Nearly a year into the AgriWest Initiative at the Business Incubator Center, it is time for reflection on what this agriculture-focused project brings to our community. The federal fellowship is a 30-month-long partnership between the BIC and the Economic Recovery Corps.

We have had some significant learnings and some wins that will guide our project for the next 20 months.

During the first six to eight months of engaging with producers, it seems all have more in common than we realize. I have met with approximately 300 producers, usually in groups of three to 10 people.

We hosted the first gathering of the AgriWest Council with more than 100 people in attendance during one of the worst summer rainstorms to hit the Grand Valley in a number of years. We shared a good meal and had a facilitated discussion about what is working for agriculture in our area and what needs to be changed or improved.

In all of these conversations, producers of different commodities, different production methods, and different sizes have been represented. There have been individual conversations with producers and support businesses and organizations. Numerous connections have been made between producers and the resources they need to be successful.

One of the objectives of the AgriWest Initiative is to bring the different sectors of agriculture together to resolve obstacles. According to the latest Ag Census, less than 2 percent of the population produces food for the other 98 percent of Americans. It is imperative we find ways to work together.

The marshaling of the first AgriWest Council showed us we can come together and find agreement on many of our problems. A later meeting of a smaller group of the same producers came together as the Advisory Committee for the project. The Advisory Committee will continue to meet three to four times per year to provide some guidance for the Initiative. The larger group of producers will meet one to two times per year.

In all dialog, we have heard issues related to the business of production rise above other concerns across the five counties we have held conversations. Opportunities to learn about business planning, reading financial statements and planning for succession are topics that come up in nearly every exchange.

We will host a session Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. at BIC’s satellite office FWorks in Fruita for producers to learn about the business services offered at the Business Incubator Center.

Free and confidential consulting, a revolving-loan fund and assistance with learning how to use the enterprise-zone tax credits are some of the expertise found at BIC. These programs are available to all businesses, including food producers.

Historically, agriculture producers have not taken advantage of these opportunities in our community. For more information or to register, reach out to the Business Incubator Center at 970-243-5242 or connect with Janie VanWinkle at jvanwinkle@gjincubator.org.

Another AgriWest objective is to bring our community around our producers and encourage support for farmers, growers and ranchers in policy and practice. One of the benefits of the AgriWest Initiative in our community is having a seat at the proverbial table.

Recently, through a partnership with County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel, we met with Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning staff. An outcome of the conversation is a chapter that includes agriculture in the future transportation plan. A focus group of producers will convene in January for Mesa County to hear concerns, issues and solutions for some of the challenges agriculture faces in this realm.

By collaborating with School District 51 Nutrition Services, Mesa County Cattlemen’s Association members and AgriWest, we provided local beef to be served seven times in the 2024-25 school year.

Twelve family ranches, including legacy families and first-generation producers, have been involved in the project to put a nutritious and flavorful meatloaf on the plates of approximately 10,000 to 12,000 students in our school district. The meat was produced and processed in Mesa County, further contributing to the economic success of our community.

The cornerstone of all good economic development is grounded on keeping jobs and businesses in our community. This is the third objective of AgriWest. Keeping legacy families in business and helping first generation producers find their role in food production and land stewardship is critical.

The landscapes we all hold dear in western Colorado are impacted by our producers. The orchards and the vineyards in the east end of the Grand Valley, the fields tended by the large farmers on the west end of the valley, and the landscapes in the desert and mountains surrounding us are all dependent on someone to care for and steward the land.

We need to keep working lands in working hands to provide ecosystem services to our community as well as put food on the tables in our community, across Colorado and the nation.

These projects, and others to come, are important to our producers and to our community.

The AgriWest Initiative is a project hosted by the Business Incubator Center. The funding for the fellowship is from the Economic Recovery Corps. The ERC is a partnership with the Economic Development Administration and the International Economic Development Council. The goal is to connect local organizations with the capacity needed to advance new ways of addressing economic development that promote economic resilience and transformative change.

Janie VanWinkle is co-owner of VanWinkle Ranch with her husband, Howard, in western Colorado. The Ranch is a cow/calf producer and provides farm-to-table beef in our community. She is currently serving as a Fellow for the AgriWest Initiative at the Business Incubator Center. She is an advocate for agriculture on local, state and national levels.