[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 130 (Wednesday, August 3, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO NIELS HANSEN

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, today I rise in recognition of the 
leadership and accomplishments of Wyoming Rancher and Public Lands 
Council President Niels Hansen.
  This is Niels' final year as a member of the Public Lands Council 
executive council. He will be honored on Friday, August 26 at their 
2022 Annual Meeting Banquet hosted in Cody, WY. Niels has served on the 
PLC's executive council since 2016. He also served as Wyoming's 
delegate to the PLC's sage grouse task force. Niels is a consistent and 
strong voice for ranching and the western way of life. His work has had 
a tremendous impact on public land policy, both nationally and in 
Wyoming.
  Niels is the third generation operator of PH Livestock. Located in 
the high desert near Rawlins, WY, the ranch's need for proper 
management and resource conservation is paramount. Niels' great uncles, 
Peter and Jim Hansen, came to Rawlins from Denmark in the early 1900s 
to start their own ranches. His father joined them in 1927 and later 
took over for Jim. Niels and his sister Anna, were the first born in 
the United States and continue the legacy of their family and their 
land.
  As Niels describes, ``We do not try to maximize anything, but we try 
to optimize everything. We work to operate in balance with nature by 
making any adjustments needed to keep the ranch producing a consistent, 
predictable manner while protecting the land where we live.''
  Niels built a reputation as someone who brings stakeholders together 
to find the best possible solutions. PH Livestock operates on the 
Bureau of Land Management checkerboard that is spread throughout 
southern Wyoming. He brought the agriculture industry, energy industry, 
and Federal and State agencies to the same table to address the 
challenges of maintaining and improving the land.
  Niels has worked with the University of Wyoming and the BLM for over 
20 years to monitor and collect data on his land. This data builds the 
foundation to develop the best practices for the rangeland. Niels 
constantly shares his dedication and knowledge to advocate for sound 
policy. He served as chairman of the Wyoming State Grazing Board and 
president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Niels has testified 
in front of congressional committees many times. He testified in 2018, 
during my time as chairman of the Environment and Public Works 
Committee. Niels promotes cooperation between Federal agencies and 
landowners. He gives a firsthand perspective of the effects of 
regulations on the people it impacts the most.
  Niels' ability to build relationships and success in conservation was 
recognized in 2011 when he was inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture 
Hall of Fame. PH Livestock received the BLM Rangeland Management 
Stewardship award in 2000. In 2004, the ranch was a cowinner of the 
Wyoming Stock Growers Association Stewardship Award.
  Niels understands the importance of family and tradition to a 
successful ranch. He has two children with his wife, Barbara. Their 
daughter Stephanie is married to Reese Irvine, and they have two sons, 
Eli and Caleb. Their son John and his wife Tawsha Lubbers have two 
sons, Niels Kai and Jep. Niels' sister, Anna Helms, is his business 
partner and helps manage the ranch with her two children, Travis and 
Heidi, along with Travis' son Dane. Niels instilled in his family a 
love of the land to ensure future generations will enjoy their ranch.
  It is a great honor to recognize this exceptional member of our 
Wyoming community. As I mentioned upon his induction to the Wyoming 
Agriculture Hall of Fame, ``Wyoming lands--both public and private--are 
better because of his service.'' My wife Bobbi joins me in extending 
our gratitude and well wishes to Niels Hansen on his future endeavors.

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