Outlook Agriculture & Industry, February 2016

SATURDAY, February 27, 2016 MONTROSE, CO 81401 wwww.montrosepress.com

Continued on next page

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AGRICULTURE & INDUSTRY 2016

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Montrose, untetheredProximity Space sees steady progress

By Katharhynn Heidelberg • Daily Press Senior Writer

When Laura Williams moved here more than a year ago, the former Michigander

encountered a challenge she didn’t expect. Her home-based graphic design business was struggling for recognition among the local client base.

“I was just working out of my living room. I had a few clients from different parts of the country. I realized I wasn’t meeting a lot of new people and making connections with businesses in town,” the owner of InSync Design said. “I didn’t know how to. It felt hard to break into the community here.”

That changed one day as she passed by 210 E. Main Street and saw the large glass windows emblazoned with Proximity Space’s logo.

Williams dropped into Montrose’s

fl edgling co-working space for a chat and soon, signed up to for daily “desk rental” before moving on to full-time membership last December.

“Just being there has helped my business to grow exponentially. I have several local clients now, making connections and friends. It’s helped my transition personally, but also my business. Being able to help small businesses in Montrose with their content needs has been really great,” Williams said.

CO-WORKING CONNECTIONWilliams is part of a growing “co-

working” trend that gives home business owners like her, freelancers and entrepreneurs and startup ventures a central base, with Internet access and space to meet with clients.

Proximity Space launched last

year, with assistance from supporters including the City of Montrose, which laid public fi ber to the building.

“It’s on pace from where we thought it would be,” said Josh Freed, managing partner and founder of Abrams Strategic Group. With Abrams partner Dennis Lankes, he launched Proximity Space.

“We knew that this space, given Montrose’s current status with technology, remote workers and freelancers, it was going to take a while for it to catch,” Freed said.

Proximity Space provides daily access for drop-ins, who for $10 can work at open, shared seating and enjoy high-speed Internet access and community services.

The space also provides a full-time shared desk option for $149 per month that includes Internet access,

community services and an hour of conference room credit each month.

There is also a full-time, private desk option that affords 24-hour access, personal space, personal storage, priority access to the conference room and break-out spaces for $299 per month — no contract, no lease required.

Since opening its doors, Proximity Space has seen an average of 20 to 30 people per day; 21 full-time members and a varying number of other types of members. The private desk option has proved popular, Freed said.

“I think we’ll put in another round of eight to 12 more desks in March, unless we need it sooner. All but one (current desk) is rented already,” he said.

Proximity Space’s coffee card program is also bringing in the casual

Proximity Space member, Mike Boese walks out of the front entrance of Montrose’s � rst co-working space. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)

It’s such a great resource for the region. There’s so much power in that collaborative community of people.

Laura Williams, Proximity Space member

It’s such a great

Laura Williams, Proximity Space member

AGRICULTURE & INDUSTRYSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 20162

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Montrose, untethered ............1Proximity Space sees steady progress

Olathe FFA part of agriculture emphasis at high school level ..5Program’s nine-year adviser stepping down after this year

Snyder isn’t sheepish about hard work ..............................7She has had considerable success with lambs

Keeping the dream alive .......8Ranch-raised Lindsey Smith has found balance in her life

Growing things suits Mort just � ne ................................10Olathe FFAer planning career in culinary arts

FFA Focuses on Future ........11

County Fair/Olathe Sweet Corn Festival ........................12

user. People who might otherwise take up business space at local coffee shops by cruising the shops’ wifi for hours on end can instead pay a day rate at Proximity Space for $5 per day, if they buy coffee at a local establishment. Since August, Proximity Space has tallied 148 drop-in visits as a result, per Freed.

“The alternative for me is to go to the library or a coffee shop,” Williams said, speaking to the benefi ts of Proximity Space.

“It (a shop) is noisy and I always feel kind of bad sitting there for too long. It’s somebody’s establishment. I cannot concentrate very well.

