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 was spent working in natural resources and conservation on farmland and range settings on the western slope of Colorado. Katie and her husband Dean, in addition to working full time jobs, run their farming operation in the Montrose area raising beef cattle and custom haying.

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 as a Ph.D. in Agronomy from Kansas State University. Recently, he completed a graduate certificate in extension education at CSU. Todd's agricultural experience spans various climates and scales, beginning with his family’s horse boarding facility in Indiana and extending to commercial work in Florida and consulting in Belize, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, before returning to academia in Colorado.

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 proximity to the land to help get the next generation of farmers and ranchers on the ground. She is on the board of the National Young Farmers Coalition, Fertile Edge Community Land Trust, and is a volunteer DJ with KVNF Community Radio (DJ Fern!). She grew up in Illinois -- where the corn meets the cul de sacs -- and moved to the high desert of Western Colorado in 2016 where she now lives, works, wanders, canoes, and gardens in the North Fork Valley with her husband, Ben.

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, Colorado. She serves on boards for her local Conservation District, the CDA’s Soil Health Advisory Committee, and the Colorado Composting Council. Bruckman is a certified CSU Master Gardener and USCC Compost Operations Manager. She is an educator and training facilitator for the Compost Research and Education Foundation and a twice published author. In her free time, Shawn enjoys hiking, skiing and digging in her garden.

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 sensitive products. As the founder of Shaniko Wool Company, she has expanded the market for RWS certified American wool by collaborating with ranchers, designers, brands, and U.S. supply partners. Through the Carbon Initiative, she is investing in research to highlight the positive ecosystem impacts of Shaniko Wool Company ranches on the American landscape.

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 Boulder County Farmers Markets for eight years. He has the distinction of being the only non-profit director to be voted Colorado's CEO of the Year by Colorado Biz Magazine and has more than 25 years of experience in business operations, leadership, and finance. With two older children out of the house, he and his wife live in Longmont with their youngest child, a cat, and ten chickens.

Jamie and Shane are the sister-and-brother co-managers of the The Boot Ranch in Douglas, WY. They are a third-generation ranching family with dust on their chaps, grit in their bellies, and sweat round their hats, committed to raising and delivering no-bullshit clean beef in a holistically-managed environment with Savory’s guidance at the helm.

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 passion and dedication to advancing agriculture, educating others, and exploring unique solutions to agriculture issues. He is thrilled to continue working in agriculture in Colorado and helping conduct alterative forage research with a variety of stakeholders as Intermountain West Agronomy Specialist for The Land Institute.

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 large certified organic operation in Logan, Utah, where he learned the farming ropes. After years of working hard on the “big farm”, Dylan pushes to make his small farm as autonomous as can be, allowing more time for fun. During that time you can find him climbing or skiing in the local mountains, or planning trips to far away lands to do the same.

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 few years, Miles has hosted numerous classes and events focused on natural farming, community building, and educational empowerment. With more than 20 years of cultivation experience, he has also produced and distributed vital plant medicine globally for the past decade, helping individuals with a range of health issues.

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.

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 and BSBA from the University of Denver. Since 2020, she has grown her Palisade flower farm, Garvey's Gardens LLC, into an almost year-round growing operation, as well as a flower shop in Downtown Grand Junction, wedding floral design studio, podcast, and business coaching for fellow farmers looking to scale.

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 for RMFU, and is a 2024 Farm Commons Fellow. With more than a decade of farming experience, Jen is passionate about connecting with producers, providing resources, organizing grassroots policy efforts, and working toward more equitable local and regional food systems.

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 for Cultivating Farmers and Ranchers that Thrive (CFRT), a beginning farmer/rancher training program at Valley Food Partnership.

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 high desert is a labor of love that requires innovation, collaboration, and diversification. Many of his most profound moments along this journey have been collaborating with local organizations in everything from providing subsidized CSA shares to community members in need, to helping start a farmer-owned garlic seed cooperative. In his current role, Max is pursuing new ways to help organic producers in the Intermountain West by managing relevant research projects while also providing outreach via workshops and demonstrations.

