Sanchez represents Wyoming producers through position with WSGA

Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) Marketing and Communications Director Olivia Sanchez grew up on a small family farm in Burns where her family raised animals to exhibit at the local county fair. Olivia says she was always trying to find her “place in ag” growing up.

“I didn’t grow up with a big ranching background, but I always had a passion for ag since I was little growing up on a small farm,” she says. “I knew I wanted to represent ag in some capacity.”

Olivia was an active 4-H and FFA member growing up, and she worked for the Laramie County Fair for 10 years, starting in junior high school, and going back summer after summer to help. 

Olivia attended Eastern Wyoming College and received her associate’s degree in education. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in social science in 2015. 

Olivia worked as the marketing coordinator for the Laramie County Fair immediately after college and become the marketing and communications director for WSGA in May of 2018.

Olivia is also a graduate of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cheyenne Program and the Wyoming L.E.A.D. Program. In the fall of 2019, she was named a nominee as a Wyoming Woman of Influence in the nonprofit category.

WSGA position

Olivia handles all of the communication among WSGA members as well as to the general public, and she is editor of WSGA’s CowCountry magazine. Her work includes managing media, coordinating events, reviewing and creating publications and managing membership opportunities.

“I work closely with our executive vice president, WSGA officers and board members to not only share what WSGA is doing and how we’re representing the livestock industry, but also communicating what our office is doing to represent our membership,” she says.

Olivia says her background with the county fair and working with 4-H and FFA members sparked her passion for representing Wyoming ranchers.

“I am able to represent this specific group within WSGA while still getting to do the fun things like marketing the association and helping tell our members’ stories,” she says. “My favorite part, and what really excites me about this position, is being the voice and finding my seat at the table to help Wyoming agriculture to the best of my ability,” Olivia says.

Representing the ag industry

Olivia acknowledges the importance of women in agriculture and says the demographic of women in the ag industry is growing. 

“Representation on all levels, whether it be ranchers to ag business to my role as a woman in ag, I feel like we all have our seat at the table, so now we really need to hone in on that and take advantage of these opportunities,” she says. 

Olivia advises young women in ag to speak up and ask questions to learn more about the industry. 

“Never shy away from learning more in this industry,” she says. “I feel like I learn something new every single day with the people I am surrounded by, whether it be WSGA members, board members or the executive vice president,” she says.

“You always have to be willing to learn and take the extra step to ask questions and be a part of those conversations,” Olivia adds.

Kaitlyn Root is an editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.