding

The Ranch Operations Program costs $25,000, which does not include the cost of housing, food or living expenses. Although the program is not federally accredited to receive financial aid, WyoTech notes agriculture, trade and other scholarships can be used to assist with funding.

Individuals interested in the program can find more information at ranching.wyotech.edu. To view housing available at WyoTech, visit wyotech. edu/housing Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.