Wayne has managed his family’s 11,000-acre ranch in South Africa for 27 years, where he successfully increased biodiversity, profitability, and the land’s carrying capacity. Over the years, Wayne was both mentored by experienced practitioners and mentored younger generations, fostering a deep commitment to knowledge-sharing. He became an educator and board member in the Holistic Management community, helping others learn sustainable land management practices. In 2020, Wayne moved to the U.S. to serve as the Executive Director of an organization focused on holistic land stewardship. Inspired by the Holistic Management community, Wayne is deeply motivated by the potential of working in harmony with nature and unlocking people’s creativity and capacity for collaboration.

Greg has farmed his entire life, growing up on a poultry farm, 20 years in the dairy business, 20 years with a wholesale nursery and now running grass-fed steer near Hotchkiss. He has maintained and repaired all of his own equipment and currently has a collection of vintage Oliver tractors. When not farming he enjoys back country skiing, river rafting and enjoying a good IPA.

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 country learning food production, and accidentally discovered Durango’s amazing community of farmers. He found that managed correctly, goats can contribute to both habitat restoration and healthy food production. Adrian maintains a small dairy herd while using the DuranGoats boys to improve soil conditions and fire safety on a larger scale.

Jonathan started DuranGoats 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 while maintaining a sustainable and eco-friendly impact that will allow the influenced environment to protect itself for years to come.

Since 1999 Nicole has been involved in regenerative food systems. Throughout that 20+ years as an educator, nothing excites her more than passing on her passion for regenerative soil stewardship. Although she is formally trained in soil science, organizational learning, pattern thinking, and adult education, she believes our personal experiences are what matters most in creating transformation.

In a diverse range of sectors from farming to composting to raising livestock and beyond, she's learned to regularly ask the question “What would nature do?” And she's discovered that many answers lie in the soil. When we (literally) get our hands dirty, it changes the way we view our relationship to each other and the world.

Dr. Anna Clare Monlezun is a rangeland ecosystem scientist, systems thinker, and collaborative facilitator. She considers herself a life-long student of nature who thrives in interdisciplinary work environments, assisting stakeholders in the interface of ranching and conservation. She offers knowledge and experience in agroecology, grazing management, rangeland science, agrivoltaics, and ecosystem services valuation.

Anna Clare and her husband own La Dolce Vita Ranch, a diversified cattle, sheep, and ecotourism operation high in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. There, she enjoys working with her horses, inventorying plant and animal species, turning herd checks into hikes, and photo-journaling the passing of time. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Humanities, an M.A. in Community Counseling, an M.S. in Animal Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability.

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 cooperative in the Mancos Valley. Mike has been farming for 20 years, is involved in his local ditch company, is President of the Mancos Conservation District, and is passionate about promoting and supporting his local agricultural community.

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 more about water, agriculture, Colorado, and the digestive habits of cattle than he thought possible. He spends his free time growing vegetables on his small farm, learning to hate hail and bindweed.

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 chemicals and fertilizers, they've developed a diverse cropping rotation that reduces inputs by over 75%, positively impacting both their finances and carbon footprint. Roy has observed improvements in soil quality, particularly in organic matter levels. Additionally, they have begun direct marketing products under the Pfz Farms brand, available online and at farmer's markets along the Front Range.

Jorgiea Raftopoulos is a third-generation sheep and cattle rancher working directly with the public to share her family’s story and educate about where our food comes from. Jorgiea believes that everyone is directly impacted by agriculture and she strives to connect producer and consumer. She has spearheaded numerous projects in her family’s operation including Conservation Stewardship Program, STAR+, Responsible Wool Standards/Nativa and many more. Jorgiea serves on multiple boards including Colorado First Conservation Board, and is current class member of the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program. She holds a Masters in Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Oklahoma State University.

Micah is the interim Dean of the Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability at Western Colorado University. He 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 in Florida and Idaho. Having grown up helping on his family's orchards near Hotchkiss, Micah is dedicated to providing students with opportunities that benefit local farmers and ranchers. He also manages Western's Verzuh Ranch and serves on the boards of Coldharbour Institute and Gunnison County Libraries. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, paddling, nordic skiing, and playing piano with his family.

