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Saturday, January 25
 

9:50am MST

Case Study: Progress of a Farmland Co-op in the San Luis Valley
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am MST
In this session, Jesus Flores will talk about the Farmer's Land Coop at El Rio Grande Farm Park and Cooperatives in Alamosa. He will describe how it got started, what they have faced in regard to successes and challenges, and where the project is headed in the future.

This session will be offered in Spanish with English interpretation available.
Moderators
MS

Maria Suarez

Co-owner, Macario's Produce
Speakers
avatar for Jesus Flores

Jesus Flores

Farm Manager, Rio Grande Farm Park
Jesus is a lifelong farmer and farmworker. Jesus brings great love and knowledge of agriculture to the farm park. He is skilled in vegetable production, irrigation, soil health, and caring for bees.
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am MST
South Room

9:50am MST

The Spirit of Natural Farming
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am MST
Explore the historical roots of natural farming practices and their critical importance in today's agricultural landscape. This session will delve into traditional farming techniques, the evolution of natural farming philosophies, and the relevance of these methods in addressing current agricultural issues.
Speakers
avatar for Miles Filippelli

Miles Filippelli

Founder, Fermented Plant Extracts
Miles Filippelli is a multifaceted farmer, educator, product developer, artist, and visionary based on a small farm near Paonia. His Fermented Plant Extract product line is available nationwide through BuildaSoil and at various organic and regenerative gardening stores. Over the past... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am MST
Multipurpose Room

9:50am MST

Working to Live or Living to Work?
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am MST
Running a small farm is hard. Join Dylan from Sandy Seed Farm, an intensive small-scale vegetable operation, for strategies on finding balance between a fulfilling personal life and a bustling professional life.
Speakers
avatar for Dylan Fagden

Dylan Fagden

Owner/Operator, Sandy Seed Farm
Dylan has been running Sandy Seed Farm for the last four years, since its creation in Moab, Utah to its current home in Montrose, Colorado. He has also worked at a larger certified organic operation in Logan, Utah, where he learned the farming ropes. After years of working hard on... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 9:50am - 10:50am MST
Center Room

11:05am MST

Finding Roots: Navigating Land Transfer and Access
Saturday January 25, 2025 11:05am - 12:05pm MST
Accessing land and navigating succession are some of the greatest challenges faced by farmers and ranchers. Alyssa will guide us through a discussion about various methods to access land, navigating conversations around succession, and building relationships with landowners seeking to pivot.
Speakers
avatar for Alyssa Bentele

Alyssa Bentele

Land Steward, Colorado West Land Trust
Alyssa is a Land Steward with Colorado West Land Trust, where she supports landowners in preserving and enhancing the conservation values of their land. She is a part of the Land Transfer Navigator program with American Farmland Trust -- which builds a cohort of folks working in close... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 11:05am - 12:05pm MST
South Room

11:05am MST

How do I Unplug from Conventional Practices?
Saturday January 25, 2025 11:05am - 12:05pm MST
With input costs rising, commodity prices stagnant, the constant threat of financial ruin, and the number of ag producers in steady decline. Jason will demonstrate tools, practices and perspective to help you unplug from the noise and map a way forward without the anchor chain of the status quo.
Speakers
avatar for Jason Wrich

Jason Wrich

Regenerative Cattle Rancher, Wrich Ranches
Jason transitioned from conventional Black Angus seedstock production to a more sustainable approach, eliminating pharmaceuticals, synthetic fertilizers, and subsidies through intensive land and herd management. Co-founding Beefinitiative.com with Texas Slim, he connects consumers... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 11:05am - 12:05pm MST
Center Room

11:05am MST

Resources for Small Agriculture and Food Businesses
Saturday January 25, 2025 11:05am - 12:05pm MST
In this session, you will learn about available resources for small agriculture and food businesses from Region 10/West Central Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and CSU Extension. Specifically, you will learn about the differences between grants and small business loans, what grants and loans are available, how to get free or low-cost technical assistance, and access to the Business Cultivator’s Commercial Kitchen in Olathe. You will hear from a Hispanic entrepreneur about how she was able to maximize her resources and get her business off the ground.

This session will be offered in Spanish with English interpretation available.

