Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

STOCKGROWERS ASSOCIATION Mr. Place. My turn. Senator McClure and panel members, my name is Gene Place. I am a farmer and rancher residing in Hamer, Idaho. I testify today as president of the Clark County Stockgrowers Association, a 35-member group organized in 1936 to help insure economic survival while grazing public ranges. Our mem bers own about 30,000 head of cattle and 50,000 head of sheep that provide food and fiber for thousands of Americans. These livestock are grazed across all types of public lands, including Forest Servicecontrolled lands in the Targhee Forest. We feel we presently have a good working relationship with all the Government agencies that regulate our allotments. For the most part, we have learned to be good stewards of the range. Our range improvement programs ben efit all types of wildlife. Our improved livestock watering facilities water deer and elk as well as sheep and cattle. This is done at no cost to the Idaho sportsman. Specifically, our organization strongly opposes the Palisades and Lionhead areas to be included as wilderness designation. Not only do we fear inhibited travel and management ability for our herds in those areas, we see them as spawning grounds for such preda tors as grizzly bears, grey wolves, and coyotes. As a matter of prin ciple, our group opposes the addition of one more single acre to the 3.8 million acres of wilderness already in Idaho. The West was set tled by a man on a horse with a gun, a trap, a plow, a shovel, an ax, a herd of cattle and a will to succeed. America was not made strong by a hippie with a backpack looking for solitude. And, Senator, as you study this issue, keep this correlated fact in mind: In the lower 48 States Idaho presently ranks top in wilder ness acres and second from the bottom in money spent for educa tion. Could it be that in our State providing grizzly bear dens is more important than providing classrooms for our children? If you continue to lock up our natural resources, remember Sena tor, there's another big bear with a hammer and sickle that sits in his den and smiles. Thank you, Senator.