Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY) has commended the Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative working group and its leader Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director Doug Miyamoto for taking action to identify key focus areas and move toward a public input phase.
“On behalf of Wyoming’s ag community, my whole-hearted thanks goes out to Director Miyamoto and all the members of the initiative working group for moving quickly,” Governor Gordon said. “Their efforts and that of the ag community is vital to strengthening the core industry that feeds our families and our nation. Together we are building on a legacy of innovation and resilience to create financial and educational opportunities while leveraging research to support local producers.”
Announced in mid-October during halftime of the University of Wyoming’s Ag-Energy Day tribute, the group’s forward-thinking mission statement is backed by focus area considerations:
The Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative: Building on a Legacy of Innovation and Resilience is dedicated to ensuring the future of agriculture in Wyoming by creating financial and educational opportunities, leveraging technology and research, and supporting local producers and natural resource managers for the continued success of agriculture and its contribution to Wyoming’s economy and culture.
Focus areas may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
Beef Imports and Impacts on WY ag industry
Farm and Ranch Financing
Agriculture Water Protection
Water Infrastructure
K-12 Education
Post-secondary Education and Certifications
Producer-driven Research and Technical Assistance Applied Research
Succession Planning, Landscape Conservation, and Diversification
Through The Cowboy State Agricultural Initiative, the Governor’s appointed working group is committed to preserving Wyoming’s agricultural heritage for current and future generations. Members of the group include executive branch advisors, state legislators, county commissioners, agricultural associations’ representatives, University of Wyoming officials, and business leaders
“Agriculture is the backbone and also a large part of the personality of Wyoming. We must seize this chance to steward our industry and leave it better than we found it,” Doug Miyamoto, Wyoming Department of Agriculture Director and Working Group Chairman, said. “The agricultural initiative workgroup has now met three times and we’ve identified things we believe can increase opportunities for Wyoming’s current and future producers.”
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Governor Mark Gordon 2025
