Goshen County Wyoming has a proud legacy of farming and ranching. In fact, we are considered the largest Ag producing county in the state. We attained that standing over generations of hard-working men and women who believed in community and using the land for its highest and best use. Currently Goshen County is reviewing land use rules that will tell future generations of agriculture, you are not in control of your own land anymore.

What made many of our great grandparents, grandparents and parents build our farms and ranches was an independent and entrepreneurial spirit. We lost many landowners in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when the economy took a downturn. Below is a list of those of us who survived by shear grit, determination, and the will to leave our families with the spirit to create our own opportunities. Some below have moved to our area and have adopted our way of life and traditions. Agriculture now competes on a global level. We must look at new and more efficient ways to grow our crops and feed our cattle. Any opportunity to make extra revenue helps maintain our ability to feed our families and the world. It’s a difficult job in the best of times, but one we all have engrained in our DNA. Farming our land differently, calving at different times of the year, seeking out better genetics for our stock and even leasing sections of our land to new technologies should be up to the landowner and what works best for the management of their farm or ranch. Planning and zoning rules should not hinder or halt opportunity but pave the way for it.

The proposed land use plan simply put, kills private property rights. When surrounding counties have more reasonable rules, our neighbors can choose for their families, but Goshen Agriculture will have their hands tied. If commodities continue to slump and heaven forbid cattle prices drop, we could see more legacy families literally loose the ranch or subdivide in to smaller ranchettes. By taking away opportunities to have other revenue streams, the planning commission is picking and choosing winners. Something that is not and never should be the Wyoming way of doing things.

Please vote NO on the planning commissions proposed rules.