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Governor: Carbon, Sweetwater Counties Oil Play

Governor Matt Mead says the gas play in Carbon and Sweetwater Counties could be significant for economy, needs to be done right

Drilling rig #129 in the Jonah Field near Pinedale Wyoming, operated by Encana Oil and Gas to produce natural gas for American Energy supplies. — Oil and gas drilling rig

Governor Matt Mead says he supports a significant natural gas development in Carbon and Sweetwater Counties, which would create thousands of jobs in Wyoming. Governor Mead sent several comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with ideas to make sure that the project is done in a way that reduces environmental impacts and maximizes production.

“This project could be significant for the economy of Wyoming, creating many valuable jobs and it can produce energy that will power our nation’s economy. But, it all must be done in a way that protects Wyoming’s air, water and wildlife,” Governor Mead said. The project is called the Continental Divide-Creston Natural Gas Development Project (CD-C Project). Operators have proposed a play with 8,950 oil and gas wells.

Several wells are directed to each Central Delivery Point. — Part of the Jonah Oil & Gas Field in Sublette County, Wyoming

In his comments to the BLM Governor Mead noted a problematic situation with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), it does not have a preferred alternative. “The CD-C DEIS is two volumes and more than 900 pages in length (not including the Air Quality Technical Support Document). Without the benefit of knowing the BLM’s preferred alternative, the public is required to evaluate the entire document, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to understand what mix of development and surface use best accomplishes the purpose and need,” Governor Mead wrote. He asks that the BLM work with cooperating agencies and select a preferred alternative before the agency’s final decision.

Governor Mead has often discussed the benefit of acquiring baseline data before a project gets underway. He notes that the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has done the most comprehensive baseline air quality research for any oil and gas project in state history for this proposed development. He complimented the BLM for deferring to Wyoming on air quality and working with the DEQ to address the effects of potential emissions.

The Jonah Oil & Gas Field in Sublette County Wyoming

“I expect the BLM to engage DEQ in its technical analysis and regulatory response. This partnership ensures avoidance, minimization and mitigation of air quality impacts. I encourage operators to work with the DEQ to implement the best available technology, not only when a permit requires such action, but as a matter of common practice,” Governor Mead wrote.

Governor Mead also urged the BLM to use proper reclamation to benefit wildlife and grazing permittees, and also to do a more thorough analysis of socioeconomic impacts of each alternative.

From the Office of Governor Matt Mead

Wyoming Farm to School Workshop a Success

Wyoming Farm to Plate Program — The Wyoming Farm to School Workshop and Webinar was a big success with great speakers and good attendance.

Technology and live presentations were combined on Friday, February 15 to bring participants around the state the first Wyoming Farm to School Workshop and Webinar. We talked about this and the Wyoming Farm to Plate program in an earlier blog post.

The workshop consisted of three modules specific to Farm to School. It started with keynote speaker, Jeremy West of Denver Public Schools, giving an enthusiastic success story from our Colorado neighbor. Julia Erlbaum of Real Food Colorado followed up with Farm to School 101 and Susan Benning with the Wyoming Department of Education gave an overview of the procurement process. Finally, Linda Stratton with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Health Services Division concluded with a module on Food Safety.

There were 38 participants total with 15 attending live at the Cheyenne location and the others joining us via webinar from various locations including representatives from Jackson, Evanston, Sheridan, Cody, and several others throughout the state. This was a very exciting and successful venue for the Farm to Plate Task Force and Wyoming Department of Agriculture. Combining technology with live location allowed us to reach a much broader audience than if everyone had to travel to one location in order to attend.

Feedback from participants was positive and we are looking forward to our next informational session on Farm to Plate (a.k.a Farm to School). Thank you to all of our speakers and participants for joining us! We had a great day and our discussions have helped lay the groundwork to ideas that will help progress our local foods.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook to make sure you are notified about the next event!

From RealPartner Brook Brockman – Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Winter Adventure on a Wyoming Ranch

A dose of winter finally made it’s way to Platte County last week. Badly needing the moisture, we’ve been waiting for it. Routine daily chores suddenly have to revert to an alternate plan. The distance between two points is no longer a straight line. The first challenge is traversing the mile and a half driveway to get to the main road. Living at Bordeaux, our famous winds can rearrange 8 inches of snow into 4 foot drifts. A tractor and bucket for snow removal is only a temporary fix. By the time of the return trip, the path has blown full again. Bare spots in the adjoining pasture which involve opening a few gates and dodging irrigation ditches become the new route back to the building site.

