RISING TO THE CHALLENGE Spring arrives slowly and beautifully in western Wyoming. Within the state’s border are more than 18 million acres of public lands and nearly 43 million acres of federal mineral estate managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The region is a popular destination for fi shing, hiking, skiing, trail riding and camping and is home to Grand Teton National Park, with Yellowstone National Park only a few miles to the north. The parks have temporarily closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the eons-old peaks and green valleys wait patiently for outdoors enthusiasts to return. — Cynthia Clanton Your CHS Connection 17