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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>You Still Here? Friday, October 21, 2022 | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Baseball at it's finest...

You Still Here? Friday, October 21, 2022

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Government & Politics

Politics

As of Monday, 35 Wyoming political candidates have sworn to love their enemies.

 after the public killing of conservative icon Charlie Kirk, and has since been working to restore the servant spirit and civility to the public arena in Wyoming.

The Tuesday after the May 14-29 filing period ended for political candidates, the group sent each candidate a pledge, group incorporator Matt Micheli told Cowboy State Daily.

“I will love my enemies, not just my friends. I will stand faithfully upon my convictions without giving into cruelty,” the pledge says. “I will call out wrongdoing without canceling people. 

"I will refuse to let the letters on someone’s hat or the hashtags in their bio mean more to me than the Gospel. I will not be swept up in the outrage cycle, but will instead step out of the chaos and boldly examine my own actions.”

The signers also commit to “bring the peace of Christ back into the public square — to show a divided world what it truly looks like to follow Him, not as a culture warrior but as a Kingdom person.”

The pledge invokes the group’s founding verse, Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Two of the three GOP candidates for governor had signed the document as of Tuesday: Sen. Eric Barlow and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.

So too had three of the 10 Republican U.S. House candidates: Senate President Bo Biteman, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, and Casper-based veteran Kevin Christensen. U.S. Senate candidate Jimmy Skovgard is also among the signers.

In the governor’s race, Barlow told Cowboy State Daily he doesn’t normally answer candidate questionnaires, but this one was “quite simple” and in line with the promise he made last year to run a clean campaign anyway.

“And whether we agree on issues or don’t, we can still be respectful and honoring of them as, you know, fellow human beings,” Barlow said.

[{"type":"text","text":"Degenfelder did not return a Tuesday voicemail by publication."}]

Another GOP gubernatorial candidate, retired Marine Col. Brent Bien, did not comment in response to an email and voicemail

[{"type":"text","text":"Wyoming Can Use It"}]

Cowboy State Daily this pledge could be effective in Wyoming, and that he wants to help the group’s cause.

Another former lawmaker, Fred Harrison, was less optimistic about the pledge’s ability to curb vitriol in the state’s political arena. But he said each person should take the effort seriously.

[{"type":"text","text":"As for Micheli, he said the pledge is meant to be unique."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Wyoming candidates face a number of pledges and have for years."}]

In 2020, the group Wyoming Gun Owners launched a pledge-style survey to candidates and derided the political hopefuls who didn’t sign it with phrases 

, “(it’s) a very dangerous situation for gun owners,” or “we all know what that means.”

More recently, the Wyoming Republican Party and its county subgroups launched a candidate pledge based on the state party platform. 

Some candidates have pointed to inconsistencies in the platform wording and called the 

 Others have called it a much-needed revival call for Wyoming’s broad-based GOP.

Micheli said the Peacemakers pledge isn’t meant to be used as ammunition, because its wording discourages that.

“The goal of this is kind of the opposite of all these other pledges you see out there,” he said. “The other pledges are kind of putting people into tribes and trying to figure out what tribe you’re in.”

Micheli said this pledge, however, tells each candidate to “look inward” and improve instead of “hammering anybody else over the head with it.”  

[{"type":"text","text":"Might Just Work"}]

Peterson, who served in the Wyoming Senate from 2005 to 2018, lauded the effort.

[{"type":"text","text":"“I could certainly get behind a movement like that,” said Peterson."}]

Peterson had voiced similar goals one week prior on a live video interview on Cowboy State Daily's Morning Show With Jake, 

Though the effort is “the light at the end of the tunnel” in what Peterson cast as a darkening, exhausting political arena, people will have to refocus on one another as fellow human beings to make it work, he said.

“If you love the person that’s opposed to either your way of life or philosophy or way of thinking,” he said, “and in your mind, your core belief is this is a brother, a sister, a person — and I don’t know what life experiences they’ve had, what brought them to the beliefs they have — it at least gives (one) the courtesy to be patient and listen.”