As supplemental nutrition for the cattle during the winter months, we have lick tubs scattered throughout the pastures on the ranch. The cows gather at the tub sites waiting for the weekly replacements. This week the tractor had to precede the pickup delivering the tubs to open up the 2-track roads in the pastures. Weather patterns don’t interfere with the daily feeding of our livestock in the winter. We feel blessed with the moisture in a very wet snow and consider it a part of the great adventure of life on a ranch in Wyoming.

From RealRancher Donita Graves – Bordeaux, Wyo.

Traveling Back in Time Part II

In December, we posted about the Big Piney 4th Graders visiting the Sommers Ranch Homestead near Pinedale, Wyo. The McKinnon School also visited the Sommers Ranch Homestead Museum and Living History Center in October 2012.

It was a great experience for the students to learn Wyoming history.

J.B. Bond showed the group how to make a front and back horseshoe with a forge.

Sam Drucker talked about Indian archaeology on the place.

Dawn Ballou orchestrated washing clothes with wash tubs, scrub boards and hand pumping the water. Dawn also explained how the root cellar was used.

Jonita Sommers and Sam Drucker supervised the students gathering eggs and cleaning them. Jonita also showed them how to iron clothes by heating the iron on the cook stove and how the cook stove worked.

Jamie Brewer taught them how to churn butter after explaining how the milk separator worked. Jamie made homemade sourdough bread so when the butter was churned everyone could have a piece of bread with the churned butter and chokecherry jelly Jonita had made.

The teachers were able to supervise the students playing with the toys in the children’s room in the bedroom upstairs and playing on the ranch built playground equipment outside along with having them look at the shop and outhouse that are renovated.

They were also able to rope! This was a wonderful opportunity for the students to gain hands-on experience of pioneer life.

From RealRancher Jonita Sommers – Pinedale, Wyo.

About the Sommers Ranch Homestead Museum & Living History Center:

The Sublette County Historical Society joined in 2010 with siblings Albert and Jonita Sommers to restore the historic Sommers Homestead buildings. The project preserves them for future interpretation and makes them available to the public. The project has restored several of the homestead buildings to use for display, interpretation and living history demonstrations of 1900-1950 era Sublette County homestead life. The homestead house, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, is a main attraction. Albert and Jonita donated the buildings and provided a one-acre easement where the buildings are located. The Sommers Ranch Homestead Museum and Living History Center is located about seven miles south of the Cora Y on the Green River. The ranchland surrounding the Homestead is under conservation easement with the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust, so the Homestead will continue to be surrounded by the historic ranch landscape for generations to come.

National FFA Week: A time for reflection

Friends for Life: The 2005-2006 Wyoming State FFA Officer Team (Back Row: Eli Lilley, Lander Nicodemus, Laura Nelson, Kassi Bauman. Front Row: Liz LeSatz (Lauck), Jessie Berry (Dafoe), Kalee Craig (, Amy Tullis (Houser), Kindra Rader. — Friends for Life: The 2005-2006 Wyoming State FFA Officer Team. Back Row: Eli Lilley, Lander Nicodemus, Laura Nelson and Kassi Bauman. Front Row: Liz LeSatz (Lauck), Jessie Berry (Dafoe), Kalee Craig (Goolsbey), Amy Tullis (Houser) and Kindra Rader.

The nation has been celebrating National FFA Week this week and it has brought back a flood of memories of the people, places, experiences and blue corduroy that FFA exposed me to!

National FFA Emblem

Most of you are probably familiar with FFA, but just in case, here’s an explanation of the organization taken from http://www.FFA.org:

“‘Future Farmers of America’ was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting– it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. So today, we are still the Future Farmers of America. But, we are the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs of America, too.”

There are 557,318 FFA members, aged 12‒21, in 7,498 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

My High School FFA Chapter always hosted workshops and a petting zoo for the local elementary school kids during National FFA Week. Here I am talking about where food comes from. (hint: it's not just the grocery store) — My high school FFA Chapter hosted workshops and a petting zoo for the local elementary school students during National FFA Week. Here I am talking about where food comes from. (hint: it’s not just the grocery store)

I am a former member of the Wheatland (Wyoming) FFA Chapter and a proud former Wyoming State FFA Officer (05-06). I have lots of friends who are also proud FFA members and alumni and they’ve been posting lots of fun photos of their time in FFA on Facebook this week. There may, or may not, be a picture of me in the trunk of a car. Don’t ask me why.

