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Legislative meeting and Young Farmers and Ranchers conference set for last week of February. Registration deadline for both is this week.

February 11, 2020

4 Min Read
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A CAPITOL GATHERING: Two Wyoming Farm Bureau groups are heading to Cheyenne the last week of February. Registration deadlines are this week to attend. Denis Tangney Jr./iStock/Getty Images Plus

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation calendar has two major event slated for the last week of February. The first is the Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference Feb. 26-28; the second is the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative meeting Feb. 27-28.

The Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference is packed with a range of educational and informational speakers, a day at the Capitol, a meeting with Wyoming's governor and more. The them this year is "Liberty and Justice for Ag" and the event will be hosted by the WyFB YF&R Committee for farmers and ranchers of all ages. Children are welcome and no membership is required to attend. The event takes place in Cheyenne with the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center as a base.

The conference kicks off at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26. The keynote presentation "Regulatory Impacts on Agriculture; hat to watch for in the coming years" with Harriet Hageman begins at 1 p.m. Hageman is an experienced legal expert in regulatory matters with her firm Hageman Law LLC, including work on a number of water and natural resource matters including "Nebraska v. Wyoming."

The event will follow with a Mock Discussion Meet. This even showcases how young farmers and ranchers can with $500 and a national trip by competing in Farm Bureau's Discussion Meet competition.

There's a "Financial Investments for Future Security Discussion Panel" covering a wide range of topics. Panelists include Jason Bell, Farm Bureau Financial Services agent; Becky Gerlach, Farm Service Agency; Kelly Downer, Farm Credit Services of America; and Mark Fornstrom, Laramie County farmer.

Thursday is a full day at the Capitol with legislative committee meetings, a meeting with Governor Mark Gordon and a tour of the newly renovated Wyoming State Capitol Building. An early morning meeting with senator Cheri Steinmetz offers insight with a question and answer session on the legislative process.

A noon lunch with the WyFB Legislative Meeting will feature (schedule permitting) House Agriculture Committee Chair Representative Hans Hunt and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Brian Boner.   Attendees with join the WyFB Legislative Meeting for afternoon speakers as well as the evening Legislative Mixer that provides one-on-one opportunities to visit with legislators and elected officials.

Registration is $130 per adult by Feb. 13. Learn more at wyfb.org, or call 307-532-2002. Late registrations may be accepted based on availability after Feb. 13 at $180 per adult.

Legislative session

The 2020 WyFB Legislative Meeting is set for Feb. 27-28 at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center in Cheyenne. Held annually to coincide with the legislative session, the meeting provides Farm Bureau members the opportunity to meet with legislators one-on-one and hear about current issues.

The meeting kicks off with a Noon luncheon. If their schedules permit, House Agriculture Committee Chair Representative Hans Hunt and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Brian Boner will address the members during the luncheon.

American Farm Bureau Federation Managing Director of Public Policy Ryan Yates will speak at 1:30 p.m. to provide a national legislative report.  Thursday afternoon activities also include remarks by WyFB President Todd Fornstrom and state legislative briefings from WyFB lobbyists.  Newly appointed Wyoming State Engineer Greg Lanning will speak at 3:15 p.m.

Thursday evening provides the opportunity for one-on-one visits with the legislators and elected officials during a Legislative Mixer produced by the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation and the Wyoming Rural Electric Association.  This event will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Multi-Purpose Building at Frontier Park.

A speaker’s forum on Friday morning, February 28 from 8-11 a.m., will wrap-up the Legislative Meeting.  Governor Mark Gordon has been invited to address the members.  Byron Oedekoven with the Wyoming Sheriffs and Police Association will discuss Hemp and Legalized Marijuana Law Enforcement Issues at 8:45 a.m.  University of Wyoming Extension Director Kelly Crane will speak on funding mechanisms for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at 10:30 a.m.  The final speaker (tentative) will be Dr. Tex Taylor who will discuss Thunder Basin research.

Register for the legislative meeting by emailing [email protected] or call 307-721-7723. Registration requested by Feb. 12.

Hotel information for both events can be made online at redlion.com/red-lion-hotels/wy/cheyenne/red-lion-hotel-conference-center-cheyenne; use group discount code “FARM0226” or call the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center at 307-638-4466.  Please make reservations under the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation block by Feb. 13. 

Source: Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation. The source is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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