Editorial Assistant Melinda Taylor mtaylor@coloradocountrylife.org
EDITORIAL
CORPORATE OFFICE
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Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities, and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.
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A Credible, SolutionOriented Voice
By Tom Walch CREA Executive Director
As Mark Twain famously quipped, “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” It falls to the Colorado Rural Electric Association to safeguard the life, liberty, and property of our state’s electric cooperatives and their members at our state capitol. When the gavel fell to close the 2026 legislative session a couple of weeks ago it marked the conclusion of 120 long days that were often hectic, sometimes tedious, and ultimately successful for our legislative advocacy team.
CREA was able to defend electric co-op interests and ensure lawmakers understood the real-world impacts of the policies they were considering. In several cases, CREA helped secure important amendments that protected local control, preserved service territory rights, reduced regulatory burdens, and kept affordability and reliability at the center of the conversation.
Most importantly, Colorado’s electric co-ops came through the 2026 session unscathed. Despite a wide range of proposals that could have created new costs, mandates or operational challenges, CREA’s advocacy helped ensure electric co-ops remain well positioned to continue serving their members with safe, reliable and affordable power.
These efforts translated into real dollars saved for electric co-ops and their consumer-members. Every unnecessary study, duplicative process, unfunded mandate, or new compliance obligation that was avoided helped protect co-op budgets and the members who ultimately pay the bill.
Our legislative advocacy team was spearheaded by Taylor Ward, CREA’s Director of Government Relations, with support from others on our staff, and CREA’s skilled contract lobbyists. Together, they
harnessed efforts of other electric cooperative partners and like-minded interests to cultivate relationships with political leaders, and ensure that we are viewed as a credible, solutions-oriented voice in the building. Establishing this credibility not only helped us during the past session, but it paves the way for success in sessions to come.
Other CREA efforts have this long-term success strategy in mind. In February, we organized a reimagined Co-op Day at the Capitol, helping build relationships and elevating the voice of electric co-ops. In April, we partnered with other public power agencies to bring our front-line workers from across the state to the capitol, celebrating their critical contribution to our way of life with a robust Lineworker Appreciation Day. For legislators, this event put the spotlight on the operational challenges co-ops face and the importance of wildfire liability reform policies that support safety, reliability, and affordability.
The session may be over, but our work continues. Our focus now shifts to building a reinvigorated political action committee or PAC. CARE — Colorado Advocates for Rural Electrification — is the PAC supporting Colorado electric co-ops. It enables us to enhance relationships with legislators, establish credibility, and give us the political presence that we need to succeed. The stakes are big, and we must be at the table to meet the challenges that are coming. If we’re not, the reliability and affordability that our co-op members depend on will suffer.
Tom Walch is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the statewide organization supporting 21 electric distribution cooperatives and one generation and transmission cooperative.
On a Roll
By Kylee Coleman Editor
Recently, my family and I have fallen head-over-heels into bowling. Yes, bowling: 10 pins, a heavy ball, and an oiled lane. I used to joke that I always had a great golf score when I hit the lanes, and a great bowling score when I hit the links. I am someone who could barely crack 50 points — even with the bumpers up.
Well, not anymore.
I am learning all about scoring, spare balls, oil patterns, revs, 7/10 splits, and technique. It’s a whole thing. With some coaching and instruction from my husband, I am happy to report that I rolled a 163 just a few weeks ago. It wasn’t a perfect game, but it is still exciting for me, a self-proclaimed gutter magnet. That score awakened a competitive spirit in me that is up for a challenge. I am confident I will beat 163 this summer with my trusty 10-pound pink and black Brunswick Twist. (Stay tuned.)
Do you like to bowl? Is there a bowling alley in your town? Write me an email and let me know. I’m also open to taking tips and advice from players who are much better than I am.
Share your best bowling stories with me at kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org.
Monthly Giveaway
This month, CCL is giving one lucky winner a Nite Ize rechargeable lantern and string lights for your tent or RV adventures this summer. Read page 12 for tips to make your campsite fun and enviable. To enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop and navigate to the Monthly Giveaway page.
