Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation News Release -- November 15, 2005

CONTACT: Kerin Clark, WyFB Media and Member Relations Director, 307.532.2002 or kclark@wyfb.org 

 Herman Strand receives Farm Bureau Leadership Award

             Casper -- Herman Strand, of Casper, was awarded the 2005 Farm Bureau Leadership Award at the 86th annual meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB) held Nov. 10-12.  The award is given to those who have dedicated their time and talents to the betterment of Farm Bureau and Wyoming agriculture.  Strand has provided leadership to the Wyoming Farm Bureau for over 30 years. 

            �The Wyoming Farm Bureau is proud to have a friend like Herman Strand,� Outgoing President Karen Henry said when presenting the award. �We appreciate all Herman has done for this organization.�

            Herman served as county president of the Natrona County Farm & Ranch Bureau for many years.  His wife, Karen, has also been active at the county level.  Statewide, Strand served as the Natural and Environmental Resources Committee Chair and as a member of the WyFB sheep committee.  Herman and Karen have been very involved in Farm Bureau�s policy development process over the years.  They sustain a cow/calf and sheep operation in two counties with the home base being on the Kendrick Project south of Casper.  They also raise irrigated hay.

            In addition to Farm Bureau, Strand also serves on the county Weed and Pest board and the Natrona County Casper Alcova Irrigation District.

            Strand has provided leadership at many meetings and different opportunities to protect the agriculture industry in Wyoming.  However, he doesn�t confine himself to just helping rural Wyoming. 

            When rural Mississippi needed help; he answered the call.  Hurricane Katrina wiped out all the fences in southern Mississippi and livestock were left wandering.  Traveling to New Orleans to help his son gather belongings, Strand was presented with an opportunity to do more than write a check.  He and his son delivered 400 fence posts and 27 rolls of barbed wire, donated by the county Farm Bureau, to the Simpson County Farm Bureau in Mississippi.

            According to Strand, �When you come from the country you come from the country.  It doesn�t matter whether it�s Wyoming country or Mississippi country; there is always a connection when people from the country meet.�

            �The people of Wyoming Farm Bureau always go that extra mile to make sure their community and their country are places people are proud to call home,� Perry Livingston, WyFB President, said.  �We proudly recognize and thank Herman Strand as an outstanding Farm Bureau leader�

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