“The other option would be at home, but being new in the community, it’s hard for me to get to know people. … It (the space) really helped me achieve some work-life balance. When I’m at work, I focus on being at work. I rarely get out my computer at home anymore,” she added.

Community organizations are also able to book Proximity Space’s conference room, which has been averaging four meetings per week, plus about a dozen private meetings.

The room drew the Rocky Mountain Commercial Brokers conference to Montrose, and gave the community that much more exposure.

The conference area is also the site of the city’s twice-monthly Mingle with the Manager event.

Region 10, a six-county economic league, made an early commitment to

lease space at Proximity Space, and is working with Delta County Economic Development to possibly develop a similar space in Delta, said Region 10’s executive director, Michelle Haynes. Region 10 also utilizes The Hive, Paonia’s established co-working space.

“We think it’s a great model to attract new businesses and create synergy with entrepreneurs working together,” Haynes said.

The physical space alone has proved a boon for Region 10, said Linda Riba, the league’s assistant small business resource director.

“We have found that as we have expanded our lunchtime business-oriented classes, that as those programs and classes have gained traction, we are now hosting all of our small business resource classes at Proximity Space,” Riba said.

A Google Analytics class the fi rst week of February drew 15 people.

“That was a wonderful space to have. We were able to have folks in a quiet area, where the instructor could communicate clearly. They’re set up for hooking up the instructor’s computer to an audio-visual system,” Riba said. “We have been really, really pleased to have that available. Not only is it benefi cial to us to be able to schedule a full year of classes, we also free up demand on the Sneffl es Conference Room at Region 10.”

The lunchtime classes also expose attendees to what’s going on at

Proximity Space.“They get a chance to explore. Very

few of them don’t come out of there saying, ‘This is a great resource.’ The more people get exposed to it, it’s a win-win-win,” Riba said.

“Montrose has a need for high-tech, easy to access meeting spaces. We get a lot of requests,” Freed said.

BOOSTING BUSINESS, EDUCATION

Proximity Space also appears to be driving traffi c downtown, and dollars, too, from its members.

Proximity Space has been tracking receipts from purchases members make downtown. (Member participation in the receipt data is voluntary). The average, from supplied receipts, is between $6,000 to $7,000 a month spent downtown, just by Proximity Space’s co-working members.

“We see what the impact of the co-working space is having downtown,” Freed said.

People have wandered in looking for tourism information, information about relocation, and three came who were considering bringing businesses here, Freed said. Proximity Space staffers pointed these visitors to appropriate entities.

“We’re in talks right now with all of the entities about trying to create more of a street-level hub here. We are getting foot traffi c,” Freed said.

“We are going to be taking a review

of everything going on here and making sure we’re tailoring the space here.”

Abrams itself shut down its Oregon offi ce and is transitioning to Proximity Space. One partner is relocating to Montrose, while the others decided to remain in Oregon and be contractors, per Freed.

“We’re seeing members coming in from Telluride, Ouray, Ridgway. We’ve got one new member starting April 1 who is a relocate from Virginia. One of the things they cited is, the husband is a software engineer. The relocation was made possible because we had a co-working space available. I don’t count that as a win until I see them here, but that’s planned,” Freed said.

Proximity Space was designed with elbow room in mind. “We overbuilt on purpose. Our goal is not to compete with private offi ces. It’s to be that bridge, to be between that coffee shop and when you’re ready to have your own space and employees,” Freed said.

“I do believe the Proximity Space is a great addition to Montrose, and I believe it’s an important asset to have added to our community,” Montrose Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Sandy Head said.

“The main audience here is the lone eagle, the individual who lives here, but works for a company outside the area. But there are a lot of businesses that are one or two individuals, and


Continued from page 1

Co-founder, Josh Freed, works on his computer from the front of the Proximity Space and is ready to welcome people as they arrive. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)

AGRICULTURE & INDUSTRY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016 3

the really nice thing about something like Proximity Space is they can congregate with other like minds and have that networking potential. That’s a very key piece in today’s world,” she said.

