



































































RENAISSANCE
reninsurance.com
INSURANCE GROUP was founded in 2001 by two local graduates of UNC, Jay Helzer and Ryan Hicks. While they’ve grown to the capabilities of a regional insurance firm, they’ve remained true to their roots and still have a large following of clients in the communities of Northern Colorado and the Front Range.
“Now one of the largest Agribusiness brokers in Colorado, our team of risk professionals focuses on the needs of farmers, ranchers, growers, producers, feed lots and hobby farms and are among the most experienced in the United States,” says Erich Ehrlich, partner at RIG. “We work tirelessly to match the amount of hard work and dedication farmers and ranchers put into their enterprises every day.”
At RIG there is a wide range of services, but all are meant to help those in Agribusiness better manage their losses to have more control over the long-term cost of risk. Ehrlich states that our Risk Advisory team offer on-site walk-throughs to identify potential risk factors, develop maintenance schedules and safety meetings to prevent losses, and provide predictive analytics to align businesses with the most effective workers’ compensation program, and more.
From hobby farms to livestock ranches, from dairies to feed lots, from dirt farms to vegetable growers, we help our Agribusiness clients to manage their evolving cost of risk. When it comes to improving your bottom line, the last thing you need is too many claims, which can lead to increased premiums. “Our team educates our clients on insurance cost drivers and analytics to better manage outcomes,” says Ryan Hicks, partner at RIG.
The company recently launched a cyber liability department with a risk professional who focuses primarily in helping clients understand their exposures to a cyber breach. A cohesive strategy combining risk and insurance solutions is then tailored to the individual needs of each client and monitored on a regular basis since cyber risks are constantly evolving.
“Our clients receive a more focused andhands-on service ‘relationship’ based on
our model”, cites Jay Helzer a partner with RIG. Most of our Risk Advisors have lived and worked in Northern Colorado their entire lives. We know farming, we know ranching. We literally live in the space we work and understand the business more intimately than a large national firm. But because of our size, we are one of the largest brokerage firms focusing on agribusiness in Colorado. We have national insurance capabilities and a local service model – the best of both worlds.
RIG has earned the Premier Farm Certification designation from Nationwide for its work in the agribusiness sphere and is an endorsed insurance broker by the Colorado Livestock Association and the National Bison Association.
Whether you raise crops, livestock, or both, we know farming isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle. And we know how to protect it. From your machinery to your structures, your crops to your livestock, we know what it takes to safeguard your operation. Our collaborative business relationships with clients leads to a better understanding of exposures, coverages, and strategies to address loss frequency and severity. Basically, we offer peace of mind!
Renaissance Insurance Group is involved in the community, giving back through philanthropic efforts to the Greeley Stampede, Colorado Farm Show and Colorado Youth Outdoors. Giving back to the community we serve is at the heart of our business.
We are proud to run a business that’s based on relationships, and we want our customers to be comfortable with, and confident in, the solutions we offer them. We provide the broadest protection available in the marketplace for the premium dollars paid, all with a focus on controlling insurance costs long term.
“Managing the organizational cost of risk equals more control over the bottom line,” Hicks says. We cannot predict the future, but we can help to control its impact.
For more information, go online to: www.reninsurance.com.
58th Annual Colorado Farm Show
It’s so great to see you all again… and without an unanticipated two-year break since the last time we gathered in Greeley.
We learned the hard way a couple of years ago not to take this “annual” celebration of agriculture for granted. We couldn’t host a 2021 version of the Colorado Farm Show, with that event, like much of the world, falling victim to COVID. But after getting the Farm Show back on track in 2022, the tradition continues in 2023 and will continue doing so for as long as we can help it.
It’s with good reason, too, that the Colorado Farm Show tradition — dating back to 1965, when it started as the Colorado Agricultural Chemical Exposition — lives on. This important event provides a setting for education and great dialogue on a critical industry that touches and enhances so many facets of our everyday lives, and also serves as a celebration of the people who produce our food, fuel and fiber.
As part of continuing this tradition — and also as part of expressing our appreciation for everything our farmers and ranchers do for the rest of the world – we’ve assembled a 58th edition of the Colorado Farm Show we believe will be well worth your while.
Once again, we’ve developed educational seminars that will dive into some of the most pertinent issues and the latest innovations in an ever-changing industry. This year’s breakout sessions will cover topics such as commodity and market outlooks, weather and climate
forecasts, and policy updates to help you better prepare for the rest of 2023.
Experts from various ag sectors will be on hand to examine innovations, technologies, production techniques, changing demographics, supply-chain trends and evolving consumer preferences to provide a window into the industry beyond this year.
Ongoing Colorado River and South Platte River challenges, as well as regional supply projects and collaborations, will be discussed to keep farmers up-to-speed on the most critical of all resources to the industry: water.
And to make sure farms and ranches can be handed down to the next generation — so those operations can continue driving the state’s $40 billion industry that employs about 175,000 people and helps feed and clothe millions more — sessions will address sustainability, stewardship, support programs, and riskmanagement and planning tools.
In addition to our breakout sessions, we also encourage attendees to engage with the hundreds of vendors who will be on hand — many of whom come from miles away but still place the Farm Show on their annual “mustattend” list.
The Colorado Farm Show Board would like to thank all of you who are attending or participating in this year’s event, as in doing so all of you are helping this ever-important Farm Show tradition continue.
Erin Karney, Executive Vice President, Colorado Cattleman’s Association
Erin was named Executive Vice President of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association in August, 2022. She had previously served as the Industry Advancement Director at CCA since 2015. She will provide an overview of Colorado’s beef industry related to current issues, events and status.
11:15 a.m. - noon
9:25 - 9:50 a.m.
Zach Riley, Colorado Livestock Association
This presentation will provide updates on the livestock industry, a look ahead at the hurdles the industry could soon be facing, and the role that industry groups like the Colorado Livestock Association are going to play. Zach will also touch on the status of the association and the issues CLA is currently engaged in.
1 - 1:45 p.m.
9:50 - 10:15 a.m.
Todd Inglee, Executive Director, Colorado Beef Council
Todd will provide a current snapshot of the U.S. beef market, including consumer trends, retail and foodservice, and will also highlight some key marketing programs the Colorado Beef Council is currently conducting.
Katelyn McCullock,
Director and Senior Agricultural Economist, Livestock Marketing Information CenterKatelyn has expertise in the cattle, hog, dairy, hay and grain sectors covering market analysis and outlook. She has been a frequent presenter on the national and regional levels, as well as through rural media outlets. Prior to joining LMIC, Katelyn worked in the Farm Credit system, as well as in Washington, D.C. for the American Farm Bureau Federation on livestock-related agricultural policy topics.
Brian Bledsoe, Chief Meteorologist, KKTV 11 News
In addition to his news role, Brian is also the chief meteorologist and climatologist for his own forecasting business. Brian’s goal is to help ag producers make their businesses more successful by using accurate weather forecasts, both short-term and long-term. He will break down the weather forecast and give us his thoughts on what lies ahead for 2023.
Sara Place, Colorado State University
Dr. Sara Place is an expert in livestock systems sustainability with over a decade of experience in academia, industry associations and private industry. Most recently, Sara has been the Chief Sustainability Officer at Elanco Animal Health, where she provided technical expertise on sustainability issues to customers and supported Elanco’s “Healthy Purpose.” This presentation will provide an overview of the key issues related to beef’s role in a sustainable food system, including nutritional security, cattle’s ability to upcycle protein, and climate change. 1:45 - 2:30 p.m.