Robert Sakata serves as the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Ag Water Policy Advisor, 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 and challenges. He has been active with numerous Colorado based farm organizations, including 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.

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 support large corporate growers. Miles’s team is committed to enhancing client profitability through adaptive, regenerative practices and technologies. Their efforts have not only generated millions of dollars in value for clients but also revitalized soil health across hundreds of thousands of acres.

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 to the tens of thousands of trees that they’ve planted. They are creating a model farm that prioritizes ecological balance while remaining highly productive and economically viable. Cedar Springs Farm is utilizing regenerative farming practices that build soil, sequester carbon and create healthy food for their community.

Anthony Theos is a fourth-generation sheep rancher from Meeker, CO. He has been involved in his family's ranching business all his life, but officially began his career after graduating from Colorado Mesa University. Theos and his family raise a closed herd of 100% Merino ewes, operating on both private and public land as they have for generations. For over 15 years, their operation has been marketing lamb to Whole Foods, and since 2021, the wool side of the business has been certified in the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). Anthony is married to his wonderful wife, Dani, and together they have two sons, Thomas and Ari.

Dr. Dawn Thilmany is a Professor of Ag and Resource Economics with Colorado State University and has served as the co-Director of CSU’s Regional Economic Development Institute and also co-directs the Northwest and Rocky Mountain USDA Regional Food Business Center. Dr. Thilmany specializes in regional economic development related to local, organic, entrepreneurs and food market supply chains, and more recently, has focused on developing engaged community development initiatives focused on rural Colorado and the Western US. She formerly served on and chaired the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council and established and co-led the CSU Food Systems team, and now co-leads CSU’s Community and Economic Development programming.

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 Extension program manager at New Mexico State University for chile pepper breeding and mixed vegetable production. At WCRC-RM, Brad is working to build community presence and conduct research that benefits farmers. His current research areas include organic treatments of Cytospora canker disease in peach, fruit tree rootstock trials, integrated pest management, agrivoltaics, table grape production, and vegetable variety trials.

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 with producers and promotes the motto, "Shake your Rancher's Hand." Jason serves on several boards, including local water companies, Delta County RMFU, and is the Colorado Angus Association's president. In 2023, he and his wife Theresa expanded their ranch, hosting events like weddings, retreats, and reunions. They have two children: Lexi, a 23-year-old registered nurse, and Will, a 17-year-old high school junior who assists on the ranch.

Brian began his growing career on the sidelines helping and learning from his wife Dawn in 2015 as she began Green Junction Farmstead. After two seasons of weekend warrior work in the field, he began working full time as the farm grew in size and production. While attending CMU, Brian developed a love of the soil and learning how to maximize its performance through regenerative practices which focus on promoting life. Now on their 3rd farm built from scratch, the benefits of a bio intensive approach to growing are becoming abundant after 5 years on the same land. One goal that Brian has for the farm is to be a demonstrable thriving version of a small farm making a big impact in the community by means of less traditional growing techniques that are being adapted to the changing world in which we live.

Jerry Allen was an Ag Education Teacher at Delta High School for 30 years and was Regional Ag Science FFA Teacher of the Year in 1995. He coached 26 State Winning teams or individual FFA members in more than nine contest areas. He then served as NRCS Irrigation Water Management Specialist and Shavano Conservation District Soil Health. He holds BS and ME degrees from Colorado State University.

Lesli is a founding member and chief executive of the Western Landowners Alliance. She was also a founding member of the Chama Peak Land Alliance. For the past three decades, Lesli has worked extensively with private landowners and multiple stakeholders to advance conservation, sustain working lands and support rural communities.

Prior to Western Landowners Alliance, Lesli managed a large ranch the southern San Juan Mountains of Colorado. During her 16-year tenure, she implemented progressive conservation management through award-winning programs in restoration forestry, prescribed fire, grazing, stream restoration, hunting and wildlife management, and scientific research and monitoring. Lesli holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.A. from St. John’s College, Santa Fe.