In the short time since it’s been open, Proximity Space garnered statewide attention. In September, Downtown Colorado Inc. named the space “Best New Addition to Downtown,” as part of the 2015 Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence.

“It’s still one of the only street-level, publicly accessible co-working spaces,” Freed said. “Paonia (The Hive) is one of the other ones. You

don’t need all retail and restaurants downtown. You need something that draws people more consistently, and that’s what co-working spaces do. … Street-level co-working spaces are really hard to come by.”

Proximity Space has linked to The Hive, to allow members of each co-working space to use the other. It also participates in the Co-working Visa program, allowing local members to have three days of free use at other co-working spaces that participate in the program.

Proximity Space is one of three public spaces statewide offering a gig of Internet. “There are certain things Montrose has that it’s way ahead of

the curve on,” Freed said.Proximity Space is working with

the Montrose High School computer science classes to select a limited number of students to use the space and equipment through the summer. These students will earn desk rights at Proximity Space and be able to use course equipment that would otherwise sit in the computer science lab over the break.

The idea is to “blend” the students with current freelancers, allowing both to benefi t from the interaction, Freed said.

Proximity Space is also working with Montrose Makerspace on coding classes based on the popular game,

Minecraft.Makerspace is a local machining

and manufacturing workshop that is open to the public.

“Through teaching how that game works, how coding works, you get to blend their desire to play this game. It’s a carrot and stick, the sticking being, you have to learn how the software works, but as you’re learning, you get to play the game, too,” Freed said.

Proximity Space and Montrose Makerspace want to attract several children from age 6, up through high school teens.

“We want technology, access and action, all the way down to the


Co-founder, Dennis Lankes, plays a video game in one of the breakout rooms at Proximity Space. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)


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elementary level,” Freed said.Proximity Space constantly

adjusts its model and environs to accommodate the need it sees.“We knew we were going to be in this discovery mode for about a year. We’ve got a few more potentially planned Proximity Spaces throughout the state. That is something Abrams is working on,” Freed said.

“It’s a sign of what individuals look

for when they look into a community,” MEDC’s Head said.

“My guess is it’s going to take a while for it to get real busy. Anytime you start something new, it takes a while for people to become aware of it and fully understand the potential for what type of things they can do in a space like that,” she added.

“I think it has a lot of potential. I think we’re lucky it’s here. I hope it

gets utilized to its full potential.”Co-working spaces should be

tailored to the community, Freed said. “We view them as a pocket park, a library, almost. They’re meant to be easily accessible to the public,” he said.

“It’s such a great resource for the region. There’s so much power in that collaborative community of people,” Williams said.


Proximity Spaceis located at 210 E. Main St. and can be reached at (970) 497-7040. The website is proximity.space.

With plenty of space to mingle or hide away and � nish a project, the Proximity Space is an ideal place to work on a daily basis or for the person in town for a day or two on business. (Nate Wick/Daily Press)


T he Future Farmers of America at Olathe High School has been producing

state champions and national competitors in varied FFA events for years. But FFA adviser Erin Martinez said the group and its activities are just a part of a successful agricultural program.

“The FFA component is important because it’s about leadership and competition,” she said. “But we also have the Supervised Agricultural Experience. There are some other components, but those are the main two.”

The program requires each student to keep records of placements and entrepreneurship work. Students can move up and

attain degrees from FFA for their work.

The highest degree that can be earned is the American Degree that carries a $7,500 prize with it.

Martinez said her role is to supervise the students in these goals. She said they have many hands-on learning experiences.

“They can go out and shadow vets or [state wildlife] offi cers, they can learn about possible careers through agriculture,” she said. “It’s a great thing that they can experience things and see where they want to go.”

