A leading organization that represents farm and ranch families in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming will soon have new leadership from an individual with strong ties to Colorado State University.
The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union has announced that CSU alumnus Dale McCall will become the organization’s president in 2016. McCall is currently serving as vice president of the RMFU. He will succeed RMFU President Kent Peppler, who farms near Mead, Colo. Peppler has been president of RMFU for nine years. Peppler announced at the RMFU convention he was stepping down to allow himself more time for farming and family.
McCall received his undergraduate degree in vocational agriculture in 1968, his master’s degree in trade and industrial education in 1972 and his doctorate in vocational education in 1982 – all from CSU.
Heart of a farmer
McCall grew up on a small family farm south of Yuma. He was involved in 4H and FFA as a student at Yuma High school. Although he has dedicated his professional career to agricultural education, his heart remained in farming. During his time as an agricultural education teacher, McCall and his wife Judy began buying farmland about 15 miles north of Yuma. For 20 years, the McCalls farmed on weekends and expanded as finances allowed. Today the farm includes 1,800 dryland acres and 320 irrigated acres. They farm a number of crops including wheat, millet, milo, and alfalfa, plus oilseed and confectionary sunflowers. Today, three generations of McCalls make the financial and management decisions regarding the farm operation.
“Because of my story, I know what it’s like to be a beginning farmer,” said McCall citing his practical experience in both dryland and irrigation production challenges.
CoBank Center for Agricultural Education
The recently-opened CoBank Center for Agricultural Education was one CSU project that McCall took a personal interest in. He was instrumental in raising funds for the building, funds that were raised in partnership with the Colorado FFA Foundation. McCall is a past president of the FFA Foundation and is currently part-time executive director of the Colorado Boards of Cooperative Educational Services.
McCall was most recently honored by CSU when he was named the College of Agricultural Sciences Distinguished Alumnus for 2015. In 2014, McCall was inducted into the CSU Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Hall of Fame.
About the Rocky Mountain Farmer’s Union
The Rocky Mountain Farmer’s Union represents the entire variety of agricultural production in this region, from small scale specialty production and farmers markets in urban communities to irrigated fields of corn and four-generation livestock operations on the high plains. It provides members with the tools they need to be profitable, to build better futures, and to have a voice that is heard by local, state, and national policymakers. For more information visit the website.
