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Larimer County
Farmers Alliance 2021 Newsletter
Photo: Raisin' Roots Farm
Looking back on 2021 Upcoming
Events & Dates:
With the new year approaching, our LCFA
leadership has been reflecting on the past year.
With a wet and muddy spring, floods, and record RMFU Fellows Program
heat, 2021 has been a unique and difficult year. The Applications due January 3rd, 2022
Apply HERE!
enduring pandemic also threw a wrench in the
planning of workshops, farm tours, and other
NFU Women's Conference
opportunities that have been available through
Virtual Event: January 10-13, 2022
LCFA in the past. However, we celebrated the In-Person Event (Nashville, TN):
renewal of safe social gatherings-- from January 16-18, 2022
reconnecting at farmer's markets to our first in- Register HERE!
person general meeting since early 2020-- which
allowed us to connect and grow our LCFA RMFU College Conference on
community. Cooperatives
Attendance is limited.
Contact Jennifer Bahr or
As we look forward to 2022, we are excited about
Harrison Topp HERE for more info.
the upcoming opportunities through Rocky
Mountain Farmers Union, connecting with
LCFA Elections & General
membership through social and education events, Meeting
and supporting each other through another January 31st, 7PM
season. Location TBD
So cheers to 2021, and we'll see y'all next year! RMFU College Scholarships
Applications due March 21, 2022
- LCFA Leadership Apply HERE!
Page 1
2021 Highlights
Raisin' Roots Friday Farmer's Market
The return of the market at Raisin' Roots Farm was a welcome sight after
a long winter and a wet spring. Ben and Carolyn, RR co-owners, started up
their on-farm market in the middle of the summer of 2020 to provide a
space for customers to socially and emotionally connect with producers
while maintaining social distancing. This past season, the market once
again provided a safe and welcoming space for local producers and
vendors to engage with the northwest Fort Collins neighborhood.
The market also provided the
opportunity for LCFA leadership to
safely meet membership in-person
and chat with the general public. We
met Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt, sold
seasonal fruit from the Western Slope,
and fundraised $779.00 for LCFA in
2022! Photo: Ben Pfeffer
ReKaivery
Audrey and Tash are the powerhouse duo
behind ReKaivery, a small business with
the mission to both increase local
markets for producers and improve
Photo: rekaivery.com equitable access to fresh, local produce.
ReKaivery's long-term vision is to establish environmentally friendly food-
hubs across Colorado to help create resilient local food networks. In May,
LCFA partnered with ReKaivery for a virtual workshop to share Audrey and
Tash's research on our food system here in Larimer County. Since then,
they have acquired and renovated their first storage container, and
obtained a site for their first food-hub in Fort Collins. Most recently,
ReKaivery received a USDA grant, along with their partners at the Northern
Colorado Food System Alliance, to help get their food-hub up and running.
We can't wait to see what incredible things they do this next year! Visit
ReKaivery's website HERE, follow them on Instagram to stay updated on
their work. Photo: Folks Farm & Seed
Page 2
Update:
LCFA dissolves affiliation with NYFC
In April, leadership voted to dissolve LCFA's affiliation as a membership
organization with National Young Farmer's Coalition (NYFC). This decision
was prompted by feedback from membership and upon review of the
terms of LCFA's contract with NYFC. By remaining an affiliated
membership organization with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU), we
anticipate that organizational procedures will be simplified. This will also
allow LCFA to focus more on local issues and to put more energy into
educational and community-building events.
LCFA aims to maintain a positive relationship with NYFC. We encourage
members to continue or pursue individual memberships with NYFC if you
choose, and to take advantage of the fantastic events offered by Flatiron
Young Farmer's Coalition (FYFC) and their other chapters in the Front
Range!
Important to note: LCFA members must be dues paying members of RMFU in order to be
voting members. Paying dues to NYFC alone will no longer give members voting status.
Upcoming FYFC Events
Small Engine Maintenance with Kris Korba
January 12th (snow date, January 19th), 5-7PM, Location TBD
Register HERE
Employment Bootcamp Part 1: How to Hire & Pay
February 12th, 9AM-1PM, Location TBD
Register HERE
Employment Bootcamp Part 2: How to Boss
February 26th, 9AM-1PM, Location TBD
Register HERE
Electrical Skills for the Farm with Chris Borke
March 10th, 5-7PM, Location TBD
Register HERE
Photo: Tori Kauffman
Page 3
2021 Policy Highlights from Kristin Ramey,
Policy Committee Co-Chair
This past year was a big one for food and agriculture policy in Colorado.