It takes effort to see the person through the issues. It’s also difficult to ratchet people down from the fiery realms to which public discourse has risen, said Peterson.

“It’s hard work to listen to somebody yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs, random thoughts and things to be argumentative … and say, ‘Oh, I can see you’re very passionate about your belief but you’re not making any sense,’” he said.

Rules of decorum in public arenas, the humility to apologize to one another where necessary, and applying mental rigor toward the actual issues are the way back to civility, Peterson added.

If people avoid dehumanizing and screaming at each other, their conversation will also get smarter, he said.

[{"type":"text","text":"Starting With You"}]

Harrison wasn’t as optimistic as Peterson, but called the pledge’s mission a worthy undertaking for each individual regardless of what society does.

“I’m not seeing a willingness on both sides of the aisle to discuss (differences),” he said. “I appreciate what they’re doing. I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

But, he added, “I’m not sure it’s always going to work, but that doesn’t mean anything. What did Mother Theresa say? We’re called to be faithful, not successful.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Harrison served in the Legislature from 1983-1992."}]

He was a Democrat then. But, ardently pro-life and socially conservative, he parted ways with the party starting in about 1992 and is now Republican. He’s also grown more fiscally conservative, Harrison said.

Harrison now writes a regular column for Cowboy State Daily in which he often scrutinizes the current state of the judiciary and jurisprudence.

“People think my articles are pretty sharp,” he said with a chuckle. Yet on May 9, he penned a 

 against resorting to violence or violent sentiments against judges, saying that nullifies good arguments on the issues.

If people wish to apply the peacemaker group’s pledge, it will take honest discussion, he said. People also have to start taking the high road and stop de-humanizing each other, he added.

[{"type":"text","text":"The Signers, So Far"}]

Micheli told Cowboy State Daily the group didn’t give candidates a deadline to sign the pledge. So this list isn’t final. As of Monday, the 35 signers spanned the governor’s, congressional, state legislative, and county commission races. They are:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate

Mix Collage 23 Jun 2026 06 04 PM 252

<title>35 Candidates, Including Two Wyo Gov Hopefuls, Sign Love Your Enemies Pledge | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Wyoming group that launched a civility movement after the killing of Charlie Kirk has gotten 35 candidates to sign a peacemaker pledge to love their enemies. That includes gubernatorial candidates Eric Barlow and Megan Degenfelder.

35 Candidates, Including Two Wyo Gov Hopefuls, Sign Love Your Enemies Pledge

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's business and tourism reporter, Renée Jean

Renée Jean

Energy

Microsoft officials said the company is willing to talk about 

a $50 million community benefits agreement,

 but after Monday night’s Cheyenne City Council vote it won’t be necessary.

The council voted to advance the annexation of a 3,500-acre tract of land into the city, but rejected the idea of a community benefits agreement on an 8-to-3 vote. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins was absent from the meeting.

The tract, roughly one-fifth the size of Cheyenne and adjacent to Microsoft’s existing data centers, is envisioned as a long-term expansion site where it would build its facilities out over the next 10 to 20 years. Supporters have framed the move as key to jobs and the tax base, while opponents have said the city is giving up leverage and reshaping the community without locking in enough concrete benefits or fully understanding water, traffic and neighborhood impacts.

Councilman Larry Wolfe brought the amendment that sought the $50 million agreement, saying it was necessary because of the extraordinary scale of the annexation. 

Wolfe’s proposal outlined collecting $10 million annually for five years starting July 2027 to fund permanent improvements to Cheyenne. The agreement should also spell out an expectation, Wolfe has suggested, that Microsoft will use state-of-the-art technology to minimize water use, eliminate emissions, and set contractual guardrails on as many as 40 different items ranging from traffic and noise to wildlife and affordable housing. 

Collins called the proposal for a $50 million community benefits agreement “extortion” the first time Wolfe mentioned it.

Wolfe asked Microsoft executives whether there would be any harm in a four-month delay so the city could negotiate terms of the annexation. 

