STATE OF THE ROCKIES

The 3rd annual State of the Rockies Student Photo Competition is accepting submissions. Prizes will be awarded to top photos, and many will be included in the 2010 State of the Rockies Report Card. The competition is open until January 15, 2010, and photos must be taken in one of the eight Rockies States. For more information, click here.

The 2010 State of the Rockies Report Card is the first ever Report Card to be dedicated  entirely to one subject: agriculture. The 2009-10 student Project Researchers spent the summer investigating the historical, demographic, financial, organizational, production, and land use issues of agriculture in the Rockies Region. Their analysis of multiple data sets, mapping projects, academic papers, and interviews will provide a unique and comprehensive look at the challenges and successes of agriculture in our region.

The State of the Rockies Project will be heading out in the field from July 6th until July 13th. The focus of our summer research trip will be agriculture in the Rockies, and we’ll be visiting family farms, large corporate farms, non-profit organizations, dairy operations, and the Malpai Borderlands Group. One van and 1700 miles through New Mexico and Arizona!

Watch for our “Notes from the Road” to hear more about the trip. First stop on Monday: the Javernick Family Farm (Canon City, Colorado) and the Quivira Coalition (Santa Fe, New Mexico).

Monday, July 6th

The group had a great experience meeting with Javernick Family Farms, and Beckie gave the student researchers a tour of their operation, discussing their experience with farmer’s markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and organic certification. The students asked questions about the local organic grower’s associations and the challenges of keeping the small farm in the family. Weed control was a major issue at the farm given the moisture this spring, requiring much volunteer labor and creative solutions (plastic tarps for the tomato plants).

Next stop was the Quivira Coalition in Santa Fe, where the group met with founder Courtney White. Courtney discussed the issues related to grassbanking, conservation easements, and public-private land partnerships. He also emphasized the importance of economic sustainability and Western beef production, not simply land sustainability. Quivira offers direct marketing of grass fed beef, as well as river restoration and range management courses. Courtney provided the students with new perspectives on climate change, fossil fuel challenges, and ranch carbon footprints.

Six Colorado College students have been selected as student researchers for the 2009-10 State of the Rockies Project. With declared majors ranging from Mathematical-Economics to Sociology, hometowns spanning Colorado Springs to Kathmandu, and interests including ranching, bicycle racing, and everything in-between, this team brings a diverse background to their common research. Learn more about the new researchers HERE.

The 2009 State of the Rockies Report Card is now available for purchase through the CC Bookstore website.

While many forecast the broad implications of change at the national level, the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project has been pondering the future of the ever-changing Rocky Mountain region…

Read more of Elizabeth Kolbe’s recent article in HeadWaters News here: http://www.headwatersnews.org/P.Look.ColoradoSOTR030509.html

Colorado College has named Ed and Betsy Marston, the former publisher and editor, respectively, of the High Country News in Paonia, Colo., as the 2008-09 Champions of the Rockies. Read more »

The 2nd Annual State of the Rockies Photo Competition is accepting photo submissions. Winning photos may be published in the State of the Rockies Report Card and win prizes! Learn more HERE.

Five great talks over the next six months. Complete Speaker Bios and Schedule HERE!

The Rockies Project kicked off their speaker series on Monday with Hunting: Blood Sport or Wildlife Management Tool? Speakers from Rocky Mountain Animal Defense and the Colorado Wildlife Federation discussed the ethics, stereotypes, and necessity of hunting in the West.

Next Speaker: Monday, Oct. 6: “Can We Save Colorado’s Rivers? The Future of the Cache la Poudre of Northern Colorado.” Featuring speakers from the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Save the Poudre Coalition. Gates Common Room, 7pm, refreshments to follow.