Livestock identification, wildfire response, water protection and election integrity were among the many topics addressed in policy adopted at the 106th Annual Meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB). Held in Gillette November 13-15, the meeting continued the grassroots policy development process that shapes the organization’s advocacy work each year.  

“Our grassroots policy development process provides a solid foundation for the advocacy work we do for our members,” said Kerin Clark, WyFB Executive Vice President. “The work we do is guided by a process that begins with members discussing policy issues of concern at their county meetings. Those resolutions passed at the county level are forwarded to the district level. Those passing the district phase are discussed and voted on at the state level.” 

Livestock branding and disease traceability were major areas of discussion. Delegates reaffirmed Wyoming’s brand program should remain the primary form of identification for livestock ownership and health tracking. 

“Wyoming Farm Bureau member policy has long supported retaining traditional methods of livestock identification with the option for voluntary, market driven solutions,” Clark said. “Members spoke up to continue recognizing the importance of Wyoming brand law and its use to identify livestock and trace disease, emphasizing brands have been the identification for livestock for over a century and want to ensure that system continues.” 

Wildfires across Wyoming over the past two years brought forward significant discussion about suppression, coordination and post-fire reclamation. Members stressed the importance of working partnerships between landowners, grazing permittees and state and federal agencies. 

“The impact wildfires this summer and last had on the resources and private landowners were top of mind,” Clark said. “Working partnerships are crucial as landowners and livestock grazing permittees work the land and have important knowledge and tools to work with federal and state land managers to fight the fires.” 

Clark added that financial responsibility after fires remains a concern. “Reclamation post-fire is also a key consideration for the land and those landowners impacted by fires,” she said. “Members expressed concern with the financial responsibility of reclamation on private lands due to suppression and containment lines built on private lands to fight fire on federal lands.” She noted that members also stressed that coal seam–caused surface fires should fall under the responsibility of land management agencies. 

Water use and energy development surfaced in several policy discussions. Delegates reaffirmed opposition to producing hydrogen fuel from Wyoming water. 

“Our members reaffirmed policy opposing the production of hydrogen fuel from water in Wyoming expressing the concern of preferred water uses being impacted,” Clark said. 

Members also adopted policy requesting temporary or long-term storage of radioactive materials occur only in the county where it was generated or outside the state, reflecting long-standing concerns about importing radioactive waste. 

Election integrity and access were another priority as delegates voiced strong support for maintaining in-person voting and local precinct polling places. 

“Support of in-person voting and the ability for citizens to travel to local precinct polling places led to policy opposing voting centers,” Clark said. 

Members also weighed in on utility policies that affect daily life across the state. “Living in a windy state where red flag warnings are not uncommon led to members expressing opposition to power companies cutting power during those times,” Clark said. 

Delegates also discussed taxation related to government-owned lands, supporting the position that only improvements—not the land itself—should be subject to property tax. 

“Discussion following a court decision regarding leasing state-owned land for a private company’s use led WyFB members to ask for only improvements on government owned lands, not the land, to be taxed,” Clark said. 

Proposed fuel tax increases and questions about WYDOT funding led delegates to call for a closer review of the agency’s spending. 

“Earlier this year talk of proposed fuel tax increases and talk about shortfalls for WyDOT’s road maintenance led to policy discussion on fuel taxes and tolling,” Clark said. “Farm Bureau policy has long opposed increases to taxes which led to a resolution asking for an efficiency review into how the Department of Transportation is spending their money.” 

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation continues its commitment to the principles that guide its grassroots work. The policies adopted at the annual meeting will direct the organization’s efforts in the coming year as WyFB remains focused on its mission: Strengthening Wyoming agriculture, enhancing Wyoming communities.