I was impressed with the trade fair that came to Star Valley on April 23.

The trades will only continue to expand in the coming years in southwest Wyoming.

I’ve made numerous trips to the Trona Patch in the past two years as we discuss the needs for trained people at all levels.

The mining operations are in need of specific engineers to develop the product from the old mines and the new technology mines that will soon be a part of the process of bringing Trona to the work in the process of soda ash, and baking soda. Eventually it becomes glass production, soap paper and water treatment.

Who has the access to much of this product? Wyoming!

The state’s mining association advises that about 40 billion of the 127 billion world reserves are minable. The association says it should last another 2,300-plus years.

That’s a lot of jobs. Combine those jobs with the further developments in western and southeast Wyoming, such as Simplot, Rocky Mountain Power, the coal mines, and more and you have big employment numbers in this region of the state. Just look at the graphic on page one of this week’s paper or see the story, “Lincoln County prepares for SW growth” in the April 24, SVI.

Thus, the reason for a trades job fair in Star Valley and most every high school in southwest Wyoming.

If we have jobs, we have a strong economy.