Here is a summary of the major state legislation and code updates in
Larimer County during 2021.
State Level
SB21 -079: Ranch to Plate Act passed; allows custom processed meat to be sold as retail cuts;
must be direct to consumer, and the consumer must own 1% of the animal prior to processing.
SB21 -087: Agricultural Workers' Rights Act passed; removes the exemption of agricultural
industry from Colorado labor laws and ensures that workers have access to safe and equitable
working conditions. Some details, including rules regarding overtime pay, are still in committee.
SB 21-235: Added $3 million to the Agricultural Value-Added Cash fund; allocates funds to the
Colorado Department of Agriculture's (CDA's) ACRE3 program and voluntary soil health programs.
HB 21-1262: Creates an Agricultural Relief Program in the CDA; provides COVID-relief payments
to agricultural event organizations such as the Colorado State Fair and National Western Stock
Show.
HB21-1242: Creates the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resiliency Office in the CDA; provides
voluntary programs and incentives in order to mitigate and respond to drought and climate
events.
HB21 -1181: Creates the Soil Health Program within the CDA; provides voluntary programs to
encourage the adoption of soil health practices.
County Level
Larimer County completed a total rewrite of the Land Use Code.
Some changes to benefit agriculture, put into effect March 31st, include:
Crop production and farming as an allowed use in all zoning districts in the county
Creates a new Agriculture zone; to date, no properties have been rezoned in this
new district
Allows farm stands within all zoning districts; building permits may still be required
depending on the size of the structure
Increased the number of backyard chickens that may be kept in allowed zones,
depending upon the size of the property
Allows poultry and poultry processing as a commercial venture in Rural zones;
limited to 50 animals per acre
Photo: Native Hill Farm
Page 4
Photo: Native Hill Farm
Officer Elections 2022
Elections for officer and committee chairs will be held during the first
general meeting of the year on January 31st at 7PM. The location (in-
person or virtual) is to be determined and will be announced early in the
month.
The following positions are open for nominations:
President
Secretary
Social Media Coordinator
Education Committee Chair
Land Access Committee Chair
If you would like to nominate an individual (or self-nominate) for one of
the above positions, or if you'd like to request information on the role
descriptions, please send a message to either of the following:
LCFA general email: info@larimercountyfarmers.org
OR
LCFA Secretary at victoriakauffman15@gmail.com
Page 5
Photo: Colorado Fresh Farms
RMFU Fellows Program Program Details:
The RMFU Fellows Program aims to equip current and emerging Consists of four sessions during 2022.
leaders in our agricultural and rural communities with the tools Attendance for all four sessions is
and knowledge required to help create and sustain vibrant required.
communities. In this program, Fellows will have the opportunity to Session 1: February 5-7 (Denver, CO)
gain greater understanding in topics including food policy, Session 2: summer months, specific
agriculture, food systems, urban versus rural issues, and date and location TBD
Session 3: September 10-14
advocacy at various levels of governance.
(Washington, D.C.)
The 2021 class of Fellows included a few of our own LCFA Session 4: mid-November, around the
members. Here are some of their takeaways from the program: time of the RMFU state convention
"The Fellows program is a great opportunity The majority of program costs will be
for those looking to get more involved with covered by RMFU, including lodging, most
RMFU and learn about the history, values, and meals, childcare, and flights to
functions of the organization. The program is Washington, D.C.
perfect for current and emerging leaders. We
made many lasting friendships with farmers
across the region during our time in the Eligibility:
Fellows." Over 21 years of age
- Carolyn Fitzgerald, Raisin' Roots Farm Resident of Colorado, Wyoming, or
New Mexico
Actively involved in agriculture
"The RMFU Fellowship Program is an incredible Must be a regular, dues-paying
learning opportunity for folks who care about member of RMFU by the first session
and participate in agriculture in Colorado, New
Mexico, and Wyoming. In addition to learning
just how much goes into making RMFU such a
successful, powerful, and valuable grassroots Deadlines:
organization, the Fellows Program will connect Application due: January 3
you to folks across the region in professional Candidate selection: January 10
and deeply personal ways. It will expand your Candidate acceptance: January 13
understanding of what farming and ranching
IS, who it serves, and how we can join forces
View the full program
as producers and consumers to secure a
sustainable future of and for agriculture." description and access the
- Zoe Finn, Native Hill Farm application HERE.
Page 6
Photo: Bob Kjelland
Please take a minute to take a
feedback survey
HERE
See y'all in 2022!
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