John Ritten, Colorado State University
John is an agricultural economist at CSU and a member of the AgNext Team. He received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Arizona State University, an MBA from New Mexico State University, and a PhD in natural resource economics from Colorado State University. His research interests include the intersection of agricultural production and natural resource management.
Pedro Carvalho, Colorado State University
Pedro is the new Assistant Professor in feedlot systems for Colorado State University’s AgNext Team. He has spent the last two-and-a-half years as an Assistant Professor of feedlot management at UC-Davis, where he conducted applied research projects to enhance beef production from dairy bull calves. He joins the AgNext Team with the goal of bringing sustainable solutions to beef producers in Colorado. He expects to bring tools and solutions to Colorado producers they can apply to their farms to enhance productivity and sustainability.
They say to believe in the future, is to farm. From the younger days of har vesting imaginar y corn fields in the living room to those now- early mornings attending livestock , you know what it means to be dedicated to agriculture. We do, too.
We are committed to being your Forever B ank . That means being here for you through it all: growing seasons, transitions to the nex t generation and ever ything else in bet ween.
Call or stop by today to see how we can ser ve you and your operation.
www.F irstFarmBank.com
PERHAPS THE LUCKIEST OF US ALL NEVER HAVE TO STOP playing with tractors and combines.
9 - 9:10 a.m.
CFVGA Welcoming Remarks
Marilyn Drake, Executive Director, Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
1:30 - 3 p.m.
Eduardo Gutierrez Rodriguez
Join Eduardo as he shares field-based strategies that can help you better see and reduce the risk of food borne illnesses due to packing house food safety hazards.
Adrian Card, Colorado State University Extension
9:10 - 10 a.m.
Eric Yohe and Mark Gallegos
The Agricultural Labor Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2021 (AKA SB21-087) and rules related to the act are a game changer for many ag employers. Produce farms with large workforces are particularly affected. Hear brief talks from Colorado Department of Labor & Employment and Colorado Department of Agriculture staff on key elements of those rules.
The future is here. Public and private efforts around the globe are working on mechanization and automation solutions to reduce the manual labor challenges for produce farm workers. In October 2022, a global conference and demo on laborsaving ag tech debuted in California for the U.S. marketplace. Learn more here about the solutions and state of the industry.
10:10 - 11 a.m.
Jianbing Ma
Colorado vegetable growers continuously face a labor shortage, market uncertainty and water scarcity. Integrated strategies combining advanced genetics and new cropping systems are needed to solve these challenges. Dr. Ma will present some of the case studies he participated in and learned from the major vegetable production regions in the U.S. when he worked for Bayer Crop Science.
10
Amy Kremen, Associate Director, Irrigation Innovation Consortium
The University of Nebraska initiated a program called TAPS (Testing Ag Performance Solutions) with great success. This program allows producers to test new technologies and management in irrigated production without the financial risk. They can then compare their management against competitors to see how they rank within this competition. It has since expanded to Oklahoma State University during this time and Colorado State University is initiating the program in Colorado in 2023. This presentation will talk about the success of the program as well as how the program will work in Colorado.
Kyle Whitaker, Water Rights Department Manager, Northern Water
Emily Zmak, Deputy Chief of the Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section, Colorado Water Conservation Board
In this presentation, Kyle will provide updates on various South Platte River issues, including Nebraska’s proposition to build a diversion structure near the Colorado state line, while Emily will offer updates on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and some background on why this program is so important to water development in Colorado.
Kyle Whitaker, Water Rights Department Manager, Northern Water
Steve Pope, Manager, Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association
This presentation will provide Eastern Slope and Western Slope perspectives on the Colorado River’s ongoing water shortages and the complex agreements aimed at addressing them.
11 a.m.
Greg Dewey, Project Manager, Northern Water
Greg Peterson, Executive Director, Colorado Ag Water Alliance
Taylor Winchell, Water Resources Engineer, Denver Water
These three speakers will offer overviews and updates on critical water-supply projects and collaborations that will help the region’s water users meet their future demands amid uncertain times. Greg Dewey will highlight Northern Water’s Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) and its ag-focused components; Greg Peterson will touch on some of CAWA’s various ongoing endeavors; and Taylor Winchell will discuss Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) technology and an ongoing statewide collaboration to make this technology more accessible to water users.
Sponsored by
9 - 10 a.m.
Poultry & Rabbit Food Safety
Jennifer Martin, Colorado State University Extension Meat Specialist
Dr. Jennifer Martin is an associate professor in meat safety and quality, along with serving as a meat extension specialist in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. She will have a discussion of on-farm slaughter and food safety principles aimed at enhancing the quality and safety of meat products from small animals.
1 1:30 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.
Rayann Eaves, Colorado State University
Learn how to develop and implement best practices of biosecurity and annual healthcare on your farm to protect you and your animals. This session will also include updates on recent veterinary-focused legislature and where to access animal-health information.
10 - 10:45 a.m.
Pawnee Buttes Seed representatives
This session will discuss how small animal management differs from large animal management, how to take care of small acreages while running a profitable operation, and seed mixes and plant types for small animals.
10:45 - Local Regulation
11:30 a.m.
Navigation and Livestock
Kristin Ramey, Long Shadow Farms
Kristin and her husband started Long Shadow Farms in 2007 as a way to grow healthy food for their family. She will be covering rules and laws regarding what you can and cannot do with your land , from understanding land use codes, HOAs, covenants and more.
1 -2 p.m.
Lane Buchanan, Pinol Global Lane is a tax and accounting consultant and agribusiness advocate at Pinion (formerly KCoe Isom). He specializes in entity structuring for income and estate tax purposes, and works tirelessly to help farmers and ranchers succeed, reach their financial goals, and create longterm legacies for future generations. In 2020 and 2021, he identified over $5 million worth of refundable tax credits for agribusinesses through the Affordable Care Act, enabling protection to businesses during a volatile market. Lane is an expert accounting resource for ag producers and food and beverage processors nationwide.
3:30
Martha Sullins, CSU Extension
Successfully growing your smallscale livestock business requires many tools, including understanding how to price products for different markets. This presentation will cover budgeting, pricing and marketing strategies for poultry and other smallscale livestock.
9:30
Bill Keating, Senior Director of Industry Image and Relations, Dairy MAX
Bill brings more than 35 years of experience in dairy processing to Dairy MAX, including 10 years as vice president of operations for Sinton Dairy Foods Co. Bill joined Dairy MAX in 2012 and works with the dairymen, dairywomen and industry stakeholders in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. He will give a quick update on current dairy checkoff programs.
10:50
11:50 a.m.
Megan Sheets, Senior Director of Strategic Development and Strategic Insights, U.S. Dairy Export Council Management Inc.
At the end of 2022, U.S. dairy exports were 17 to 18 percent of total dairy sold and are projected to climb to 20 percent in the next few years. Exports have been growing at twice the rate of domestic consumption, but consistent and reliable supply, logistic congestion and inflation have limited the potential growth. Megan will outline what to watch for in 2023.
1:10 - 1:25 p.m.
Brock Herzberg, Capital Focus L.L.C.
Brock is a partner in Capital Focus L.L.C. Before starting there, he was a full-time employee with the Western Dairy Association. Brock will focus his presentation on the 2023 Colorado Legislative Session.
9:45
Mike Merucci, MMU Management LLC
Michael has over 35 years of options and futures experience. He traded on the floor of the CBOE for 18 years in the S&P and Dow Jones options. Learn how proper utilization of dairy risk protection, livestock risk protection and futures and options can reduce and enhance profitability.