Martinez said she has 60 kids in grades 8-12. She said they learn a variety of things tied to agriculture. Those include welding, ag business and animal

Olathe FFA part of agriculture emphasis at high school level

Program’s nine-year adviser stepping down after this yearBy Richard Reeder • Daily Press News Editor


They can go out and shadow vets or [state wildlife] of� cers, they can learn about possible careers through agriculture.

The Olathe Future Farmers of America serve the banquet of the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association recently. (Courtesy photo)

Olathe FFA District Creed speakers were, from left, Shyann Dahl, adviser Erin Martinez and Shayne Hoey. (Courtesy photo)

Olathe Adviser Erin Martinez has led the group for nine years and has coached four teams to national competition. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

Olathe FFA Vice President Audery Stansbjury sold this homemade cake during the FFA Hired Hand Auction. (Courtesy photo)


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science.

“There are so many things that they

can get heavy one way or another in

what they are doing,” she said. “They

need to balance three things and keep

things in line to be successful.

The results of this experience have

produced four teams going to the

national convention in the last fi ve

years. In 2010 a livestock team made the

convention, in 2013 a horse judging team

made the trip, in 2014 another livestock

team qualifi ed, and in 2015 a meats team

won state and went to the convention.

“In other years we have had teams

fi nish fi fth or sixth and just miss the

nationals,” Martinez said. “We have had

many years when every team was gold

at state.”

Martinez said what makes these

feats so amazing is most of the work

is done by the students outside of the

classroom. She said they juggle things

before and after school and after sports

practices for many of the students.

“That’s the cool thing is that I wouldn’t

invest in it if the kids weren’t standing

there and investing as well,” she said. “

It’s an amazing experience because I get

to see and share with the kids what they

are doing.”

For Martinez this is her last year of

being the FFA adviser. Her youngest

daughter is graduating high school and

she is going to pursue her own “cowboy”

interests. She said she feels a sense of

accomplishment in her nine years as

the advisor.

“I know I have been a good leader, the

kids are in the trenches with me and it’s

a great feeling,” she said. “I have had

kids go on and be engineers or come

back and work on the farms. I know FFA

has helped them be successful adults.”


Olathe FFA students who received American FFA Degrees are from left, Fallon Klick and Kendall Franks along with Adviser Erin Martinez. (Courtesy photo)

Olathe senior Dexter Flick works on fabricating a table. (Courtesy photo)

Olathe students , from left, Jennifer Mort, Justin Mosher and Amanda Seymour create a ruminant digestive system during animal science class. (Courtesy photo)


Snyder isn’t sheepish about hard workShe has had considerable success with lambs

By Richard Reeder • Daily Press News Editor

O lathe High School junior Brooke Snyder has her eyes set squarely on her

future. And it involves a continued involvement with raising and showing lambs, and maybe even breeding lambs.

Snyder has been showing lambs with great success at the county

fair, state events and even on larger national event.

“I started showing lambs in 4-H for about nine years, then I have been in FFA since I was a freshman,” she said. “My Supervised Agriculture Experience is marketing lambs.”

Snyder had four lambs her freshmen year with two at the county

fair, one at state fair and one at home. Her sophomore year she had two lambs at the county fair and two at the state fair. This year she has two at the county fair, two at the state fair and one she took to the National Western Stock Show in Denver.

“I didn’t do as well in Denver as I had hoped,” she said. “But then I

had to remember that I wasn’t going against just Colorado people, but against the best from around the country.”

FFA adviser Erin Martinez said Snyder has proven herself through the years.

“She knows her feeding and training things really well,” she said.


