March is National Women’s History month, when Americans remember and honor the women who have made tremendous contributions to our nation, including the enduring quest for equality between women and men under the law. That history inspires the efforts of present and future leaders to ensure equal footing in our great nation for men and women alike. When recognizing the history of women’s struggle for equality, there is no richer place on which to focus than my home state of Wyoming.

In the 1800s, life on the Western frontier was fraught with danger and hardship. Everyone, male and female, had to lend a helping hand to keep family farms and ranches operating and communities together. Many women who helped settle and build the West were on the front lines of the equal rights movement. Their grit, determination and strength showed through in both their daily work and their ability to lead.