The Wyoming State Fair is pleased to announce a contract with Rindy West of Raiser Consulting to perform fundraising and revenue development efforts to support the Wyoming State Fair and the Wyoming State Fair Endowment Fund. Rindy will provide services to develop fundraising and work closely with Wyoming State Fair Management to implement new campaigns and pathways to maximize revenues with a strong focus on long-range Endowment development.
West brings over 23 years of fund development experience in nonprofits. She was most recently the Development Director for Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom, and brings a rich knowledge and history of fundraising campaign management, donor development, grant procurement, relationship building, budgeting, and event production. She is an enthusiastic, collaborative driven, focused professional with a strong background in production agriculture, agriculture business, agriculture relations, youth life skill education, and Wyoming’s economic drivers.
“We’re thrilled to announce our collaboration with Rindy West and Raiser Consulting. With Rindy’s remarkable track record in fund development and her deep connection to Wyoming’s agricultural tapestry, we’re confident that this partnership will breathe fresh life into the Wyoming State Fair. Together, we’re poised to craft a future that celebrates our heritage, strengthens our community bonds, and brings renewed energy to the heart of our state.” said Courtny Conkle, General Manager of the Wyoming State Fair.
West most recently led Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom to a $4.7 M campaign finish to provide the Wyoming Stewardship Project to classrooms across Wyoming, and annually raised over $700,000 in funds for operations and endowment. She has organized events like the Barn Burner 5K, Wyoming Game & Fish Commissioner License Auction, and the Wyoming’s Students Wyoming’s Future Celebration. She was responsible for statewide networking, relationship building, goal setting, resource collaboration, promotion, and metrics of fund development. She has enjoyed giving presentations at statewide industry events and loved recruiting teachers to the Wyoming Stewardship Project curriculum.
Prior to her work at Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom, West directed a campaign to raise $10.2 M for the Hub on Smith Senior Center in Sheridan, where she was the Development Director, and increased annual fundraising productivity by 381%. She implemented a new celebratory and fundraising event in Sheridan called the Keystone Awards, which honored lifetime volunteer service to the community.
“My husband Justin and I first met at the Wyoming State Fair, and we have been coming every year since. The Wyoming State Fair offers a premier showcase event for youth and families that make lifetime memories. I am especially excited to be working with Wyoming State Fair leadership to help raise funds to continue to build the best Wyoming State Fair possible. The Wyoming State Fair has helped shape my future, and my children’s future and it is a pinnacle of excitement for our family and so many others every year. It feels like fate has brought me to this opportunity, where I can involve as many people as possible in the Wyoming State Fair for generations to come through donor giving. I am incredibly proud to join forces with the Wyoming State Fair to raise funding for a showcase celebration of our Wyoming heritage, agriculture, youth, entrepreneurship, and passion for the state.”
Rindy grew up on a farm, ranch, and feedlot in the sandhills of Nebraska, graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Ag Business and a minor in Marketing and Animal Science, and has been in the Cowboy State ever since. It all comes full circle for Rindy, as she started her career as the 4-H Agent in Douglas, Wyoming after college graduation. Rindy was on the livestock and meats judging teams at UW and her passion for the ag way of life has been a big part of who she is and what she will always want others to understand. It has been the biggest driving factor in the activities that she and her husband Justin’s three children, Braden-age 20, Jhett-age 17, and Wynn-age 11 are involved in. “I’m proud that our kids are growing up knowing how to face challenges, problem solve, and be involved in an agricultural lifestyle.” The family is wholeheartedly active in 4-H, FFA and extra-curricular school activities. Rindy is a 15 year 4-H leader and is active with the Albert J. Goodwater FFA Alumni.
West was awarded the 2016 Sheridan Jaycees and Chamber of Commerce-Outstanding Young Sheridanites Humanitarian and Voluntary Leadership Award, the 2014 Sheridan Press 20 Under 40 Awardee, the 2013 Sheridan Press Woman of the Year Awardee, Champion 4-H Agent for the Wyoming State Fair in 2005, the UW Outstanding Staff Award in 2004, the UW Staff Incentive Award Winner in 2004, was the featured speaker at the 2003 National Western Stock Show, Citizen of the West Scholarship Banquet, and received the National Association of 4-H Agents Achievement in Service Award in 2003. Rindy is a 2013 Sheridan CiViC Project graduate.