Betty Jo Gigot, Editor and Publisher

When Kent Bamford took over the reins of the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) at the annual convention recently, he became a part of history. For 51 years, the CLA (previously the Colorado Cattle Feeders Association) has represented the industry, both with the public and politically in a state that produced such legendary figures as W. D. Farr and Kenny Monfort.

Bamford joined NCBA President Mike John, TCFA Chairman John Gillcrist and KLA President Ron Estes, along with hundreds of other state and national leaders selected to carry the torch forward for an industry that changes by the day.

In Colorado, Front Range land sells for astronomical amounts, giving way to vast housing developments. Water is more valuable than gold, or perhaps one should say oil, depending on what today’s price per barrel is. The stakes are higher by the day for a state that reflects the battle that agriculture must fight for a place in the sun.

For the past four decades, CALF News has followed the industry’s leaders, reporting on their successes and their progress. We salute their thousands of volunteer hours, the countless miles they have covered and the dedication they show every day to produce food for the world, working toward solutions in an ever-changing world.