PINEDALE – A dozen students behind him and many more looking directly at him during a frigid Tuesday morning, Sen. John Barrasso commanded the Pinedale Middle School gym with his plea, “Dream big.”

Wyoming’s senior senator returned to Pinedale for his second visit in less than a year to answer questions from middle school students. He came to Pinedale Elementary School last March to answer students’ questions during a visit back to his home state.

This time, he underlined the opportunity and excitement of Wyoming education.

Barrasso took a moment to honor Carolyn Normington, who was recently named School Counselor of the Year by the Wyoming School Counselor Association. He also gave a quick tip of the hat to George Vlastos, language arts teacher, who earned the distinction of 2022 Teacher of the Year at the conclusion of the last school year.

Pinedale Middle School students are led by a group of hardworking, dedicated people. Coupled with the Hathaway Scholarship, which Barrasso was an instrumental part of during its passage in the Wyoming Legislature, and the precedent of Pinedale residents going on to achieve big things, Barrasso told students it wasn’t unreasonable to dream as long as they were willing to work hard to achieve them. He underlined that point by mentioning Brooke Hornberger, a former Barrasso staffer from Pinedale who is now focused on cancer treatment.

“Any of you can do the same kind of things she’s doing with the opportunity you’re getting here at this school,” Barrasso said.

He also pointed to the aspiring athletes in the room. Barrasso is from Casper and worked there as an orthopedic surgeon for years, some while serving in the Wyoming Legislature. During his time there he saw a young Natrona County High School student who continued to work hard and grow before playing football at the University of Wyoming. Barrasso said he watched an NFL playoff game over the weekend and saw that same young man, Logan Wilson, playing linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Twelve PMS students sat in the middle of the gym and asked Barrasso questions. He said he became a senator to help people. That’s partially why he’s most proud of passing the Hathaway Scholarship. It’s also why he said he’s focused on parts of energy. A ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee, Barrasso said America has what it takes to be energy dominant

“We all want to make energy as clean as we can, as fast as we can,” Barrasso said. “And do it in ways that don’t raise the price of fossil fuels.”

Barrasso also said education and safety issues should be local decisions. The senator mentioned Wyoming high schools completing the 2019-2020 school year with in-person classes as a credit to local decision making. He was also asked about grazing permits, which he said should come with local decision making.

He said he’s looking at possible legislation concerning beef markets as the price of beef has skyrocketed in recent years without added profits finding their way to local ranchers.

Barrasso said he was optimistic about the job opportunities carbon-capture efforts would provide.

The senator also explained he was prepared to help people in elected office as an orthopedic surgeon. That desire to help followed him to places like Jackson, where he stood with the McCollum family as the remains of Jackson Marine Rylee McCollum returned home. He spoke to Rylee’s father, Jim McCollum, the day of the attack on the Kabul airport that claimed the life of Rylee and 12 other soldiers. Those tough times reminded him how important it was to support the people he was elected to represent.

“You have to be there for the people of Wyoming and it is your job and responsibility to do it,” Barrasso said.

The state’s senior senator said he’d continue to support and work for Wyomingites, including the students and faculty in the room. Through work and dedication, opportunity can become reality. And, for that, Pinedale’s future burns bright.