From Research Labs to Ranch Gates: Wyoming FFA and the Next Generation of Agriculture – By Teresa Milner, Wyoming FFA Association

When many people picture agriculture, they imagine tractors in a field or cattle grazing behind a fence. Those images still exist across Wyoming’s landscape, but they only tell part of the story. Today’s agriculture blends tradition with science, technology, business management, and research in ways many people never see.

Across Wyoming, thousands of students are learning what modern agriculture really looks like through agricultural education programs and the Wyoming FFA Association. FFA members don’t just study agriculture in the classroom—they apply it through hands-on projects known as Supervised Agricultural Experiences, or SAEs. These projects place students in real-world situations where they must manage livestock, conduct research, operate businesses, and solve practical problems.

For Hannah Lupher of the Jim Bridger FFA Chapter, that work often begins before sunrise on her family’s ranch near Mountain View. Lupher relies on teams of draft horses to feed cattle and move livestock during the winter, but her responsibilities extend far beyond tradition. She also manages irrigation systems, monitors soil fertility, and works with advanced breeding programs within the ranch’s cattle operation.

In Worland, Molly Glanz of the Chief Washakie FFA Chapter has turned a summer chore into a growing agribusiness through her entrepreneurship project, Molly’s LawnCare. What began as simply mowing lawns has developed into a turf management operation where Glanz conducts market analysis, sets competitive pricing, and maintains her own equipment while applying technical knowledge of turf science to improve the quality of the lawns she services.

Agriculture also reaches into Wyoming’s wildlife and outdoor industries. Sam Bowen of the Upton FFA Chapter has developed a Supervised Agricultural Experience working as an intern guide with 7J Outfitters in Sundance. Through the placement, Bowen assists experienced guides during elk, turkey, mule deer, and antelope hunts while learning about wildlife behavior, land navigation, and ethical hunting practices. His experience reflects the important connection between agriculture, natural resources, and Wyoming’s outdoor heritage.

Agriculture also intersects with research and social science. Brody Medina of the Cheyenne Frontier FFA Chapter recently conducted an agriscience research project examining how economic pressures tied to agriculture may affect the mental health of young people in agricultural communities. His work involved designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings—skills that reflect agriculture’s growing connection to science and community wellbeing.

Experiences like these are why FFA plays such an important role in preparing Wyoming’s future workforce. Through agricultural education, students learn the technical knowledge, leadership skills, and professional responsibility required to sustain the industries that shape Wyoming’s economy and landscape.

National Ag Day, celebrated this year on March 24, offers an opportunity to recognize the many forms agriculture takes across our state. From ranches and research projects to wildlife management and business leadership, Wyoming FFA members are already demonstrating that agriculture today is far more than tractors and cows—it is a dynamic field that continues to evolve with every new generation.