Microsoft’s land-development manager Rachel Irwing indicated the company is “willing to work with the city in whatever way is beneficial for both the city and this project” and is “open to discussions,” but added the company does want to move forward on the project as quickly as possible.

Microsoft spokesman Jonathan Noble, meanwhile, said that while the company’s timeline for the development is 10 to 20 years, they don’t plan to wait that long to start.

“That’s the reason why we’re eager to really lay the groundwork, establish the rules, work with city staff, make sure that we are all clear on the investment that is going to require,” Noble said. “That’s investment by Microsoft in conjunction with the city, various other folks, to build out the sewer, water, power, etcetera, and to make sure we are shouldering that cost completely. That takes time to design. It also takes time to build. Our hope is to start building well before that 10-year mark.”

The company could, Noble added, move forward under Laramie County, but felt it was better for the project and the community to proceed under the city. 

Councilman Pete Laybourn, meanwhile, wanted to know if the company had considered an annexation agreement similar to the one made for Sweetgrass, the only other comparably-sized property the city has annexed. 

Noble said the company is not looking for any exemptions from the city’s normal development processes, saying its existing structure has worked for the city and will work for Microsoft.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Growth Isn’t The Issue"}]

Public comments on Monday underscored a divide over how — not whether — Cheyenne should grow. 

While some residents completely oppose growth, most said they want clearer evidence the city is grasping the pace of development and guiding it to an appropriate landing.

“I’m not here to oppose growth,” long-time real estate broker Wendy Volk told the council. “Wyoming has always embraced innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunity. Economic development matters, and our state has a proud history of powering the nation through agriculture, mining and energy production.”

But even she finds the speed and scale of incoming industrial projects disconcerting.

“I believe we must ask some … broader questions about how we grow and who bears the cost,” she said. “We experience (these projects) cumulatively. We experience increased demands on shared roads. We see growing demands on water systems, emergency services, housing and public infrastructure.”

A key question, Volk added, is the character of southeastern Wyoming left for future generations. 

“Growth itself is not the issue,” she said. “The issue is whether we have a long-term plan and whether growth is paying for its share.”

Volk said it’s fair for the community to ask companies that will benefit from the growth to be stronger partners in building out infrastructure and mitigating impacts.

“Once the character of a community changes, it is difficult to restore,” she said. “I’m not asking for us to stop progress. I’m asking for us to guide it wisely, with transparency, thoughtful planning, and a commitment to ensuring that growth strengthens our communities rather than placing new burdens upon them.”

For Harmony Meadows resident Heather Madrid the lack of a defined plan ahead of approving the annexation is a red flag that says the city isn’t doing it’s job to mind the store.

“The lack of a plan is not a legitimate reason to forgo any kind of annexation agreement,” she said. “In fact it’s quite the opposite. It’s a reason to wait until Microsoft has some idea what they’re doing here.”

Madrid also questioned how the city can claim the annexation will benefit residents when there’s been no examination of how much water will be used, how many backup generators will be necessary, and whether city services such as police, fire, and EMS will be reasonably available.

Without those details, the property is “not ready to be annexed, plain and simple,” Madrid said, adding that “corporate philanthropy is not a substitute for proper planning.”

Those speaking for the data center’s annexation and against any postponement mostly came from building trade groups and from Microsoft itself.

Rob Turse, business agent for Local 192, was among them.

“The sooner we can get our local workers out to work on these projects, the sooner the middle class gets back to normal here in Cheyenne,” he said. “The middle class has been ... it's been hurting for a long time here in Cheyenne. It's been in decline. It really has.”

Multiple individuals talked about leaving volatile oil and gas or traveling construction jobs for steady data center work. That’s allowed them to be home with their families and make a high enough wage to support them.

Kevin Banish talked about growing up in Cheyenne believing there would never be a career for him in Wyoming. 

“Today, there’s hundreds of people building technology centers right here in Cheyenne,” he said. “Over the last 13 years, I’ve watched Microsoft’s presence in our community grow from a few facilities into a major contributor to our local economy.”

