Director Doug Miyamoto presented the Wyoming Department of Agriculture’s budget and two non‑TRP exception requests focused on staffing for the Wyoming State Fair, along with an overview of the department’s regulatory responsibilities.

Miyamoto said the department encompasses six divisions — natural resources and planning, technical services, consumer health services, administration, state fair and related programs — and combines regulatory duties with advocacy for production agriculture. He described close partnerships with the University of Wyoming and producer organizations for technical work and outreach.

State Fair: Courtney Hines, State Fair manager, described the fairgrounds (137 acres, 60 structures) and heavy operational tempo beyond the annual fair — roughly 470 event days and nearly 10,000 RV nights — that strains a four‑person operations team. Hines requested two ongoing positions (a senior building & grounds specialist and support staff) to reduce unsustainable overtime (she reported staff averaging 50–60 hours a week during peak periods) and to maintain aging facilities. The committee asked for overtime data, cost‑share information with Converse County and the City of Douglas, and a breakdown of local vs. statewide event revenue; Hines and Miyamoto committed to provide that detail.

Meat inspection: Miyamoto explained Wyoming’s state meat inspection program is one of 27 state programs that implement an 'equal to' standard under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and receives cost share support from USDA. He said the department used CARES Act funds to help processors upgrade during the pandemic and that there is demand for both state and federal inspection options. He noted federal inspection allows broader interstate commerce under a USDA stamp, while state inspection offers operational flexibility for processors focused on in‑state markets. Miyamoto said USDA audits state programs and that state programs must remain compliant.

Other items: committee members questioned cost allocation impacts on small commodity commissions (wheat, dry bean, beef) and asked the State Budget Office for greater transparency on how shared administrative overhead is spread across program fees. Director Hibbert (budget office) explained cost allocation methodology and said a request to automate statewide cost allocation is in the budget to make allocations more transparent and to allow deeper, clickable detail for legislators and stakeholders.

Predator control and food‑safety: Miyamoto described the state’s predator management partnership with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services and improvements in targeted removal strategies. The department also discussed seed lab, pesticide certification, and food safety programs that support industry and public health.

What’s next: the committee asked the department to provide overtime totals, event revenue breakdowns and cost‑allocation detail so members can evaluate the State Fair staffing requests and the impact on fee‑supported programs.