Around the 307
News, commentary, and other items of interest from the greater Wyoming landscape.
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For the week of November 17th, 2024, here are a handful of interesting 307 news items:
Sunday, November 17th, Cowboy State Daily published this story about the last dairy farm in Little Switzerland (aka Star Valley) and how Wyoming’s Food Freedom Act came to the rescue. Dairy farming was once a core economic industry in Star Valley peaking in 1945 when the U.S. Census of Agriculture identified 6,556 dairy cows and 703 farms in Lincoln County (most of which were in Little Switzerland). By the turn of the century the number of dairy farms in Star Valley had dropped to only 4—not long after, Shumway Farms became the last dairy standing. The demise of this once historic industry was brought on in large part by the growth of mass-produced goods, grocery stores, and increased government regulations. After the Wyoming Food Freedom Act was passed in 2015 (and amended in 2017), Shumway Farms was at last able to move forward with sales of premium products (including raw milk) directly to consumers. This is a terrific story of perseverance and adaptation to changing economics times resulting in the preservation of a family’s legacy for future generations. If you’re ever in Star Valley, make sure you stop at Shumway Farms for a visit. Beyond the array of raw milk products, Shumway Farms ice cream and Wyoming Skyr (Icelandic-style yogurt) is out of this world! I guarantee you’ll enjoy it!
A new conservation license plate featuring Wyoming’s iconic pronghorn (antilocapra americana) is now available for your vehicle. Mitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions is at the heart of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s (WYDOT) conservation license plate program. First established in 2018, when the Wyoming Legislature passed House Bill 39, funds generated from the purchase of a conservation license plate provide resources for the development of wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and fencing along wildlife migration corridors. Funds are also used for signage to alert drivers to the presence of wildlife near roadways. Read more about the new conservation license plate in this Star Valley Independent article from November 19th.
Friday, November 22nd, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle published this article on the Joint Revenue Committee’s (JRC) resurrection of a property tax relief bill vetoed by Governor Gordon in March of this year. Senate File 54 would have provided a 25% tax exemption applicable to the first $2,000,000 (two million dollars) of a home’s fair market value, however, in his veto letter Governor Gordon called the bill a “socialistic type of wealth transfer.” The JRC passed the resuscitated draft legislation by a margin of 11 to 3 with the only proposed change being to also include associated land along with the exemption for single family residences. I for one certainly hope the resurrected version of this bill makes it into law this time!
That’s all for today cowpokes! Thanks for reading and have a great week!
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