Natural assets, water storage, and federal government overreach were among the many topics included in policies adopted at the 105th Annual Meeting of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation (WyFB).   Held Nov. 7-9, 2024 in Casper, Wyo., the meeting is an important step in the grassroots policy development process of the Farm Bureau Federation.  The need for the protection of property rights and individual freedoms resonated through the discussions as Farm Bureau Federation members developed policy.  

“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 that are passed by the voting delegates at each level are discussed again at the district meeting and again at the state meeting. Policies with national implications will proceed to the national convention for consideration.”

Voting delegates expressed their unwavering support of all property rights stressing that natural assets on private land are private property. They passed policy emphasizing this point and expressing opposition to natural processes being listed as a wealth asset or a federal asset.

“The push for natural assets to be monetized and listed as an asset for companies encroaches on property rights, controls lands use and threatens the stability of food production,” Clark said.

“Earlier in 2024, a proposed rule was withdrawn that had attempted to list Natural Asset Companies on the New York Stock Exchange,” she continued. “Then the implementation of the SUSTAINS Act this year brought forth more concerns for the attempt to take land out of production.”

“Our members continue to oppose government overreach that threatens property rights,” Clark said.

Water is vital to agriculture in Wyoming. Farm Bureau Federation members discussed water storage in Wyoming. Water storage is essential to manage this important resource. Voting delegates passed policy asking the state of Wyoming to maximize the storage capacity of existing reservoirs by shaping the bottom terrain to increase the storage capacity within the existing footprint. The policy also requests Wyoming Water Development funds be prioritized for this purpose.

Delegates passed policy regarding potential recreation easements. “Discussion centered around the Bighorn River Blueway Trail and called for any new or expanded recreation easements to be negotiated between the surface landowner and the easement holder,” Clark said.

Delegates raised concerns over abuse of power and overreach of investigative departments of any United States executive branch agencies. This concern moved to the forefront of discussion with recent federal criminal indictments against a ranching family in South Dakota related to a Forest Service allotment.

Regarding agriculture labor, delegates called for support of congressional efforts to freeze the H-2A wage rate at January 2023 levels until a more permanent solution can address the impacts of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate.

WyFB supported Wyoming legislation that passed in 2024 for state land payments to be accepted based on postmark dates. This action led to a policy calling for all state agencies to accept applications, forms and/or payments based on postmark date instead of date of receipt. 

In a related discussion about postmark dates and postal services, members adopted policy supporting keeping regional mail facilities in the state of Wyoming.

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation has always stood on the principles of individual freedoms, the competitive enterprise system and constitutional government. “Our members strongly believe individual freedoms and market driven solutions are vital to keeping our communities strong,” Clark concluded.  

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general agriculture organization. The purpose of the 105th annual meeting held Nov. 7-9, 2024, was to develop policy to guide the organization in the coming year.  Visit www.wyfb.org.

The mission of the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation is to represent the voices of Wyoming farmers and ranchers through grassroots policy development while focusing on protecting private property rights, strengthening agriculture, and supporting farm and ranch families through advocacy, education, and leadership development.