Each year, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) host a post-bachelor fellowship program to develop future conservation and beef industry professionals. The fellowship positions are designed for young professionals interested in gaining experience and skills working in the agricultural and conservation industries, and the year-long program provides participants exposure to all aspects of CCA and CCALT’s work, including policy, stewardship, conservation, industry relations, and event processes. To date, seven young professionals have completed the fellowship since its founding in 2016.

Julia Currier and Kai Miranda are CCA and CCALT’s most recent fellows. We are excited to welcome Julia and Kai to our team and for you to get to know them. Read on for a brief introduction from each fellow!

Getting to Know CCALT Fellow, Julia Currier

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Molina, Colorado. If you’ve never heard of Molina, you’re not alone. It is a small town located near the Grand Mesa.

What did you enjoy most about growing up on a cattle ranch?

I feel lucky to have grown up on a cattle ranch. I was able to see first-hand what goes into producing Colorado beef. It gave me a strong appreciation for all of the trials and triumphs producers face. It is something many people don’t get to experience, and I’m grateful I was able to. 

Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education and Journalism and Media Communications from Colorado State University.

And finally, why did you apply for the fellowship?

I believe this fellowship is a great opportunity for me to learn more about CCALT and what they do. Agriculture is such an important part of Colorado and it’s great that the Land Trust is working to protect agricultural lands. I’m glad I get to play a small part in that work over the coming year. 

Getting to Know CCALT Fellow, Kai Miranda

Where did you grow up?

This is always a tricky question, so my answer is usually, “a bit of everywhere!” I went to school in Greeley, CO. My family operates a cow-calf operation in Fort Morgan, and was fortunate enough to be involved in their operation. While most of my time was spent in Colorado, I was also lucky enough to spend a large amount of my childhood on a variety of agricultural operations with my dad’s family in Hawaii.

Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I attended Colorado State University and graduated in 2019 with two Bachelor’s Degrees, one in Animal Science and the other in Agricultural Business.

What do you want to do after the fellowship?

After the fellowship, I plan to return to school to pursue a Master’s Degree in ruminant nutrition/reproduction or a law degree specializing in agriculture issues.

And finally, why do you want to work for CCALT?

Being a fellow for CCALT provides you with multiple opportunities to see the protection of agriculture firsthand. I am most looking forward to visiting conserved ranches across Colorado during CCALT’s annual monitoring season. I’m interested in the work and detail that goes into creating and maintaining conservation easements. Colorado is fortunate to have an organization like CCALT to help protect open space and agriculture and I’m excited to be a part of this process!