Farm Bureau members in Carbon and Albany counties gathered in late June for their annual county meetings, with events showcasing strong local leadership, support for youth programs and discussions on ag policy. 

In Laramie, the Albany County Ranch & Farm Bureau Federation hosted their annual meeting June 27 at the Eppson Center for Seniors. Around 45 members attended the event, which featured scholarship presentations, officer elections and a presentation highlighting the recent successes of local FFA chapters. 

Jesse Garson received the county’s Top Hand Award for outstanding service, and three local students were honored with scholarships. Members of the Snowy Range FFA Chapter shared plans for their upcoming trip to the National FFA Convention, drawing applause for their enthusiasm and preparation. 


During the business portion of the meeting, members approved all proposed resolutions and elected new officers to begin serving in November 2025. John Wetstein was elected president, Todd Christensen vice president, and new board members include Heather Alexander, Jack Corson, Candy Hayes and Thaddeus Christensen. 

Dr. Derek Scasta, University of Wyoming Extension range specialist, delivered a presentation titled “Is Bigger Better When It Comes to Cow Size?” Scasta emphasized the role of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) in herd management and argued that more moderate cow sizes are often better suited to Wyoming’s rangelands. 

In Saratoga, the Carbon County Ranch & Farm Bureau Federation held their annual meeting June 24 at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort, with a similar turnout of around 45 members. All current officers were re-elected: Kyle Berger as president, Quade Palm as vice president, and Stacy Berger as secretary/treasurer. 

Attendees heard a keynote from meteorologist Don Day, who returned with his ever-popular presentation, “It’s Weather, Not Climate.” Day touched on federal climate policy shifts, including the recent executive order restoring “Gold Standard Science” and moving away from outdated climate modeling. After the meeting, members were able to mingle and compete in a corn hole tournament. 

In addition, the Wyoming Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher (YF&R) Committee met May 27-28 in Lander. The two-day meeting focused on program planning, outreach efforts and leadership development. 

The committee approved plans for a new Pen Pal program connecting farmers and ranchers with elementary classrooms and worked on details for the 2026 leadership conference—a joint event with Colorado Farm Bureau. Members also reviewed the 2026 Ag Books for Kids selection, Kindergarten Cowman, and proposed updates to youth contest formats. 

The meeting concluded with a StrengthsFinder workshop led by American Farm Bureau Federation’s Maegan Meredith and a team-building hike in Sinks Canyon. 

These meetings offered more than reports and updates—they marked the starting point for grassroots policy work in each county. Creating space for members to share ideas and set priorities, this process remains the foundation of Farm Bureau’s strength across Wyoming.