POY Nominee — Vicki Hayman: Healthy connections: Hayman leaves lasting Extension legacy

After 28 years with the University of Wyoming Extension, Vicki Hayman officially closed the door on her office for the last time following a retirement party on Dec. 9 — but her presence in Weston County will be felt for years to come.

Hayman, who was born and raised in the community she served, has been nominated for the News Letter Journal’s Person of the Year as part of a series recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact. Her career with Extension centered on one simple but powerful goal: connecting people with information that could improve their lives.

“We take information from the University of Wyoming and we send it out to the community,” Hayman said simply.

That mission guided nearly three decades of work in nutrition, food safety and, later, community vitality and health. Along the way, Hayman became a familiar name to readers of the News Letter Journal through her long-running monthly column, as well as to countless residents
who attended her classes, called her office with questions or simply stopped by to talk.

Stepping away from that routine has been an adjustment.

“It’s hard, I will miss the connection with the community,” Hayman said. “Not having deadlines is pretty nice though. I do not have to worry about what I am going to say every single month.”

Her writing was a major component of her work, often shaped directly by the needs of local residents.

“I enjoyed all of the articles,” Hayman said, even as she acknowledged that sustaining fresh content for nearly three decades was not always easy. “After 28 years you begin to run out of topics.”

Still, some projects stood out more than others, particularly those rooted in the kitchen.

“I enjoyed the cooking and the culinary work most,” Hayman said, referencing a cookbook and three additional vegetable recipe booklets she helped create. “Those were fun. I enjoyed doing those a lot.”

Hayman’s primary program area was nutrition and food safety, a field she said she found her way into naturally.

“I kind of fell into it,” she said.

Still, her reliability never wavered. Bob Bonnar, owner and editor of the News Letter Journal, said Hayman’s commitment stood out over the years.

“In the 25 years that I have been associated with the News Letter Journal, Vicki has always come through with her monthly column, and that is a really impressive accomplishment,” Bonnar said, noting that few contributors maintain that level of consistency long term.

Beyond writing, Hayman was widely known for hands-on cooking and nutrition education. Her programs helped community members gain confidence in the kitchen while learning about healthy choices. Former colleague Virginia Craig said Hayman had a rare ability to meet people where they were.

“People who had no idea how to cook at all, she could teach them,” Craig said. “They were interesting dishes, innovative dishes.”

Craig said Hayman’s personality was just as impactful as her culinary creativity.

“I think her personality is what makes her so special,” she said.

Craig added that Hayman’s influence extended beyond skills and recipes to women throughout Weston County.

“She was an inspiration to the ladies in the community,” Craig said, explaining that Hayman earned trust by consistently showing up to help, teach and encourage others. “She was someone to look up to, whether you were 8 or 80.”

Former Extension colleague Bill Taylor said Hayman’s work addressed concerns shared by everyone.

“We are all dealing with bodies that are slowly dying,” Taylor said, emphasizing the importance of accessible, reliable health information.

Taylor said Hayman approached that responsibility seriously.

“Her concern was doing an excellent job and providing the best information she could,” he said.

That dedication earned Hayman significant recognition in 2025. She received first place for a regional educational publication from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences for the “Cooking It Up!” publications. The collaborative cookbook series highlights recipes featuring zucchini, peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos. The same project also earned second place nationally in the educational publication category as a team effort.

Hayman was also awarded first place for regional communications written media for her “Try Grilled Produce” column published in the News Letter Journal. In addition, she was part of the Harvest Bucks team recognized for excellence in programming that expanded access to fresh produce.

Despite those honors, Hayman remains characteristically modest.

“I’ve been blessed, but I have way too many awards,” she joked.

Her family described that humility as genuine. Her son, Andrew Hayman, said her work ethic has always been consistent, regardless of the setting.

“She does everything to the fullest extent,” he said, noting that her focus on health was always about strengthening the community as a whole.

“If you have a community full of sick people, you can’t thrive,” he said.

From his perspective, her retirement came at the right time.

“She is checking out while she is on top, and that is a good thing to do,” he said.

As Hayman steps away from professional responsibilities, her family supports her decision to focus on personal interests.

“She deserves to do what she wants now,” Andrew Hayman said.

For Hayman, retirement is not about leaving the community behind. The Newcastle and Weston County native said that relationships are what defined her career.

“Weston County has been one big family to me,” Hayman said.

As she reflects on nearly three decades of service, Hayman summed it up simply.

“It has been a wonderful career.”