Olathe High School junior Brooke Snyder has been showing lambs at county, state and national events. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

Albert J. Aldasoro Memorial Scholarship • 2015 Recipient: Ashley Watson

Joey’s Welding, Inc.- Joey FlowersUS Tractor & Harvest Inc. - Scott Van Horn

Producers Co-op - Montrose & OlatheDecker & Cook CPA’s, P.C.- Ron Decker &

Ray CookTri-River Appliance- Kathy & Kerry Frasier

Parish Oil CompanyWells Fargo Bank- Montrose- Rod Sharp

Jim’s Auction Service, Inc. - Jim & Rayma Flowers

South River Real Estate- Mike LowryKeenan’s Plumbing & Heating-

Keenan McKeeField Livestock Company- Bob, John and Linda Field

Mountain West Insurance &Financial Services

Albert Aldasoro Family -Mitchell, Bennett & Petersen Families

Citizen’s State Bank - Steve CollinRemax-Alpine View - Dee Holman,

Mark Covington & Burton BullingtonCastle Auto Sales -Dan Castle

Leonard Farms & Livestock- Leonard Family

American Ag CreditD&S Underground- Randy Spadafora

Etchart LivestockBank of Colorado

Colorado West Investments, Inc. - Betty Tomlinson & Kevin SanderfordWollert Automotive - Kent Wollert

Hallam & Associates Insurance, Inc. -Clint Anders & Joanne Scalf

Mike Harper Livestock- Mike & Mary Ann Harper

Montrose Ford-NissanAlpine Bank

Sheriff Rick Dunlap, Sargent Sanders & K9 Oxx

Western Slope Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction -BilI Martin & Jim Brock

Rounds & Brooks, CPA, P.C. -Heather Rounds & Michelle Brooks

Rocky Mountain Aggregate &Construction - Zane & Erin Luttrell

Mountain Valley Meats - Jerad DavidAll Steel I C&H Foam lnsulation, LLC

Western Petroleum - Dan HawksHellman Ford

Hightower Supply- Automotive, Industrial, Aircraft,

Point & Supplies -Aaron HightowerRecla Metals

Murdoch’s Ranch & Home SupplyDelta Sales Yard - Dan Varner

Farm Bureau Insurance - Corrie Black

Montrose Veterinary ClinicMontrose Implement & Motorsports -

Arlin GeigleyOlathe Spray Service

Cooper Soils & Landscaping Supplies - Gary & Jackie Cooper

Lone Eagle Land Brokerage - Bryan Walchle

Generous Contributors & Business Sponsors

94th Annual Banquet and Dance

Special Thanks to Dave and Megan

Snyder for donating the painting that was auctioned.

Ticket SalesProducers Co-op - Montrose & Olathe, Murdoch’s Ranch

and Home Supply & Home Loan State Bank

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Press CoverageKUBC /Jim Kerschner & Dan Lynch

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Program

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Special Thanks To:Anders Brothers, Montrose Elks Lodge, Montrose County Fair & Rodeo Royalty, Montrose FFA,

Olathe High School Cheerleaders, Montrose High School Speech Team, and Dinner Music by Marylou Luttrell

We in the Agricultural Production industries rely on these � ne businesses for our infrastructure, service and supplies in our everyday operations. They are the back-bone of this valley, and we appreciate their continued support of the sheep industry. Not only do they support us, they support many other charitable entities. Their sense of community deserves this community’s support, which we ask you to remember when shopping. We also thank you, the public, for attending this event!

2 0 1 6

Special Thanks to Twenty Sleeps West Real Estate -

Debi HarmonHome Loan State Bank -

Tish Saunders & Mark Harmon

*Names in bold were generous contributors.

Ri� e Raf� e: Thanks to Mountain Valley Meats - Jerad David & Keenan’s Plumbing and Heating - Keenan McKee. Rifl e Winner was Rusty Olson.


“She’s had a grand champion

and won her class at state.”

The lambing season starts for

Snyder at the end of March when

she purchases her new lambs.

She said she starts training them

and building their muscles and

works on the showmanship.

“I attend a two-day lamb

camp that is really hard work,”

she said. “But it helps with the

showmanship.”

Snyder’s parents are outfi tters,

run a farm and are getting cattle.

Snyder spends her time away

from school working with her

parents.

“I have never had a summer

job, I work at home,” she said.

