Tribute Written by Richard L. Knight Vince Kontny died unexpectedly in his sleep on August 9, 2020. The news of his passing saddened and surprised staff and supporters of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT). In the year that CCALT celebrates its 25 anniversary, we must pause and remember how this man’s legacy anchored […]

It is bittersweet to announce that CCALT conservation manager, Bryce Hinchman, will be leaving his position at the land trust and transitioning to a full-time legal career this fall. Bryce joined CCALT following the 2019 merger of CCALT and the Yampa Valley Land Trust. Bryce was instrumental in the success of that merger, and his […]

Each year, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) invites our community to gather on a conserved ranch to celebrate the protection of Colorado’s open space, wildlife habitat, scenic views and western culture. The Forever Colorado BBQ is a chance for our community to catch up with those we don’t see regularly and enjoy the […]

An interview with CCALT Project Manager, Brad Cory Each year, CCALT staff spend a large portion of their spring and summer monitoring every CCALT conserved property to make sure that the terms of the conservation easement are being upheld. That means all of our properties must be visited each year. This year, due to the […]

This year is different. This year, we are unsure about what these gatherings will mean; we are trying to heed the advice of our industry associations, attempting to find the delicate balance of social distance while showing up to work with and for our neighbors.

A CCALT staff member gets reacquainted with her sense of place during her daily commute in Routt County.

Getting to know CCALT’s New Events and Logistics Manager

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.

2019 proved to be CCALT’s busiest year to date. Read on for a list of successes and victories that YOU helped to make possible last year. WIN #1: 7 Families Utilize Conservation Easements The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust partnered with seven ranching families across the state to conserve some of Colorado’s most productive agricultural […]

The 1930s was a defining decade for the United States; the Dust Bowl swept across the nation’s prairies, and the decade was bookended by the crash of the stock market in 1929 and the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II in 1941. The families who held onto…

Every year the CCALT staff takes a moment to reflect on the accomplishments of the previous 365 days. As we reflect back we always find ourselves in awe of the work accomplished and the outpouring of support from donors, partners, and landowners who made it all possible….

It wasn’t until I hit my rhythm in the fellowship and regulated my day-to-day tasks that I truly began to grasp how much I was enjoying my time as I was learning about CCALT and conservation efforts across our state.

“The event focuses on conservation achievements in the broadest sense—knowing that successful conservation involves more than just resource protection; it involves a wide variety of champions across political, educational, business, research, and land management…

Amber Pougiales is the newest member of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) team. Amber brings bright energy, a warm smile, and additional love for Colorado open space to CCALT. As External Relations Cordinator, Amber will be directly in charge of…

To celebrate the time Courtney Bennett devoted to CCALT, we’ve asked each of the current CCALT staff members to share their favorite memory of her. We hope you enjoy them!

Thank you for sharing a wonderful experience with us at Prairie Canyon Ranch, and on behalf of our entire staff and board of directors, thank you for being willing to support this work so that the next generation of Coloradans can know these important places.

As we gear up for our annual Forever Colorado BBQ on July 14th we want to take a moment to celebrate all of the past CCALT BBQ’s by sharing photos from each.

Lauren Johnson takes over the CCALT blog to share a series of photos and highlights from the 2018 calving season on her family’s Flying Diamond Ranch.

I have a unique opportunity to have an impact on an organization that I have watched grow from one staff member to nine, and to continue working with landowners and families to conserve their land.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized for their leadership in conservation.

Each year we celebrate a series of “wins” made possible by our generous donors, supporters, partners, and friends.

In 2017, CCALT partnered with eleven ranching families to permanently conserve 55,759 acres. These projects span six counties across the state and protect diverse resources from prairie grasslands to iconic river corridors.

Oftentimes, a key piece of focusing on impact is celebrating it. This video does just that, and we hope you’ll take a minute to watch it.

Conservation buyers generally preserve landscapes through conservation easements or self-imposed restrictions which keep working ranches working.

The Partnership of Rangeland Trusts (PORT) is a collaborative organization made up of seven land trusts from across the West that are affiliated with their state livestock associations.

More importantly, hunting gives me an outlet that allows me to escape the “noise” of modern life and connect with nature in a way that only farmers, ranchers and hunters can truly understand.

CCALT is excited to welcome four new directors to our board. Read below to get to know each new board member.

On the surface, understanding GOCO’s impact on Colorado is relatively easy. The project numbers speak for themselves: 900 miles of trails restored, 1,000 community parks enhanced or created, and more than 1 million acres of open space protected in their first 25 years. …

Nothing says “Colorado” more than watching a warm sunset over Mount Sopris from a freshly cut hay field and a tent full of cowboy hats.

Few people probably understand the long history and deep roots that the Cattlemen’s Association has in Colorado.