2026 Ambassadors: College students promote beef via WYBAP
The Wyoming Beef Ambassador Program (WYBAP) has selected five students from the University of Wyoming (UW) to represent and promote the beef industry throughout 2026.
Sponsored by Wyoming CattleWomen (WCW), WYBAP is an annual program providing Wyoming college students with the opportunity to educate consumers and fellow students about the beef industry while growing their personal and professional skills.
The 2026 ambassadors were appointed during the 2025 Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) Annual Winter Roundup Convention and Trade Show and will complete their terms in December 2026.
Program goals
WYBAP is a program for students 18 to 26 years of age who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at any college or university throughout Wyoming.
The year-long program provides an avenue for college students to educate consumers and fellow students about nutrition, food safety and stewardship practices in the beef industry.
Ambassadors work in person and online to tell their beef production story, educating consumers about the production chain and promoting the good image of ranching.
In addition to increasing education, WYBAP equips young people with opportunities to develop professional and personal skills including leadership, communication and self-confidence which will serve them throughout their terms, lives and eventual careers.
WYBAP Director Nicki Nimlos notes the program has been revitalized in recent years after a hiatus beginning in the early 2000s, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We wanted to get WYBAP going again to increase the general public’s understanding about the importance of ranching,” Nimlos says, emphasizing the critical role ranching plays in land management, ecosystem health and food security.
“People don’t think of Wyoming as a place where we need to advocate for beef, but we need to advocate for beef everywhere – even in places like Wyoming,” Nimlos continues.
Ambassador duties
Throughout the duration of their term, ambassadors are required to lead four educational events of their choosing.
Students are allowed flexibility in choosing which events to host, as long as all events are aimed at promoting beef and properly documented with photos and written reports.
Potential events include hosting an informational booth on campus or at the Wyoming State Fair, promoting beef through presentations in kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, passing out brochures during local community events and more.
Ambassadors must also maintain an active social media presence advocating for the industry and are encouraged to complete Beef Quality Assurance and the Master of Beef Advocacy Program.
After their term is complete, ambassadors will have a better understanding of the beef industry and possess necessary skills to continue promoting ranching throughout their lives.
At the end of their term, WYBAP ambassadors are allowed and encouraged to apply for the National Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program in order to take their skills nationwide.
New ambassadors
Five UW students, including one freshman and four juniors, were selected to serve as the 2026 WYBAP ambassadors. Their duties will begin in February.
Sean Frost is a freshman from California studying ranch management and ag leadership.
Braley Smith of Laramie is a junior studying ag business with a concentration in livestock management.
Klacie Groene of Torrington is a junior studying ag communications, and Hattie Nelson of Lusk is a junior studying finance and marketing.
Sarah Liepold of Arvada, Colo. is a junior studying ag business with a concentration in livestock management.
A panel of judges consisting of Nimlos, WCW President Becky Langley, WCW Parliamentarian Leslee Lohrenz, Meredith Volquardsen and Leslie Hendry, original program director for the first-ever WYBAP, evaluated the contestants across three categories.
Students were scored on their level of professionalism in speech and dress, a presentation detailing their interest in WYBAP and leadership and an issue response question regarding controversial topics in the beef industry.
All five ambassadors will be awarded a cash prize based on their performance and outreach following the completion of their terms in December 2026.
Applications for WYBAP are due in early November every year and can be completed online with more information made available as the deadline approaches annually.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
