AGRICULTURE-RELATED EVENTS

CROPLAND POLICY FARM AND RANCH PANEL DISCUSSION, Jan. 19, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Monarch High School, 329 Campus Drive, Louisville. Boulder County Parks and Open Space invites you to attend and participate in a panel discussion of farmers and ranchers working in Boulder County to discuss their agriculture operations and experiences. The event consists of two parts. First, a small group of local farmers and ranchers will discuss their stories, agriculture challenges and successes, and ideas on sustainable agriculture. Then the panel will answer selected questions from the audience. Panelists include Dave Asbury, Anne Cure, Dwayne Cushman, Mark Guttridge, Famuer Rasmussen Jr., and Jules Van Thuyne Jr. The Farm and Ranch Panel Discussion is another in the series of outreach programs that are part of the Cropland Policy. Soon after the Panel Discussion, the County Commissioners will convene the Cropland Policy Advisory Group, a group of county residents who will help guide the development of the Cropland Policy. For more information, please contact Jesse Rounds, Resource Planner, 303-678-6271.

"STEWARDS OF THE LAND": COLORADO FARM SHOW, Jan. 25 - 27, Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley. It is fitting that one of the largest--and oldest--farm shows in the nation takes place in Weld County, the fourth largest agriculture producing county in the United States. The annual three-day event features almost 350 ag-related exhibits and draws more than 30,000 visitors from throughout the region interested in learning more about ag products, services, and machinery. And volunteers with a love for agriculture make it happen. Click here for more information.

NORTHERN COLORADO REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM ASSESSMENT PRESENTATION, Jan. 26, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., Commissioners' Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder. CSU Extension's Dawn Thilmany will present the findings of this long-awaited tri-county study (Boulder, Weld, Larimer). Copies of the final report will be distributed electronically (sign-up sheet will be available). Click here for more information about the study. The findings of the Food System Assessment will also be presented at the Colorado Farm Show on Jan. 25, at at the Colorado Agriculture Big and Small Conference on Feb. 16 - 17.

BOULDER COUNTY AGRICULTURE FORUM (BCAF), Feb. 1, 5:00 p.m., Radisson Conference Center, 1900 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont (INVITATION ONLY). The CSU Extension office in Longmont is coordinating with and taking input from NRCS, FSA, Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and the Boulder County Farmers' Markets to offer the "Boulder County Agriculture Forum." The BCAF will bring together ag producers, ag professionals, input suppliers, equipment dealers and other stakeholders in production and commercial agriculture in Boulder County. It will feature a display/trade show area, cash bar, free dinner (RSVP required) and presentations from producers and ag professionals. There will be plenty of time to socialize with old and new friends, visit businesses, network, and learn about the wide variety of commercial agriculture in Boulder County. The program is free to producers in Boulder County and each may bring one guest. Co-sponsored by Transition Colorado. Please contact Adrian Card, at 303-678-6383 if you have any questions. 

COLORADO AGRICULTURE BIG & SMALL CONFERENCE, Feb. 16 - 17, Adams County Fairground (Brighton), Waymire Dome Complex. Featuring sessions from farmers, ag professionals, and scientists for commercial specialty crops and niche livestock producers engaged in direct market or wholesale and organic, biological, or low input systems; PLUS sessions for small acreage non-commercial producers. Hosted by Colorado State University Extension, Wyoming Cooperative Extension, Mountain Plains Farm Credit Conservation. Click here for more information.