Ag leaders gather in Denver

Last week, state commissioners, directors and secretaries of agriculture from Western states gathered in Denver for the annual Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture conference. Discussions included an opening youth panel, innovation in water resilience, public, private and philanthropic partnerships, and opportunities for producers using regenerative agriculture practices. 

Featured guest speakers included USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, Colorado farmer Robert Sakata, rancher and member of Colorado Agricultural Commission Nick Trainor, and others. 

“Colorado’s family farmers and ranchers, of all scales and operation types, have been leading conservation and innovative production efforts across the state. It was an honor to show my Western counterparts the work they put into stewarding natural resources, cultivating new markets and supporting future generations,” said Kate Greenberg, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture and outgoing WASDA Board president. “Colorado producers have been on the leading edge of climate smart agricultural practices, and we were able to showcase their work and ideas to our partners across the West.”

This year, the Colorado Department of Agriculture introduced a new scholarship opportunity for young leaders interested in agriculture in the West by launching the WASDA NextGen Scholarship fund, which provided funding for seven young leaders to attend the 2023 conference. 

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