Dwayne L. Beck was the former Research Manager at Dakota Lakes Research Farm in Pierre, South Dakota. He filled that role since its inception in 1990. He was a professor in the Plant Science Department at South Dakota State University. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Northern State University in 1975 and Ph.D. in Agronomy from South Dakota State University in 1983. Before beginning his current position in 1990, he was the Research Manager at James Valley Research Center at Redfield, SD. He continues to advise the current DLRF manager.

Dr. Beck's emphasis has been on developing no-till systems for irrigated and dryland areas in central South Dakota. His primary achievements deal with development of programs that have allowed producers to profitably adopt no-till techniques in a large portion of central South Dakota. Identification of the extremely important role played by crop rotation in minimizing weed, disease, and insect problems while increasing potential profitability was the key contribution of this project.

Ruth Beck spent 17 years working as an Agronomy Field Specialist for SDSU Extension. Her focus and area of expertise has been in wheat, field peas, sunflowers, no-till, soil health and cover crop management practices in the semi-arid region of central South Dakota. She holds a Bachelor of Science in agronomy from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Science in agriculture from South Dakota State University. Ms. Beck has also served in an advisory capacity with the South Dakota No-Till Association and the South Dakota Pulse Growers for more than 20 years.

Retta Bruegger is the regional specialist in range management for CSU Extension in Western Colorado. She has been in this position since 2016, based out of Grand Junction, CO. Prior to working for CSU Extension, she worked for CSU’s Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department in northwestern Colorado, and in Mongolia, researching community-based adaptation to climate change. Her specialties include rangeland monitoring and assessment, collaboration on rangelands management, and drought planning on rangelands. She has a MS in Rangeland Ecology and Management from the University of Arizona, a BA from Colorado College, and is originally from the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado.

Clifford Chiles owns/operates Rimrocker Ranch (located near Nucla on the Rimrocker Trail) with wife, Rosella. Together they raise custom beef based on the Regenerative Agriculture principles that were learned through the Star + program and mentoring from the Shavano Conservation District. Cliff now enjoys sharing his trials and successes with other ranchers, as he demonstrates -with boots on the ground- the positive difference soil health practices can make.

Aaron Clay was raised in Hotchkiss, Colo. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1975 (Boettcher Scholar, BA in Physics/Education) and the University of Colorado School of Law in 1979 (Order of the Coif.) He practiced law in Delta from 1980 to 2018. His practice was a general practice, with emphasis on real estate, water, business planning, and estate planning. He was the Water Referee for Colorado Water Court, Division 4 (Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and San Miguel River Basins) from 1982 to 2008. Among his clients were Tri-County, Grand Mesa, and North Fork Water Conservancy Districts, Grand Mesa Water Users Association, and numerous other ditch companies and water users.

Aaron has taught a course titled Water Law in a Nutshell for several years, for realtors, closers, attorneys, and others. This course has been approved by Western State College for three units of college credit. It has been accredited by the Colorado Division of Real Estate and The Colorado Supreme Court for continuing education credits.

The Produce Safety Collaborative is a partnership of Colorado organizations focused on helping all produce growers enhance the safety of produce grown on their farms. We provide training and education to growers throughout the state.

Hunter is an agronomist, conservationist, and passionate Colorado native. A recent 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, CO. with research focusing on forages. Although early in his career, his dedication to improving agriculture, educating others, and creating a better future is nearly unparalleled. He is thrilled to continue working in agriculture in Colorado and helping conduct alterative forage research with a variety of stakeholders as Intermountain West Agronomy Specialist for The Land Institute. Hunter has lived in Grand Junction since 2016, in which he has developed a deep appreciation and passion for land in western Colorado and spends his free times exploring and enjoying the land and nature.

Jessica Davis is committed to using science to solve real-world problems. With a PhD in soils from Texas A&M, she has been at CSU since 1995. Her current focus is on grain legumes, also known as pulse crops. She and her graduate student team are working to identify niches in crop rotations where grain legumes would fit, optimize N fixation and P solubilization by grain legumes, maximize the benefits of grain legumes on soil health, select salt-tolerant grain legumes to grow in areas with saline soil and/or water, and explore new markets for grain legumes. To learn more, see https://agsci.colostate.edu/pulseagronomy/

Jesus is the farm manager at Rio Grande Farm Park. He 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.

