Commissioners briefed on U.W.’s Outdoor Rec and Tourism Initiative

Three UW Extension staffers addressed the Big Horn County Commission at its Sept. 17 meeting.  Joining UW Extension Associate Director Bridger Feuz and BHC 4-H Educator Gretchen Gasvoda was Hailey Sorg, who serves as the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Initiative Extension Educator.

“What we want to do,” said Sorg, “is support and diversify Wyoming’s economy through outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality...in all communities in Wyoming.”

Through WORTH, Sorg is working with the Wyoming Outdoor Rec and State Parks agencies. She explained there is support through different departments within the UW system, including an economist who can help with research. They can also do education/training for the tourism/management degree. “Hopefully getting them (students) to stay and work in Wyoming,” said Sorg. “We can help students with internships in those fields.” 

Sorg’s position falls under extension outreach. “Where I can take all the work being done (research, studies, etc.) on campus and bring it out to communities through education, training and connection to other resources.” An example was an economic impact study for the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale.  

She has been focusing on customer service and hospitality trainings. “We always say that if you work with people you work in the hospitality industry. So this is a training not just for the restaurants, hotels, those kind of things. I’ve had people come from animal shelters and banks.”

A customer service training was done recently for Johnson County. Sorg said putting the best foot forward should be practiced in all businesses, not just those in hospitality. She gave an example of a clerk at a gas station, where an employee can be an ambassador by telling the traveler about the things to do in that community.  

Gasvoda told the commission that she attended Sorg’s hospitality training. “It was amazing. I would hope that everyone who deals with the public could go through it.” She would like to bring the training to this county. The commissioners said they would be interested in that too. Sorg said she would work with the Lovell and Basin chambers to make this happen. 

Sorg talked about all the great things to do in this area. Commissioner Deb Craft said that the chambers in the county have been working very hard the last few years.  Sorg agreed and said that is a lot of what she does, connecting with people who have their boots on the ground. “Your chambers have been wonderful to work with,” she said. “It isn’t like that in every community.” 

 Agri-tourism is another project. “Agriculture falls right below tourism in the state as top industries. Why not mush them together. Being able to support our producers, our farmers, our ranchers to diversify their revenue. It’s a passion project. Wanting to be able to share the ag industry in a way that brings in money from tourism and preserving our Wyoming future.” 

Sorg also talked about a free app from TravelStorysGPS. This is a Wyoming-based company that develops authentic, curated stories told by locals. UW can help with the story creation. 

Some ideas in Big Horn County included Kane, the Red Gluch Dinosaur Tracksite and Big Horn Canyon. Sorg reiterated that she would work with the local chambers to make it happen here.