10:20 – Dairy Overview from a Lender’s 10:50 a.m. Perspective
Brian Larson, Vice President and Relationship Manager, American AgCredit
Brian’s initial experience was working on his family’s dairy in California and for the past 15 years with American AgCredit. Brian will give a high-level overview of the dairy industry and American AgCredit’s vantage point of positives, risks and other factors.
1:25 - 2:15 p.m.
Dana Coale, Deputy Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture
This presentation will provide a deeper understanding of the history of the Federal Milk Marketing Order system and why we have it, and also highlight how the federal orders are designed to regulate milk handlers on behalf of dairy farmers. Dana will additionally discuss some of the ideas that have been brought forth to modernize the order.
Pedro Carvalho, Colorado State University
Pedro is the new Assistant Professor in Feedlot Systems for Colorado State University’s AgNext Team. He has spent the last two-and-a-half years as an assistant professor of feedlot management at UC-Davis, where he conducted applied research projects to enhance beef production from dairy bull calves, i.e., antimicrobial alternatives in feedlot diets, beef on dairy crosses, and different dietary and implant programs for calf-fed holsteins and holstein crosses. He joins the AgNext team with the goal to bring sustainable solutions to beef producers in Colorado. He has a background in extension, where he hosted a weekly podcast and gave several talks and trainings to cattle producers in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and China, and also has experience in applied feedlot research and management. He expects to bring tools and solutions to Colorado producers they can apply to their farms to enhance productivity and sustainability.
• Agricultural,
•
• Agricultural, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Environmental & Agronomy Consulting
•
• Financial Planning & Construction Management
•
• Land Planning & Permitting
•
• Legislative, Public & Community Relations &
• Real Estate Services & Site Selection
•
• Surveying & Geotechnical Testing
•
• Traffic Studies
• USR Permitting
• Zoning Changes
Greeley Office 970.535.9318 3050 67th Ave., Suite 200
www.agpros.com
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 • Noon MT Sterling Livestock Commission, Sterling, CO VISIT www.cafcattlecompany.com for pictures, videos, and details of the bulls.
SELLING: 25 Black Registered Lim-Flex Bulls
Sponsored by
1 - 1:05 p.m. Welcome and Introductions
1:05 - 1:25 p.m. Recapping Water Year 2022
Ayesha Davis, National Weather Service
Ayesha is an early career meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boulder, Colo. She has previously interned in all sectors of meteorology throughout her journey from broadcast media to emergency management. Ayesha was previously a forecaster at NWS Cheyenne. Her educational background started at Florida State University, and she is currently a masters student at Colorado State University in the Atmospheric Science Department.
1:25 - 1:45 p.m. CoAgMET Network Update
Alistair Vierod, Colorado Climate Center
Alistair is a station technician and data analyst at the Colorado Climate Center. He travels throughout the state repairing and maintaining the 89 weather stations that make up CoAgMET. When he’s not in the field he takes care of the network’s QA/QC. He started at the Climate Center as a student intern in 2017 and became a full-fledged member of the team after graduating from CSU in 2019.
1:45 - 2:05
Chad Gimmestad, National Weather Service
Chad is a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Boulder and a longtime Greeley resident. His work includes daily weather forecasts and warnings, supporting emergency managers during extreme weather events, and recruiting and training volunteers. Chad, who has a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Iowa State University, has worked for the NWS for 32 years.
2:05 -
Becky Bolinger, Colorado Climate Center Becky received her bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Metro State University of Denver, her master’s degree in meteorology from Florida State University, and her Ph.D. in atmospheric science from Colorado State University. She is now the assistant state climatologist at the Colorado Climate Center (within CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science). Her research interests are focused on Colorado’s climate variability, climate extremes and drought.
2:25 - 2:45 p.m.
Dannele Peck, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dannele is the director of the Northern Plains Climate Hub at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Fort Collins. She specializes in the economics of farm and ranch management under risk and uncertainty, including drought planning and response. Dannele was raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York, where her weather memories involve a lot of snow and cold. She has a master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Wyoming, and a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Oregon State University.
9 - 10 a.m. Rural Fire Mitigation
Chief Russ Kane, Galeton Fire Protection District
Russ started in a rural fire district as a 15-year-old with a volunteer fire department, and has been chief of Galeton Fire Protection District since 2018. He is very aware of rural fire issues, from both the farmer side and the fire fighter side. Russ will discuss how to lower your rural fire risks. He’ll touch on several topics, including building a defensible space for wildfires, flammable liquid handling, and electric safety and combustible management.
Elizabeth Chapman, Executive Director of Recycle Colorado
Dan Matsch, Director, Eco-Cycle Compost and Carbon Farming Department
Chapman has over 30 years of experience as an educator who focuses on helping people understand how human practices impact the environment. Dan has worked in recycling, composting and organic farming since 1982. Come learn more about how to reduce and divert waste materials through proper recycling and composting practices. We will discuss the successes and challenges of waste diversion in rural Colorado, as well as why these programs are important to the economic and environmental health of the state.
Barbershop harmony is truly an American a cappella vocal style of music. The Valentine City Chorus has been singing barbershop harmony in Loveland for at least 40 years with a current membership of 16-18 singers at any time. Their current youngest singer is 22 and the oldest is nearing 90. Come hear this diverse group and their amazing voices blend as they share patriotic, gospel and other genres of music.
9 - 10 a.m. Manure Happens: Nutrient Management
Kat Caswell, Agronomy Extension Agent, Weld County CSU Extension
Animal manure is a fantastic resource, but too much of a good thing can have negative implications. Fertilizer is a necessity for crop production, but following the 4Rs can take some additional planning. With the ever shifting cost of production, how can you best utilize nutrients, manure, and available planning tools to balance costs but still meet yield goals?
Adam Osterholzer, Research Associate, CSU Wheat Entomolgy Program
This presentation will provide an overview of the life cycle of wheat stem sawfly, followed by a discussion of their agricultural and economic impacts. Recent CSU projects targeting this species will be explored in-depth.
-
Sally Jones-Diamond, Crops Testing Program Director, CSU Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Grain sorghum is an excellent crop option for dryland and limitedirrigation acres across eastern Colorado. Sally will discuss agronomic considerations for producing grain sorghum in our unique growing environment. Emphasis will be placed on hybrid choices (including new herbicide-tolerant lines), grain maturity, planting, and other production issues.
Justin Reinmuth, Engineer, Idem Irrigation
Phillip Holliday, President, Idem Irrigation
Jared Ross, COO, Idem Irrigation
These three will cover how Idem Irrigation is looking at precision application of water, fertilizer and chemicals and the impact that we are creating through our unique application processes.
11
Ryan Taylor, Sustainability, Research, and Industry Outreach Manager, Colorado Corn
Ryan Taylor is the new Sustainability, Research and Industry Outreach Manager for the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee. He grew up in Fort Collins, and living on the edge of town always afforded a good mix of urban and rural experiences that drove his curiosity of the natural world and propelled him to studying soil — assuming the risk of research so producers don’t have to.
Sponsored by
9 - 11 a.m.
Steve Koontz, Colorado State University Professor
The outlook for grain, forage and livestock commodity prices is strong for 2023 and there is evidence that the strength can persist for several years. Drought through some of the country during the 2022 growing season has created a persistent uncertainty. This risk to supply and strong demand both domestically and internationally have created an opportunistic market for Colorado grain and forage producers. The outlook for cattle, calves and beef suggests these markets are turning a corner to substantially tighter supplies and higher prices. There is also substantial optimism in the long run for protein product markets. An assessment of the commodity markets will be offered, as well as macroeconomy, and practical strategies for price risk management and forward pricing will be discussed.
