OUR MISSION:

The mission of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association is to serve the livestock business and families of Wyoming by protecting their economic, legislative, regulatory, judicial, environmental, custom, and cultural interests.The activities of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association can be conveniently categorized as:

• Advocating on issues affecting the cattle industry, Wyoming agriculture and rural community living 
  
• Providing members with timely information regarding events in the cattle industry and the activities of the association
  
• Promoting the role of the Wyoming cattle industry in resource stewardship, animal care and the production of high-quality safe and nutritious beef
  

ADVOCACY:

WSGA pursues it mission of advocacy primarily through effective lobbying at both state and national levels by volunteer leadership and experienced staff. The association makes it a high priority to develop productive professional relationships with state elected officials and government agencies. Our efforts are closely coordinated with our sister Wyoming agricultural organizations and with other interest groups with whom we can identify common ground.

The association maintains a legal fund to enable it to initiate, defend or support litigation on critical issues with the potential to have a major impact on its members’ ranching enterprises. The legal fund is supported entirely through voluntary contributions.

WSGA-AGPAC is the political action committee of the association. AGPAC recruits and supports the election of members of the Wyoming legislature whose philosophies are conducive to favorable consideration of the policy positions of the association on issues before the legislature. The PAC accepts non-deductible political contributions from members and supporters.

INFORMATION:

Cow Country, the association’s quarterly magazine has been published for over fifty years. The magazine delivers articles of educational value to cattle producers related to beef production, resource management and policy development. Each issue includes regular columns providing the perspectives of association and industry leaders and reports on association events. The annual non-member subscription fee for Cow Country is $20.00. Advertising rates are available upon request.

“The No Bull Sheet” is published ten times yearly to provide WSGA members with timely information on issues, upcoming meetings, and the work of the association. Policies adopted at the annual convention and winter meeting, as well as appointments made by association leadership, are reported here. Letters to the editor and advertising are welcomed.

The e-BULLetin is a weekly email update sent to WSGA members only. It contains information on current issues and weekly activities of the staff.

An ADVISORY is a one-page call to action sent to members to urge them to attend a meeting or to comments on a particular issue. An ADVISORY may be sent to all members or used to target a particular segment of the membership. Advisories are often sent by email to assure timeliness.

PROMOTION:

WSGA believes it has a duty to inform and educate the public regarding the role of the cattle industry in the state. The association pursues this mission through television and radio advertising emphasizing the commitment of ranchers to resource stewardship, the care of their animals and production of a healthy and nutritious product.

Association leaders welcome the opportunity to address civic clubs and other interested groups to discuss the role of the industry in Wyoming’s economy, politics and culture. WSGA is committed to the importance of Wyoming’s Agriculture in the Classroom Program.

The association places major emphasis on encouraging young people to pursue a career in agriculture. We do this through support of 4 H and Future Farmer of America (FFA) programs and participation in the Wyoming L.E.A.D. program that provides training for young agricultural leaders. Annually WSGA offers scholarships to Wyoming students pursuing a college education in an agricultural related field. WSGA annually hosts the Cow Country Conference to provide younger members of the industry an opportunity to come together with their peers to focus on those challenges that they deem most important to their future success in agriculture.

HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION 

The importance of self reliance in Wyoming is evident and the Wyoming Stock Growers Association carries on this tradition. No other character marker is found more clearly intact among the people of Wyoming. The Wyoming Stock Growers Association was organized on April 4, 1872 to advance and protect the interest of the state’s livestock producers. It was the second state cattlemen’s organization created in the United States.

Many of the early members lived back east in places such as Omaha, Chicago, New York and Boston, but the majority were Wyoming men who took an active personal interest in the cattle business. The formation of a cattlemen’s association was no doubt monumental at its inception. As one unknown author put it, “Of even greater significance, the principles for which it stood, and the manner in which it was implementing them were attracting industry-wide attention.

Wyoming Stock Growers was the first association formed in the Wyoming territory. It is the only organization in the state focused entirely on serving the needs of the cattle industry, which is the largest segment of Wyoming’s agricultural production. Its mission is to serve that industry by protecting its economic, legislative, regulatory, judicial, environmental, customs and cultural interests.

Our association lobbies and tracks issues at both the state and national levels; we work closely with the state and federal agencies that write regulations affecting the industry. We also participate in litigation on critical issues and work to enhance the public image of the cattle industry. As the industry continues to face many age-old issues and new opportunities, we seek to bring a fresh approach to addressing them.  

All historical documents and photos for the association can be found at the University of Wyoming - American Heritage Center. Please click the link below to view our collection online.

 American Heritage Center