President s Message from Michelle Buzalsky Officers/Council: President - Michelle Buzalsky mbuzalsky@fs.fed.us President-Elect - Brian Mealor bamealor@uwyo.edu Past President - Ben Bonella Ben.bonella@wy.usda.gov Secretary/Treasurer - Marji Patz marji.patz@wy.usda.gov Newsletter Editor - (open) wysrmeditor@gmail.com I hope everyone has had a productive summer and looking forward to a little downtime as the fall colors mask the landscape and we prepare for a wintertime break. A great way to start that break is to attend the annual meeting coming up in Sheridan in November. There is a great lineup of topics and activities and hope that all of you can attend. If not, consider the online options to attend the sessions. I would like to encourage folks to participate in the annual meeting, vote in the upcoming election and interact with fellow range enthusiasts. Interaction and participation allows us to share our experiences, share and gain knowledge and develop lasting relationships and networks that aid in the betterment of rangeland resources. Annual Meeting Information NE Council Rep - Mark Lambert mlambert@fs.fed.us NW Council Rep - Ray Gullion Ray.Gullion@wy.usda.gov SE Council Rep - Rachel McGee ramcgee@fs.fed.us SW Council Rep - Mae Smith maep@uwyo.edu In this issue: President s Message 1 Annual Meeting Info 1 President-Elect 2 NW Council Rep SE Council Rep Annual Meeting Agenda, Ballot, Auction Items 3 4 5
Windy Kelley My name is Windy Kelley. As my name suggests, I am a Wyoming native born and raised in Campbell County. I graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism with a concentration in Management (2006), & an M.S. in Rangeland Ecosystem Science (2010). I worked for the Larimer County (Colorado) Department of Natural Resources Open Lands Program as an Open Lands Technician between earning my degrees. I moved to Sublette County in 2010 to work for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture as the Jonah Interagency and Pinedale Anticline Project offices Agriculture Program Coordinator. I started working for the University of Wyoming Extension as the West Area Range Educator in December of 2012. I joined the in 2008. I appreciate the opportunity to be a member of an organization that fosters our current and future generations of rangeland stewards. I have had the pleasure to judge the high school youth forum presentations, and rangeland cup posters at the section level. I have presented at the Range School, and I have helped to facilitate and teach at WyRED. I would be privileged to be the President and I look forward to the opportunity to be more involved with the organization. I hope to see us continue to mentor rangeland stewards, novice and experienced alike. I think it is imperative to build a strong network of rangeland stewards to ensure we are able to disseminate sound information and skills about the art and science of rangeland management. I look forward to continue to work with and learn from fellow land managers and those interested in our natural resources, specifically rangelands. Larry Bentley Eastern Wyoming Program Coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Policy Section Larry and his family have lived in Wyoming since 1980. During that time he spent nineteen years managing a ranch in the Big Horn Basin. He replaced a season long grazing system with a fourteen pasture intensive grazing system and the development of several springs for livestock and wildlife. The biggest of which was putting in a four mile pipeline with seven tanks. In 2005 Larry went to work for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA) as the Eastern Wyoming Program Coordinator As the Program Coordinator he has not only aided the fifteen Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) groups to achieve their goals but has help several other CRM s address issues that range from resource management planning to addressing issues with federal land managers. Larry has spent several summers helping to establish monitoring protocols with both the BLM and the USFS. In 2002 Larry was awarded the Conservation Supervisor of the year award and in 2004 he received the Pace Setter Award for conservation work he had accomplished. President -Elect Larry has made presentation at two National Society For Range Management Conventions and at the 2006 National Private Grazing lands Convention.
Barton Stam NW Council Rep Barton Stam has been a Range Area Educator with University of Wyoming Extension Sustainable Management of Rangeland Resources Team since 2004. He serves a 5 county area in Northwest Wyoming and the Wind River Indian Reservation for range management issues. Barton works mostly with ranchers and public land grazing permittees for sustainable and profitable operations. He has been an SRM member since 2002 and has presented twice at the annual meeting. Katelyn Schade I grew up on a cattle ranch in New Mexico. After High School I attended the University of Wyoming where I pursued my love for ranching and agriculture in general by double majoring in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management / Environment and Natural Resources. While at the University I interned for the Natural Resources Conservation Service for two summers. I was a member of the UW College Republicans, the Food Science Club, secretary for the UW Range Club in 2009 and an active member after that. I was also and Ag Ambassador for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. I was President of the Society for Range Management Student Conclave in 2011-2012. I then received my masters in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management and a certificate in Reclamation and Restoration Ecology. After graduation I was hired on full time with the NRCS in Worland, Wyoming. I am currently a Rangeland Management Specialist for Washakie County. I am also the Co-Chair for the Student Activities Committee for the National SRM. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a member of a society that promotes agriculture not only in our state but also internationally. I hope to become more active in the Wyoming section of the SRM as the Northwest Council Representative. My hobbies include: Hiking, reading, fishing, horseback riding, photography, and dancing.
Rachel Mealor SE Council Rep I have been working for the University of Wyoming as a Range Extension Specialist for six years. One of the greatest pleasures in my position is the opportunity to work with private landowners and managers, agency representatives and researchers on a wide variety of rangeland management issues. My interest in rangeland management was sparked at Wyoming Resource Education Days (WyRED) when I was about 15 years old. I had such a great time at that camp, and the enthusiasm expressed by many of the instructors (especially Dr. Dan Rodgers) was absolutely contagious! At that point, I was hooked and knew I wanted to pursue a career in land management. I attended both undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Wyoming and went to my first SRM meeting as a sophomore. The student activities were one of the best experiences and networking opportunities I have received, and, for that reason, I have continued my involvement in student activities as a professional. I have served on the Student Activities Committee (both National and WY Section) since 2004; co-developed and currently co-chair the Rangeland Cup competition, have served as the plant identification co-coach for UW, and am currently one of the advisors for the Student Chapter for the of the SRM, the UW Range Club. I have never forgotten my WyRED experience and introduction into range management, and, in paying it forward, have volunteered as an instructor at every WyRED camp I can attend. My past and current experiences in the field of rangeland management and the opportunity to work alongside other range professionals have only increased my interest and passion in working in this field. I hope you will consider selecting me as Southeast Council Representative. I look forward to this opportunity to serve the society!
2014 Wy SRM Ballot Information Annual Meeting Agenda There will be two ways to cast your votes for this year s candidates. Remove the lower portion of this page by cutting along the dotted line, fill out, and place in ballot box at registration at annual meeting. Extra ballots will be available at registration desk. Email Ballot Ballots will be sent from wysrmeditor@gmail.com out to everyone with an email. Click reply, mark your choices, and hit send. AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED Please remember to bring items for the Silent and Live Auctions. Proceeds help the High School Youth Forum and Student Activities. AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED 2014 Wy Section SRM BALLO T President - Elect Windy Kelley Larry Bentley NW Council Rep Barton Stam Katelyn Schade SE Council Rep Rachel Mealor Write-In