Speakers
Alejandro Carrillo
Alejandro Carrillo is a fourth-generation rancher in the Chihuahuan desert. Rarely his precipitation goes beyond 9” per year (< 230mm). Every drop counts to grow more and better grasses and forbs. He is not willing to waste any water in such a brittle environment if he wants to graze year-round without inputs.
Alejandro’s ranch, Las Damas, has been part of multiple documentaries and studies focused on regenerative ranching such as Common Ground, Sacred Cow, To Which We Belong, and Water in Plain Sight. Alejandro established a solid relationship with bird conservation organizations 10+ years ago, working closely with them to protect migratory birds successfully. Alejandro’s Grasslands Regeneration Project company assists ranchers and organizations on regenerative practices in North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. He also participates as a delegate to the United Nations to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation in multiple countries. Before joining the ranch, Alejandro worked as software engineer in multiple countries and holds an MS in Technical Management from The Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Elizabeth Heilman
Dr. Elizabeth E. Heilman, Ph.D., of Wichita State University, is an expert in the fields of human and ecosystem ecology, localized food and community, and building emotional resilience. Her work including over 60 published book chapters and articles, and six books, has earned her recognition, including an American Educational Research Association book of the year award. Recently Dr. Heilman has been a keynote speaker for the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the endowed Pritchard Lecture for the Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Missouri Farm to Fork Summit. She also led webinars in Colorado, Texas, Virginia and Kansas on the Social, Cultural and Emotional needs of producers and rural mental health. Moreover, Dr. Heilman's impactful presence has been felt at regional field days and conservation events throughout the USA spanning from Maine to New Mexico, and in the Czech Republic and Ecuador. With her family she runs cattle in Kansas and has a farm in Wisconsin.
Lowell King
Lowell King farms 900 acres of hay, corn, small grain, and cover crops and graze 200 cow /calf pairs and custom grazes cattle and sheep along with several other family members near Fruita, Colorado. They practice the six soil health principles on every acre and are leaders and coach other farmers and ranchers in implementing improved grazing practices, no till in furrow irrigation, and diverse crop rotation. Lowell is also a partner in Lifetime Ag selling Esch no till drills and no till creasers, cover crop and perennial seed, and consulting services.
Schedule
Registration
Opening Remarks
Land Blessing & Jingle Dance
Amaya, Dwayne, and Jan Iron
Amaya Iron
Dwayne Iron
Sharing Hope: My Journey in Greening the Desert
Alejandro Carrillo
Desertification is affecting grasslands worldwide, including here in the Mountain West. Alejandro’s family ranch in the Chihuahuan desert was no exception. Unable to keep ranching the conventional way in an arid, brittle, low-precipitation environment, Alejandro started observing nature and changing how he used his livestock. As a result, precipitation is infiltrating, biomass is growing, and biodiversity is increasing. Alejandro will share how he built a resilient and profitable operation using adaptive grazing principles, as well as the challenges and opportunities that await those who adopt these practices.
Exhibitor Introductions
Break
Growing Grit: The Crucial Role of Social and Emotional Resilience in Launching and Expanding Regenerative Farming Operations
Dr. Elizabeth Heilman
How much evidence is needed to create change in your life or on your farm? Why do we feel safer with something familiar that we know is not right than with something new that we know would be better? Dr. Heilman explores the human psyche to help us understand the barriers to adopting new practices and what we can do to get control of our emotions and start implementing changes.
Problem-Solving Strategies for Advancing Regeneration
Lowell King
After ten years of conventional farming practices in the Grand Valley, Lowell King was ready for another way. With demands for Colorado River water exceeding supply, he wanted to find a way to use less irrigation water more efficiently and turned to improving his soil health. In 2018, he sold his tillage equipment and went all-in on no-till. The results have been nothing short of remarkable, and he will be sharing how he went about making the change and the impacts it had on water infiltration and quality, compaction, and nutrient management.
Lunch
CDA Info Session & Roundtable
The Colorado Dept. of Agriculture (CDA) has had some major advances in its approach to assisting Colorado’s agricultural producers as they work to improve the quality of their soil health. The CDA will host a panel to discuss the Colorado Soil Health Program (CSHP) and the new Ag Stewardship Tax Credit (HB24-1249), which allows producers to claim a tax credit for implementing practices related to healthy soil and water usage. Panelists will provide an overview of CSHP progress, feedback from producers enrolled in the CSHP, how the tax credit will interface with existing CDA soil health efforts, and hear from the audience on how to design the tax credit to maximize impact.
Managing Livestock for Healthier Soils, Plant Communities and Environment
Alejandro Carrillo
While poor livestock management practices are repeatedly linked to land, air, and water quality degradation, Alejandro believes that adaptive livestock grazing is the connection between environmental conservation, agricultural productivity, and economic prosperity. His ranch is a case study of how careful observation, in combination with improved fencing, daily cattle movement, water infrastructure, and rest, can regenerate ecosystems. Alejandro will inspire you with the transformation on his ranch, which receives 10” of precipitation per year, and provide you with a road map for adopting these techniques in your operation.
Break
Mastering Water Cycle Principles: Using Regenerative Agriculture to Enhance Soil Moisture and Improve Local Weather Patterns in the Fight Against Drought
Dr. Elizabeth Heilman
It’s hotter. It’s drier. How do we fix it? Can we fix it? Dr. Heilman will discuss the land management mistakes that have broken the water cycle and what farmers and ranchers must do to bring back stability, productivity, and profitability, as well as create a livable Southwest.
Speaker Roundtable
Our invited speakers will return to the stage in a panel moderated by City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Agricultural Program Manager Vanessa McCracken to address some of the overarching themes discussed during the conference, answer questions from the audience, and provide insight into the roles of individuals, communities, and government in moving towards a more resilient future.
Closeout
Giveaway and survey.
Location
Boulder JCC6007 Oreg Ave
Boulder, CO 80303
Parking lot is accessed from Arapahoe Ave/Hwy 7 and Cherryvale Rd.
Hotel
The Hilton Garden Inn Boulder is offering a group preferred rate.
Hilton Garden Inn Boulder2701 Canyon Blvd
Boulder, CO 80302
303-443-2200
Additional Resources
Sponsors and Exhibitors
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