“What’s Driving Beef Prices?” will be answered Monday, Nov. 16, during the next Casper College Community Learning Series. The free presentation will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Robert and Ruth Dove Conference Center, Room 225, at Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center on the Casper College campus.
What’s Driving Beef Prices Explored in Learning Series
“The goal of this learning series is to help community members understand the forces shaping cattle and beef prices, including the connections between environmental conditions, ranching decisions, and consumer demand,” said Jared James, Casper College School of Science coordinator.
According to James, beef links household grocery budgets to the realities of Wyoming ranching. The presentation “What’s Driving Beef Prices” will examine the factors driving the rise in meat prices at grocery stores.
Anne Wood, agricultural business instructor at Casper College, will explain why the U.S. beef cow herd has shrunk, what it takes to rebuild it, how markets and environments beyond Wyoming influence local ranching, and how the cost of raising cattle and shifting demand affect what we buy and who produces it.
Before joining Casper College, Wood taught economics at Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree in general biology with a second major in economics from the State University of New York at Fredonia; a master’s in agriculture and resource economics from West Virginia University; and a master’s in energy and environmental law and policy and in oil and gas law and policy from Texas A&M University. She is currently working on her doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Wyoming.
The Casper College Community Learning Series is guided by its mission: to connect our community through learning, dialogue, and discovery. As Casper’s community college, we are committed to offering thought-provoking programs that address the issues shaping our community and Wyoming’s future. Through engaging lectures, we will foster civic engagement, inspire lifelong learning, and strengthen the partnerships that drive Casper and Wyoming forward.
At a Glance:
- Event Focus
- Examination of rising beef and meat prices, U.S. cattle herd reductions, and market factors connecting grocery costs to Wyoming ranching
- Key Participants
- Anne Wood, agricultural business instructor at Casper College
- Jared James, Casper College School of Science coordinator
- Logistics: Dates, Times, and Locations
- Date: Monday, Nov. 16, 2026
- Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
- Location: Robert and Ruth Dove Conference Center, Room 225, Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center, Casper College campus
- Admission and Registration
- Free and open to the public
- No advance registration required
- Project Partners
- Casper College Community Learning Series
- Casper College School of Science
