For as long as he can remember, ranching has been Gordon Malm’s everyday reality.

He owns and operates Malm Ranch Co., a 600-head cattle ranch that has been in his family for five generations and counting.

“When I was old enough to know what was going on, they were just getting away from the horse era and they were still using wagons instead of tractors,” he says. “It’s been an important part of our lives, from my grandfather and my great-grandfather, on down to our children now.”

Malm’s family is one of many in Wyoming that has made its name – and living – in agriculture. The farming and ranching industry is vital, both culturally and to Wyoming economic development.

More than 9,200 farms and ranches operate across the state, occupying more than 34 million acres and generating more than $1 billion in receipts. Roughly three-fourths of that stems from the cattle and calf business. The industry is a stabilizing force in the economy, providing a steady source of employment and income and a boost in Wyoming economic development, says Brett Moline, director of public and government affairs for the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation.

“On a per-dollar basis, agriculture will have the largest economic impact in the state,” he says.

Behind only minerals, agriculture is the second-largest industry in Wyoming, with a presence in each of the 23 coun­ties of the state.

“In addition to the direct economic impact that agriculture has on Wyoming, farmers and ranchers spend those dol­lars locally, allowing their money to circulate throughout the state,” says Cindy Garretson-Weibel, agribusiness director for the Wyoming Business Council.

Beyond the weighty financial influ­ence of the agriculture sector, farming and ranching holds a special place in the identity of Wyoming. Even the state’s first governor, Francis E. Warren, was a rancher.

“Wyoming is well known for its Western heritage,” Weibel says. “This culture is still alive and well in most Wyoming communities, from commu­nity brandings and barn dances to the bucking horse and rider that adorns the state’s license plate.”

Numerous programs are available to aid Wyoming farmers, providing resources for everything from inter­national marketing assistance and value-added product development to income diversification and leadership development. Agencies that offer assis­tance to farmers include the Wyoming Business Council, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Wyoming Department of Agriculture and Wyoming State Land Investment Board.

At the end of the day, though, much of the enormous agricultural machine that contributes so much to the state’s economy is made from dedicated fam­ilies like the Malms, who enjoy working the land, raising livestock and taking pride in what they produce.

“It’s an enjoyable way of life: you’re in the outdoors, not with the clutter and bustle of city life,” Malm says. “Ranching is the most important part of our daily lives and our economic situation, and the whole thing centers on agriculture.”