11 a.m. - noon
Dr. Brent Young, Colorado State University Extension
Farmers and ranchers in Colorado manage in excess of 4 million Farm Service Agency base acres that are subject to Title 1 programs and are part of the USDA “safety net.” The decisions made regarding these programs are crucial for many producers. In this session, we will explore the payment outlook in 2023 for ARC-CO/PLC for the major program crops in Colorado, and assist growers in preparing for the March 15, 2023, enrollment deadline.
Jason Suntych, PRCA Photographer
Jason has done sports photography for 30 years. Over that time, he has photographed NFL, NHL, IndyCar, NASCAR and NHRA events. Jason is a PRCA photographer whose work has been recently published in Pro Rodeo Sports News, including the cover photograph from Cheyenne Frontier Days and the inside cover from the Greeley Stampede. Jason is also the co-founder and COO of Xiant Technologies. Xiant has developed lighting technology for performance animals. Animal applications of the technology include poultry, beef and dairy and equine.
Where does your money go when you bank with a mega bank vs. a community bank?
When you bank with us, your money helps local businesses, farmers, and friends.
And because we are locally owned and managed, that means decisions are made right here, by people you know and trust.
Sponsored by
10 - 11 a.m.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Private Land Programs
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Staff
Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff as they present programming for private landowners and agriculturalists, including habitat programs and opportunities and landowner big game licensing. Meet biologists and district wildlife and program managers in this informational session to support collaborative efforts stewarding our shared wildlife resource.
Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, Director of AgNext and Professor at Colorado State University
1
Sam Kieffer, Vice President, Public Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation
Sam Kieffer leads the AFBF government affairs, advocacy and economics teams in advocating for farmers and ranchers with Congress and the administration. His career began with Pennsylvania Farm Bureau in 2005 and he held several positions within the organization. Kieffer is also a 12-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he served as a logistics officer. Kieffer grew up on a family grain and beef farm in Pennsylvania, and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Dickinson College, a master’s degree in public administration from Widener University, and a master’s degree in business administration from Delaware Valley University. He is also a recipient of FFA’s Honorary American Degree.
By the end of this century, the global population is expected to nearly double to 12 billion people. The need for increased food security and to protect our natural resources is often at odds. Governments worldwide are proposing climate change policy and legislation to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses and reduce the use of carbon-emitting fossil fuels. In addition, there is increasing pressure to reach timebound NetZero goals from multinational food companies as companies aim to reduce their impact on climate change. AgNext at Colorado State University is working to identify forward-focused solutions to help close the tremendous gap in understanding how producers can work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also maintaining sustainable and profitable industries that support vibrant communities.
Jenny Bennett, Ag Literacy Outreach Coordinator, CAM’s Ag Academy
CAM’s on the Road is the traveling branch of CAM’s Ag Academy Agricultural Literacy Outreach Program. Explore the possibilities of bringing programming centered around cultivating a more agriculturally literate public to YOUR community. Learn about what CAM’s is all about, our program offerings, youth involvement opportunities, tips and tricks to get started, and more. This opportunity is for individuals looking to partner with CAM’s Ag Academy to develop impactful agricultural literacy programming in their areas.
Henry Golden Boy .22 S/L/LR
Henry Big Boy .44 Magnum
Our Special Thanks to Henry Repeating Arms Company and Trigger Time Gun Club
Tickets Available During the 2023 Colorado Farm Show **Need
When John McDonald looks into the eyes of his customers, he sees himself — a cowboy, a hard-working rancher and a person who is true to his word.
The owner of RAWHIDE PORTABLE CORRAL, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, said, “I live it; that’s what I do (ranching). We use the corrals here, so I know what they are capable of. I want people to be happy with what they have. I know that I have the best portable corral on wheels.”
McDonald, 58, started the business in 2002 when he “invented and designed the first hydraulic portable corral on wheels with multiple pens and a 200-head capacity.”
The company is located in Abilene, Kansas, but it has sold portable corrals in all 50 states, as well as Finland, Canada and Mexico. Rawhide is a family operation with John as owner inventor; his wife, Mary in business operations; and daughter Cassy in marketing and human resources/payroll. The McDonalds also own a 2,200-acre ranch in the Flint Hills of Kansas, where they run 225-240 commercial cattle.
“I am an honest person who came from an honest beginning. When I talk to the person and user, they are all people who are like my wife and I. Their hands look like mine. They make deals with handshakes,” McDonald said.
With two decades as business owner under his belt and thousands of corrals sold, there has only been one time a check from a customer hasn’t cleared – and that was a simple mistake corrected by the customer the next day, McDonald knows his customers, and they know him.
Like most successful products, the portable corrals were invented out of necessity. McDonald’s roots are in rodeo, where he rode bulls and bucking horses. When rodeo events started being televised, he would set up corrals and chutes for the events. But an evening in Long Beach, Calif., changed everything. A set of bulls got into a fight in a tightly packed pen. He said, “The owner of the bulls was panicking. I unpinned and opened the panel to let the bull out. The panel I unpinned folded back up against the other panel. I saw something there. I didn’t manage to pull it off right away, but I kept that idea.”
After leaving rodeo life, McDonald started tinkering and experimenting with the concept. As
a person who likes to do things himself, the “cowboy with an idea” focused on creating a portable corral that could be set up by one person. A natural engineer, he tested every element of his designs until he created the Standard Rawhide Classic and, eventually, the Rawhide Processor. The system uses a hydraulic jack that sets the corral down and can be set up in 10 minutes by – yes - one person. The corrals can be pulled at speed limit in transport on the highway. With an eye toward practicality, the systems include man-pass gates and bow gates for sorting, among other specifications. The company continues to refine and expand with items such as hydraulic alley, solid-rubber tires and solar chargers.
The portable corrals are an alternative to hauling cattle to other locations to process or treat. The corrals have even been used to safely relocate livestock after transport accidents. McDonald’s latest design, known as the Rancho Deluxe, is the largest portable corral ever built with a capacity of 600-800 calves.
The Rawhide name was inspired by two sources. McDonald once lived outside of Wellington, Colo., near the Rawhide Energy Station. In turn, a good friend and rodeo cowboy once was offered a job on the set of the TV series “Rawhide,” starring Clint Eastwood. “I liked the name Rawhide because it sounded tough and solid,” McDonald said.
Rawhide’s systems are as versatile as its users. Equipment can be added or moved around, multiple pen variations can be set up and all panels work like gates.
“I make sure I build it so it’s not going to fall apart,” he explained. “I am a cowboy; I love to do things on horseback. But with the ranch, you want to get things done.”
Service doesn’t end when the corrals are purchased. Rawhide works to make sure the customer is satisfied, even if adjustments have to be made.
Copycat companies have emerged since Rawhide began 20 years ago, but McDonald isn’t concerned because he trusts his customers, and he trusts his products.
“I overbuilt it therefore it holds up. I take care of my people. I have a passion for it. It’s been like one of my kids – I’ve been working for this from my heart for 20 years.”
• Pull on highway at speed limit.
• Stable on uneven terrain.
• Fits through any gate your pickup will.
• Wheels on each panel and electric over hydraulic jack eliminates lifting—saves time.
• Transport wheels are permanent, no sliding off the axles and rolling out of the way.
• Frame gates for sorting.
• Permanent sheeted adjustable alley.
PT HOSE AND BEARING in Greeley prides itself on its extensive inventory of industrial supplies to keep manufacturers, large- and small-scale farms and heavy equipment operating.