Philip Frank was born and raised in Colorado and had a fascination with agriculture from a very young age. Over time his fascination developed into a passion for all aspects of crop and livestock agriculture. He graduated from Colorado Mesa University with an associate’s degree in agriculture science and a bachelor’s degree in business/entrepreneurship. He is slowly building a small farm and herd of cattle using no-till and cover cropping practices, along with adaptive grazing methods. Together with Lowell King, he manages Lifetime Ag LLC, where they sell covercrop and perennial seed, sell/rent out no-till drills and other no-till equipment, and promote regenerative agriculture practices.

Melissa Franklin has worked for Colorado State University for more than 20 years as an entomology technician. Many years of field work have taught her the importance of agriculture to our economy and our society, helping to keep it strong is something she is passionate about. The first 10 years she assisted with researching insect control in some of the more common agricultural crops on the Western Slope. In the last 15 years, while partnering with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, her focus shifted to surveying for exotic insects and diseases that could potentially cause economic hardship to the various crops in Delta, Mesa and Montrose counties. Absence of many of these exotic pest has allowed Colorado growers to export goods to other states. Melissa devotes a lot of her time to her work, but still manages to find some time to spend with her two sons, husband and many farm animals. Horses are a major part of her life and she also enjoys hiking, riding ATVs and snowmobiling.

Patrick Freeze serves as the Director of Research and Development - Soil/Soil Health Testing at Ward Laboratories (Kearney, NE), where he specializes in soil and plant testing methods, research, education, and grower support. Previously with Matrix Sciences in central Washington, he devised soil, soil health, and apple testing methods for large consulting groups. During his doctoral studies in Soil Chemistry at Washington State University, he explored ways to reduce heavy metal risks in orchard soils and received advanced training in soil carbon testing techniques in Italy, courtesy of a USDA NIFA Needs Fellowship. As a U.S. Fulbright scholar, he investigated minimizing cadmium uptake in contaminated Thai rice paddies for one year. Patrick earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada – Reno, with a focus on forest soil science, environmental quality and policy, and green chemistry.

Sarah Gleason is a first-generation bison rancher based in Hesperus, CO. She entered ranching after building a career first in consumer marketing and later in advocacy for regenerative agriculture and conservation, working with companies such as Whole Foods Market and the Savory Institute. She began her bison operation in 2016, when she purchased her first 15 bred bison. Gleason Bison has grown to operate both as a cow-calf operation as well as a locally and nationally sold meat company.

Sarah's deep appreciation for the environment, cultivated through her upbringing in the mountains of Colorado, continues to fuel her dedication to being a champion for regenerative agriculture. As a first-generation bison rancher, Sarah embodies the principles she advocates for, demonstrating the remarkable synergy between regenerative outcomes on the land and successful ranching. With her combined expertise in marketing, operations, and ranching, Sarah is a dynamic force in the field of regenerative agriculture, committed to driving positive change for the industry, the environment, and the community she serves.

When not working on her ranch, you can find Sarah mountain biking, skiing, rafting, or just enjoying life with her Rhodesian Ridgeback sidekick, Zebby.

Lauren Hall Ruddell holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of Utah. Academic interests and research specialties include the benefits of time spent interacting with the natural world, from wilderness to farms and gardens. Lauren also holds a Masters in Conservation of Environmental Quality from San Diego State University.

Lauren has dedicated her life to walking the walk of conservation and sustainable agriculture. San Diego Zoo keeper, park ranger, former owner and operator of an organic CSA enterprise, an agritourism business (barn weddings), a children's farm summer camp, and environmental analyst are some of the professional endeavors that inform her speaking and writing expertise. She spends her free time gardening, hiking, and raising, training, and enjoying her pack goats.

