The University of Wyoming offers agriculture expertise and resources through extension offices in all of Wyoming’s 23 counties as well as the Wind River Reservation.
“A board of county commissioners may cooperate in extension work in agriculture and home economics in the county under the supervision of the agricultural college of the university and for that purpose may annually appropriate and expend any amount the board deems expedient so long as this levy and all levies for general county government do not exceed the constitutional mill limit,” current Wyoming law states.
The Wyoming Legislature will consider a bill that would grant counties new rights when it comes to the hiring and firing of “agricultural agents” in these extension offices.
“The university shall not hire or fire any person as a county agent or expert…without first obtaining the consent of the board of county commissioners of the applicable county or the consent of a majority of the boards of county commissioners forming a district,” the proposed legislation states.
The bill is sponsored by the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee.
The Wyoming Legislature will begin their 2020 budget session on Feb. 10.
