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Across the windswept plains of Wyoming, a quiet revolution is taking root. It’s happening in the classrooms, laboratories, and research centers of the University of Wyoming—where the seeds that will become the future of agriculture are being planted.
Last June, that future became a little brighter when Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) stepped forward with a transformational gift that will impact generations of Wyoming farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. The establishment of the Farm Credit Services of America College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources Deanship is so much more than just institutional recognition—it’s a declaration of faith in agriculture as the backbone of innovation, sustainability, and prosperity in the American West.
“At Farm Credit Services of America, we believe the future of agriculture depends on strong visionary leadership,” says Jason Edleman, senior vice president of business development for FCSAmerica. “That’s why we’re proud to support UW in preparing the next generation of leaders who will sustain and evolve this essential industry.”
Since 1886, UW has stood as more than just an institution of higher education. As a land-grant university, it was founded with a promise of serving the people of the state by advancing its industries. Agriculture isn’t just an academic discipline at UW—it’s a sacred trust that connects the university to the ranchers who rise before dawn to feed their cattle, the farmers who look to the sky to see the future, and the rural communities that support our way of life.
“The agricultural traditions of Wyoming shape who we are,” says UW President Ed Seidel. “With this extraordinary gift, FCSAmerica is helping ensure our university remains at the forefront of preparing students and communities for the future of agriculture.”
As Seidel points out, this isn’t merely about degrees and research grants—it’s about honoring a way of life while preparing it for an uncertain-but-promising future. Every farmer and rancher knows this instinctively. The challenges facing agriculture today—climate change, technological disruption, global market pressures, and generational transition—require solutions as innovative as they are practical.
FCSAmerica’s commitment creates something precious and powerful—an endowed deanship, the fourth in UW’s history. Such positions are among the most prestigious gifts a university can receive because they are so transformational. They provide the stability and resources that allow academic leaders to think beyond the next budget cycle, to invest in bold initiatives that might take years to bear fruit, and to attract the kind of visionary talent that can reshape entire fields of study.
"Endowed deanships are game changers, They allow us to lead boldly, attract exceptional talent, and respond to the complex challenges facing Wyoming communities and the industries that support them."
In his role overseeing the college, Crane sees daily how UW students are grappling with questions that will define rural America’s future. How do you maintain soil health while feeding a growing world population? How do you integrate cutting-edge technology with traditional ranching wisdom? How do you prepare young people to take over family operations while also equipping them to innovate and adapt? These aren’t just academic exercises—they’re the real-world challenges that UW graduates will carry back to their communities, armed with both a deep respect for agricultural traditions and the scientific tools to evolve them.
The impact of this deanship extends far beyond the university’s boundaries. In laboratories across campus and the state, researchers are developing drought-resistant crops that could help Wyoming farmers weather the increasingly unpredictable seasons. Students in precision agriculture programs are learning to use GPS technology and data analytics to maximize yields while minimizing environmental impact. Extension programs are connecting university research directly to farming and ranching operations, creating a continuous dialog between academic theory and practical application.
This is the multiplier effect of educational investment—every dollar invested in agricultural education at UW ultimately flows back to strengthen rural economies, top reserve family operations, and to ensure food security for the region and beyond.
“This deanship is a powerful affirmation of UW’s mission and its growing influence in the West and beyond,” says John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation.“We are deeply grateful to FCSAmerica for their vision and partnership.”
But perhaps more importantly, it sends a message to young people across Wyoming and the Mountain West that agriculture is not an industry of the past but a field of infinite possibility. It’s a place where ancient wisdom meets cutting-edge science, where family traditions intersect with global markets, where the next breakthrough in sustainable farming might emerge from a conversation between a rancher’s granddaughter and a soil scientist.“
As Wyoming’s flagship university, UW continues to lead with purpose—preparing graduates not only for success but for service to the land, the people, and the economy of the state and region,” Seidel says. “The Farm Credit Services of America Deanship stands as a bold step forward in that journey.”
