Game and Fish Commission elects new officers

Posted 3/16/23

Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners unanimously elected Ralph Brokaw as their president at a meeting in Rock Springs last week.

Brokaw, an Arlington resident who represents District 2 for …

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Game and Fish Commission elects new officers

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Wyoming Game and Fish commissioners unanimously elected Ralph Brokaw as their president at a meeting in Rock Springs last week.

Brokaw, an Arlington resident who represents District 2 for Albany, Carbon and Sweetwater counties, served as vice president last year behind Kenneth Roberts of Kemmerer.

“I’m not going to change much as the president of this commission,” Brokaw said after being handed the gavel and a quick game of musical chairs. “I’m not going to pretend to know anything. I’ll just surround myself with good people that do.”

Wildlife has always been a passion for Brokaw, according to a department biography. He studied wildlife management at the University of Wyoming for 2 1/2 years, but ultimately returned to the family ranch near Arlington and never left. During high school, Brokaw rode along with game wardens to learn about their work. As a senior in high school and a freshman in college, he worked for Game and Fish through UW’s Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. 

Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik has known Brokaw for decades and welcomed him into the new position during his opening comments.

“When I realized that you might be elected to be the president, I was thinking back on 25-year-old Ralph Brokaw and Brian Nesvik running around the hills of Arlington and Elk Mountain, outside, getting stuck, shooting stuff and having a lot of fun out in the hills,” Nesvik said. “You know, I don’t believe that at that point in time there would have ever been any notion that would have crossed our minds that we would be sitting in these chairs today in front of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.”

Yet, there were hints at Brokaw’s future: “Even back in those days,” he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps by serving his state on the commission, Nesvik said.

Richard Ladwig, who serves District 6 for Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties, was elected vice president. The Manville resident was a county commissioner in Niobrara County for 20 years.

“When you look at the department as a whole, it’s a large operation. To be on the team that helps take care of that is a privilege, and one that only seven people have,” Ladwig said before his election.

Gov. Mark Gordon’s new commission appointees, Rusty Bell from Campbell County and John Masterson from Natrona County, began their six-year terms earlier this month. The Big Horn Basin, known as District 5, is represented on the commission by Ashlee Lundvall of Powell.

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