Kara Smith, alum of CALP Class 13, has shown not only outstanding ability in her chosen professional field, but also incredible innovation in what started as her CALP project. Her desire to provide gate to plate home grown beef from her own family's ranch has taken on a life of its own. Colorado Craft Beef is a local company providing exceptional beef all over the country. Their phenomenal product quality coupled with leading edge marketing and world class customer service has brought their company to the forefront of these types of businesses. What started with a local customer base has exploded into influencer status on Instagram and strategic partnerships with other companies in the real food health space. In addition to this ever-growing achievement, Kara maintains a full time position in the animal health industry with great success and customers who will do business with no other rep. She is also an involved wife and mom to two adorable little girls who will no doubt follow in her footsteps in being changemakers in the industry. In addition to all of her other activities, Kara always finds time to participate in local industry groups and is always ready to lend her perspective and expertise to friends and industry colleagues alike. Kara's passion and devotion to the animal ag industry, along with her determination to drive change for the better on behalf of livestock producers is why Kara Smith is our Excellence in CALP award winner. She is also an exceptional representative of the agriculture industry as a whole.

Nominated by his fellow class members in recognition of his outstanding leadership in the peach industry and across Colorado. Growing peaches was a childhood dream and he is now one of the largest organic peach producers in Colorado.
As the class went through the program and started working on projects, Brant presented that his would be to eradicate the Japanese beetle in Palisade to protect the orchards, gardens, and lawns of every citizen.  He formed a working group, sourced funding to cover costs and achieved his goal of destroying the infestation that was affecting crop production. Now that is CALP leadership at its best!
Brant was involved in a few local boards at the time, and we saw him evolve into a leader that would be impactful for agriculture across Colorado.  Not only is he a CALP alum, but he has also completed the Farm Bureau Elite Leadership Academy and is serving his second term on Colorado’s Ag Commission.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Brant is a strong advocate for agriculture, leadership, and family.  He knows that people and advocacy are the most valuable assets in rural Colorado and encourages agriculture advocates to join CALP to collaborate to support the industry and lifestyle we know and love.  He is a true leader in agriculture and is deserving of the second annual Excellence in CALP award

Mary and her husband Chris own and operate Kraft Family Dairies with assistance from their son Stratton. Mary was in CALP class 7 and Chris was in Class 4. Mary has served on the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation Board, the Fort Morgan Community Hospital Association Foundation Board, the School for the Performing Arts and the Adult Basic Literacy Education Board in her local area. She recently completed her term as the first female President of the Colorado Livestock Association. Mary currently serves on the Western Dairy Association's Milk Promotions Board and the PERA Advisory Council.
 
Mary has written a variety of articles for leading dairy magazines and speaks extensively across the country to agriculture groups. She has given keynote addresses, served on panels and spoken in breakout sessions on topics that include women in agriculture, building middle management as well as how to develop a productive and safe work environment and work culture. Mary has had the opportunity to testify before legislation on good animal husbandry and immigration issues.
 
Kraft Family Dairies are open for tours to individuals, legislators, school, civic and social groups. Mary loves to share and show how their dairy operation is a good steward of resources, a respected neighbor, innovative in the dairy industry and how the animals are cared for. 

