Panel discusses Food Freedom Act
A group of local producers discussed the benefits of the Wyoming Food Freedom Act in a panel discussion during the Rocky Mountain Farmer’s Union (RMFU) Annual Convention, held Nov. 20-22, 2025 at the Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne.
Panelists included Hanne Wellborn, BJ Edwards, Justin Latham, Christine Hampshire, Adam Bunker and LeAnn Miller, and questions were facilitated by RMFU Membership Coordinator Sara Mayer.
The conversation covered a range of topics including background on the legislation, as well as the many advantages it has afforded small producers in terms of increasing access to fresh foods in their communities, creating business opportunities and supporting local economies.
About the act
The conversation kicked off with an explanation of the Food Freedom Act, including a brief history of the bill and the legislation’s background.
The act allows residents of Wyoming to produce homemade goods and sell them within state lines under a different set of regulations than traditional commercial production requirements.
“The purpose of the act is to promote local food production and sales and create exemptions from licensure, certification and inspection for certain
homemade foods,” explained Latham, division manager for consumer health services at the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA).
The act was first passed in 2015 and has undergone a series of amendments in the decade since, with modifications in recent years allowing for the sale of products like farm-raised fish, rabbits, eggs, dairy and meat products in alignment with state standards and certain federal exemptions, in addition to canned and baked goods.
Latham emphasized, although the act functions off of exemptions, there are still certain rules and regulations which help to ensure food safety standards.
Regulators in local health departments and WDA act as “tour guides” to answer questions about the act and work with producers to foster education.
“We can be their tour guides and show them how to do it legally and expand their business,” Latham said.
Expanding access
Panelists agreed the Food Freedom Act has been instrumental in expanding small businesses and increasing access to fresh, locally-produced food throughout Wyoming.
A primary benefit has been the ability to market homemade foods through brick-and-mortar storefronts as well as online platforms.
These provisions allow producers to reach wider audiences, cut down on food waste and secure a profit without having to invest in expenses like costly production kitchens or professional staff.
Storefront access allows producers a safe and streamlined location to reach customers.
“The storefront has created so many benefits for local producers, and it wouldn’t be possible without the Food Freedom Act,” Hampshire said of her market, Cross E Dairy and Freedom Foods, which is located in Sheridan.
In addition to ease of sales, Hampshire also emphasized the act’s impact on quality assurance.
She explained the ability to sell through a storefront allows her to keep production flowing all year long and eliminates freshness concerns thanks to consistent refrigeration rather than having to travel long distances to farmers markets with milk in coolers.
“I used to have to drive an hour to town and spend several hours at the market with milk in coolers,” Hampshire said. “I feel a lot more comfortable now that I can take it to the store and put it in a refrigerator. I can get milk to my customers four days a week and make multiple deliveries so they always have the freshest product possible.”
Miller further commented upon the act’s impact on Eat Wyoming, an online farmers market platform which works to connect local producers with citizens across the state and expand access to local food.
Miller explained Wyoming’s rural nature, vast geographical area and arid conditions can pose accessibility challenges when it comes to local produce.
With direct-to-consumer provisions outlined in the Food Freedom Act, local producers can use platforms like Eat Wyoming to reach a larger geographical area.
Edwards, executive director of the Wyoming Food Coalition, also noted the legislation’s impact on expanding access to quality food in communities facing food insecurity.
“The connection with local food is really important to helping address hunger in the state,” Edwards stated.
Boosting local economies
Panelists also agreed increased access to local foods results in a boost to the local economy and more money going back to the producer and neighbor.
“On average, across the U.S., only 16 cents of the dollar goes back to the farmer, but at our Freedom Foods market we keep commission low so roughly 85 cents of the dollar goes back into producers’ pockets,” noted Hampshire.
Bunker added the increased variety of products able to be sold thanks to the Food Freedom Act helps bring the “one-stop shop” model of convenience to local food stores and increase customer interest.
“Food Freedom products are a big part of local food stores throughout Wyoming,” Bunker said. “This money comes back to the farmers and ranchers and stays in our communities.”
“When we think about different ways to navigate economic challenges, it goes back to one of those old business sayings that it’s always easier to keep the dollar you have than to earn a new one,” he continued. “When we bring local food production back – especially production of things under the Food Freedom Act – we’re really generating a larger economic impact.”
After reflecting upon the evolution of the Food Freedom Act, panelists remained optimistic about the potential for continued growth in the near future and emphasized continued education, collaboration and advocacy will be instrumental to further success and widespread influence of the act.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
