Delaine Roberts is the epitome of “home-grown” conservation in Wyoming.

He was born and raised in Star Valley and always invested his time and resources at the local level, including as a leader of youth, as a seasonal game warden, and as a county sheriff. He was also influential on the state level as a state senator and chair of the Travel, Recreation and Wildlife committee.

After leaving the senate, Roberts became the first chairman of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust. As chairman of the WWNRT, Roberts brought together diverse interests, established rules, and launched the program that has provided more than $69 million statewide for wildlife conservation. Under his leadership, the WWNRT invested in more than 700 projects, including river restoration, rangeland enhancements, conservation easements to wetlands, aspen restoration, fence modification, water development, research, and other projects.

Perhaps his greatest contribution though, comes in creating policy, where he led by example, to guide a diverse populace to put a conservation ethic into practice.