Wyoming Superintendent Challenges $100M Kelly Parcel Sale, Advocates for Land Swap
In a debate over Wyoming’s Kelly Parcel, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder has voiced her opposition to a proposed $100 million sale of the 640-acre property to Grand Teton National Park.
Instead, Degenfelder supports a land swap that would exchange the parcel for federally owned, developable land in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, which she believes would better serve the state’s long-term financial and development interests.
The Kelly Parcel, located within Grand Teton’s boundaries, is highly valued for its scenic beauty and importance to local wildlife. However, its sale is now under debate by the Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners, which consists of five state officials, including Degenfelder and Governor Mark Gordon, and is set to vote on the issue.
The Wyoming Legislature authorized the $100 million sale in a recent budget bill, with $62 million expected from federal funds and $38 million from private donors. Proponents argue that the sale would maximize the financial return to Wyoming’s school trust funds, which are supported by revenues from state-owned land. Detractors, however, including Degenfelder, contend that a land exchange would preserve the parcel’s natural value while allowing Wyoming to acquire and develop productive land that could generate revenue over generations.
Degenfelder has led a task force over the past year to explore options for a swap, identifying over 100,000 acres of developable Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property in the Powder River Basin, which is known for its mineral resources. This exchange, Degenfelder argues, could provide Wyoming with long-term economic gains far beyond the one-time cash influx the sale would bring. In her view, an exchange maintains Wyoming’s control over developable land while still preserving the parcel’s natural integrity.
Despite her efforts, Degenfelder expressed frustration upon learning of a last-minute agenda item for this week’s board meeting to consider the sale, alleging a lack of transparency in the process.
“I was stunned to learn of Governor Gordon’s decision to quietly negotiate a sale contract,” she said,
Degenfelder called for “bold, transparent leadership, not backroom maneuvering.”
Supporters of the sale argue that the $100 million offer, 60% above the parcel’s appraisal, is a unique opportunity that will benefit Wyoming’s schools immediately. They also note that state residents and the Wyoming Legislature strongly back the sale, with over 10,000 residents supporting it through public input sessions.
As the state’s five-member board prepares to vote, Degenfelder remains firm in her stance against expanding federal landholdings.
“I will not support new net acres for the federal government ever,” she stated.
Degenfelder called for continued negotiation on a land exchange as a solution that aligns both conservation and state interests.
Cowboy State Daily, Jackson Hole News and Guide, Wyo File contributed to this report.