“I help my parents because they

help pay for my lambs and all the

things I need for them.”

Martinez said Snyder will be

applying for her State FFA degree

this year. And Snyder is looking

to her college years already. She

would like to be a vet, and one

that helps with breeding lambs.

“I am looking at getting into

artifi cial insemination, that

is becoming a big deal with

breeders,” Snyder said. “I have

talked to a couple local vets and

visited them.”

Snyder said she would like to

shadow a vet as part of her SAE.

She hasn’t decided that yet, but

that is next on her list.

She played basketball for a

while, but gave that up when her

time became stretched thin.

“Really, I liked playing

basketball and loved the team,”

she said. “But it reached a point

where I had to decide did I want

to play or show lambs and I made

my choice.”

Snyder said she misses

basketball, but she is passionate

about her school and her

involvement with FFA.

“I love learning about animals

and doing all the things that will

help my future,” she said. “I am

the chapter secretary and on the

land evaluation team, so I am

doing the right things.”


Keeping the dream alive

Ranch-raised Lindsey Smith has found balance in her life


M ontrose High School senior Lindsey Smith enjoys life on a cattle ranch. And she

is making her own way through the cattle industry as she goes.Smith has seven of her own cows on the 150-head ranch, something she is proud she has accomplished on her own.

“The summer of my freshman year, I bought three registered Hereford cows with money from my 4-H steers,” she said. “Then I have

kept some calves, so all my cows are from the fi rst set I bought.”

Smith said her days start early. She said if the sun is up, everyone is up. Calving season is the hardest time of the year for the Smith clan.

“We have to get up at 3 a.m. and check on the heifers because they can have problems during the birth,” she said. “Then in the morning, we have to feed them and load hay.”

Smith uses her time on the ranch

I want to start a consulting business and help

ranchers with their � nances and marketing.

Lindsey Smith


Kelsey, left, and Lindsey Smith prepare for a day of moving cattle. (Courtesy photo)

Montrose High School senior Lindsey Smith is choosing between CSU and a college in Hawaii as graduation approaches. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

Brooke Snyder with her Grand Champion Market Lamb at the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo. (Courtesy photo)


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AGRICULTURE RESOURCES

to earn school credits. She keeps track of the hours she works and turns them.

In the summer she helps with irrigating the fi elds, drives the tractor and helps move the cattle. The Smiths move the cattle to a pasture near Norwood.

“We have to go check on them and take them salt while they are in the pasture,” she said. “We go check on them on horseback and use a 4-wheeler to move the salt. When we bring them down, we use the horses to move them.”

Smith said the ranch life is something she was born into. She has two older sisters and an older brother who have all worked on the ranch and have moved on to other things.

Her older sister Kelsey is at Colorado State University studying to be a vet. Her brother Dustin owns a ranch in Montana and raises bees in addition to cattle.

Her dad, Brian, retired early from a job to spend his time on the ranch full-time. Mom Deaanna is an R.N. at Montrose Memorial Hospital.

“They have supported all of us with everything we want to do, they never forced the ranch life on us,” Smith said. “We have all grown to love it on our own, and that has made it great.”

Smith plays basketball for the Indians and played soccer her freshman year. But with her involvement with Future Farmers of America, her days were getting stressed, so she made a tough decision.

“I fi gured out I needed to prioritize my life and two sports was too much,” she said. “I need to help my dad with the cows, and with practices it was too much, so I gave up soccer. It’s ok because I love my life on the ranch.”

Smith is looking ahead to life after graduation. She said she has a scholarship offer to Colorado State University. She may do something in the business fi eld if she decides to take that offer.

“I want to start a consulting business and help ranchers with their fi nances and marketing,” she said. “That would be a great way to use my degree and be near my lifestyle.”

But Smith said she also has a passion for helping people. In that vain, she is considering

We go check on them on horseback and use a 4-wheeler to move the salt.