“Our goal is to have inventory on a level our competitors may lack,” said Blake Hinchley, regional manager of PT Hose and Bearing in Greeley, adding that orders can be placed if items aren’t immediately available. “We strive to have products on the shelf to satisfy the customer’s requirements on-the-spot.”
The industrial parts retailer opened in Greeley in 2017 and in Fort Collins in 2020. There also are locations in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Gering, Neb. Each of the locations has an inventory of nearly 40,000 items in roughly 10,000-square-foot warehouses.
A family-owned operation, PT Hose and Bearing carries an array of industrial parts, including water pumps, hydraulic and industrial hoses, conveyor belts, electric motors, speed reducers, roller chains (and sprockets), gearboxes, bearings, valves, seals, and truck and safety supplies. The retailer welcomes the general public, caters to original equipment operators (OEMs), and serves several industries including construction, agriculture, and oil and gas.
PT Hose and Bearing also offers assembly of hydraulic and industrial hoses on site via
a mobile hose truck. All hoses are custom in length and matched to each individual application from tractors to excavators.
“We can go on site and do it for you,” Hinchley said. “It’s as easy as food delivery. It’s a convenience we are happy to provide.”
PT Hose and Bearing sets itself apart with its inventory, knowledgeable employees and unmatched customer service.
“We have a unique ability when it comes to helping customers in their time of need,” Hinchley said.
PT Hose and Bearing operates 24/7 with phones that roll over after hours.
“Somebody always answers ready to help,” Hinchley said.
The business is tailored to all phases of the agricultural cycle from planting to harvest, helping big and small farming operations as well as dairies.
“We go back to customer service and keep those guys going year-round. We’re able to help them maintain the equipment they need to keep their operations running smoothly,” Hinchley said.
PT Hose and Bearing is locally owned by two families with the principals being Jamey Fifield and Trent Keller.
“We’re not a big corporation. We use that to our advantage. We stock and staff our stores to provide optimal value to our customers,” Hinchley said.
Proudly offering unrivaled product knowledge. Unmatched local inventory! Hydraulic and industrial hoses made while you wait! Visit us in Greeley, Cheyenne, Scottsbluff/Gering, and our Fort Collins Location! We specialize in solutions for you and your business!
Experience the Cooperative Difference with AGFINITY, your locally run and memberowned cooperative providing innovative agronomy, energy, feed, grain, and retail products, services and solutions to our members and customers.
Agfinity began in 1905 when 20 Colorado potato farmers each invested $100 to form our cooperative. We have undergone many changes and experienced much growth over the past 117 years, but one thing remains the same, we are committed to providing the best products and services to our members and customers.
We are your farm supply cooperative that offers many services, including assisting with feed formulation, analyzing crop efficiency, delivering reliable refined fuel and propane services, and so much more.
Our Feed and Grain Division strategically manages grain, commodities, and feedstuffs through our state-of-the-art feed manufacturing and grain handling facility
and focuses on quality feed solutions, various procurement options, delivery services, and convenient dealer locations.
The Energy Division provides valuable solutions in refined fuel, lubricants, and propane to meet the needs of your farm, commercial and residential operations.
The Agronomy Division utilizes today’s technologies to help increase your yields and protect your investment on every acre and helps support your turf and ornamental needs and provides other year-round solutions.
The Retail Division serves our local communities with four locations along the Front Range and a new location being built in Mead and provides fuel, food, and refreshments along with our Ace Hardware and Town and Country Feed Warehouse in Brighton.
At Agfinity we’re committed to bringing our friends and neighbors exceptional service and quality products at a variety of locations to meet all your needs today, tomorrow and in the future.
The Colorado Farm Show this year awarded 10 high school seniors and two college students — interested in pursuing an education in agriculture — a total of $27,000 to help with their higher education goals and expenses. That includes two $4,000 Rolling
Scholarships, six $2,000 Chuck Urano Memorial Scholarships, two $2,000 Carl Luther Memorial Vo-Tech Scholarships, and two $1,500 Secondary Scholarships. This brings the total scholarship dollars awarded by the Colorado Farm Show to $341,000.
THE COLORADO FARM SHOW BOARD WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL RECIPIENTS GOOD LUCK IN THEIR FUTURE EDUCATIONAL PATHS.
JENNA
Jenna plans to attend Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, to pursue a degree in agriculture education or agriculture business. She is from Ault and is attending Highland High School. Jenna has been an active member of both 4-H and FFA, holding numerous leadership roles in both organizations. When looking at her career goal, she wants to be sure she’s doing something that’s going to make someone else’s day a little better. Jenna’s parents are John and Kristi Batka of Ault.
Kole will be graduating from Cedaredge High School this spring and plans to attend South Dakota State University, studying agriculture and biosystems engineering with an emphasis on livestock/animal systems and natural resources. He’s an FFA member and involved in many activities within his high school. Kole is deep rooted in the agriculture community, being a fourth-generation beef producer. He sees a strong need for advocates within agriculture and wants to continue showing the importance of agriculture. Kole’s parents are Nate and Amy Hawkins of Eckert.
Cora plans to attend Montana State University upon graduating from Arickaree High School. She plans to major in agriculture media and communications with the aspiration to continue to law school in Texas and eventually return to Sterling, Colo., to work in a law office that supports farmers and ranchers in rural Colorado. Cora has been an active member of both 4-H and FFA for numerous years. Her love of agriculture was sparked at a young age, and her experiences in agriculture have contributed to the diligent, persistent and articulate person she is today. Cora’s parents are Brad and Deanna Schrock of Flagler.
Delaney will be graduating from Brush High School and plans to attend West Texas A&M to study agriculture communications. She has been an active member of 4-H and FFA, along with many other activities in her school. Ag communications was an easy career choice for her, as she wants to be a positive voice for agriculturists and rural Americans. She is also considering minoring in agriculture education, as there is a great need for more teachers, especially those who advocate for agriculture. Delaney’s parents are Ryan and Cara Draegert of Brush.
Kaden plans on attending Oklahoma State University upon graduating from Meeker High School. He is planning on studying agribusiness with a minor in finance. With this degree he hopes to help others in his community and work with rural farmers and ranchers. Kaden has been actively involved in both 4-H and FFA in his community. He hopes to one day own his own farm as he recognizes that farmers are a necessity to society. Kaden’s parents are Blaine and Heather Franklin of Meeker.
Kaleb plans to attend South Dakota School of Mines and study mechanical engineering, with the aspirations of ultimately working for John Deere, Caterpillar or Bobcat. Kaleb wants to utilize his degree to support farmers and the agriculture industry as a whole. This spring he will graduate from Platte Valley High School in Kersey. He has been involved in 4-H and FFA, along with numerous other extracurricular activities. Kaleb’s parents are Jason and Elaina Maxey of Gill.
Taryn will be graduating from Cedaredge High School this spring and plans to attend South Dakota State University to study agriculture education with a minor in animal production sciences. She has been an active member of Cedaredge FFA for four years, serving in many different leadership roles. Taryn did not have a traditional start in agriculture, as she grew up just outside of Denver, but her love for the industry was sparked instantly upon moving to Cedaredge. She wants to go into agriculture education to advocate for the communication between the ag community and the general public. Taryn’s parents are Rob and Melany Wolcott of Cedaredge.
Ty plans to attend West Texas A&M to study agribusiness and economics upon graduating from Brush High School. He grew up in a family that was focused on agriculture and wants to come back to the family business after graduating. 6G Trucking became a necessity during COVID and supported the farmers and ranchers during their time of need. His experience in the industry has taught Ty the principles of agriculture, including integrity, hard work and selfless service to society. Ty’s parents are Virgil and Heidi Griffith of Brush.