Stefanie has worked in the events and floral industry for the past 20 years in all different capacities. Starting in catering sales and wedding coordinating, to retail floral, banquet managing and event design, before finally landing on a flower farm just outside of Denver, Colorado. With a business degree in Hospitality Administration, she's always looking to maximize efficiency while maintaining a service mindset. This passion led her to start the Colorado Flower Collective in 2019 with the goal of streamlining the connection between local florists and local flowers. Today CFC is a bustling flower hub, connecting 30 local flower farms to over 200 area florists.

Harper Kaufman is the owner of Two Roots Farm in Emma, CO. Two Roots Farm is a 5 acre vegetable, herb, and flower farm that grows for the local community through a vegetable CSA, on-site farmstand, and local restaurants. They grow using minimum tillage and organic principles, without the use of chemicals. Two Roots Farm was launched in 2015 on leased land in Missouri Heights. In 2018, Two Roots secured a long term lease with Pitkin County on Emma Open Space, where she is based now. Every farming season has offered new lessons and challenges. Harper is still learning how to grow in a high altitude climate, but proud of the success Two Roots Farm has had through the years. Each year, she is supported by a hard working and dedicated crew that learn along side her and make this farm dream possible. She believes strongly that small scale regenerative agriculture is a key piece to building a brighter future for our planet.

Ken has been involved in production agriculture nearly all of his life. He and his family run a farming, cattle, and processed beef operation in Delta County. They have been working at using no till and cover crop methods now for about 7 years.

Byron Kominek is the owner, manager, and developer of Jack's Solar Garden in Boulder County, Colorado - a premier site for agrivoltaics in the U.S. He is the Executive Director of the nonprofit, the Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center, showcasing agrivoltaics through educational opportunities for students, community members, and policymakers about how vegetation, livestock, and people can work within solar arrays. Byron served as a U.S. diplomat for five years between Zambia and Mozambique with the U.S. Agency for International Development where he focused on forestry and wildlife conservation. He previously served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon, with Doctors Without Borders in Ethiopia and Haiti, and more recently as an international environmental consultant. Byron has a M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering.

Nina Louden has lived in the city of Grand Junction for more than fifteen years. Throughout her time there, she's worked at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Palisade Insectary. Originally from rural Nevada, she earned a Bachelor’s in Conservation Biology at UNR and a master’s in Entomology at Utah State. Working at the Insectary has allowed her to develop a strong base of knowledge on the role of biocontrol among other integrated pest management tools. Besides rearing, collecting, and monitoring beneficial insects, Nina and her husband are rearing a nine year old.

Simon Martinez started in 1991 as the construction superintendent for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm and Ranch Enterprise and is currently the General Manager of the Enterprise and Bow & Arrow Brand, LLC.

The Enterprise consists of 110 center pivot sprinklers ranging from 45 acres/145 acres which irrigate 7,700 acres of farmland. They grow and harvest alfalfa hay, non- GMO corn products and range feed for a 650 cow/calf operation. Bow & Arrow launched in 2014 to mill and package non-GMO corn products.

Simon holds a bachelor’s in business administration and a minor in human resource management. He currently serves on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Water Resource Committee and State Agricultural Commission.

Simon along with his wife reside in Dolores, Colorado. They have 5 children and 10 grandchildren. Simon enjoys spending time with his family and auto racing.

John led the Delta Conservation District's Irrigation Water Management Program for over a decade where he learned to design and troubleshoot various types of irrigation systems and gained expertise that he uses to promote efficient water usage and sustainable agricultural practices. Throughout his career, Mr. Miller has been an advocate for implementing healthy soil practices on farms and ranches. In his current role as the Soil Health Program Manager for the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, John is enthusiastic about guiding the expansion of the State Soil Health Program, ensuring it continues to offer maximum education and assistance to Colorado's valued agriculture community.

Bill and his family have been operating a profitable grazing business for 16 years in the Gunnison Valley. They work with multiple landowners and organizations to improve landscapes, generate wealth from the land and build community. Providing the highest quality GrassFinishedBeef from regenerating landscapes is the mission that grows every year!

