WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Great American State Fair showcases all states and territories as part of America’s 250th anniversary festivities, and a visit leaves no doubt what Wyoming’s organizers were thinking when they planned their state’s booth: Tourism promotion.
Cowboy culture and the great outdoors — that’s the Wyoming on display.
You won’t learn about coal, oil, gas and uranium, but you will see enormous photos showing off the splendors of Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Devils Tower.
You won’t learn about ranching, but you can’t miss the giant photo of a cowgirl on a horse, accompanied by the slogan “Mavericks Wanted” and a QR code to scan for a travel brochure.
A display about the women’s suffrage movement? Uh, no. This isn’t a museum. This is all about fun and marketing.
You might learn a little about roping. Courtny Hinds and Kota Provence, both Douglas residents, are on hand to give lessons, using roping dummies. Participants get to wear cowboy hats while they give it a try.
Hinds is managing Wyoming’s exhibition. Chosen by Gov. Mark Gordon, she’s a natural fit for the role, being the executive director and general manager of the Wyoming State Fair.
Provence, staffing the booth with Hinds, is the Wyoming State Fair’s marketing manager.
“So when they heard ‘state fair', Governor Gordon took it literally,” Hinds told Cowboy State Daily at the Wyoming booth on Thursday, explaining how she got the job.
Thursday was the opening day of the event, which runs through July 10. Only Hinds and Provence were staffing the booth, but Hinds said there would be a rotation involving about 10 workers altogether.
A Lump Of Coal
The state booths, 24-by-30 feet each, are housed in temporary pavilions clad in a facade to mimic the neoclassical architecture of D.C.’s most famous landmarks.
The pavilions line both sides of the National Mall between the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
The heat and humidity Thursday weren’t bad by D.C. standards, but ventilation in the pavilions was lacking as fans struggled to cool the crowded booths.
Hinds and Provence were going through a lot of bottled waters. They’re not used to humidity at all, Hinds explained.
“That’s what’s kicking our butt,” Hinds said.
The mineral extraction industries aren’t totally absent from Wyoming’s booth.
If you elbow through the crowds streaming in and out, you get to a small table with a lump of coal and other minerals.
They’re almost lost in the clutter there, nestled alongside a map, brochures, a small loom and other items.
Much more visible is the full-size photo cutout of a woman outfitted for a hike. She stands beside a tent and camping chairs.
Another full-size photo cutout shows an indigenous woman in traditional clothing. A third one shows a cowboy.
Near the roping dummies, a TV showed rodeo events.
Ski Lifts, Dinosaurs, Trains, Trucks
Cowboy State Daily also visited the booths of Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
Not all of them lean as heavily into tourism as Wyoming’s booth, though most do show the wonders of the outdoors with giant photos.
Some booths also have accompanying props such as ski lifts (Colorado and Utah), kayaks (Colorado), and a whitewater raft (Idaho).
Montana’s booth, just like Wyoming’s, features a camping display.
In some cases, non-tourist industries are featured prominently as well — like Idaho’s potatoes and Montana’s mining. Montana’s booth also includes fake dinosaur bones.
The Dakotas’ booths take a more balanced approach, offering details on cultural, political and natural history. Their booths also include displays on agriculture and various industries, along with scenic beauty.
North Dakota’s model of a bison proved to be a popular photo backdrop for visitors. And even though the animal is not genuine, the booth does display a real dinosaur fossil.
South Dakota’s exhibition has an interactive feature allowing visitors to wear goggles and pull the trigger of a shotgun to virtually hunt pheasant.
Nebraska’s booth, through partnerships with Union Pacific and Werner Enterprises, emphasizes the railroad and trucking industries.
Barrasso Shows Up
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, showed up at the Wyoming booth Thursday afternoon.
After speaking with Hinds for a few minutes, Barrasso told Cowboy State Daily the exhibition is “fantastic.”
According to Barrasso, Wyoming’s tourism office, not just the state’s fair, was involved in the setup.
“There’s a fantastic pavilion that’s here as part of our nation’s fair — for Wyoming,” Barrasso said. “And the Wyoming department of tourism does a great job of attracting people to Wyoming. “So I wanted to stop by today, but of course I’ll be in Wyoming for the Fourth of July — the parades and pageantry and, of course, fireworks.
“Over the past weekend I’ve been traveling the state of Wyoming and people are really looking forward to celebrating the Fourth of July at home — celebrating the 250th birthday, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Although Barrasso is a tireless champion of Wyoming's fossil fuels, he didn’t appear bothered by their negligible place in the exhibition. He understood the emphasis on tourism.
"We have here (in D.C.), people from the department of tourism, from our state fair, all putting Wyoming’s best face forward in an effort to make people realize what it’s like to come to Wyoming, to see the rugged outdoors.
“If they want to visit Wyoming, they’re going to find the vision, the ideals, the spirit and the image, as well as the traditions, of the Old West,” he said.
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
