WHEATLAND – A steady hum of voices interspersed regularly with laughter could be heard at the indoor arena of the Platte County Fairgrounds during the recently-revived ag expo.
After a pause over the last few years, the ag expo was organized for 2025 by the Laramie Peak Cattlewomen, with support from co-sponsors the local Farm Credit Services of America, Platte Valley Bank and First State Bank, Wyoming Bell, Alexa Kennedy and Bridle Bit Beef Jerky, who provided supplemental resources for the kids to take home.
Cattlewomen president Liz Lauck said the last ag expo was held in 2018, so it was time to get back into making the event an annual tradition. As one way to involve local ag groups, the Cattlewomen invited FFA chapters from Wheatland Middle School (Laramie Peak FFA), Wheatland High School (Wheatland FFA). Chugwater (Chug Creek FFA), and Glendo (Glendo FFA) to share their knowledge.

“I’m thrilled with the unique ideas and how they chose to present them,” Lauck said. “There’s a good number of kids…It’s fun to see the lightbulbs turn on.”
Third and fourth graders from around the county descended upon the fairgrounds on Feb. 10 to learn about agriculture and the affect it has on everyday life. The learning stations were the handiwork of the local FFA students who also manned the stations and interacted with the youths. They shared information, answered questions, and had hands-on activities, from notching a “pig’s ear” (tortilla), practicing welds (with graham crackers and icing), roping, practicing safe shooting (with a rubber band pistol and safety glasses), interacting with a pen of goats, climbing on a brand new tractor, identifying local grasses and forbs, demonstrating knowledge of various cuts of meat and the multitude of everyday products which derive from beef, individual identification methods for cattle, … and more.
Fourth grade teacher Tiffany Bell said she was impressed with the attentiveness of the students at the various stations. “I’m surprised how good I see students so engaged. It is paying off, and they are asking good questions,” she said.
Lauck said the Cattlewomen intend to continue the tradition of enlightening youth on the joys of agriculture again next year. “I’m grateful for the community support and helping put this together – even on a cold winter day.”