Everyone can be a cowboy

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Mike Farnsworth, a class of 1989 Newcastle High School graduate and vice president of Wyoming Refining Co., is one of 12 University of Wyoming alumni from across the state to be selected and featured in advertising, promoting the colleges newest slogan: “The World Needs More Cowboys – and So Does Wyoming.” 
The cumulative event for this promotion that will go to a different county every month for a year comes to town Thursday, Dec. 5, with a “The World Needs More Cowboys” celebration at the Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center. The journey to this point, according to Farnsworth, began when the university reached out to him about joining the campaign and promoting not only Newcastle but Wyoming. 
“It is something that I wanted to do but was a little nervous, especially when they said they were going to send a videographer and photographer,” Farnsworth said. “I thought, “Oh, wow, this is more involved than I thought it would be. It has been a really great experience, though. It has been fun working with the college and seeing the promotion come together.” 
Farnsworth said that promoting Newcastle and the state of Wyoming is something that wasn’t far from his realm. Wyoming Refining Co. has two tanks displaying the Newcastle High School Dogie and the University of Wyoming Steamboat logo. 
“I graduated across the street, and I never thought that I would be at this refinery now when I graduated. I had a different job in mind when I graduated,” Farnsworth said. 
After his 1994 graduation from UW and marriage, Farnsworth learned of a job in his hometown. 
Farnsworth applied for the job, went through the interview process and in the end was offered the engineering job in his hometown, right across the street from his high school alma mater. 
“I never looked back and it has been one heck of a ride,” Farnsworth said. “It has been extremely interesting and without my engineering degree from the University of Wyoming, none of this would have happened. I am extremely grateful.” 
Growing up in a small town, Farnsworth said, he was unaware of all the opportunities the state and the university had to offer and he hopes that through this campaign he can help graduates across the state realize the opportunities that are here in Weston County and, even bigger, within the state. 
Making his decision to join the campaign even easier, Farnsworth said, was his love for the campaign’s theme. Being a cowboy isn’t just for those who go to college at the university, he said, but for everyone in the state who shares the pride in displaying the state’s iconic bucking horse, wherever life may take them. 
“Through this whole campaign, it is not about the guys in cowboy hats, it is about the graduates and the students here at the university,” said Chad Baldwin, the university’s associate vice president for marketing and communications. “It is about the strong work ethic we instill in our students that make them dedicated to making their community better. That is why we picked Mike; he supervises and runs one of the largest employers in Weston County. He is an original Newcastle kid that was able to come to the university and go back to his hometown to operate a really important pillar of that community.” 
According to Baldwin, it is people like Farnsworth that make this campaign as great as it is. 
“Every community has a pillar that is a graduate from the university, like Mike or a doctor or teacher. You name it, there is at least one University of Wyoming graduate in every community,” Baldwin said. “That is our most important contribution to the state, on top of research and educating.”
The years ahead are also important, Baldwin said.
“The future of Wyoming really depends on our young people to help diversify the economy and support traditional industries as well,” he said. “What we are showing here is that the world needs more cowboys, but so does Wyoming.” 
This marketing campaign began last year, Baldwin said, and it received positive responses from across the state. 
“It helped connect us with the people, and now we have a cool slogan. But we needed to do some face-to-face interaction with people and highlight what UW does in those communities and encourage people to make connections in Laramie and Casper,” Baldwin said. “That is what this is all about.” 
During the “The World Needs More Cowboys” celebration, attendees will learn what the University of Wyoming has to offer, hear from current students and hear from Farnsworth about how the university prepared him for his role at the refinery. They will also hear from UW Acting President Neil Theobald, who will be highlighting the value of higher education and the Cowboy Commitment, UW’s new merit- and need-based financial aid offerings for Wyoming high school graduates.