Need a different way to enter our contests? Send a postcard to 455 S. Pierce St., Lakewood, CO 80226. Include your name, phone number, mailing address, and the name of your electric cooperative. Contest ends June 20.
Coordinating Power Across the Grid
Article provided by NRECA
When you flip a switch, electricity is there — instant, reliable, and ready to power your day. But behind that simple moment is a carefully coordinated system made up of many “grid power players,” all working together to keep the lights on.
At Highline Electric Association, we think it’s important for our members to understand how this system works and who’s involved in delivering the electricity you depend on every day.
It all starts with generation owners and operators. These are the facilities that actually produce electricity. Power plants convert energy from a variety of sources — such as natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and renewables like wind or solar — into electricity. These facilities may be owned by electric utilities, government entities, or private companies. In our area, a diverse mix of generation sources helps ensure reliability while also supporting affordability and sustainability goals.
Once electricity is generated, it needs to travel — often across long distances — to reach local communities. That’s where transmission owners and operators come in. Using high-voltage transmission lines strung along massive towers, they move bulk electricity from power plants to local areas. You’ve likely seen these lines along highways or across open land. Because electricity can’t easily be stored in large quantities, this system must constantly move power from where it’s produced to where it’s needed, all in real time.
Highline is a member of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, our local generation and transmission partner. Tri-State is a private, not-forprofit wholesale power provider that generates and transmits electricity to Highline and other electric cooperatives and consumers in our region.
Coordinating the flow of large amounts of power is a complex job, especially across multiple states or regions. In many parts of the country, organized wholesale markets, managed by regional transmission organizations or independent system operators handle this responsibility. These entities don’t typically own power plants or transmission lines. Instead, they act as traffic controllers for the
grid — balancing supply and demand every second of the day and directing which power plants should generate electricity at any given moment. Tri-State works with the Southwest Power Pool to help ensure reliable service and cost-effective energy for Highline’s members.
Then there’s the part of the grid most people are familiar with — your local electric utility. That’s where Highline comes in. We take electricity from the highvoltage transmission system and deliver it directly to your home, farm, or business through lower-voltage distribution lines. We also maintain utility poles, power lines, electric substations, and other essential equipment in our community.
When storms roll through or outages occur, our crews are the ones working to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. At Highline, we’re proud to serve over 11,000 meters across northeastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska, and we’re committed to providing reliable, affordable electricity you can count on.
Finally, there’s you — the end user. Homes, businesses, and industries all play a critical role in the grid. Your energy use directly influences how much electricity needs to be generated and delivered at any given time. During periods of high demand — like hot summer afternoons or cold winter mornings — the grid must work harder to meet increased usage. Simple steps like adjusting your thermostat or running appliances during off-peak hours can make a meaningful difference.
Beyond these key power players, there are additional organizations working behind the scenes to ensure our grid remains reliable and secure.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation develops and enforces reliability standards through a collaborative stakeholder process that includes utilities, regulators, and industry experts. NERC also monitors the grid, trains personnel, and assesses risks to help maintain a strong and resilient electric system across North America.
Meanwhile, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission provides federal oversight. FERC
regulates interstate transmission of electricity and oversees wholesale energy markets to ensure they operate fairly and efficiently. It also plays a role in hydroelectric licensing and energy infrastructure development, helping ensure safe and reliable energy delivery nationwide.
From generation to transmission to your local utility, it takes a coordinated effort to power your
everyday life. At Highline, we’re proud to be your trusted energy partner — and to play our part in keeping the grid strong for the communities we serve.
NRECA is the national trade association representing nearly 900 local electric cooperatives. From growing suburbs to remote farming communities, electric co-ops serve as engines of economic development for 42 million Americans across 56% of the nation’s landscape.
Irrigation Efficiency Rebates Available
Highline Electric Association is offering rebates to help ag producers improve irrigation efficiency and reduce energy costs. Members may qualify for a sprinkler package or nozzle replacement rebate covering 50% of costs, up to $4,000 per center pivot or 1,300 feet of pivot length, with additional prorated rebates available for longer systems. Eligible equipment includes pressure regulators, sprinkler heads or housings, and nozzles, and requires an irrigation assessment completed within the last 30 months.
