Pro 15’s award organizers and honorees are pictured from left, front row, Pro 15 Executive Director Cathy Shull, Jamie Gardner (accepting on behalf of Sen. Cory Gardner), Linda Shapley, Janice Sinden, Dusty Johnson (accepting on behalf of Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg) and Pro 15 chair of the board LeaAnn Laybourn; and back row, Shawn Osthoff, Brock Herzberg, Jay Lee, Joe Kinnie, Rep. Rod Pelton, Kerri Hunter, Ann Rajewski and Landon Gates. Not pictured are award winners Steve Gabel, Bill Hammerick, Nicholas Colglazier and Greg Brophy.
Joe Kinnie, Nicholas Colglazier among Pro 15’s Alumni of the Plains inductees
Pro 15 presented its annual awards recognizing individuals from northeastern Colorado during Pro 15’s fall conference Oct. 14-15 in Fort Morgan.
Alumni of the Plains inductees are those who have graduated from high school in one of the organization’s 15 counties and have gone on to stand for the best of the region in their careers and commitment to community while paving the way for future generations.
Inductees included:
— Joe Kinnie, early adaptor of no-till farming, former Phillips County commissioner, graduate of Sedgwick County High School.
— Nicholas Colglazier, executive director of Colorado Corn Administrative Council, graduate of Holyoke High School.
— Shawn Osthoff, president of Bank of Colorado in Fort Collins, graduate of Arickaree.
— Brock Herzberg, owner of Capital Focus, LLC, works on agriculture issues, graduate of Arickaree.
— Kerri Hunter, Colorado state auditor, graduate of Burlington High School
— Linda Shapley, publisher of Colorado Community Media, graduate of Kersey High School.
— Landon Gates, owner of Capital Focus, LLC, works on agriculture issues, graduate of Yuma High School.
— Janice Sinden, president and CEO of Denver Center for the Performing Arts, graduate of Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins.
— Steve Gabel, owner of Magnum Feedyard, Board of Governors of Colorado State University, Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame, graduate of Ft. Lupton High School.
Each year, Pro 15 presents Legislators of the Year honors for those who worked on issues important to the region.
Rep. Rod Pelton from Cheyenne County was selected for his work on human services during the last legislative session. The region appreciated his help on behavioral health and substance abuse services.
Also receiving an award was Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg of Logan County for his work to carry the message for agriculture and its importance to the region.
Sen. Cory Gardner was inducted into the Legislative Hall of Fame, which recognizes those who have represented the region at a state or national level and worked on the region’s behalf.
Partners of the Year for 2021 were Jay Lee of Logan County and Bill Hammerich of Weld County. Both men are retiring this year, and their wealth of knowledge will be missed.
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