Wyoming’s public lands don’t belong to politicians, special interests, or distant bureaucracies. They belong to the people of Wyoming — and they should stay that way. 🇺🇸

Public lands are not abstract policy concepts. They are woven into who we are as a state. They shape our livelihoods, our traditions, our economies, and our way of life. From ranchers moving cattle, to hunters passing down skills across generations, to families spending weekends outdoors, public lands are part of Wyoming’s shared heritage.

That’s why I believe public lands must be treated as a trust, not a bargaining chip to be traded away behind closed doors.

Public Lands Serve Real People — Every Day

For Wyoming, public lands aren’t theoretical. They are working lands.

They support:

• Ranchers and agricultural families who rely on access and stewardship
• Hunters, anglers, and outfitters who sustain wildlife traditions
• Small-town businesses tied to outdoor recreation and tourism
• Families who value access, open space, and connection to the land

Responsible access to public lands isn’t a luxury — it’s part of how Wyoming works.

When decisions are made far away, without meaningful local input, the people most affected are the ones who live, work, and care for these lands every day.

Stewardship Requires Local Accountability

True conservation doesn’t come from distant bureaucracies or one-size-fits-all mandates. It comes from local knowledge, responsibility, and accountability.

Wyomingites understand these lands because we live on them, work them, and depend on them. Stewardship works best when decision-making authority is closer to the people who are directly impacted — not centralized in agencies disconnected from local realities.

Public lands should be managed with balance:

• Protecting access for future generations
• Supporting responsible use today
• Respecting private property rights
• Valuing conservation through use, not exclusion

Selling Public Lands Is Not a Solution — Except in Rare, Narrow Cases

As a rule, selling public lands is not a solution. It creates long-term damage in exchange for short-term relief and permanently removes land from public trust.

That said, an honest conversation also recognizes there may be rare, tightly controlled situations where limited land sales or transfers could make sense — without opening the door to broad selloffs.

Those cases should be the exception, not the rule, and should meet strict standards:

• Small, isolated parcels with no public access, recreational value, or strategic importance
• Land already surrounded by private development where public use is effectively impossible
• Transfers that directly support clearly defined public purposes, such as local infrastructure or essential community needs
• Decisions driven by local input and transparency, not distant agencies or budget pressure

Any such action must be deliberate, limited, and accountable to the people of Wyoming.

What should never happen is selling large, connected tracts of land to balance budgets, satisfy political interests, or benefit outside buyers. Once public land is gone, it is gone forever.

Wyoming’s future should not be financed by selling off its inheritance.

A Clear and Consistent Standard

Here’s where I stand — clearly and unapologetically:

• Public lands should remain public
• Decisions must prioritize Wyoming people, not outside interests
• Local voices should carry real weight in land management
• Stewardship should protect access, livelihoods, and traditions

Public lands are not political leverage. They are a responsibility.

The Bigger Picture: Freedom, Responsibility, and the Future

Public lands represent a deeper principle: freedom paired with responsibility.

They remind us that some things are meant to be preserved, cared for, and passed on — not traded away for short-term convenience.

If we want a Wyoming that remains free, independent, and grounded in its values, we must be willing to defend what belongs to the people — not the system.

Because the future of Wyoming isn’t something we sell.

It’s something we steward.

Give Freedom Back — because real freedom doesn’t need permission.