WLSB director resigns at board meeting
During the Jan. 15 meeting of the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB), board members accepted the resignation of Leanne Correll as director.
While the Board gears up to search for a new director, Doug Miyamoto has been appointed acting director.
His background in Wyoming state government as assistant director over six divisions at the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) gives him the managerial experience necessary to lead the agency in the interim.
“The Board is grateful that WDA Director Fearneyhough is willing to help the WLSB in fulfilling its leadership and supervisory needs,” says Liz Philp, WLSB president.
Director’s time
Correll notes that during her time at the WLSB, she was tasked with implementing positive changes for the organization.
“I enjoyed my time at the WLSB, and we implemented a number of changes to help the agency move forward,” says Correll. “I wish them the best of luck in continuing to move forward in a positive manner.”
While her term as director wasn’t always easy, Correll says she helped to start making some real and positive changes for the agency.
“We should thank Leanne for her service to the WLSB,” remarks Wyoming State Veterinarian Jim Logan. “She has implemented some things that will benefit the livestock industry.”
Logan continues, “We’ll move forward, and the WLSB and staff will strive to continue to serve the industry in a professional matter and to the best of our abilities, as we always have.”
Next steps
In the future, Correll says she will continue to be involved in the ag industry as a lobbyist and consultant.
“I had some projects I was working on at the WSLB that I will continue to fight for,” she notes. “First on that list was the brand inspector salary adjustments. I am committed to doing everything in my power to get our brand inspectors the salary adjustments they deserve.”
Correll notes she will also advocate for the continued computerization of the WLSB.
“I will also continue to be a voice for agriculture in general,” she comments. “I believe in agriculture, and I believe that seeing these things through is the right thing to do.”
As she continues forward, Correll plans to start an agriculture consulting business and do contract work for the industry.
“This allows me a new opportunity,” she says. “I’m excited to see what is next.”
Interim director
A Rawlins native, Miyamoto was educated at the University of Wyoming.
He has previous experience working as the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Liaison to the Western Governor’s Association. Prior to this, he worked as the NRCS Liaison to the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts where he facilitated multiple steering committees through the watershed planning process in Wyoming.
Miyamoto also worked as a NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist, a Research Assistant in Rangeland Ecology at the University of Wyoming and a Water Rights Analyst with the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office.
Since he has been with WDA, he has attended the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee meetings. He was responsible for legislative activities including testimony to various committees of the legislature, reporting fiscal impacts of proposed bills, providing comments on interim activities and bill proposals. He collaborated with agriculture industry groups for special projects and comments on federal actions.
“Doug’s skill as a communicator and friendly personality will be real pluses in his work overseeing the agency,” said Philp.
Other board activity
Also during the board meeting, the WLSB discussed the opportunity to pursue grant funding for traceability projects in the state.
“The grant money would be federal dollars to help people come into compliance with the traceability rule,” says Logan. “We would like to use the money to possibly buy RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, readers and software to get in the hands of veterinarians and the livestock markets to improve the speed of commerce.”
During the meeting, the WLSB opted to establish a working subcommittee of the board, including board members Donna Hunt, Joe Thomas and Kellen Little, as well as USDA APHIS Animal Identification Coordinator Danny Cosner, Logan and Assistant State Veterinarian Thach Winslow.
“They have been holding subcommittee meeting conference calls, and during the full board meeting on Jan. 30, they will give an update,” Logan says. “We hope to better understand the grant proposal and whether or not we should go forward with it.”
Because the grant proposal requires a significant workload for Logan and other WLSB staff, he comments that they will carefully consider the opportunity.
“The bottom line is, we are going to have to do these things one way or another,” Logan explains. “The livestock industry will have to undertake certain efforts to comply with the rule.”
The WLSB will meet on Jan. 30 in Casper.
Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.
