Western CO Soil Health, Food and Farm Forum: Full Schedule

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10:15am MST

Beaver Boost: Enhancing Ranchland Productivity

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

Ranchers in the Gunnison Valley are working with Western Colorado University to improve livestock forage quality, soil health, and water management. Micah will share how this is achieved through implementation of beaver dam analogues, wetland enhancement projects, stream restoration, virtual fencing, and more.

Speakers

Dr. Micah Russell

Interim Dean of the Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability, Western Colorado University

Micah specializes in water resources, river and wetland restoration, remote sensing, and community outreach. Early in his career, he worked with farmers in the lower Columbia River basin on flood control and salmon restoration. He later taught ecology and environmental project management... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
Multipurpose Room

Breakout Session

10:15am MST

Soil Health 101

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

Backstage

This basic overview will explore the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soil to help deepen your understanding of the key functions and indicators associated with healthy soil. Whether you are a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower, this session is sure to enhance your relationship with the living land.

Speakers

Shawn Bruckman

Soil Health and Compost Consultant, The Ground Up

Shawn Bruckman is an Edaphologist who studies how the soil interacts with living organisms. With almost 2 decades of experience in sustainable resource management, specializing in soil biology and composting, she is the owner of The Ground Up, a soil health company located in Eagle... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
Backstage

Breakout Session

10:15am MST

Using Social Capital as a Tool for Success

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

South Room

We have all heard the phrase "It's not what you know, it's who you know." In this session, we will explore the value of building community connections and how to leverage community in agriculture.

Speakers

Cally Hale

5th Generation Farmer/Rancher, Western Heritage Farms

Cally Hale is a 5th generation farmer living on her family's centennial ranch in Montrose, CO. She serves on the Colorado State Fair Board and is working on becoming a Certified Educator with Holistic Management International. For the last three years, she has been the Program Manager... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
South Room

Breakout Session

10:15am MST

Weed Warriors: Organic Strategies for Vegetable Farms

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST

Center Room

Organic growers in Western Colorado encounter specific challenges in weed management due to poor soil, limited irrigation, and labor shortages, which complicate common practices like mechanical cultivation, cover cropping, and hand weeding. This presentation will share practical tips and strategies for managing weeds on small and mid-sized vegetable farms in the arid Intermountain West.

Speakers

Max Kirks

Research Associate, CSU Western Colorado Research Center- Rogers Mesa

For the past twelve years, Max has been working in agriculture in Western Colorado both as former owner of Outlier Farm in Mancos and now as a Research Associate at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center at Rogers Mesa. Throughout his career he has learned that growing food in the... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am MST
Center Room

Breakout Session

11:30am MST

Getting a Bit of R&R (Ranching and Reality!)

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

Backstage

In this session you'll hear from a brother and sister about their best intentions--and the realities--of trying to carry on (and improve upon!) a ranching legacy in today's world. Participants will have the opportunity to engage, share their own experiences, and come away with a few ideas that make a difference.

Speakers

Jamie Cross and Shane Cross

Co-Manager (sister and brother), The Boot Ranch

We are a third-generation ranching family with dust on our chaps, grit in our bellies, and sweat round our hats, committed to raising and delivering no-bullshit clean beef in a holistically managed environment with Savory’s guidance at the helm.

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
Backstage

Breakout Session

11:30am MST

Optimizing Your Wash and Pack Shed: Layout, Efficiency and Safety

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

Center Room

Whether you're setting up a new space or refining your existing setup, learn strategies to streamline processes, improve food safety compliance, and ensure the quality and longevity of your produce.

Speakers

Mike Nolan

Owner/Operator, Mountain Roots Produce

Mike Nolan farms with his partner Mindy Perkovich in Mancos, CO. They own and operate Mountain Roots Produce which is a 7-acre diversified vegetable operation focusing on flowers, fresh market crops, and garlic seed production in cooperation with The Grasshopper Collective, a garlic... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
Center Room

Breakout Session

11:30am MST

Regional Richness: Comparing Unique Traits in Vegetable Varieties

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

Multipurpose Room

This session will review the results of the Regional Seed Vegetable Variety Trials from the Western Colorado Research Center - Rogers Mesa. The findings illuminate interesting, adaptive, and advantageous aspects of vegetable varieties bred in the Intermountain West.

Speakers

Brad Tonnessen

Research Scientist, Western Colorado Research Center - Rogers Mesa

Brad Tonnessen is the Research Scientist at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center - Rogers Mesa (WCRC-RM). He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and earned a PhD at Colorado State University in genetics and plant pathology. He spent time as an organic farmer before becoming an... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
Multipurpose Room

Breakout Session

11:30am MST

Reviving Arid Lands

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST

South Room

Let’s explore the ability to reverse desertification and restore ecological balance at a profit utilizing livestock, trees and swales.