Cole will be graduating from Platte Valley High School and plans to attend Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, and then Mitchell Technical College in Goodland, Kan. His planned focus of study is precision ag and soil and crop sciences. He hopes to one day work for John Deere in their precision technology department. Cole has been an active member of 4-H and FFA. He sees the need for introducing new technologies to farmers so they can accomplish the feeding of a growing population. Cole’s parents are Alan and Gail Halley of Kersey.
Garrett will be graduating from Fort Morgan High School and plans to attend Northeastern Junior College majoring in precision agriculture and agriculture business. He has been actively involved in 4-H and FFA, along with other activities. He is currently taking a precision agriculture class at Morgan Community College and this sparked his interest in drone surveillance, GPS systems and the mechanics of installation of systems in tractors. Garrett’s parents are Matthew and Heather Kalous of Fort Morgan.
Kaley is currently attending Casper College, studying agriculture communications and animal science. She has been an active member of the Casper Livestock Judging Team, where she has had the opportunity to interact with the agriculture community. After Casper College she plans to attend Texas Tech or Texas A&M. She also plans to travel to Uganda this summer through Field of Hope to help educate low-income farmers on how to be more efficient and profitable. Kaley’s parents are Jody and Amy Pieper of Fowler.
Morgan is currently attending Fort Hays State University, where she is studying agriculture education. Morgan was a 10-year member of 4-H and has carried that leadership and involvement to the university level, where she is involved in many collegiate groups. Morgan feels that becoming an agriculture education teacher will allow for her to educate students about agriculture, food and natural resources, and let her do something she loves while giving back to the community. Morgan’s parents are Jonathan and Sarah Barba of Henderson.
For more than 30 years, the hearing specialists at THE HEARING PLACE have been solely committed to helping restore hearing in people of all ages through the use of expertly fitted hearing devices. The staff’s goal is to provide high-quality hearing instruments and products with excellent service to fit every Colorado lifestyle and budget.
At The Hearing Place, an expert team of audiologists knows how important hearing is to living a fulfilled life and running a farm or ranch. Untreated hearing loss impacts cognitive health, relationships, work performance and safety. For those with untreated hearing loss, not being able to hear a fire alarm or tornado siren at the right time, for example, can be dangerous and detrimental to their business and home.
Local audiologists provide support unique to each community. With a friendly and easygoing approach and exceptional, ongoing care and counseling, individuals who experience all that The Hearing Place has to offer are quick to refer their friends and family.
Did you know that remarkable 90% of all hearing loss is sensorineural, or hearing loss caused by damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or to the nerve pathway from the inner ear to the brain? Workers who use loud tools and/or heavy equipment throughout the day subject their ears to repetitive loud noises, which damages hearing over time.
Wearing the right hearing protection helps prevent hearing loss for those who find themselves in noisy environments frequently. Hearing loss may be inevitable given your circumstances, heredity, and occupation, but with an array of noise protection, The Hearing Place can help ensure that adequate hearing is prolonger for years to come, even for those who can’t escape regular exposure to loud noises.
As one of the few remaining locally owned and independent audiology practices in Colorado, The Hearing Place is able to spend
as much time as needed to help people understand hearing loss and what options are available to them. Patients are involved from the very beginning in learning about their diagnosis and choosing the best individualized solution. The Hearing Place takes a special approach to patient-centered care: prioritizing building long-term relationships with patients. It all starts with the enjoyable experience The Hearing Place strives to provide at each of its six convenient locations across Northern and Eastern Colorado. The Hearing Place follows the philosophy that hearing shouldn’t be a barrier to living a fulfilling and engaging life. Audiologists have been helping people of all walks of life regain hearing capacity, eliminate the associated feelings of isolation, and begin leading a more fulfilled and engaged life. Through simple hearing loss consultations and clinical hearing exams, The Hearing Place’s team of audiologists can assist people at all stages of hearing loss to determine how best to restore their hearing. It’s a collaborative process. If hearing aid devices are appropriate for hearing loss, expert audiologists will walk each individual through the process of selecting the ideal device for their needs.
The Hearing Place offers comprehensive audiology services, including:
• Complete hearing evaluations
• Assisted listening devices
• Custom ear-molds for behind-the-ear hearing aids
• High-performance digital & Bluetooth compatible hearing devices
• Hearing aid repair services & routine maintenance and cleaning
• Noise protection and swim plugs
• Cerumen management (earwax removal)
• Counseling for hearing loss and tinnitus
• Cochlear implant services offered in Loveland and Greeley (coming soon to Sterling and Brush)
Ready to start the journey to better hearing? Visit The Hearing Center website at thehearingplaceco.com to find the location nearest you and schedule an appointment.
BUFFALO BRAND SEED is an independently owned seed company based in Greeley, specializing in high quality alfalfas, native grasses, forage grasses, turf grasses, small grains, annual forages and custom mixes.
Buffalo Brand Seed has been open since 2017, after purchasing the Sharp Bros Seed Co. location, which opened in Greeley in the early 1980s.
“Our long-term success has been built upon putting family first while maintaining our commitment to exceed our customer’s expectations at every opportunity. We believe in providing quality seed, at a competitive price and offering technical support and outstanding service in a timely manner.”
Lisa Doyle of Buffalo Brand Seed says they continually supply their customers with only the best seed and products. Beyond seeds they also carry a broad selection of erosion control products. Buffalo Brand Seed works with a vast network of dealers and distributors in the western US and even serves Northern
Colorado with retail sales for farmers, ranchers, landscapers and homeowners.
Buffalo Brand Seed prides itself on hiring the most knowledgeable sales team and office staff in the seed business. If you can’t find your answer online you can call the office and talk to a knowledgeable employee. “Our success as a company depends on your success with the seed you have planted.”
“One of the most satisfying parts of our business is the personal relationships we’ve built over the years. As we look to the future you can be assured that we will continue to take care of you with an old-fashioned focus on building long-term relationships. Our success as a company depends on your success.”
Doyle says local owners are engaged and active in the surrounding agricultural community.
“Superior seed quality, exceptional customer service and local ownership. We are not the biggest, we are simply the best.”
LONGMONT DAIRY FARM not only brings fresh milk to the doorstep, but also will provide much of the perishable grocery list for its customers.
“By delivering these items, it helps customers have their staples on a regular basis, so they don’t have to go to the grocery store,” said Katie Copeland, co-owner of Longmont Dairy Farm with her brother, Dan Boyd.
Copeland and Boyd are third-generation owners of Longmont Dairy Farm, a homedelivery company founded in 1965 that serves the Front Range and parts of the Denver metro area.
The milk comes fresh from the 500 cows on the farm and is delivered overnight, so that customers get their milk within roughly 48 hours. The cows are fed locally grown, high-quality feed that doesn’t have any supplemental rBST growth hormone. Their milk is bottled at the local dairy in glass bottles,
giving it a fresh, old-fashioned taste. The bottles are turned in, sanitized and reused, so that empty containers don’t have to be thrown into the trash.
“Our customers tell us milk tastes better in glass bottles,” Copeland said.
The farm makes a long list of other products that includes whipping cream, orange juice and flavored milks such as chocolate, strawberry and orange cream, as well as brewed tea and cold brew coffee through a partnership with Silver Canyon Coffee out of Boulder. The farm has additional partnerships with local vendors to deliver items like bread, eggs, yogurt, bagels, meal kits and cookie dough.
“With declining milk consumption, we started adding more and more products,” Copeland said. “We’re trying to be innovative and continue to grow to provide customers with more options if we’re going to be stopping at their doorstep anyway.”