My State Officer Team and I had so much fun together (still do, actually!)

The point is, National FFA Week is a great time for members and alumni to reflect on the lessons, experiences and fun FFA provides. I was a shy kid and FFA helped me break out of my shell. I wanted to make a positive impact on the ag industry and FFA helped me start. I wanted to make great connections and FFA provided me with lifelong friends.

A visit to the Buffalo FFA Chapter during my State Officer year.

A fun time at the annual FIRE Conference (a Wyoming FFA leadership conference).

So share the love! Tell us your FFA memories, stories and share your photos here in our comments section or on the RealRanchers.com Facebook Page. We’d love to hear how being a Future Farmer of America changed and shaped your lives.

Giving my Retiring Address at the 2006 Wyoming FFA Convention

And remember, just because you’re a “has-been” doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of FFA. Mentor a local FFA member, help with a local FFA Career Development Event team (judging, marketing, speaking, etc.), help with fundraisers for local chapters, join an alumni association or give to your state FFA Foundation.

Here are links to Wyoming FFA groups:

Wyoming FFA Association – http://www.wyomingffa.org/

Wyoming FFA Foundation – http://www.wyoffafoundation.com/

Wyoming FFA Alumni – http://www.wyoffafoundation.com/alumni.asp

Wyoming FFA Chapter List – http://www.wyomingffa.org/chapters.asp

From RealFarmer Liz Lauck – Wheatland, Wyo.

While we celebrate National FFA Week, we also mourn the loss of Wyoming State FFA Officer Teddy Weekly. Teddy was killed in a car accident on Feb. 18. In true FFA Family fashion, there has been an outpouring of prayers, love and support for Teddy’s friends, family and teammates. If you’d like to share your thoughts and memories about Teddy or learn more about the memorial service, go to the Wyoming FFA Association Facebook Page.

Wyoming Farm to Plate

Promoting quality, local foods in schools, daycare facilities, institutions, restaurants and retail stores is the driving force behind the formation of the Wyoming Farm to Plate program. Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) and its partnering agencies, Wyoming Department of Education, Wyoming Business Council, University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom and local producers have united their efforts in fulfilling this task.

Since the formation of the Task Force in September 2012, the group has focused on the mission of providing a consistent and unified foundation for the Wyoming Farm to Plate Stakeholders. Stakeholders of the program include producers, consumers, retailers, schools and all other parties interested in quality local foods. The Task Force hopes to accomplish this mission by increasing statewide support for Wyoming Farm to Plate while improving communications between local Wyoming Farm to Plate Stakeholders. Along with this, the group will focus on promoting local, quality and nutritious foods by supporting local producers and rural economics.

After mapping the foundation for growth of the Farm to Plate program, the Task Force has began some outreach efforts by establishing a Farm to School website on the WDE site, started a Facebook page and developed several resource materials for both purchasers and producers to utilize. All resources are on the website.

The Wyoming Farm to Plate Facebook page features upcoming events, photos and success stories from purchasers and producers already buying and selling local goods.

In addition to launching the Internet sites, Wyoming Department of Agriculture is hosting a Statewide Wyoming Farm to School Webinar/Workshop on Friday, February 15, 2013. The workshop will be hosted in Cheyenne with a live video feed via webcam. Participants will be able to interact with the Cheyenne presenters from the comfort of their home or office.

https://www.facebook.com/WyomingFarmToPlate

We are very excited about the formation of the Task Force and the joint opportunity to promote the buying and selling of local goods within the state. It provides a great opportunity for producers to expand by utilizing niche markets, and offers purchasers and consumers more opportunities to purchase and consume local, quality and nutritious goods!

From RealPartner Brook Brockman – Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Farmer Vacation to the Ag Connect Expo

My farmer husband and I took a drive to a little farm show in Kansas City last week.

Kansas City, Missouri Skyline — The Kansas City skyline as we drove in on I-70. This was one of the few times we were actually on an Interstate.

Okay, so the trip was actually 2,000 miles and the little farm show was the Ag Connect Expo which drew a crowd of 11,000. But, who’s keeping track?