Aldo Parra is managing a new program that will focus on supporting agricultural employers and workers with employee safety, working conditions, labor rights, and resources to strengthen the local agricultural workforce. Before becoming program manager, Aldo was with Adams County’s Migrant & Seasonal Farmworker Outreach Coordinator for almost a decade and was responsible for assisting agricultural employers and workers regarding farmworker rights, Labor exchange services, Migrant Seasonal Protection Act, H2A housing inspections, unemployment insurance, counseling and community resources. Aldo comes from a long line of farmers and ranchers and his grandparents were part of the Bracero Program for multiple decades until the program ended. Early in his childhood he recalls helping his parents and spending countless hours in apple orchards and on the ranch pruning, irrigating, picking apples, weeding and tending to the animals. He recalls that eating apples was his favorite part of the job and drinking a cold glass of fresh milk.

Chuck has been a Soil Scientist with NRCS for almost 28 years and mapping, measuring and monitoring soil properties has been his life's work. He's been a part of the Western Colorado Soil Health grass-roots group since it's inception. Through the past decade he has bolstered his soil health experience with instruction and study in Soil Food Web classes and most recently, Cornell University's Advanced Soil Health Course. Mapping soils in such varied environments has honed his ability to read landscape ecological contexts and understand the effects of management practices on soils. Recently Chuck has embarked on a private enterprise journey with the development of Soil Health Metrics LLC as he prepares for life after NRCS and work that is more in line with his personal interests. Chuck is native of Western Colorado, born and raised in Delta County (Paonia), baling hay, bucking bales, building fence, and picking fruit. He currently resides in Grand Junction, Colorado. He holds a B.S. in Agronomy-Soil Science from Colorado State University and an M.S. in Soil Genesis & Morphology also from CSU.

Tessa Peters currently lives in Laramie, Wyoming with her family. She has lived in many different places in the world, including onboard various seafaring vessels. However, she has always considered herself a Westerner, and Wyoming is where she grew up and feels most at home. Tessa studied Physics at Colorado State University, Agroecology at University of Wyoming, and a Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is interested in how perennial agroecosystems may influence human relationships to land, ownership, food, and economic systems. She has worked as a geophysicist, plant breeder, and now leads a team of researchers at The Land Institute who pay attention to the ways in which humans value perennial grain food crops and tries to find methods to bring those crops to the consciousness (and plates!) of people who eat them. She likes horny toads, hiking, and reading.

Tony is owner/operator of Sunshine Beef and XK Bar Ranch in Crawford Colorado, making a living raising and direct marketing grassf-ed beef. He has been using electric fencing extensively for 25 years on owned and leased land, both to deal with crumbling hard wire fences as well as to manage his rotational grazing program. He considers temporary electric fencing to be the primary tool to accomplish his regenerative ranching goals. In his past work as a Wilderness Ranger and hunting outfitter he also used electric fencing to manage herds of horses and mules in back country camps.

Jeremy Silva's passion for organic farming sparked a significant life change when he moved to Montrose, Colorado in 2009. Swapping Southern California's beaches for Montrose's open spaces, he delved deep into soil testing and compost building. Jeremy founded BuildASoil from his garage in 2013, driven by a challenge to find quality organic gardening supplies. Today, he's an influential figure in sustainable agriculture, known for his YouTube channel and podcast appearances. A family man with hobbies like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and snowboarding, Jeremy is set to inspire at the Food and Farm Forum, focusing on transforming backyard dirt into fertile soil.

Al Stone aka our "Mycelium Architect" is a transplant from Georgia, whose world was sparked by a philosophy of food class during college. After graduation she trekked west on the Amtrak train & WWOOF-ed in Eugene, OR for five months. She volunteered with Farm2School programs, school gardens, and eventually made her way to the San Luis Valley through AmeriCorps. Before joining Valley Roots she spent a summer as the assistant director with Valley Educational Gardens Initiative. She was vegan/vegetarian for nearly a decade, and after an experience with butchering a deer, she is now an avid eater and believer in meat raised with integrity. Just as mycelia are an underground web of connection, as Markets Manager at Valley Roots, she enjoys the relationships cultivated between our producer and customer network. In her spare time, you can find her deep in a good book, performing poetry or oral stories, thrifting, creating collages, turning two wheels on some pavement or hiking with her pup Elio.

