A future built by collaboration will be the focus of the 26^th annual Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. “Label it: Agriculture”… a future built by collaboration will be held Feb. 22, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver.

Second largest driver of state’s economy

The innovative and informative program will bring together producers, consumers, experts and other agriculture stakeholders to peel back the polarizing rhetoric often found in today’s society. The Forum will focus on the powerful history of collaboration and cooperation that has made agriculture in the state of Colorado the second largest driver of the state’s economy.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper will welcome a notable lineup of speakers during the Forum’s morning session. Others on the agenda include:

• Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Don Brown;
• Colorado State University President Tony Frank;
• Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Krysta Harden; and,
• CSU Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics Gregory Graff.

The morning keynote presentations include “The Value of Colorado Agriculture,” presented by Graff and “A Future Built by Collaboration,” presented by Harden.

Additional speakers

During lunch and the general assembly, Gov. Hickenlooper will give the address on Colorado agriculture. Other speakers include:

• U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner;
• CSU Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences Ajay Menon; and,
• Tom Kourlis, former Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture.

Gov. Hickenlooper and Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Brown will present the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Exporting during the general assembly.

“Colorado Agriculture is a critical component of this state, contributing over $41 billion to our economy,” said Gov. Hickenlooper. “The 2017 Governor’s Forum on Agriculture will provide the opportunity for robust discussions on how industry can be responsive to consumer interests while ensuring that agricultural businesses, remain profitable and affordable to all consumers.”

Breakout sessions

A number of breakout sessions will feature members of CSU faculty and Extension including:  Martha Sullins, ag business management specialist with CSU Extension; Dawn Thilmany McFadden, professor and agribusiness extension specialist; Ajay Menon, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station; Keith Belk, animal sciences and public health professor; Becca Jablonski, assistant professor and food systems extension economist; Michael Martin, assistant professor of agricultural and resource economics; Dale Woerner, assistant professor in animal sciences; and, Norm Dalsted, professor and farm/ranch extension economist.

Breakout sessions will cover:

• Public Attitudes of the Role of Food & Agriculture on Colorado’s Economy, Environment & Overall Health
• Collaboration & Cross-Pollination: Partnering to Support Pollinator Health
• Collaboration in Colorado Private Land Conservation
• National Western Center, CSU & Denver: Collaborating Toward an Ag Innovation Triangle
• Label It CALP: Collaboration Through the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program
• Cooperation – Increasing Collaboration Through the Cooperative Business Model
• Food: Too Good to Waste – Reducing Food Waste & Collaborating to Feed People
• Food Safety: What You Need to Know
• Exploring the Food Choices, Markets & Sources of Information Among Coloradans
• Climate Change & Agriculture:  Public Engagement Session of the Colorado Climate Plan

• What’s With All the Labels? A Collaborative Discussion on Agricultural Labeling

• Succession Planning & the Future of Ag

“That so many CSU experts are participating in this year’s Governor’s Forum testifies not only to the breadth of the research done in our college but also the wide impact of work underway supporting agriculture and natural resources across Colorado – including studies of consumer behavior, innovations in meat safety, and the training of future agricultural teachers,” said Menon.

For more information and to register, visit the website at www.governorsagforum.com[1].

Agriculture Hall of Fame

The Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture is held in conjunction with the Farm Credit Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The ceremony will take place the evening of Feb. 22. For information about the 2017 Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees visit www.coloradoffafoundation.org[2]..