There’s no shortage of flattering ways Roline Foos can be described by those who work alongside her at the Colorado Farm Show.
“A great volunteer.”
“Very friendly.”
“Always ready and willing to help.”
Colorado Farm Show Secretary Cathy Mondt offers this one: “Old-school perfectionist.”
“She’s 92 years old and will still get down on her hands and knees to clean the office floor,” Cathy said. “We tell her repeatedly she doesn’t need to do things like that. But she thinks it needs to be done and we can’t stop her. She’s pretty amazing.”
No matter how her many contributions are chronicled by those around her, they’re all greatly appreciated and go a long way for an event that depends on such devoted volunteers.
A longtime attendee of the Colorado Farm Show, Roline began serving as an event volunteer about 20 years ago, when she was asked by her son (and former Farm Show Board member), Steve, to help with judging booths and choosing award winners among the 300-plus exhibitors.
In the following years, Roline expanded her volunteering role to assist the Office Committee, where she continues lending a hand with vendor forms, checking in exhibitors at the show, and helping guide them to their correct location, in addition to cleaning the office just before the event every year.
“She’s been a great volunteer,” said Ashley Angus, chair of the Farm Show’s Office Committee. “She’s very friendly and almost everyone who walks into the show knows who she is.”
While event organizers appreciate everything she does, the feeling is mutual, in that Roline greatly values what the Farm Show gives back to her; an opportunity each year to “see old friends and catch up with people she doesn’t get to see very often anymore.”
Roline no doubt has plenty of old friends in the local agriculture community to catch up with, as both the Anderson family she was born into in 1930 and the Foos family she later married into have been farming in the Greeley area since before World War I.
While she’s moved into the Greeley city limits in more recent years, she still owns the farm southwest of Kersey that was home to her husband, Raymond, and their family for many years. She leaves the farm work these days to her children and grandchildren,
but that certainly wasn’t always the case. Growing up as one of 11 Anderson kids on the family dairy, she began milking cows by hand at an early age, as well as separating cream, churning and delivering butter, and driving a team of mules during haying season.
After living in Denver for a few years from the late 1940s into the 1950s while she worked for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company, Roline returned to Weld County agriculture, helping operate a family farm with Raymond from 1957 to 1999, before they handed the responsibilities down to younger members of the family.
Roline spent much of her life volunteering time and energy to community causes, particularly those at the St John’s United Church of Christ in Greeley, where over the years she had served as the primary Sunday school teacher, director of the children’s choir, and as the financial secretary, among other duties.
So, it’s only fitting that her giving ways and passion for agriculture and community eventually merged into what is now a 20-year volunteering stint at the Farm Show.
“And we’re more than happy to have her and her energy here,” Cathy Mondt said of Roline, who, well into her 90s, is still mowing her own yard. “She’s great to have around.”
2023 Colorado Farm Show Board of Directors & Committee Members for all you do to make the Farm Show such a successful event!
BUILDINGS/ GROUNDS
Trent Long – Chair
Aiden Adams
Jeff Adams
Brandon Boxberger
Logan Clements
Paul Hahn
Blair Johnson
Bryce Johnson
Mark Long
EVENTS CENTER
Tim Magnuson –Chair
Brian Foss
Darin Foss
Jim Koeltzow
Keaton Sameshima
EXHIBITION & 4-H
Austin Angus – Chair
Kenny Betz
Steve Betz
Wade Betz
Alex Eckhardt
FARM EQUIPMENT
Brad Craven– Chair
Ronnie Ackerman
Mark Brinkman
Cullen Stevens
Terry Weber
Craig Wiedemann
OFFICE
Ashley Angus – Chair
Eric Angus
Zella Foos
Jaden Long
Mark Long
Cathy Mondt
LaVonne Rogakis
PAST CHAIRMAN
Erich Ehrlich – Chair
Bob Abrams
Eric Angus
Randee Cook
Steve Foos
Artie Geisick
Don Holtz
Brian Larson
Mark Long
Brett Markham
George Maxey
Jim Reeman
Mark Sponsler
Bill Stephens
Terry Weber
SPECIAL EVENTS
Ann Dingeman –Chair
Tom Dingeman
Glen Hanson
Shirley Hanson
Bob Johnson
Jill Johnson
Kristie Magnuson
Debbie Miller
Michelle Sanchez
AG OUTLOOK
Brent Young – Chair
Stephen Koontz
AGRONOMY
Kat Caswell
BEEF
Ryan Rhoades – Chair
Larry Hooker
Jim Magnuson
Julie Moore
COLORADO VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Tami Arnold
Amy McFarland
Kenton Ochsner
John Stahley
Don Thorn
DAIRY
Catie Cramer
Josh Docheff
Sebastion Gonzales
Bill Keating
Chris Kraft
Katharine Lotspeich
Keith Maxey
Sarah Palki
Alvie Rothe
EQUINE DAY
Wade Shoemaker
Sarah Hall
PARTNERS IN AG
Gege Ellzey – Chair
Judi Amen
Lynann Dunker
Margaret Hess
PRODUCE
Adrian Card – Chair
Mike Bartolo
Marilyn Drake
Jianbing Ma
Robert Sakata
Martha Sullins
Mark Uchanski
WATER ISSUES
Joel Schneekloth –Chair
Eric Brown
WEATHER REPORT
Becky Bolinger
Peter Bennett Goble
Zach Schwalbe
WEEDS
Tina Booten
Jordan Radach had a long tradition of service, quality and commitment to tap into when he formally took on the role of owner of RON’S EQUIPMENT also known as REC in April.
Radach, a Wyotech grad, mechanic and service manager, took over the company in April, following Ron Lonneman as CEO. Lonneman was the company’s namesake; he helmed the agricultural dealership for nearly 40 years and he served as a mentor for Radach as he worked his way up from salesman to sales manager to general manager. When Lonneman was ready for retirement, Radach made the decision to take over. He drew on the years of highquality customer service and expertise that his former boss had established in building up the company.
“I pitched the idea to Ron, about me taking over, more than four years ago. We started talking about it, and things progressed,” Radach said. The transition that happened was a conclusion of years of planning and sacrifice, noting that he’s grateful for the chance to “make my way up” in the company.
For Radach, one of the best ways to pay tribute to the company’s namesake and show that gratitude was to maintain the business fundamentals that Lonneman established over a span of more than three decades.
Despite the change in management, REC continues its dedication to its customers – farmers, ranchers and others in the agricultural industry looking for high-quality equipment at fair prices and customer services rooted in honesty, integrity and core values. According to Radach, the company operates on a highly motivated dealership model; employees strive to work as hard as customers do to maximize uptime and relationships.
“Since I took over in April, we’ve been working to keep the momentum that Ron started. He’d been in business 38-plus years when my wife and I made this transition,” he said. “We want to serve our community as well as we can, and we want to grow our brands and our presence.”
In terms of the core brands, REC Corp offers customers in Colorado and Wyoming a selection of top-of-the-line equipment from JCB, Massey Ferguson, Woods and Beaver Valley Supply. With a focus on an agricultural customer base that also reaches into the construction, landscape and energy businesses, REC Corp’s dealerships in Fort Collins and Keenesburg offer equipment tailored to the needs of individual properties and operations.
“We’re dedicated to our brands, to the equipment that’s proven itself over the decades, and they are dedicated to REC,” Radach said. “We want to make sure that our manufactures and REC grow their success in Colorado and Wyoming and our customers benefit from our strong partnerships.”
