Tour gives congressional staffers boots-on-the-ground look at Big Horn Basin

WORLAND - Congressional staffers got a firsthand look at industry in the Big Horn Basin - namely agriculture - during a tour in August.

Staffers representing Congress members throughout the country met up with county commissioners from Big Horn, Washakie, Park and Hot Springs County for a four-day tour that took them from a bentonite mine to the crown jewel of Wyoming's state park system.

According to the itinerary, staffers touched down at the Cody airport the evening of Sunday, Aug. 14. From there it was dinner with local and state officials along.

The following day, staffers found themselves at the University of Wyoming Research and Extension Center in Powell.

UW Extension Educator Jerimiah Vardiman said his portion of the tour focused on Wyoming agriculture in "a broad sense."

Vardinam said the staffers toured the Wyoming seed lab and were given a run-down on Wyoming's various crop species.

"We have multiple crop species (in Wyoming)" Vardiman said of the tour. "Back in the Midwest - the Corn Belt area - they have two primary crops, corn and soybeans. Our primary crops are sugar beets, dry beans and malt barley."

Congressional staffers also got a look into Wyoming's relative farming size compared to states like Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas.

"For (the staffers), it was an experience to get on the ground. We dug a sugar beet for them and put it in their hands," Vardiman said. "Some of the staffers were even brave enough to taste it raw.

"They just got a better understanding and appreciation. The research center was a great place to highlight what farming practices we are using and what we're accomplishing in our fields. We were able to show them a field that had poor weed control versus a field that was nice and clean."

For Wyoming Sugar CEO and State Representative Mike Greear, the tour was a chance to give congressional staffers from throughout the country a look at Wyoming they might not otherwise get to see.

"It's important that we get people with differing views to come in and see the natural beauty of Wyoming, that we understand, and we respect the environment," Greear said. "Our way of life is a good way of life.

"We provide good jobs with good benefits for our employees."

Greear said with sustainability being the "new thing" for agricultural producers, it's important for officials throughout the country to see that's been the modus operandi in Wyoming for more than a century. Sustainability includes being frugal with fuel consumption and chemical use.

"They're fifth-generation farmers. Wyoming Sugar has been in existence for over 105 years now. Our farmers take care of the land," Greear said. "They make sure they get the best value out of their water. They burn as little diesel as they possibly can. They use as little chemical as they possibly can.

"We take care of everything. We care that the water is pure. We're not destroying the environment. We're helping care for and preserve it while also helping provide jobs."

Vardiman shared the same sentiment and said even for people who live in Wyoming, a trip around the state will provide some sort of learning experience. For people coming from out-of-state, that's amplified.

"For those from outside of the state, specifically those from back east, it's really valuable to bring them in and let them experience Wyoming firsthand," Vardiman said. "On certain topics, they have to come and see it, talk to people who are living that day-to day whether it's the energy industry, tourism industry or agriculture industry in Wyoming. It's just how we live in the western United States.

"When they start hearing about the conversations and the debates that are happening, they can say, 'Hold on. I've seen that. I know what you're talking about.' Hopefully they have a better awareness and understanding of what's going on versus what's being discussed. Hopefully those congressional delegates can be more informed when they make their decisions in Washington."