Mission

Conserving Colorado’s western heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations.

A lasting heritage

For more than 26 years, CCALT has partnered with landowners across Colorado to protect productive agricultural land, while conserving the natural resources that make Colorado such a special place to live and visit.

CCALT was established in 1995 by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and was the first land trust formed by a state livestock association — Wyoming, California, Kansas, Texas, South Dakota, and Oregon have since followed suit.

In 2019, CCALT merged with the Yampa Valley Land Trust. Under the shared banner of CCALT, the Yampa Valley Conservation Partnership was created. The partnership extends CCALT’s conservation efforts in the Yampa Valley and across Northwestern Colorado.

The CCALT team on a conserved ranch near Carbondale, Colorado. Photo Courtesy of Jordan Quinn.

LEADERSHIP

CCALT is powered by a mighty staff of ten who work on behalf of ranchers, partners, and donors. We facilitate conservation, crunch numbers, write grants, publish newsletters, and plan events. We come from family ranches, urban neighborhoods, and mountain ski towns, but we each have a deep passion for conserving Colorado’s working lands.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Immediate Past-President
H. Ben Duke III, Fire Rock Ranch
Elizabeth, CO

President
Mark Johnson, Johnson Storage & Moving
Denver, CO

First Vice President
Koger Propst, Sturm Financial Group/ANB Bank
Denver, CO

Secretary/Treasurer
Tawny Halandras, Mountain Valley Bank
Meeker, CO

Vice President – Relevance and Strategic Partnerships
Tom Stoever, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Denver, CO

Vice President – Relevance and Strategic Partnerships
Stacy Kourlis Guillon, Aegis ADR
Denver, CO

Vice President – Conservation
Rye Austin, Malone Family Land Preservation Foundation
Denver, CO

Audit Committee Chair
Orlando Gonzalez
Steamboat Springs, CO

Adonna Allen, Alpine Bank & Long Winter Livestock
Steamboat Springs, CO

John Braly, Colorado Gourmet Potatoes
Monte Vista, CO

Diane Evans, Land Title Guarantee Company
Kiowa, CO

Jay Fetcher, Fetcher Ranch
Steamboat Springs, CO

Tim Lehmann, Deldorita Ranches
Powderhorn, CO

Jen Livsey, Flying Diamond Ranch
Denver, CO

Chancy Love
Denver, CO

Ken Mirr, Mirr Ranch Group
Denver, CO

Ben Rogers, Russell Ranch
Meeker, CO

Sara Shields, San Isabel Ranch
Westcliffe, CO

Sandi Turecek, Stacked Lazy Three Ranch
Deer Trail, CO

Steve Wooten, Beatty Canyon Ranch
Kim, CO

Legal Counsel
Larry Kueter
Denver, CO

Ex Officio Member 
Terry Fankhauser, Executive Vice President of Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
Arvada, CO

Emeritus Directors:
Sue Anschutz-Rodgers
Carbondale, CO

Tom Compton
Hesperus, CO

Penny Lewis
Denver, CO

Joanne Sinclaire
Sedalia, CO

“If ranching teaches you anything, it is the need to be flexible. In order to preserve our ranch’s legacy and heritage, we needed every ounce of flexibility the conservation easement offered, and our family appreciates greatly all who helped make this preservation effort a reality.”

– Art Hutchinson, Salida, CO

“What I appreciate most is that our boys can see and live the lifestyle of working hard on the land, being outdoors with water and livestock. This type of lifestyle is important to our family, and it is vanishing.”

– Howard Hughes, San Miguel County, CO

“Every day I work the land is a tribute to my grandfather and his dreams of making a better life for his family. I always knew I would take over the ranch. As so many ranchers say, it’s in my blood. Without our easement, we would have been forced to sell to developers.”

– Junior Gallegos, Arboles, CO

Certifications

  • Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Real Estate
    CCALT has also met the qualifications to hold conservation easements and is certified by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Conservation. Click here for CCALT’s DORA Certification Number.
  • Land Trust Alliance Accreditation
    In 2009, 2013, and 2020 CCALT received accreditation status from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance.  The accreditation seal recognizes land trusts that meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust, and ensure that conservation efforts are permanent.

Awards

  • 2017 Land Trust Excellence Award
    CCALT was honored to receive the Land Trust Excellence Award in 2017. The honor, awarded by the Land Trust Alliance, is given to an accredited land trust that has excelled in innovation, collaboration, communication, and initiation of broader support for land conservation. CCALT is the first land trust in Colorado to receive the award. Click here to watch CCALT’s featured award video. To learn more about the Land Trust Alliance, please visit www.landtrustalliance.org

2017 Land Trust Excellence Award

  • 2012 El Pomar Foundation’s Outstanding Nonprofit Award
    The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust was honored as the state’s outstanding nonprofit with the Julie and Spencer Penrose Award on October 1st. The Penrose Award included a $50,000 cash prize to further CCALT’s work with ranchers throughout Colorado. CCALT is the first agriculturally oriented organization and the first conservation group to receive the award since it was started by the El Pomar Foundation in 1989. Click here to read the article.
2012 El Pomar Foundation’s Outstanding Nonprofit Award
  • 2006 Colorado Lottery’s Starburst Award
    In 2006, CCALT received the Colorado Lottery’s Starburst Award for protection of open space values, preserving the state’s natural resources, and the public benefits and partnerships derived from the protection of the Saguache Creek Corridor.
  • 2001 CCLT Land Conservation Excellence Award
    In 2001, CCALT received the Land Conservation Excellence Award from the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts for the protection of the Sam Capps Ranch in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties. It also received the 2001 Land Stewardship Award from the Colorado Chapter of the Wildlife Society for its work.
  • 1997 Governor’s Smart Growth Award
    In 1997, CCALT received the Governor’s Smart Growth Award for the innovative and informative book, Keeping the Family in the Family Ranch. Also in 1997, CCALT President Jay Fetcher received the prestigious American Land Conservation Award from The Conservation Fund for his efforts in land conservation and for his vision in creating CCALT.

Partners