CHEYENNE – Stacia Berry was recently named Deputy Director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) and will start on July 6, 2015.
A fourth generation Wyomingite with deep roots in agriculture, Berry brings a wealth of experience as a lawyer and lifelong advocate for agriculture to the WDA.
[EasyDNNGallery|2070|Width|350|Height|350|position|left|resizecrop|False|lightbox|False|title|False|description|False|redirection|False|LinkText||]“We are incredibly happy and excited to have Stacia join us at the Wyoming Department of Agriculture,” said Doug Miyamoto, Director of the WDA. “With her strong ag background and legal experience, she will bring a unique skill set and fresh perspective to our department that will help us navigate through the challenges the ag industry faces in Wyoming.”
“I am humbled and excited to have the opportunity to serve citizens in the state as Deputy Director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture,” said Berry. “While I have spent the majority of my career as an attorney, my ties have always been to Wyoming and the agriculture industry.”
Most recently, Berry was an attorney with Hagemen Law P.C. in Cheyenne. In this position, her areas of practice were water, natural resources, and private property. She drafted and defended petitions to the Wyoming State Board of Control, facilitated Irrigation District monthly business and court filings, drafted and executed contracts and agreements, and presented speeches on Water and Natural Resource topics. Along with this, she serves as the Executive Director of the Wyoming Conservation Alliance.
Prior to this, she worked at the Defender Aid Program at the University of Wyoming, was a National Needs Fellow at Colorado State University, Workshop Writer and Presenter for the National FFA organization and was the National FFA Secretary. While working in all of these positions and to this day, Berry remains active in her family’s livestock operation raising horned Hereford cattle which was homesteaded north of Cheyenne more than 100 years ago. She is a devoted advocate for agriculture and to the citizens of this State who are committed to being stewards of the land and producing this nation’s food and fiber.
“Agriculture is a key piece of Wyoming’s identity and economy,” said Berry. “I believe it is an industry and a way of life that is worth fighting for.”
Berry was an active member of the State and National FFA organizations and received the title s of State and National Champion Extemporaneous Speaker State and National Champion Parliamentary Procedure Team, State Champion and Third High Individual National Poultry Judge, and State Championship titles in Creed Speaking and Prepared Speaking. Berry has also earned several awards and acclaim, including being recognized as the University of Wyoming Outstanding Graduating Female “Spitaleri Award,” Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Senior Female, College of Agriculture: Ag Ambassador President, Voir Dire Contest Winner, Wyoming Young Lawyers Board member, and National Collegiate FFA Agriculture Ambassador.
“Stacia’s outgoing personality, work ethic, legal background and deep knowledge of ag and natural resources will help the WDA do the best work in the ever growing policy review side of the WDA,” said Miyamoto. “She is passionate about agriculture, has worked hard for the state’s agriculture industry, and knows Wyoming and the challenges we face. I am sure she will be an exemplary Deputy Director at the WDA.”
Berry received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wyoming in 2008, a Master of Agricultural Science Degree from Colorado State University in 2009, and graduated from the University Of Wyoming College Of Law with a Juris Doctorate in May 2012. She is admitted to practice law in Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska.
She and her husband Travis Koch live in Cheyenne and enjoy working on the family ranch, time in the mountains and traveling.
For more information on the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, visit http://agriculture.wyo.gov.
Source: Wyoming Department of Agriculture
