On the ranch Wayne learned the value of hard  work with his family.  As a county commissioner, he learned to make a practice of working collaboratively.  One example was negotiating a timber sale on Grand Mesa where a spruce blow-down became infested with beetles.  Quick action has resulted in a healthy forest.

Wayne is the founding chair of the Delta County Meth Task Force.  By bringing together judges, attorneys, probation officers, child welfare case workers, educators, mental health clinicians, law enforcement officers, church and civic leaders they have put together an effective program called the Delta Model that is receiving national attention.

            Wayne became involved in the county land use process to protect the agricultural producer’s ability to sell a piece of property in order to stay in business.  He wrote the first draft of a land use regulation that requires mitigation to protect the neighboring uses, especially agricultural, so that producers are less apt to be forced out by residential development.

            As chair of Colorado Counties, Agriculture, Wildlife and Rural Affairs Committee, Wayne was asked to represent the counties concerning the 2007 Farm Bill.  Wayne is recognized as an outstanding advocate for rural Colorado.