One of Wyoming’s oldest livestock organizations is joining forces with one of Wyoming’s most active and vibrant sportsmen’s groups to host what may be the first ever Gubernatorial Candidates Forum focused on both issues of importance to Agriculture as well as Sportsmen and Wildlife. The Wyoming Wool Growers Association (WWGA) and Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (WY SFW) are co-hosting a gubernatorial candidates forum July 22nd in Riverton on the Central Wyoming College campus in Room SC103. The forum is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and may run as long as 3 ½ hours.
The forum is designed to delve into the announced candidates’ for Governor positions on a wide variety of issues related to Wyoming agriculture and wildlife. The structure of the forum is such that no candidate opening or closing statements will be allowed; instead candidates will be asked a series of questions brought forward by the two hosting organizations. The questions will relate directly to the primary issues facing both the Wyoming agriculture community as well as sportsmen who hunt, fish, trap and recreate throughout the Cowboy State. If time permits, questions from the audience will be evaluated and then asked if they seem relevant and related to the Forum topic.
“We are excited about this opportunity to question our next Governor about issues of primary importance to two of the most important sectors of our state’s economy and culture,” said Bob Wharff, Executive Director Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. “We have had a great working relationship with the Ag community of Wyoming, and particularly the WWGA, since we brought SFW to Wyoming, so this seemed like a natural fit for us to do this unique, and to our knowledge first of its kind, forum to discuss issues and concerns with the gubernatorial candidates.”
While all of the announced candidates for Governor were invited to attend the forum, the only one’s accepting by the RSVP deadline were the four major Republican candidates—Ron Micheli, Colin Simpson, Matt Mead and Rita Meyer. “While we are disappointed that some of the candidates, particularly the Democrats, chose not to attend, we are excited that the four leading Republican candidates obviously recognize and believe that our issues and constituencies are important enough to take time to address them through this forum,” said Bryce Reece, WWGA Executive Vice President. “While neither of our organizations formally endorse candidates, obviously our members and constituents are concerned about these issues and take the time to vote. The forum should aid them in making an informed decision to what is an important and sacred right and responsibility—-voting.”
Source: Wyoming Wool Growers Association
Posted by Kaci Switzer