CJ Mucklow, a CALP class 7 alum, recently retired from a thirty-five-year career with Colorado State University Extension. Across those three and a half decades, he has been a driving force in promoting agriculture throughout Colorado. His passion for cattle production, conservation of agricultural lands, and a western lifestyle have developed him into one of Colorado agricultures greatest advocates. CJ has authored and co-authored many publications in the cattle industry addressing land issues and policies, conservation easements, marketing, nutrition, and natural resources management for ranchers. He has given many presentations to communities about the values and importance of agriculture.CJ published A Guide to Rural Living and Small Scale Agriculture in 1992. The publication helped new residents better understand and appreciate their new rural community. The book is now in its third printing, and it has become a model for similar publications that have been developed for numerous counties across the West.  
     CJ Mucklow’s visionary leadership has been marked by excellence in teaming with others to find innovative ways to create an economic impact for agricultural producers through value-added enterprises. Early in his Extension career, CJ obtained funding and grants for studying the viability of value-added agricultural products, including Routt County Woolens, a blanket project using Colorado’s clean, high-quality wool, and Yampa Valley Beef, an effort to market Colorado’s high-country beef.
     CJ’s work to encourage the niche marketing of local beef naturally followed, with CJ making presentations around Colorado, in Arizona, Washington, and Nebraska. Roundtables in Washington, DC encouraged legislators to make policy that encouraged these types of efforts. The Yampa Valley Beef value-added enterprise was recognized as an early innovator, and CJ was asked to speak to groups all over the nation about the direct marketing of beef. Local enterprises doing locally pioneered work were making more money in agriculture-related ventures. With the programs sustained by Extension’s research and support, CJ has encouraged programs to encompass increasing the niche marketing of local hay, honey, lamb, and fiber. All of this was happening in the 1990’s, decades in advance of the current locavore movement and as an early step encouraging this progression of interest in locally grown products.
    Over the decades CJ has fostered his greatest legacy to Colorado agriculture, instilling a love of agriculture, livestock, and nature into thousands of 4-H youth. From teaching youth about their livestock projects to helping them build leadership skills, CJ has been an influence on hundreds of youth who have already, or soon will become Colorado’s leaders in agriculture. Recognizing the importance that agricultural kids be able to get a strong education, CJ founded the Routt County 4-H Foundation. It started with CJ’s resolve and a $500 donation in 1994. The foundation has since distributed more than a half million dollars in scholarships to 4-H youth. It is our great honor to award a true ag advocate, CJ Mucklow (CALP Class 7 Alum), for the Excellence in CALP Award.

​Jerry has inspired and educated countless people about leadership in agriculture. His ability to motivate and organize others has had a lasting effect on his classmates, peers, family and friends.
As a long-time leader in the state house and senate, Jerry deeply understands what agriculture is at its best. He knows that people are the most valuable assets in rural Colorado and encourages agriculture advocates to join CALP to collaborate to support the industry and lifestyle we know and love.
In addition to his notable achievements as a legislator, educator, farmer and rancher, Jerry's years of legislative service have achieved spectacular results: numerous bills on water, transportation, education, rural development, and so many more that impact agriculture and quality of life. Jerry served on the steering committee to strategize the reinvention and long-term sustainability of Colorado's premier ag leadership program (CALP) after it was discontinued in 2006. After several meetings in 2011, Jerry and Ag Commissioner/ CALP Alum John Salazar established the current 501c.3 stand-alone Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program.
The efforts of one person can be so staggering and can truly make a difference, and Jerry has made a difference! He is a true leader in agriculture and is deserving of the first inaugural Excellence in CALP award.     CJ Mucklow’s visionary leadership has been marked by excellence in teaming with others to find innovative ways to create an economic impact for agricultural producers through value-added enterprises. Early in his Extension career, CJ obtained funding and grants for studying the viability of value-added agricultural products, including Routt County Woolens, a blanket project using Colorado’s clean, high-quality wool, and Yampa Valley Beef, an effort to market Colorado’s high-country beef.
     CJ’s work to encourage the niche marketing of local beef naturally followed, with CJ making presentations around Colorado, in Arizona, Washington, and Nebraska. Roundtables in Washington, DC encouraged legislators to make policy that encouraged these types of efforts. The Yampa Valley Beef value-added enterprise was recognized as an early innovator, and CJ was asked to speak to groups all over the nation about the direct marketing of beef. Local enterprises doing locally pioneered work were making more money in agriculture-related ventures. With the programs sustained by Extension’s research and support, CJ has encouraged programs to encompass increasing the niche marketing of local hay, honey, lamb, and fiber. All of this was happening in the 1990’s, decades in advance of the current locavore movement and as an early step encouraging this progression of interest in locally grown products.
    Over the decades CJ has fostered his greatest legacy to Colorado agriculture, instilling a love of agriculture, livestock, and nature into thousands of 4-H youth. From teaching youth about their livestock projects to helping them build leadership skills, CJ has been an influence on hundreds of youth who have already, or soon will become Colorado’s leaders in agriculture. Recognizing the importance that agricultural kids be able to get a strong education, CJ founded the Routt County 4-H Foundation. It started with CJ’s resolve and a $500 donation in 1994. The foundation has since distributed more than a half million dollars in scholarships to 4-H youth. It is our great honor to award a true ag advocate, CJ Mucklow (CALP Class 7 Alum), for the Excellence in CALP Award.