GOSHEN COUNTY – The Goshen Irrigation District (GID) kicked off the district’s annual meeting and reports on Tuesday, February 25 at the Goshen County Fairgrounds Pavillion in Torrington. 

The report included portions of the Fort Laramie Canal located in the state of Wyoming, incorporated as GID from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Voting polls opened at 3 p.m. for district one and two and the meeting was called to order at 4 p.m. by GID President, Shawn Booth. Booth announced the voting polls were closed and the meeting continued on to approving the February 27, 2024, meeting minutes as presented by GID secretary/treasurer, Randy Steben. 

Dakota McClun, chairman, presented the nominating committee report for district one. McClun stated there were no other nominations for commissioner and Booth was nominated. McClun offered many thanks to Booth for the years of service for the district. 

“Nobody that I know spends more time, effort and energy taking care of us landowners and we’re very appreciative of that,” McClun said. 

Booth moved the meeting on to a report from the district two nominating committee where a report was read. The report indicated Steve Schmick had been nominated for the position of commissioner. 

“Next, I will ask you to go into your folder and there is a treasurer’s report and you can go through that. It will include all of the treasurer’s activity in the last year of course,” Booth said turning the microphone over to Randy Steben. 

After a brief introduction from Steben, a motion was made to accept the report as presented which was then seconded. The motion carried and the treasurer’s report was accepted. 

“I do also want to stress, if any of you guys got questions on, say you just got your eyes on it and you do have questions later, feel free to catch us after the meeting,” Booth said. “We’re trying to be as open and transparent with everything that’s going on. There’s a lot of things going on. If you look on those sheets, those are millions and millions of dollars.”

The meeting continued on with a presentation from Bureau of Reclamation Wyoming Area Office, Area Manager Lyle Myler. Myler presented a slideshow which indicated the snowpack levels and the upcoming irrigation season. 

Manager Kevin Strecker provided the yearend review for the district and Tyson Gladson, project foreman, gave a presentation on the district’s projects for the year. Gladson provided a photograph presentation which showed step-by-step project completion. 

After Gladson’s presentation, the meeting recessed for supper which was catered by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and served by Bent Barrels Crooked Arrows 4-H Club. Barbra Smith provided desserts for the evening. 

The meeting then reconvened where Booth thanked the many hands working in the district, noting the board of directors are something for the district to be proud of. The meeting continued well into the 6 p.m. hour and was wrapped up with door prizes and 50/50 drawings.