A new mission has been created in central Wyoming that takes in the Church’s Mormon Handcart Historic Site, the First Presidency has announced.

The Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission, effective Jan. 16, is being created from a division of the Colorado Fort Collins, Montana Billings and South Dakota Rapid City missions. In the process, the Martin’s Cove Branch is being transferred from the Casper Wyoming Stake to the new mission. The historical site is being transferred from the supervision of the South Dakota Rapid City Mission to the new mission.

The Mormon Handcart Historic Site includes the Martin’s Cove, Sixth Crossing and Rocky Ridge historical sites, and thus, the new mission will oversee all these locales. Blaine J. Bushman, who was originally assigned to direct the Mormon Handcart Historic Site, is serving as the president of the Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission. He serves with his wife, Sister Margene Bushman.

Blaine Jay Bushman, 66, and Margene Bingham Bushman, eight children, Midland 1st Ward, Odessa Texas Stake: Mormon Handcart Historic Site (central Wyoming), succeeding Elder Lorin L. Moench and Sister Mary Moench. Brother and Sister Bushman recently served as senior missionaries in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. Brother Bushman is a former counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, stake Young Men president, bishop and missionary in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission. Retired owner, Y’all Haul Trailers. Born in Winslow, Arizona, to Elwin Ewing and Genevieve Tanner Bushman.

Sister Bushman is a former stake Primary president, ward Relief Society president, counselor in ward Primary and Relief Society presidencies, and seminary teacher. Born in Vernal, Utah, to Victor Lester and Marjorie Olson Bingham.