HEA also offers rebates for pump and motor replacements. Pump rebates are available at $25 per water horsepower for new or rebuilt pumps that meet a minimum 75% operating efficiency, while motor replacements qualify for $10 per horsepower (10 hp minimum), with additional wiring assistance available for electric motors replacing fossil fuel engines. Receipts and supporting documentation are required. Contact Highline at 970-854-2236 for details.
Congratulations to the following Highline Electric employees who celebrate a work anniversary in June:
Alex Astley — 12 years
Carl Haughn — 4 years
Joel Muller — 3 years
Rich Rochlitz — 2 years
Two Local Students Get Ready for Youth Tour
Highline Electric Association is proud to announce that Carlie Brandt of Julesburg High School and Jennifer Toyne of Revere High School have been selected to represent the co-op at the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., from June 15 to 21. This seven-day journey promises an immersive experience within the electric cooperative network while delving into the rich history of our nation’s capital.
Highline covers all expenses including transportation, accommodations, meals, and admission fees for these two outstanding students. It’s a week filled with visits to iconic landmarks, explorations of world-class museums, and opportunities to engage with elected officials. It’s also a chance for Carlie and Jennifer to build friendships with peers from across the nation, fostering connections that can last a lifetime.
DO WE HAVE YOUR MOST UP-TODATE CONTACT INFORMATION?
Maybe you switched cell phone providers and had to get a new phone number or decided to disconnect your landline. Maybe your mail isn’t delivered to your house anymore and you pick it up at the post office. Whatever it may be, make sure we have your most up-to-date phone numbers, mailing addresses, and anything else that can help us get ahold of you we need to contact you.
PROPERTY TAXES PAID IN 2025 IN NEBRASKA AND COLORADO:
NEBRASKA
Chase County = $47,599.98
Perkins County = $2,630.64
Dundy County = $116.38
Deuel County = $1,330.90
COLORADO
Logan County = $116,266.43
Phillips County = $117,986.16
Sedgwick County = $55,587.24
Morgan County = $821.12
Washington County = $8,895.84
Yuma County = $45,848.56
Carlie Brandt, Julesburg High School
Jennifer Toyne, Revere High School
Pesticide Safety
Highline Electric Association employees work hard to maintain reliable service across our rural communities — often accessing fields, pastures, and rights-ofway to restore power or perform routine maintenance. When a field has been treated with agricultural chemicals, however, entering that area without warning can pose serious and immediate health risks to our crews.
Just as you take precautions to protect your family and employees, we ask for your help in protecting ours. A simple notification can prevent harmful exposure and keep everyone safe.
YOU CAN HELP
• If you apply any chemicals to a field, please notify Highline.
You can call our office or place a notification flag at the entrance to the field.
• Free notification signs and flags are available. Stop by any Highline office — we provide these markers at no cost.
• During outages, please inform us if the affected field has been sprayed.
Crews often must enter fields quickly during restoration, and your communication helps ensure their safety.
Chemical exposure — even at low levels — can have serious short term and long term health effects. With your cooperation, we can reduce the risks our employees face while they work to keep your power on.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
TIP OF THE MONTH
During these warm summer months, a smart thermostat can help keep your home comfortable while reducing cooling costs. Smart thermostats learn your routine and automatically raise the temperature when you’re away and cool things down before you return, avoiding unnecessary energy use. You can also adjust settings remotely from your phone, so you’re never cooling an empty house. Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher while you’re away or asleep can lead to significant savings. Many smart thermostats provide reports and tips, helping you fine-tune your energy use, and stay cool while keeping your electric bill in check.
Garden In A Box
Professional and water-conscious design
By Vicki Spencer
Ifirst learned about Garden In A Box in 2017 when Denver Water partnered with the nonprofit Resource Central to encourage water conservation. Denver Water’s discount for purchasing the water-wise plants was such a bargain, I couldn’t resist. The plants flourished in my garden, and I loved how flowers bloomed from spring to fall.
Resource Central’s water-wise gardens are designed by professionals to make it “easy to transform your yard into a colorful, pollinator supporting landscape” while saving water during this time of drought. Resource Central also has lawn removal instructions and programs; the gardens typically use half the amount of water per square foot as the lawn they replace.
