Dear editor:
In Wyoming, the places we live, work, and play are inseparably linked.
That’s why we built our company here, where access to the rugged peaks and remote fishing holes, forests and rangelands offer the ultimate testing ground right outside our doors.
Our company took root in Wyoming on purpose. We understand that finding yourself deep in the backcountry, high on a rock face, or perfectly positioned for a once-in-a-lifetime elk harvest is never an accident.
It requires deliberate, uncompromising choices — the choices that define our character, who we are, and what we aspire to be. This place, Wyoming, both shares and shapes our values in tandem with our lives and livelihoods.
And when it comes to the vast, essential public lands that make these pursuits possible, Wyoming’s leaders have just made a bold and uncompromising choice of their own.
That’s why we are celebrating the Wyoming State Legislature’s steadfast support for passing Senate Joint Resolution 9 (SJR-9) “Keeping public lands protected and decisions local,” earlier this month and saluting Gov. Mark Gordon for signing it into law.
This resolution is more than a simple formality; it is a profound affirmation of a fundamental Wyoming value.
It’s a statement of Wyoming values that asks Congress to recognize the paramount importance of keeping our 30 million acres of public lands in public hands. It is a commitment to the "Wyoming way of life" itself.
Just one year ago, the statehouse was divided, and, despite the will of the people, the threat of transfer – and potential sale – of Wyoming’s public lands was very real.
A resolution designed to do away with nearly all the federal public lands within our state failed by a single vote.
In passing SJR-9 this session, the Wyoming Legislature showed they are listening to the unified voice of our state’s business owners, hunters, anglers, outfitters, ranchers, schoolteachers, miners, and countless others who depend upon open access to these public lands.
By signing it, Gov. Gordon has demonstrated his commitment to companies like ours and the integrity of our shared responsibility to protect and steward these lands, and the freedoms we enjoy, for our children and for future generations.
For a business that depends on the fundamental freedom of access to public lands that we’ve always known, the Legislature’s and Governor’s actions inspire confidence in our own commitment to Wyoming.
Our state’s ability to foster a robust economy while maintaining the outdoor traditions that define us is now grounded in a state policy that recognizes the incredible value of our public lands – as economic generators, as essential wildlife habitat, as sources of clean water, and as the common ground that connects our communities.
This significant turning point is an accomplishment worthy of high praise. It sends a powerful message that our elected officials understand this legacy must be preserved for all future generations, ensuring the endurance of Wyoming’s outdoor heritage and economic prosperity through the promise of public lands.
Thank you, Gov. Gordon, Sen. Barlow, and all 81 of the legislators who voted “yes” on SJR-9, for listening to the thousands of voices across our state and for protecting the public lands that support our communities and sustain our quality of life. This is how we ensure that Wyoming itself, all the elbowroom we each enjoy, and the places where we live, work, and play, will never be diminished.
Sincerely,
Brendon Weaver, Mike Lilygren, and Cade Maestas,
Founders of Maven Outdoor Equipment Company, based in Lander Wyoming.