Speakers

Jake Takiff

Farmer and Ecological Engineer, Cedar Springs Farm

Jake Takiff owns Cedar Springs Farm in Hotchkiss, Colorado. He is transforming an overgrazed ranch in the high desert into a lush perennial food forest by practicing agroforestry, water management and rotational grazing. Currently they produce beef and pastured pork while they tend... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm MST
South Room

Breakout Session

2:45pm MST

Building Beyond the Farm: A Flower Farmer's Strategy

Friday January 24, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST

South Room

You're ready to take your farm to the next level, but are your systems, team, and marketing ready to make the leap? Sydney will share her strategies of building her business from a small-scale flower farm to one that now includes multiple revenue streams and sales outlets, without compromising life's priorities beyond her business.

Speakers

Sydney Garvey

Farmer-Florist & Owner, Garvey's Gardens

Sydney is a flower farmer and florist, who credits flowers with helping her heal from the grief of losing her infant daughter after her battle with HELLP Syndrome in February 2020. Before flower farming, Sydney was a secondary mathematics educator for 8 years, and holds a MA in Education... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
South Room

Breakout Session

2:45pm MST

Farmland Leasing Basics

Friday January 24, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST

Multipurpose Room

Do you understand the basic legal issues behind leasing land and its relationship to state law? Jen will share how to navigate a strong lease that will protect your operation, whether you are the landlord or the tenant.

Speakers

Jen Ghigiarelli

Membership Coordinator, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Jen is a regenerative livestock farmer and agriculture advocate who lives in Silt, CO. Jen supports farmers and ranchers across Western Colorado and New Mexico as Membership Coordinator for Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). She has taken on the additional role of Ag Labor Specialist... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Multipurpose Room

Breakout Session

2:45pm MST

How Measuring Impacts and Marketing Fit Together

Friday January 24, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST

Backstage

Jeanne will share details of the Shaniko Wool Company Carbon Initiative purpose and research model that quantifies the environmental and climate impacts of our ranching operations and how this information is driving business-to-business sales.

Speakers

Jeanne Carver

Founder, Shaniko Wool Company

Jeanne is leading an economic and rural revival by emphasizing traditional skills, food origins, and strengthening local supply chains. At her family's Imperial Stock Ranch (est. 1871), she and her late husband Dan shifted from selling commodity lamb and wool to retailing ecologically... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 2:45pm - 3:45pm MST
Backstage

Breakout Session

4:00pm MST

Conservation Programs and the Colorado River

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST

Backstage

What is the System Conservation Pilot Program? What is the purpose of the program and the benefits and negatives to participating? What opportunities exist with funding to conserve water in agriculture on the Colorado River? Find out in this session!

Speakers

Greg Peterson

Executive Director, Colorado Ag Water Alliance

Greg grew up in Littleton, CO, where he still lives after living around the world. He studied history and political economy. He has served at the Executive Director of the Colorado Ag Water Alliance for over eight years. Greg has been knee-deep with farmers and ranchers, learning... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Backstage

Breakout Session

4:00pm MST

From Pasture to Protection: Goats in Weed and Fire Control

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST

South Room

We will cover how mobile goat grazing can be used to reduce fire risk in the wildland urban interface, how goats can reduce the spread of noxious weeds while building healthier soil, and the experience of starting an agricultural business without land ownership or inheriting assets.

Speakers

Adrian Lacasse

Co-Owner, DuranGoats

Adrian discovered his passion for the environment volunteering for a habitat-restoration group in Southern California while working full-time in animation. By the time he was ready to make the career switch, he was also ready to leave the city. He traveled to different areas of the... Read More →

Jonathan Bartley

Co-Owner, DuranGoats

Jonathan started this business after four seasons of Wildland Firefighting, the last of which impacted his own community. His desire is to create an impact on the Durango community, helping manage weeds and bolstering the fire defense in our vulnerable part of the country, all the... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
South Room

Breakout Session

4:00pm MST

Harnessing the Power of Debt

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST

Center Room

Cash flow can be a persistent stress for you. How do you make it through another season? How can you grow? How do you plan with confidence? There is money out there to help you. Turn debt into one of your strongest tools for reducing stress today and building a successful future.

Speakers

Brian Coppom

Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program Manager, Colorado Department of Agriculture

Brian joined the Colorado Department of Agriculture three years ago to launch and operate its first revolving loan fund. In the first two years, the program made $21M in loans to Colorado farmers and ranchers. Prior to joining the CDA, Brian served as the Executive Director of the... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Center Room

Breakout Session

4:00pm MST

Update: The Land Institute and Alternative Forages

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST

Multipurpose Room

This session is a grand overview of the Land Institute and an update on the Alternative Forages project in the Colorado River Basin from last year.

Speakers

Hunter Doyle

Intermountain West Agronomy Specialist, The Land Institute

Hunter is an agronomist with a focus on forage crops. A graduate of Colorado State University, Hunter completed his master's degree in soil and crop sciences while conducting research at the CSU Grand Valley Research Station located in Fruita focusing on forages. Hunter has an unparalleled... Read More →

Friday January 24, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Multipurpose Room

Breakout Session