There are a variety of kits available. Each one fulfills a specific purpose and is composed of plants that thrive together. They include quart-sized perennial plants in 4-inch pots and a guide that provides detailed plant information, preparation and planting tips, watering guidelines for drought conditions, seasonal maintenance information, and professional plant-by-number maps.
Assistance from the Water Conservation Board and other funders has allowed the program to expand beyond the Front Range. It now serves all of Colorado, spanning from Steamboat Springs in the north to Alamosa in the south.
Plants may be ordered and picked up twice a year to accommodate different planting seasons. Preorders started in March for pickup and planting in late spring/
early summer. Preorder will start in June for pickup and planting in August and September. Resource Central recommends joining the interest list on its website for up-to-date news. The program has become so popular that the predesigned gardens go fast. It’s best to order online to be more confident that your order will be filled. However, boxes will be available until all have been sold.
While preparing your new garden, look into converting lawn sprinklers into drip or microspray systems. They use water more efficiently, reduce waste through runoff and evaporation, and reduce disease by keeping foliage dry. Check with your water provider for information about current watering restrictions.
This year Resource Central has added two special garden pairings designed to simplify expanding your garden into a larger space. They take the “guesswork out of designing bigger areas, help your landscape feel cohesive, and boost water savings across more of your yard.” The Pollinator Peak and Mountain Blooms combination features high-elevation toughness and flexible sunlight tolerance along with “soft, woodland edge beauty” of more shaded areas. All plants in the Garden In A Box kits are perennials, which means this year’s investment will continue to delight year after year. For information, visit resourcecentral.org
Master gardener Vicki Spencer writes on a variety of topics including gardening, electrical safety, water conservation, and more.
Car Camping Basics Where you can bring it all
By Eugene Buchanan
Inoticed it as I pulled up to Hahn’s Peak Lake in northwestern Colorado in my Toyota Tacoma. There at our state park camp was our friend Nick in his new pop-up camper in a scene made for an L.L. Bean catalog. It made me glad to be joining him. Everything was laid out perfectly: a kitchen area with table, an awning, a floor mat, happy hour drinks glistening on a roll table, and a campfire crackling in the fire pit.
Unlike backpacking, car camping allows you to bring more gear, so you might as well. It means you can create a setup in the great outdoors that feels like a second home. But it takes a little foresight. Below are a few tips for making your next campsite sing.
Pick the right site. If you’re reserving a spot, do some research and find the best available spot (i.e. close to the water, scenic view, no bathroom aroma, etc.). If you’re showing up without a spot (which can be risky), or camping in a dispersed area, don’t settle for the first site. Explore the area first. As they say in real estate, “location, location, location.”
Park strategically. Site secured, look for level ground to park your camper or pitch your tent, ideally with some natural protection from wind. Make your camper part of the furniture, positioning the door to be part of the action. Also consider sun exposure, for both heat and sleeping past sunrise.
Make it yours. Think about your layout; treat your campsite like a small apartment with zones for sleeping, cooking, eating, and relaxing. Add personal touches to make your campsite your own — string lights, a speaker, a hammock, and some flags. All this will make your campsite feel inviting.
The kitchen is king. Just like back home, people congregate in the kitchen — even if yours has squirrels. So, make it comfy. While available tables and/
or camper proximity may be restricting, spruce it up with things like a dirt mat, proper kitchenware, folding tables (one for cooking, one for drinks), coolers for food and beverages, and more.
Seating. Kicking back is key, so bring enough camp chairs for everyone. Set them up around a central spot — like a fire pit — to create a natural gathering area. This becomes your living room where you can eat, relax, and socialize. Add a tarp or canopy if needed for shade or rain protection.
Heed all fire regulations. Oftentimes, this means no open flames, which includes campfires and even charcoal. So, plan your meals and nighttime reveling accordingly. Hint: Portable propane fire pits are often allowed and can be a great alternative. Or use a battery-powered lantern or other faux-flame device as the focal point.
Lighting. Just like in your home, lighting helps set the mood once the sun goes down. Use a mix of lanterns and string lights to create both functional and ambient lighting. Keep brighter lights in the kitchen area for cooking and softer lighting in the seating area for chilling.
