A meeting is scheduled for Grand Junction to identify concerns and common needs for agricultural producers in Western Colorado.

Janie VanWinkle, a fellow with the AgriWest initiative, will lead the discussion at the meeting set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 27 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds community building, 2785 U.S. Highway 50. The Ribber will provide a brisket dinner.

Participants can register to attend by visiting the website at https://tinyurl.com/AgriWestcouncil.

Agricultural producers involved in operations of all sizes, commodities and production methods are encouraged to attend to join in a discussion intended to promote connectivity, job creation and retention and community engagement.

“No matter if you’re a boutique lavender farmer, a mid-size grower or a commercial rancher, we want all voices at the table as we kick off this initiative to begin solving for the long-term needs of our industry,” VanWinkle said. “Success will look like honest conversations with all voices in our industry to create a roadmap for a sustainable future for our region as we tackle water scarcity, increased food and production costs and the benefits and challenges present with workforce, transportation, production, tourism, technology and changes to the industry.”

The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction launched the AgriWest initiative with a federal grant from the Economic Recovery Corps.  AgriWest was among 65 initiatives selected for funding out of more than 500 applicants. The goal is to gather stakeholders in the agriculture sector to identify and address problems that could affect the industry.

VanWinkle, a Grand Valley rancher and beef producer, serves as a fellow and provides planning and technical assistance.