Legislative and agriculture issues will be presented at the 2017 Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Meeting. The meeting will be Feb. 2-3 at the Little America Hotel in Cheyenne. Held annually to coincide with the legislative session, the meeting provides Farm Bureau members the opportunity to meet with their legislators one-on-one and receive updates on current issues.

            The meeting begins Thursday, Feb. 2 with registration at 11 a.m. and a noon luncheon. If their schedules permit, House Agriculture Committee Chair Representative Robert McKim and Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Larry Hicks will address the members during the noon luncheon.

            At 1:30 p.m. David Willms with Governor Mead’s Office will discuss delisting the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species listing and the Western Governors Association’s efforts to update the ESA. Thursday’s afternoon activities also include legislative briefings from WyFB lobbyists and membership awards.

            Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. provides the one-on-one visits with legislators during a joint “Legislative Reception” supported by the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation and the Wyoming Rural Electric Association.

            A Governor’s proclamation signing ceremony will begin the day Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 a.m. Governor Mead will be signing a proclamation for “Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week” which is held in March. The proclamation signing is a project of the WyFB Young Farmer & Rancher Committee’s Ag Books for Kids program.

Friday morning’s speaker’s forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. with Representative Hans Hunt discussing his work on President Trump’s agricultural transition team. At 9:30 a.m., Jeff Edwards with the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will talk about changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Worker Protection Standards. The FDA’s Veterinary Feed Directive will be the final topic presented at 10:45 a.m. by Wyoming State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Logan.

View agenda at wyfb.org. For more information, contact Julie Johnson-Doyle at juliejohnson@wyfb.org or 307-721-7723.

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agriculture organization. The primary goals of the federation are to protect private property rights and help members achieve an equitable return on their investment. Visit www.wyfb.org.

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2017 Legislative Meeting Agenda

February 2-3, 2017

Little America Hotel & Resort – Cheyenne, Wyoming

Thursday, February 2

8:00 a.m.         WyFB Board of Directors Meeting – Casper Room

11:00 a.m.       Registration – Lobby

Noon              Luncheon – Wyoming Room – Sponsored by Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance

                        Marinated grilled flank steak with house-made steak sauce, pan-seared tilapia with mango salsa, garden & Caesar salads, Chef’s choice vegetables and dessert

Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance – Stacy Berger, WyFB YF&R State Chair

Schedules permitting, House Agriculture Committee Chair Representative Robert McKim and                              Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Larry Hicks will speak.

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All Meeting Activities will take place in the Wyoming Room on Thursday                                                      

                                   1:30 p.m.         Speaker – David Willms, Governor Matt Mead’s Office – Delisting the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species listing, and Western Governors Association’s efforts to update the ESA       

2:15 p.m.         President’s Comments – Todd Fornstrom, WyFB President

2:30 p.m.         Membership Awards – Tim Pexton, WyFB State Membership Chair

2:45 p.m.         Legislative Issues – Ken Hamilton & Brett Moline, WyFB Lobbying Team

                                  4:00 p.m.         Sheep Committee                                                      

6:30 p.m.        Legislative Reception – Grand Ballroom C – Cash bar; hot & cold hors d’oeuvres

Hot & cold hors d’oeuvres co-hosted by Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation & Wyoming Rural Electric Association; Open bar hosted by WREA.

** Hosted by Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation & Wyoming Rural Electric Association **

Friday, February 3

                                  7:30 a.m.         Governor’s proclamation signing – Jonah Business Cntr. Wyoming Agricultural Literacy Week

2017 Speakers Forum – Wyoming Room

Master of Ceremonies – Todd Fornstrom, WyFB President

                                   8:30 a.m.         Speaker – Representative Hans Hunt Discussion on his work with President Donald Trump’s agricultural transition team

                                   9:30 a.m.         Speaker – Jeff Edwards, UW College of Ag Changes to the EPA’s Worker Protection Standard rule

10:30 a.m.       Break – Refreshments, pastries

           10:45 a.m.       10:45 a.m.  Speaker – Dr. Jim Logan, Wyoming State Veterinarian FDA’s Veterinary Feed Directive

           11:45 a.m.       Adjourn

**Thank you for joining us for the WyFB 2017 Legislative Meeting – please drive safely going home!**