The beneficiaries are not buildings, he added, but the people who work there and are now able to make a living closer to home.

“Today, students in Wyoming can look at careers in technology, engineering, construction, operations, networking, and skilled trades, and know that those careers exist right here at home,” he said. “They no longer have to assume that opportunity only exists somewhere else.”

Data centers have made that possible, and Cheyenne has become a recognized leader in the industry, Banish said. 

“Approving this land addition will continue that momentum and position our community for future investment, future jobs, and future opportunities,” he said. “As a lifetime Wyoming resident and as someone who has worked in this industry since 2013, I believe this is a positive step in Cheyenne’s future.”

Councilwoman Kathy Emmons was among those who were displeased with Wolfe's motion, which was supported by Laybourn and Councilman Mark Moody, who earlier proposed a moratorium on data center development.

Moody said Cheyenne needs to more carefully consider the impact of so many data centers built all at once in and around the city.

Emmons said the community benefits agreement was just a new version of the proposed moratorium, which had already been voted down by the council after hours of testimony.

“We went through the whole process, we went through all the readings, we took all of the comment, we heard every single bit of it, we listened, we listened to both sides,” Emmons said. "This council took a vote to deny the moratorium and to move forward. So here we are again, doing the very same thing, which I find incredibly disingenuous.”

A four-month postponement won’t be productive, Emmons added.

“We’ll be in the very same situation, and we’ll just keep doing it over and over,” she said. “That’s not OK for the community who we’re supposed to be entrusted to represent. And it’s not OK for the people who have put in so much hard work on this issue, and we keep dangling this carrot in front of them. So I would encourage my fellow council members to vote no on this amendment.”

Councilman Jeff White said a community benefits agreement such as Wolfe proposed would set a bad precedent. 

“Does Microsoft have deep pockets?” he said. “You bet, but just because they’re a a multi-billion-dollar corporation doesn’t mean we should be treating them differently. The owner of the property wants to engage in a lawful business transaction with a willing buyer.”

Councilman Ken Esquibel suggested that those wanting to stop data centers have picked the wrong venue for their fight.

“If you really want to stop data centers, the building you need to go to is the one with a golden dome, about seven and a half blocks that way,” he said. “The reason data centers come here is because of tax laws, the tax structure in Wyoming, that get set at the state legislative level."

“They're not coming here because the Cheyenne City Council has given them their golden ticket,” he added. “We actually have the strictest regulations for data centers of any city in the country. That's why they want to build in the city, as opposed to the county.”

Wolfe disagreed with the contention his motion was anything like a moratorium. That was a much longer delay, with broader consideration about data centers.

His proposal targets a specific data center project, looking at impacts to the city and addressing them, similar to the annexation agreement used for the Sweetgrass development.

“This comes to us with every single issue you can imagine in an annexation proceeding,” Wolfe said. “When this first arose .. I said we should treat this differently. We should treat this with the enormity and respect that it deserves. We didn’t do that. We treated it with the same respect we treat a 2.7-acre annexation.” 

Wolfe acknowledged many people are on data-center information overload, given how many committees the matter has traveled through, but this is the first time it’s arrived at a full council meeting. 

“There are a host of issues that we should address with this,” he said. “And I’ve been trying to do that. But the biggest issue is that what is proposed here is trying to balance up the benefits with the detriments, the burdens that come from all of these projects.”

Microsoft’s contention that the city will be its best partner for future projects is a telling detail, Wolfe suggested, that points to the city taking more time to think about what the annexation entails and the measures to be agreed upon before the council accepts it.

“That’s all I’ve suggested is that we spend some time talking about what a partnership looks like,” he said. “And guess what, we have a perfect model from 2018, and I have it right here.”

Wolfe was referring to the Sweetgrass annexation, which was Cheyenne’s largest single land annexation. That agreement talks about a range of issues from zoning and traffic to dedication of land for parks and planned development.