Like his predecessor, the REC team is committed to building strong ties in the communities that the dealership serves, both in northern Colorado and Wyoming. Through outreach to local organizations like 4-H and the FFA agricultural education chapters, REC Corp is taking the steps to encourage the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
“We’ve always sponsored future ag organizations – 4H, FFA – and they’ll still see us there doing the same thing,” Radach said. “We want to keep participating in the community as much as we can”
The blend of long-held traditions and a new ownership approach has been exciting for customers and employees alike, Radach added. “We strive to offer a rewarding work environment for our employees and allow them to reach their and their families goals within the company as Ron did for me”.
With their core values clearly in mind, the company is looking to the future, anticipating how they’ll meet the demands of the industry in the coming decades.
All the while though, Radach and his team won’t forget where they came from and the hard work it took to get here.
“Ron started a good tradition here,” he said. “We’re trying to keep this a local, family-owned business and building toward the future.”
An unfortunate part of any tradition that’s been going strong for so many years is saying “good-bye” to some of the close friends who’ve been a part of it along the way. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their loved ones, and we once again thank the families of Charlie and the others we’ve lost in previous years, for allowing them to contribute their time and energy to the Colorado Farm Show during their lifetimes. This event is no doubt better because of them.
CHARLIE PAULSEN, who passed away at the age of 73 on Feb. 28, 2022, had served as a Farm Show volunteer for about 20 years, working with the Building and Grounds Committee to handle the electrical needs of our exhibitors in the 4-H and Exhibition buildings.
“He was extraordinarily helpful,” said Eric Angus, former Building and Grounds Committee chair, and also a former chairman of the Colorado Farm Show. “He was always ready to help and was always making the rounds to make sure people had what they needed. He was just a good person and a great guy to have helping out at the Show during all of the years that he was here.”
Angus — who, in addition to volunteering alongside Charlie at the Farm Show, had also hired him in 2007 to work at Greeley Colorado Crops — said Charlie’s contributions to the community went beyond the Farm Show. He was a devoted volunteer through programs at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 49th Avenue in Greeley, assisting every other Friday at the church to hand out food to needy individuals, while also making at-home worship visits to fellow families of the congregation.
“We’ll miss him here at the Farm Show, as will some others around the community,” Angus said of Charlie, who spent most of his working career as a custodian with the GreeleyEvans School District 6.
NORTHSTAR HOMES was founded in 1994 by Norm and Judy Reichardt, who have maintained the same vision over the company’s long history: provide homebuyers with affordable and quality homes. Their commitment to customer service across their wide-reaching service area have made them the leader in custom, Systembuilt homes. Among their offerings include ranch plans, two-story homes, multi-family and apartment homes – all of which can be customized to accommodate your budget and style.
“Northstar Homes understands that when it comes to your custom home preferences, everyone has something unique in mind,” says Jerrod Reichardt, general manager for Northstar Homes. “From square footage and kitchen cabinets to flooring and tile work, you should get exactly what you want. To accommodate all budgets and styles, Northstar Homes offers customization for every aspect of your home. Systembuilt homes are built to meet your needs and preferences.”
The Systembuilt process is simple: you decide on size and style, and then Northstar works with you to accommodate your unique desires. Systembuilt custom homes are not mobile homes – they are the same as on-site built homes but with additional benefits. They are protected from the elements while being built and they have highly efficient and predictable turnaround, with many home projects completed in as little as three weeks.
Northstar classifies its projects into three categories: everyday homes for the first-time homeowner, enhanced homes with additional square footage and high-end finishings, and extraordinary homes with ultimate luxury customization. Northstar Homes prides itself on being the best choice for homebuyers looking to build or move to rural areas. “Northstar Homes specialize in rural home building, farm and ranching housing, and scattered lot construction,” says Reichardt. “We go where most Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming home builders don’t venture.”
During REDLUND EQUIPMENT’s first year of business the company dug into three areas of the industry they felt could be improved upon.
First, the company focused on customer relationships, not just transactional relationships. They strived to get to know their customers on a friendship level, personally taking the time to understand their operation, and equipment needs. Redlund worked hard to not only be a partner but a friend. In doing so, Redlund sincerely supports its operation AND their families.
Second, Redlund has spent countless hours researching, testing, and working to find the best equipment for Colorado’s agricultural needs. It started by offering the Fendt line. Fendt is an industry leader in innovation, efficiency, reliability and overall usability. The Fendt cab stands out being incredibly spacious, comfortable, smooth, and use
friendly. Not to mention, Fendt owners see a quick ROI when they calculate their fuel and service costs.
Next the company added Lemken, Staheli West Steamers, and Darf rakes among many others to their product line. Redlund prides itself in only offering the best and standing behind their product line 100 percent.
Lastly, Redlund focuses on community and the culture of their company. The company started from the ground up, bringing in industry leaders, who share a common vision. Their main goal with employees is for them to not only like their job, but to love and enjoy working each day at Redlund. They constantly reevaluate their company to ensure it is a great place to work. Their team knows and loves their customers, put equipment uptime as their main goal and ensure that it all works together to make agriculture run in a smooth and efficient way.
Trillions of gallons of water delivered to local farms
Millions of dollars invested toward agricultural water- efficienc y research
Numerous collaborations aimed at helping keep water in ag
Delivering water to Nor theastern Colorado homes, businesses and farms since 1957.
As Greeley-based equipment dealership 4RIVERS EQUIPMENT expanded operations outside of Colorado, its old name no longer was a fit.
The company had grown into three other states with major rivers crucial to the agricultural communities it serves—the Rio Grande, the Platte and the Arkansas, plus the Colorado River in its home state.
“After careful thought, the name 4Rivers Equipment became our new name,” as stated on the website.
The company, which has been serving Colorado farmers with John Deere equipment since 1926, started out as Colorado Equipment, then became Colorado Machinery. The company expanded from a local distributor of agricultural equipment to a regional distributor in Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas with 30 locations—two are in Greeley, one is in Fort Collins and one in Longmont.
With that growth came more product lines and more industries, though 4Rivers’ core product line remained John Deere, a Moline, Ill.-based manufacturer of agricultural and other types of machinery. The company distributes more than 200 products for John Deere, alongside equipment and machinery for the farm and agriculture, compact and general construction, home and ranch, forestry, road building and commercial mowing industries. The company’s core specialties though remained construction and agriculture products.
“4Rivers Equipment was built on the principle that partnership is the key to offering superior products and services to the regions that they operate within,” said Hunter Barlow, marketing coordinator for 4Rivers Equipment in Greeley. “The
combination of their experience, culture and focus on customer service has resulted in 4Rivers Equipment becoming one of the most widely respected John Deere dealers in the country. The steady growth in sales, rentals, parts and service is a direct reflection of the loyalty of the customers they cater to.”
The company operates according to its four values, those of integrity; respect for customers, employees and manufacturers; commitment to being the best working partner for customers and as the employer of choice; and innovation by employing innovative ideas that benefit customers and employees.
“4Rivers has a few core beliefs that help define its culture,” Hunter said. “First, customers are taken care of during the sales process and, more importantly, after the sale. Parts and service support are bedrock principles.”
The company also invests millions of dollars in training, tooling and its parts inventory to keep each community it serves as a focal point.
“Perhaps the most critical key to 4Rivers’ success is that they give each location’s management team the ability and authority to make the best decision at the local level,” Hunter said. “They trust that nobody knows the areas they serve better than the citizens that live in it, and they want to live in and learn from those communities.”
The company sees itself as a working partner with each of its customers.
“Committed to being your working partner, we work to support you with integrity and respect. Our goal is to provide you with innovative solutions for your home, farm or business,” as stated on the website.
P.O. Box 670 Greeley, CO 80632 (970) 356-9426
www.coloradofarmshow.com follow us on facebook