We heard about Ag Connect through a direct mailing, RFD-TV and a few of the farming magazines we receive. It looked like a really interesting convention that featured a huge trade show, many education sessions and panel discussions from some of today’s greatest innovators in farming. My husband has really grown his farm operation over the last few years and we’re interested in continuing that growth. We thought Ag Connect would be a good way to get ideas and information.

Grain elevator in Southern Kansas — One of the many grain elevators we passed as we traveled through Kansas on our way to the Ag Connect Expo in Kansas City, Mo.

So, we both took a week off of work, packed our bags and trekked from Wheatland, Wyo. to Kansas City, Mo. We made a real road trip out of it and took two-lane highways as much as possible. We drove through many small towns and saw miles and miles of farm land. We even stopped at a tourist trap or two. We thought it was great fun!

The World's Largest Ball of Twine at Cawker City, Kansas — The “World’s Largest Ball of Twine” in Cawker City, Kansas. A tourist trap, but fun nonetheless!

Immediately after arriving at Ag Connect we were really glad we’d decided to come. The Kansas City Convention Center boasted more than 220,000 net square feet of exhibit space and more than 400 exhibitors filled it all up. It featured everything from huge John Deere and Case IH displays to smaller booths brimming with the latest industry tools and technology. It took us three days to get through the whole thing!

Ag Connect Expo in Kansas City — The Ag Connect Expo boasted more than 400 exhibitors featuring the latest innovations, technology and tools for modern agriculture.

We were able to get some really great one-on-one time with the real decision makers in the company’s we work with (and also some new companies we plan to work with). There were engineers, vice presidents and heads of departments on hand who were able to answer questions and receive feedback. We even saw some folks from back home! My friend Emily Priebe from Riverton, Wyo., who is a product specialist with John Deere, was there to talk about the latest innovations in John Deere combines. She impressed us with her knowledge of their products and advice for how they could fit our operation.

Ag Connect Expo 2013 John Deere booth — My husband, Tyler, and I had a blast at Ag Connect! Here we are on the last day at the John Deere booth. My friend Emily (who is also “the combine gal” for John Deere) took our picture in front of the corn chopper on display.

I was also impressed by the international representation at the show. About 11 percent of the attendees came from outside the US, with more than 50 countries represented. I personally saw or met folks from the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, China, Germany and Italy.

Ag Connect Expo in Kansas City, Mo. — Many countries were represented at Ag Connect. Germany and Italy both had sections in the exhibit hall featuring technology from their countries.

There were also several panel discussions hosted by Successful Farming that took place throughout the expo. We heard from some real “masters and mavericks” including Gregg Halverson of Black Gold Farms whose operation is located in 10 states and Kip Tom of Tom Farms who farms in the US (Indiana) and Argentina. We also had a blast sitting in the audience of a live taping of US Farm Report at the Case IH booth. If you ever have the opportunity to hear US Farm Report’s John Phipps speak, I strongly recommend it.

John Phipps and Chip Flory at the Ag Connect Expo live taping of the US Farm Report — We sat in the audience of a live taping of the US Farm Report (an ag news TV show) during the Ag Connect Expo. The stage was set up in the middle of Case IH’s huge display.

US Farm Report's John Phipps speaks during Ag Connect — John Phipps of US Farm Report spoke during the live taping.

My husband and I also attended several of the education sessions that took place throughout the expo. We enjoyed presentations on managing for profit, precision agriculture, a “Mavericks of Agriculture” panel, social media, business management and farm policy. These were just a few of the sessions offered.

The "Tribine" was one of the biggest hits at Ag Connect this year. This new innovation is a combine that also holds 1,000 bushels of grain (enough to fill a semi trailer). — The “Tribine” was one of the biggest hits at Ag Connect this year. This new innovation is a combine that also holds 1,000 bushels of grain (enough to fill a semi trailer).

We came back with our brains loaded and lots of reference materials to drive us in the coming years of farming. We’re also marking our calendars for the 2015 show in Indianapolis! If you’re interested in learning more about Ag Connect, visit www.agconnect.com.

From RealFarmWife Liz Lauck – Wheatland, Wyo.

Cooking for Cowboys

Our friend and contributor O.L. Shepp who is a Wyoming blogger, writer, rancher, mother…all-around super woman…shared with me another venture she works on. It’s called Cooking for Cowboys and I’m hooked!