“It’s in all of our interests, members of the council, to postpone this,” he said. “It’s in all of our interests to lock up the mayor and the chief of staff and say go negotiate a strong agreement that deals with all of these issues.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Public Vs. Closed Doors"}]

Emmons said agreements like Wolfe is seeking can still take place without any postponement.

“We’re going to have those studies,” she said. “They have to provide the studies through EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), through the county, through the city. They have to do those things in order to go forward anyway. I feel strongly we can proceed with this and still make sure that everything is done appropriately.

That’s a process, Wolfe countered, that will happen behind “closed doors.”

“So while yes, you’re right that some of that work may be done, the reason you put it into an annexation agreement — and the reason they did it in the Sweetgrass annexation is that they’re locked into it by contract — and that’s what we need to do now,” he said. “If we miss this opportunity to get an annexation agreement now, and define these issues and define their obligations ... because remember, they want these things not in place now but 10 years from now, we better be awfully careful and awfully thoughtful. Because in 10 years from now who knows what the environmental constraints are going to be?”

Laybourn argued that Cheyenne does have great needs that should be considered in light of the annexation, and suggested it’s not extortion to expect some agreements up front that will cover economic impacts, especially given that the facilities do not go through the Industrial Siting Commission.

“We believe it's a legitimate attempt, a good-faith attempt to look at something that's never happened here before, and probably will never happen again,” Laybourn said. “And to try to make sure that right from the initiation of that annexation we have these conditions, and these conditions are serious, so I'm sorry that some individuals seem to believe that those of us that support this are obstructionists or unrealistic or trying to, I can't imagine what our motivation could be. My motivation is to look at these facts.”

Monday’s vote was the second of three required readings by the city council on the annexation. The council will still have to take a third and final vote. 

If approved on final reading, the annexation will clear the way for Microsoft to begin detailed planning for a multi-decade data center buildout on Cheyenne’s southern edge.

Microsoft city council 6 23 26

<title>Cheyenne OK’s Huge Microsoft Annexation, Rejects $50M Community Benefits Deal | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Cheyenne’s City Council moved a massive 3,500-acre data center annexation closer to approval Monday night, rejecting an effort to secure a $50 million community benefits agreement that Mayor Patrick Collins recently described as "extortion."

Cheyenne OK’s Huge Microsoft Annexation, Rejects $50M Community Benefits Deal

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Courts

[{"type":"text","text":"\"You know the drill.\""}]

That's how Fremont County Circuit Court Judge Jason Stebner greeted Kerri Johnson on Tuesday as she appeared for arraignment on the latest in a string of misdemeanor animal-at-large citations tied to her Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs.

Before calling individual cases, Stebner advised everyone in the courtroom of their constitutional rights.

When Johnson's case was called, the judge noted she was appearing on "another" animal-at-large citation before reading the charge.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"I am guessing you want to enter a not guilty plea,\" Stebner said."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"\"Yes,\" Johnson replied."}]

The citation stems from a May 20 incident at Buckhorn Flats and carries a maximum penalty of $200.

Johnson is scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a status conference involving several additional animal-at-large citations that remain pending.

While Tuesday's proceeding was brief, the dispute behind it has consumed a rural neighborhood southwest of Kinnear for years.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Dead Calves"}]

What began as complaints about roaming dogs has evolved into one of Fremont County's most contentious rural disputes.

According to court records, neighboring ranchers have reported problems involving Johnson's dogs since at least 2021.

One neighbor, Anna Shurtleff, told investigators she amassed more than 700 photographs and videos documenting incidents involving the dogs.

The Shurtleffs, who raise cattle and horses, reported finding dead calves, injured cattle and cows so stressed by dog attacks they abandoned their young, according to court filings.

A Wyoming Game and Fish investigation into a dead calf on neighboring rancher Chris Eberline's property earlier this year found tracks investigators described as too large to be coyotes and too small to be wolves.

The affidavit says the tracks were believed to be from either domestic or feral dogs.

Court records show Johnson paid fines tied to animal-at-large citations in April 2024 and April 2025. Another citation was dismissed in April 2025.