Julie Sullivan, founding mentor of the Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program in 2008, currently serves as Mentor Training and Support for the program. She and her husband, George Whitten have been mentors with the program for 15 years, and own and manage their 3rd-generation, certified organic, cow/calf-to-finish cattle ranch in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. The ranch is committed to restorative practices that result in soil health, functioning grassland ecosystems, and viable small scale ranching. For a decade, Julie was faculty for the field-based Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University Environmental Studies and Environmental Education program. She has taught workshops for Colorado State University, Colorado College, Adams State University, Fort Lewis College, Quivira Coalition, Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum, Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, among others. She is fiercely dedicated to the next generation of agrarians, fully functioning ecosystems and creative solutions to the interaction of humans with their planet.

Sara founded Highwater Farm based in Silt, Colorado in 2020. Building on her foundation in small farm management and alternative youth education, Sara started the farm to meet local need for increased access to healthy food and provide job opportunities for teens. She has worked in organic vegetable farming in Utah, Colorado, and Massachusetts, and has always strived to better connect communities to their farmers and food. Outside of work, Sara enjoys biking, skiing and rafting with her husband.

Laura is the Lead Soil Ecologist with The Land Institute. Laura completed her PhD in Soil Ecology at Colorado State University. She studies how perennial grains interact with the soil with implications for nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions, and management. She specializes in studying soil organic matter dynamics in agroecosystems with a focus on developing pathways to sustainable food systems. Prior to immersing herself in earth, she taught high school science, studied plants in the arctic, and served on the high seas as an Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Ricardo is Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability. His research and teaching include climate action, community resilience, regenerative agriculture, composting and biochar, renewable energies, Life Cycle Assessment, and Systems Thinking. He teaches Environmental Politics and Policy courses, The Science and Action of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and the Nexus between Food, Water, and Climate Systems.

Some projects he has led and mentored include food systems, regenerative agriculture, renewable energies, sustainable technologies, composting and biochar, community water and sanitation, and Climate Action plans for cities and regions. He did undergrad studies in Physics Engineering, a Master's in Regional Development Planning, and a Ph.D. in Renewable Energies. He has collaborated with organizations in North and Latin America, Europe, and West Africa and embraces living in the Rocky Mountains in the Gunnison Valley.

Joe grew up on a cattle ranch west of Teddy Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and went to Colorado State University where he got his degree in Animal Science. Jenn grew up on the James Ranch in Durango, CO and went to Colorado State where she got her degree in Construction Management. They met there, married and after a few years, Joe got his MBA in Finance from the Wharton School. They lived in six cities before returning to Durango to raise their two children and participate in the regenerative activities going on at James Ranch. As the CEO of Red Roof Inns, Joe was exposed to corporate systems of team building and innovative management which, when he retired, he brought to the James Ranch. These ideas have been adapted to the families' holistic goal and regenerative agriculture as well as the family culture. Jenn homeschooled their daughters, started the chemical-free Gardens at James Ranch and is now partners with Joe in James Ranch Beef. In her "spare" time, she writes Western historical fiction stories.

Ryan White brings 20+ years in natural resources management strategies and nature-based impact accounting. In 2017, he founded SnapLands LLC to consult on restorative strategies backed by applied land management feedback with certified reports. Ryan holds a Master's in Greenhouse Gas Management from Colorado State University and a Bachelor's in Environmental Studies from Principia College. His career stems from a love of family, ranching, plein-air artwork, and learning about conservation with young children to adults. Today, Ryan lives with his wife, Bethany, and four children in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Sue Wyman is a recovering engineer who farms regeneratively in Gunnison, CO. Her 4-acre farm, Gunnison Gardens, is located in a frost pocket in one of coldest cities in the nation. The farm produces vegetables, cold-hardy fruits, eggs, and meat chickens for local farmers markets and CSAs. Sue is passionate about soil health and teaches cold-climate gardening at Western Colorado University. Together with fellow farmers in the Gunnison Valley Producers’ Guild, she’s prepared to feed the valley when the trucks stop running.