New leadership Casper native named executive director of Public Lands Council

Published on Feb. 1, 2020

The Public Lands Council (PLC), a national trade association representing 22,000 ranchers who raise cattle and sheep on federal land, announced on Jan. 27 that Kaitlynn Glover joined the organization as its executive director.

            In this role, Glover will serve as the chief lobbyist for the organization, representing cattle and sheep producers in western states on resource issues affecting their operations. 

            The robust legislative and regulatory portfolio focuses on protecting grazing on federal land, and includes the Clean Water Act, tax policy, the Endangered Species Act, property rights, and other matters that affect livestock production in the West.

            Glover will also lead the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) natural resources policy portfolio in the organization’s Washington, D.C. office.

Public Lands Council 

            “The skill set I bring to the table is experience with coalition building and forging a path forwarded from policy positions and priorities,” says Glover. “When I joined PLC and NCBA I wanted to build on their work with coalition building and finding common ground with other public lands user groups.” 

            She continues, “My position is to carry out the intent of executive priorities that the volunteer officer team sets for myself, as well as the staff here in D.C. Those priorities may change depending on current events, but my goal is to focus policy priorities and make those priorities a reality.” 

            Her duties with NCBA stem from the two organizations likeminded causes. 

            “PLC represents cattle and sheep producers who graze on public land, obviously there are limited places in the U.S. with public lands grazing,” she says. “PLC is affiliated with NCBA because they can represent cattleman, including those public grazers in the west, on a number of issues.” 

            She continues, “They are very distinct organizations but work well to represent public lands interests for livestock producers.”

Goals 

            “I share a passion, history and background with the members of the public lands council,” says Glover. “Ranching itself is often a shared heritage.” 

            “Its only the beginning of my time here but I hope to leave a mark on PLC,” she explains. “My goal is for the members and officers of PLC to have a better relationship and be in a better position with other users of public lands.” 

            She continues, “Public lands resources are at their best when they are at their healthies and ranchers are the best stewards of these lands. Working with other user groups is critical to make sure we have a full view of what public lands health look like to ensure a strong future for ranching in states where public lands grazing is critical to ranching operations.”

            “I am excited to join a strong team and we are available and accessible to any ranchers who are affiliates, we are excited for the days ahead,” she says.

Background 

            Glover is a native of Casper and lifelong agriculturalist. 

            “I got my high school diploma at Natrona County High School and did my undergraduate at University of Wyoming where I got a degree in agricultural communications and minors in international agricultural economics and farm and ranch management.” 

            Following her undergraduate degree, Glover moved to Ireland to pursue a masters in agriscience in innovative support. Her research was focused on how farmers made decisions and the factors that influence decision making. 

            “My thesis looked at record keeping technology and all the factors that effect a producer and causes them to take a certain path,” says Glover. “This has been very applicable to my career as a whole.” 

            Aside from her formal education in agriculture, Glover has a lifetime of experience with agriculture from growing up in Wyoming. 

            “I grew up surrounded by cattle and horses,” says Glover. “When I was going through school I worked on a feedlot and spent a lot of time around cow/calf operations.”  

            Glover was also an FFA member and obtained the prestigious American FFA Degree. In addition, she was a member of Sigma Alpha Sorority, the national agriculture sorority and was an agriculture ambassador. 

            Once she finished her education, she was hired by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) as an agriculture and natural resources and tribal policy advisor. 

            “In that role I had to interpret information for a number of groups that would bring issues to the table,” she explains. “My educational background in understanding how people make decisions was extremely helpful in my policy career.” 

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