Get your ducks in a row. Organization keeps things running smoothly. Try using labeled bins or bags for such things as cooking gear, clothing, food, and more. It will help when you’re trying to find something in the dark or during bad weather.
Safety/cleanliness. Store your food securely and away from your campsite to avoid attracting wildlife, bring trash bags, separate your recyclables, and pack out everything you bring in.
Eugene Buchanan is an award-winning author whose work has been published in The New York Times, Men’s Journal, Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and more. His new book, Yampa Yearnings was released in December 2025. He lives in Steamboat Springs.
Photo by Irina Velichkina/ iStock / Getty Images via Getty
Western Power Market Expansion
RTO partnerships help electric co-op consumers
By Jim Hight
There’s a certain kind of news that makes energy insiders light up and leaves everyone else wondering what we’re so excited about.
The expansion of the Southwest Power Pool into the West falls squarely into this category.
For most people, “power pool” might conjure images of Olympic swimmers doing laps, not a network of utilities coordinating the flow of electricity across multiple states. But for those who follow how the grid works, this expansion is a win for consumermembers of Colorado’s rural electric co-ops. Few people are more excited about it — or more entitled to stand on the medal podium — than Duane Highley, CEO of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
Highley has advocated for integrating Rocky Mountain utilities with neighboring regions since his arrival at Tri-State in early 2019. Before coming to Colorado, he led a large Arkansas cooperative power supplier, saw firsthand the benefits of being part of SPP, and realized the value of expanding it westward — and not just for his Arkansas co-op but for every utility then belonging to the network and those who would join with such an expansion.
“The bigger [the power pool] is and the more participants there are, the greater the benefits,” Highley said on Tri-State’s Western Watts podcast recently.
Since 2019, the not-for-profit power supplier serving 39 electric distribution co-ops and public
power districts across four states, Highley, and others have worked steadily to advance the transition.
The effort got a boost in 2021 when Colorado lawmakers required electric utilities to join organized wholesale markets by 2030. A follow-up study by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission estimated potential savings of $230 million annually statewide, including about $20 million for Tri-State.
Much of those savings will come from expanded access to lower-cost power. “We’re able to buy energy at lower costs from power plants across the region,” said Highley. And even larger savings can manifest in the future with SPP coordinating long-term planning with all its member utilities.
WHAT IS AN RTO?
Organized wholesale markets operate across most of North America and are run by regional transmission organizations, or RTOs. Highley likens them to air traffic controllers: They don’t own the planes but direct traffic safely and efficiently.
RTOs have grown in importance since the wave of restructuring that broke up many monopoly investorowned utilities in the 1990s. They play key roles in pricing wholesale electricity that travels on highvoltage transmission lines, coordinating power flows, and planning new transmission. They’re widely seen as neutral operators that help utilities work together more efficiently.
But Colorado and neighboring states had been behind the rest of the country in participating in an RTO — until now. Highley noted that utilities to the east and west had linked up in RTOs years before.
Electric utilities don’t need RTOs to buy and sell electricity to one another. In fact, Tri-State had, for years, been in what’s known as an electric imbalance market that allowed real-time exchanges of electric power with neighboring utilities. “It’s an instantaneous market designed only to optimize what [generation resources] you currently have online,” according to Highley.
By comparison, an RTO offers much greater opportunity to save money by using regional power plants and transmission lines in the most effective manner. “Think of it as replacing a patchwork of toll roads with an efficient, well-planned interstate highway system, but for electricity,” Highley explained in a Colorado Sun guest opinion piece last year.
CONCERNS STILL WEIGHING
But even after the upbeat PUC report, challenges remained before Tri-State could formally join SPP’s western network; a small portion of its territory in Nebraska and eastern Colorado has long been part of SPP. Along with the positives, the PUC flagged concerns, including reduced state control over some decisions and potential complications for Colorado’s greenhouse gas reduction goals if more power is imported from higher-emission sources.
Highley acknowledges the trade-offs and described Tri-State’s board as “excited and at the same time nervous.” Some costs — especially for new transmission — may rise initially. But he expects longterm benefits from more-efficient regional planning. “We’re working now for the best benefits for the entire region,” he said, adding that he believes the network effects of a larger system will outweigh the loss of some direct control.
