It’s State Fair Time
Well, it is that time again to head to the State Fair in Douglas. We’ve had an unbelievable summer for most here in Wyoming. Spring and early summer rains were a blessing. Most of us were wondering if it was going to be a really dry summer this year, as we had a hot dry March and early April. But the rains came, and they kept showing up over the horizon. We soon learned why our reservoirs have spillways. We had days where nothing with wheels moved in the country, and we had legs that were tired at the end of the day from plodding around in the mud. Oh, the mud.
We got to watch the grass grow, and for most of the state, except the western parts, it grew like most of us had never seen before. On a negative note, so did the weeds and cheatgrass. If there was a seed or root in the ground, it sprouted this summer.
Now summer is almost a memory, and by the time you read this column the Wyoming State Fair will be in full swing. Wyoming State Fair and Rodeo Director James Goodrich and his staff again have done a great job this year, and we’ve learned it does take a full year’s planning to put on a state fair. Again, there is something for everyone at this year’s fair.
Please stop by the Roundup Tent this year. We’ve grown the tent to house some 19 ag booths and the Wyoming State Fair Hay Show. If you want to learn about new livestock products, trace mineral, ag organizations, livestock vaccines and the University of Wyoming Extension, we’ve got it all in the Roundup Tent. Stop in to learn, visit and pick up up a free bottle of water, donated by your Wyoming Rural Electric Association. We’ll go through some 50 cases of water next week – or more if it is a scorcher out there.
As always, on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 12 we will have the Cattlemen’s Conference, sponsored by the Roundup and Farm Credit Services of America at the Douglas Inn starting with a no-host lunch at 11:30 a.m. The conference will start at 1 p.m. Kelli Griffith from Mountain Plains Agricultural Service will talk about the H-2A issue of their U.S. Labor rulings on foreign workers. This is a serious issue for the ag community these days. Meteorologist Don Day will talk on climate change and what’s in store for the next few months. His talks are always very informative. Our Congressional members will have staff from Washington, D.C. there to visit with us on national issues such as sage grouse, waters of the U.S. and others. These issues are really important to us. Ending the conference will be Zack Walker from the Wyoming Game and Fish on reintroduction of the Black-footed ferret and how Wyoming can accomplish that with the 10(j) rule.
Lastly on Wednesday evening, the Wyoming Ag Hall of Fame Picnic will honor Wayne and Kathy Tatman of Torrington and Shaun and Lacee Sims of Evanston. Also Joni Hutchinson from Evanston will be recognized as the Wyoming Ag in the Classroom Educator of the year. Please join us for a fun evening.
We hope to see you at the Wyoming State Fair this year. Help us honor agriculture by attending the event.
