AGRICULTURE AS CULTURAL HERITAGE AGRICULTURE AS CULTURAL HERITAGE

Agricultural land uses are the cultural heritage backbone of Adams County. A large percentage of the overall county, though mostly clustered in the eastern portion, is committed to an agricultural lifestyle. According to the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture, 93% of the county land area (705,289 acres) is classified as “land in farm operations” with a ranking of 10th out of 64 Colorado counties in market value of agricultural products sold. While the number of farms increased from 2012 to 2017, the overall average farm size decreased by 5%, with 45% of farms in the county being 10-49 acres in size. As a result, it is important to identify land uses that may accommodate growth while preserving and highlighting agriculture as a cultural asset.

The District Plan was created through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Brighton. The plan was adopted in 2016 as the District Plan (now marketed/branded as “Historic Splendid Valley”) for a study area of 5,000 acres with twothirds of the area located within unincorporated Adams County. The District Plan seeks to “create a community-based regional vision for guiding the development of, among other things, local food production, agritourism, conservation, and future land use planning in the area to the south of Brighton,” as well as to “recognize that the Adams County Open Space, Parks, and Trails Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan identify an opportunity to create a Local Food

The area includes historic farms with vegetable growers, nurseries, U-pick farmstands, and communitysupported agricultural farms. As of 2021, 445 acres of this 5,000-acre study have been preserved through a series of open space acquisitions and conservation easements.

The 2017 Colorado Blueprint of Agriculture and Food reinforces the District Plan and wishes to create, retain, and recruit agricultural firms, develop workforce and youth to support agriculture, promote the Colorado brand, enhance agricultural innovation, improve access to resources and capital for agriculture, and integrate agriculture and food with healthy, vibrant communities. Several e orts demonstrate Adams County’s continued support of agriculture as cultural heritage including the District Plan partnership, e orts from the I-70 Regional Economic Advancement Partnership (REAP) to promote agritourism, and support for linkages to the National Western Center’s anticipated food system work and expansions. The agriculture as cultural heritage theme is also highlighted by the County’s continued work at Riverdale Regional Park as a regional hub for hosting agricultural programming with the Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Service, 4-H programs, and the Adams County Fair.