Lindsey Smith


Lindsey Smith has seven cows she has raised on her parents’ ranch. (Courtesy photo)

Lindsey Smith and her dad, Brian, brand cattle before turning them out to pasture. (Courtesy photo)


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Growing things suits Mort just � neOlathe FFAer planning career in culinary arts


F or Olathe High School junior Jennifer Mort, success in the Future Farmers of America

has come in an unexpected way. Mort

is part of the Floricultural Team that

placed third at state.

She was a reluctant member of the

team at fi rst.

“The other girls begged me to be on

the team and we ended up third,” she

said. “We want to go to state again

and win it and go to nationals.”

Mort said she has a couple friends

she does fl owers with, and she has

learned about them and can point

them out to other people.

Mort’s family owns a 250-acre farm

and raise corn, hay and wheat. She

helps with harvesting and irrigating

the crops in the summer.

“I help my dad a lot with watering

and fertilizing,’ she said. “I spent

about 400 hours on the tractor last

year.”

Mort has interest in the business

side of agriculture. She wants

to explore greenhouses and how

fertilizers help plants. And she wants

to get into the kitchen as well.

“When I graduate I want to go into

the culinary fi eld and work with

farmers in producing dishes with

locally grown products,” she said.

“I also want to cook using many

fresh ingredients, it will make for

outstanding dishes.”

Mort’s interests include sports

outside of the ag classes. She is on

the Olathe track team.

“In the spring I will throw the shot

put and the discus with the track

team,” she said. “I like to work and I

work hard at keeping my grades up.

But I enjoy doing other things when I

get the chance.”

When I graduate I want to go into the culinary � eld and work with farmers in producing dishes with locally grown products.

Jennifer Mort

enrolling at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Hawaii.

“There you go on a mission trip every four weeks and go out and help people in need,” she said. “That would let me get

out in the world and fi nd out who I am.”Smith said no matter what path she

takes, she wants to end up here living the rural life she has grown up with. She said people need to understand

ranchers and farmers supply food to not only the U.S., but to the world. She has concerns about the industry because the average age in the industry is 55.

“The youth need to get involved and

keep it alive. FFA does a great job of that,” she said. “Agriculture involves everything from math to science. We need more people getting involved and being part of it.”


Olathe junior Jennifer Mort is planning a culinary career after graduation. (Richard Reeder/Daily Press)

The state’s third-place Horticultural team from Olathe High School is, from left, Jennifer Mort, Sydney Murray, Audrey Stansberry and Maritza Olide. (Courtesy photo)


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Montrose FFA member Zach Mills works with a hydroponics system at the ag shop. (Courtesy photo)

FFA Vice President Lindsey Smith, left, and Shaunalee Bertorello handle a goat during the Petting Farm at the Producers Co-op. (Courtesy photo)

Montrose FFA member Kris Distel, left, docks a lamb during � eld trip. (Courtesy photo)

Chapter President Chelsea Middleton helps visitors to the Petting Farm at Producers Co-op greet a horse. (Courtesy photo)

Shaunalee Bertorello leads other FFA members through the cattle pens as they prepare to brand the calves. (Courtesy photo)


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Page Fister, Chasey Searcy and Gabby Odonnell emerge from the show ring after participating in last year’s Pig Scramble. The three girls were looking for a fun way to cool o� and relax after a long week of competitions at the county fair. (Daily Press � le photo)

Volunteers from Olathe High School sort ears of corn into a custom corn roaster at the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival last year. (Daily Press � le photo)

Talon Hensley snuggles up to his market hog Dramis during last year’s fair. Hensley was preparing to show Dramis in the market hog show. (Daily Press � le photo)

Antique tractors lined up to see what machine could pull the heaviest load during last year’s fair. (Daily Press � le photo)

Kadin Young works on his roping skills during the Merry Little Lamb Show in the show ring at Friendship Hall during last year’s fair. (Daily Press � le photo)

Documents

Outlook Agriculture & Industry, February 2016