CFB Applauds Governor-Elect Weiser’s Announcements Regarding the Agriculture Commission and Rural Outreach Director

Colorado Farm Bureau (CFB), applauds today's announcement by Governor-Elect Phil Weiser in naming Senator Cleave Simpson as Commissioner of Agriculture and Jeni Arndt as Director of Rural Advancement. For the state's largest agriculture grassroots organization, with over 19,000 members, today's decision signals a renewed and durable commitment to our rural communities as well as farmers and ranchers across the state.

"As producers navigate unprecedented times in the agriculture industry, with historic droughts, volatile markets, and a complex regulatory environment, we are encouraged to see that one of Governor-Elect Phil Weiser's first decisions was to honor campaign promises to leverage the experience and wisdom of those closest to agriculture and rural issues." said Carlyle Currier, President of the Colorado Farm Bureau, a 4th-generation Western Slope rancher. "Weiser recognized that it was critical to restore trust with rural Colorado by not only elevating a leader from production agriculture but also empowering a dedicated liaison to our communities. State Senator Simpson and Ms. Arndt are dedicated civil servants who embody the leadership and experience necessary to build a sustainable relationship with rural Colorado."

James Henderson, CFB Vice President, praised the appointment of Simpson. "We are tremendously excited that Senator Simpson has been asked to serve as Agriculture Commissioner. Not only does he come from both production agriculture and agriculture water management, but he has proven himself to be an incredible bipartisan leader and bridge-builder with our friends and neighbors on the front range. I look forward to working with Senator Simpson and the Weiser administration to make agriculture and our rural communities prosperous, resilient, and valued as part of the Colorado landscape"

Colorado agriculture is the state's 2nd largest economic driver, providing hundreds of thousands of Colorado jobs and produces $47 million of dollars of economic output that supports our local communities and feeds our neighbors.

Colorado Farm Bureau is confident that Senator Simpson's on-the-ground experience, coupled with Arndt's proven track record of bipartisan leadership on issues important to agriculture will embolden Weiser's vision and will lead to long-lasting success for rural Colorado and a viable agriculture industry.

The organization is excited to continue its longstanding partnership with Senator Simpson as he transitions into this new leadership role. Simpson is a farmer and has also navigated the tough water situation in the Rio Grande River Basin, which gives him the needed perspective to advocate for Colorado agriculture.

"As the former chair of the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee, as well as the Mayor of Fort Collins, Jeni Arndt worked diligently to bridge the rural-urban divide. She has served as a reputable example for responsible growth," said Ashley House, Vice President for Strategy and Advocacy at Colorado Farm Bureau. "Jeni's respect of working lands, natural resources and rural challenges equips her to best translate rural realities to state policy makers and the Governor's office."

Colorado Farm Bureau looks forward to working with the Weiser administration and the legislature in confirming Simpson and empowering Arndt. Farmers and ranchers are the first to recognize serious leadership, and Governor-Elect Weiser's announcement serves as a good faith effort to begin that endeavor.