Moderators
avatar for Adriana Chavira

Adriana Chavira

Program Manager/Hispanic Outreach, Region 10
Adriana Chavira is Program Manager and Hispanic Outreach through Region 10.  Region 10 serves as the hub of the West Central SBDC office and provides assistance to new and existing businesses in Delta, Montrose, Hinsdale, Gunnison, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. She is based in... Read More →
Speakers
LS

Laura Sanabria

Owner, Que Chimba LLC
avatar for Nicole Didero

Nicole Didero

Extension Regional Specialist, Colorado State University
Nicole Didero serves rural communities on the Western Slope. Her role is to help create strong regional food and agricultural networks by working across the food supply chain (from producers to consumers). Her expertise is in community food systems, specialty crop production, and... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 11:05am - 12:05pm MST
Multipurpose Room

1:05pm MST

Calibrating Sprayers for Optimal Efficacy
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Imagine controlling your spray like a maestro conducting a symphony, ensuring every droplet lands exactly where it needs to. With sprayer calibration, you're the mastermind behind efficient pest control, weed management, and even fertilizing, all while conserving resources and maximizing effectiveness. It’s a blend of science and art—fine-tuning pressure, nozzle selection, and speed to achieve a flawless performance. So grab your tools, check your flow rates, and get ready to see your sprayer work like never before.








Speakers
avatar for Todd Ballard

Todd Ballard

Tri-River Area Agronomy Specialist, Agronomy Professor, CSU Extension
Todd Ballard has four years of experience with CSU Extension, starting in the Golden Plains Area and currently in the Tri-River Area. He has a background in commercial agriculture and holds a B.A. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University, as well... Read More →
avatar for Katie Alexander

Katie Alexander

Small Acreage and Marketing Agent, Colorado State University
Katie Alexander has worked for CSU Extension for three years as the Small Acreage and Marketing agent. Katie earned her B.S. in Soil and Crop Sciences from Colorado State University where she took a soil conservationist position with the USDA-NRCS for over thirteen years. That time... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
North Room

1:05pm MST

Is No Till Really Worth It?
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Using historical data from the last 30 years, we will compare different farming methods to determine if changing methods really increases profitability.
Speakers
avatar for Roy Pfaltzgraff

Roy Pfaltzgraff

Farmer, Pfaltzgraff Farms, LLC
Roy and his parents operate Pfaltzgraff Farms, LLC, a 2,200-acre dryland farm south of Haxtun, CO, where Roy was born and raised. Under his father's pioneering vision, the farm has transformed from growing two to three crops annually to twelve last year. While still using some commercial... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Backstage

1:05pm MST

Soil Biology and Nutrient Cycling
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Soil biology & nutrient cycling encompass the intricate interactions among soil microorganisms that facilitate the biochemical cycling of essential nutrients. We dig into how these processes function and how they are crucial for maintaining soil fertility, promoting plant health, and ensuring the sustainability of agroecosystems.
Speakers
avatar for Miles Sorel

Miles Sorel

CEO & Founder, Terraforma International
Miles Sorel brings over a decade of agricultural expertise, blending his background in neuroscience with a deep understanding of the Soil Food Web. His work spans across the Americas, Asia, and Africa, where he has developed regenerative solutions and cutting-edge biotechnology to... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
South Room

1:05pm MST

The Power of the Code- the Tax Code!
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Stay ahead with the latest tax updates for agricultural operations. Learn how to maximize deductions, plan major purchases, and leverage new opportunities for 2024-2025. This session offers practical tips to optimize your farm or ranch's financial health and compliance.
Speakers
avatar for Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson

CPA, Certified General Appraiser, Michael W Johnson, CPA, PLLC
Michael Johnson specializes in real estate taxation, small business taxation, farm and ranch operations. He is a certified public accountant (CPA), a real estate appraiser (Certified General Appraiser), and current investor in real estate and short-term rentals. He is a former farmer... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Multipurpose Room

1:05pm MST

What's New in Colorado Water
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Learn about Robert Sakata's new role and unique perspective as the first Colorado Agriculture Water Policy Advisor, and  how producers can get involved with regional initiatives and access resources to advance climate smart practices.
Speakers
avatar for Robert Sakata

Robert Sakata

Agricultural Water Policy Advisor, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Robert Sakata serves as the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Ag Water Policy Advisor, a new position approved by the 2023 Colorado General Assembly, and is also president of Sakata Farms in Brighton, Colorado.Robert was born and raised in Colorado and grew up on his family farm... Read More →
Saturday January 25, 2025 1:05pm - 2:05pm MST
Center Room