Additional citations filed between September 2025 and March 2026 remain active.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Surveillance Cameras"}]

Court records show Johnson has been cited multiple times under Wyoming's animal-at-large statute.

Rancher Chris Eberline previously told Cowboy State Daily she has lost multiple calves and spent thousands of dollars installing surveillance cameras across her property in an attempt to catch the dogs on video.

The effort has included multiple cameras spread across roughly 1,000 acres, along with monthly subscription costs to store footage.

"We're just tired of it," Eberline said in a previous interview.

She estimated a market-ready calf can be worth nearly $3,000.

Last month, Eberline reported finding another dead calf on her property. A deputy with the Fremont County Sheriff's Office and an officer with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department responded to investigate.

The results of that investigation have not yet been released.

At one point, Eberline alleged tensions between neighbors became so heated that one confrontation included the statement: "You shoot my dogs, I'm shooting you."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Two Different Narratives"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Johnson has consistently disputed the allegations."}]

While neighboring ranchers portray the dogs as a persistent problem, Johnson has publicly described them as working livestock guardian dogs that have themselves become victims.

In social media posts reviewed by Cowboy State Daily, Johnson said a dog named Thor was shot and rushed to a veterinarian while protecting livestock.

In another post, she claimed another dog named Ed was found dead from a gunshot wound.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"My faith in humanity is beyond shattered,\" Johnson wrote."}]

Johnson has not responded to multiple requests for comment from Cowboy State Daily.

[{"type":"text","text":"For now, the legal battle continues."}]

Tuesday's arraignment lasted only a few minutes, but it represented another chapter in a dispute that has generated years of complaints, repeated citations, allegations of livestock losses and bitter divisions between neighbors.

Multiple citations arepending and another court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Dog cattle blur 6 23 26

<title>Kinnear Woman Pleads Not Guilty Again To Latest Citation Over Roving Guard Dogs | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Kinnear-area woman embroiled in a years-long feud over roaming livestock guardian dogs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to her latest animal-at-large charge. Several ranchers have alleged her dogs have harassed livestock and contributed to calf deaths.

Kinnear Woman Pleads Not Guilty Again To Latest Citation Over Roving Guard Dogs

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Agriculture

The situation with the Colorado River is dire, and likely will keep getting worse if the river continues to be managed according to arcane policies, officials representing the four Upper Basin states said Tuesday.

Water-management policy needs to shift away from legal wrangling and toward the realities of water availability, or hydrology, members of the Upper Colorado River Commission said during a meeting in Denver.

The commission didn’t make any policy decisions, and plans to meet again this summer.

At issue is whether the Upper Basin states – Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico – can keep meeting downriver demands according to water allocations drawn up under the 1922 Colorado River Compact.

The compact also includes the Lower Basin states – Arizona, Nevada and California – as well as Mexico and numerous Native American tribes.  

The headwaters of the Colorado River are in Colorado. Wyoming’s Green River is one of its main tributaries.

Wyoming and Utah share Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It’s facing a 

 in an effort to replenish desperately low Lake Powell, on the Utah-Arizona state line.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Worst Year On Record"}]

The conversation must shift from legal wrangling to managing the river according to what nature provides, commission members said.

“As I’ve been saying for years, this is a problem that needs to be settled by hydrology,” said state engineer Brandon Gebhart, Wyoming’s representative on the commission.

“This is one of the worst, if not the worst, hydrologic year on record,” he added.

Longstanding drought conditions across the West, coupled with the unusually dry 2025-2026 winter, have left ranchers, farmers and communities facing tough choices, commissioners said.

“It is dire; the pain is felt in every corner of every state in the Upper Basin, Colorado commissioner Beck Mitchell said.

In Utah, some small towns have already run out of water and are hauling it in, Utah commissioner Gene Shawcroft said.

At a meeting in Denver on Tuesday, Wyoming's state engineer said 2026 is "one of the worst, if not the worst, hydrologic years on record" due to the dire water situation in the Colorado River's Upper Basin states. He said Green River Basin ranchers will be hit especially hard.

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