Her latest post starts out, “My grandmother’s words were, ‘I’ll do the dishes, you kids go play. You have your entire lives to cook and clean.'” Words to live by!

I’m excited to try recipes such as Cowboy Cookies, “Pop’s Flop” and Cowboy Beans. She also posts perspectives on nutrition and health. Check her out!

Cowboy Cookies for Your Pockets

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped unsalted peanuts

*Cream butter, applesauce, peanut butter, vanilla and eggs one at a time. Mix dry ingredients and add to batter. Stir in chocolate and peanuts. Bake 12-14 min @ 350.

*These cookies are pocket tested for low-fat and high protein to maintaining flavor and moistness.

From RealPartner Liz Lauck – Wyoming Stock Growers Association

Wyoming Energy Makes Positive Impacts

In a recent mad dash to go through the stash of articles in my inbox I’ve neglected over the past month, I found some interesting articles about positive impacts Wyoming energy is making. I thought I’d share them with you in this week’s RealEnergy post. – RealPartner Liz Lauck – Wyoming Stock Growers Assn.

Well will provide water to McCullought Peaks horses after creek dries up

by Billings Gazette Staff

Marathon Oil drills wells to supply water for wild horses and wildlife. Photo copyright Billings Gazette.

For years, water runoff from an oil field moistened Dry Creek, providing water for wild horses, livestock and wildlife in Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks.

“It was a nice source of water in an otherwise dry area,” said Sarah Beckwith, of the Bureau of Land Management’s Cody office.

So when Marathon Oil Co., which owned the Oregon Basin oil field, was ordered by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the amount of water flowing into the creek, the company approached the BLM to provide an alternate water source for animals in the arid Bighorn Basin.

To offset the loss, Marathon drilled three exploratory wells this year, one of which is producing water. To supply animals with a steady source of water, the company will install a trough of some type next year.

“Finding that water was the first big hurdle,” Beckwith said.

“Water is a key ingredient for sustainable habitat in the McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area,” said Marshall Dominick, a founding member of Friends of a Legacy. “By developing reliable, life-giving water sources, our partnership will provide a win-win situation for all creatures that live there, as well as for us humans who benefit from the existence of those creatures and their habitat.” Click here for the full story…

Arkansas power plant owners tout Wyoming coal

by Jeremy Fugleberg – Casper Star-Tribune ‌

Wyoming clean coal will be used in a new power plant in Arkansas. Photo copyright the Casper Star Tribune. — Wyoming clean coal will be used in a new power plant in Arkansas. Photo copyright Casper Star Tribune.

A coal-fired power plant under construction in Arkansas will run on millions of tons of coal from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming when it comes online late next year.For the owners of the plant, that’s a fact worth talking up.Representatives of Louisiana-based Southwest Electric Power Co. have promoted the coal from the basin in fact sheets and newspaper interviews as a big plus for the new plant because of the coal’s heating ability, cost and low sulfur content.“We love Powder River Basin coal down here,” said company spokesman Scott McCloud. Click here for the full story…

We want to tell your stories to the world! Share your Wyoming RealRanching, RealFarming, RealEnergy and RealRural stories with us. Contact Liz Lauck at liz@wysga.org or 307-638-3942 to learn how to contribute.

Time’s Up! New Year Prize Winners Announced!

RealRanchers.com is giving away lots of goodies in celebration of the New Year — RealRanchers.com gave away lots of goodies in celebration of the New Year

Congratulations to the following folks who’ve won some great goodies from the vault! These names were randomly selected from all the folks who commented on the blog post.

Diana Berger
themisanthropicmuse
Chris
Amy Lou
electrawebb
Kara McMurtrey
Nicole aka A Kansas Farm Mom
Trish Hampton
Cindy
Bob Brown
Mel
Gina Pape Feltner
Gabe
Deb Cuming
Jean Ju

To claim your prizes, e-mail liz@wysga.org with your full name and mailing address.

Happy New Year to all our faithful followers!

From Liz Lauck – Wyoming Stock Growers Association

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We want to tell your stories to the world! Share your Wyoming RealRanching, RealFarming, RealEnergy and RealRural stories with us. Contact Liz Lauck at liz@wysga.org or 307-638-3942 to learn how to contribute.

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