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 started by his father in 1944. Over time his family has grown everything from cut flowers to mixed vegetables and has continued to adapt to pressures that include the growing population surrounding their farm, the decreasing availability of adequate irrigation water, lack of adequate seasonal housing and increasing costs to now growing winter wheat, pinto beans, triticale, grain and silage corn going to local dairies and elevators. He has been active with numerous Colorado based farm organizations that included helping to form the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
His involvement in water has included gubernatorial appointments to the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, the IBCC, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. He has also served on multiple ditch boards, AFBF Horticulture Advisor Committee, Ag Groundwater Quality Protection Advisory Committee as well as other commodity organization boards.
