DENVER – The Colorado agriculture community held its annual day at the Legislature on Wednesday, providing attendees with an assortment of food made from Colorado ingredients.
Lawmakers honored the agriculture world with an official resolution, and Gov. John Hickenlooper addressed a packed foyer full of farmers and ranchers.
“We all participate in agriculture every day of the week when we eat anything,” Hickenlooper said while wearing a cowboy hat. “(Agriculture) is connected to literally every other part of the economy.”
Chefs prepared meals that ranged from Colorado tamales, to pork loin, bison and lamb. Desserts utilizing Colorado ingredients were available.
Agriculture Commissioner Don Brown said, “When you’re walking around, remember, if you eat, you’re participating in agriculture, and we thank you as producers.”
In Southwest Colorado, the 2015 Four State Ag Expo will kick off Thursday at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez.
Radiance Beals, executive director of the expo, said, “We have 100-plus this year, which is definitely up from last year. I still have people signing up for booths. ... I hear most that businesses value the new contacts. They have business throughout the year that started out as expo contacts.”
New events in 2015 include an extreme trail-riding challenge, as well as the return of the beef show Saturday.
“Saturday is going to be a big, busy day,” she said.
The 2015 Ag Expo will run Thursday through Saturday. For a full schedule of events, visit the Four States Ag Expo website, www.fourstatesagexpo.com/daily-schedule.
pmarcus@durangoherald.com. Jessica Gonzalez of the Cortez Journal contributed to this report.