Six other utilities joined SPP alongside Tri-State, and Highley hopes the network continues to grow.
WHAT ABOUT POWER RATES?
Will the SPP expansion mean lower electricity rates for consumer-members of electric co-ops in Colorado? It’s hard to say at this point, but it will likely translate into more stable rates — that is, rates staying the same for longer or not going up as much as they would if Tri-State didn’t become part of the SPP.
Will it mean fewer power outages during storms or wildfires? Probably not, since Tri-State manages the high-voltage bulk transmission system and most outages in Colorado are caused by damage to the distribution infrastructure. But it will better equip
Tri-State to keep the electrons flowing if a disaster knocks out parts of its infrastructure.
Highley points to the 2021 Winter Storm Uri in Texas, which led to rolling outages when the Texas grid was overwhelmed by electric heating demand and generators that failed during the unusually cold period. Texas has an RTO known as ERCOT, but it’s almost a power island with little capacity to import electricity from neighboring states during such times. These outages “would not have occurred had there been another 1,000 megawatts of transfer capability,” he said, citing a recent report.
MORE, NOT LESS, RENEWABLE POWER
And what about those greenhouse gases? According to Highley, being part of SPP will enable Tri-State — and the 39 distribution co-ops and public power districts it serves — to use more renewable power more effectively. “Intermittent [energy] sources like wind and solar require flexibility,” Highley wrote in his Colorado Sun op-ed. “That’s what a regional transmission organization provides. By pooling resources and balancing them over a wide geographic area, the organization can better handle the variability of renewable power,” he wrote. “The RTO does this while helping us track our emissions and helping us meet reporting requirements.”
CALIFORNIA OR SPP?
A final decision was choosing between SPP and the California Independent System Operator. The PUC concluded CAISO’s governance could favor California’s interests at the expense of other participants. Highley concurred, noting SPP’s democratic governance model.
“At SPP, every member utility and every state regulatory commission has a voice,” said Highley. “There are 200 people in the room for a board meeting.” Also, being closer to other SPP members than to California and having participated in SPP’s eastern territory gave Highley and Tri-State’s board confidence that it would be the better RTO to join.
“This sounds technical and wonky, and it is,” Highley summed up in his Colorado Sun article. “But the heart of the matter is … utilities are working smarter together as members of SPP to deliver electricity more reliably and affordably to people across parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, New Mexico, and beyond.”
Jim Hight is a writer, research analyst, and consultant based in Buena Vista, Colorado, where he is a grateful member of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association.
Colorado’s A trusted voice for the state’s
By Mary Peck
Colorado is home to more than 67,000 farmers and ranchers who rely on specialized industry news and information to support their daily operational decisions. It’s no exaggeration to say local farm broadcasters are essential to the state’s agriculture industry and rural communities in general.
Farm broadcasting is a craft nearly as old as commercial radio itself, with the first farm reports hitting the airwaves in the early 1920s. Ag broadcasters are a trusted, consistent source of vital news, weather, and market information, and Colorado is home to one of the best.
Lorrie Boyer, also known as the Ag Queen, has delivered the ag news farmers and ranchers rely on for nearly 30 years. Through her skill, ambition, and expertise, she has earned her respect throughout both the agricultural and farm broadcasting industries.
“It’s good hearing from the different people she talks to on topics from water to fertilizer to livestock,” said David Blach, a fourth-generation farmer in Yuma County. “It helps educate the farmers and lets us hear different perspectives. She can ask some great questions.”
For producers working long hours in often remote fields and feedlots, reliable information matters. Through decades of farm reporting, Lorrie has become one of the most familiar voices connecting Colorado agriculture to the wider world. “Lorrie rightfully earns her audience’s trust through her reliable reporting and genuine connection,” said Corryn LaRue, a Missouri-based farm broadcaster for the American Ag Network
Motivated by a sincere desire to elevate Colorado’s agriculture industry and its people, along with an entrepreneurial spirit and plenty of ambition, Lorrie was destined to become a renowned farm broadcaster. It’s a personally rewarding career and work that has earned her countless accolades, including being named the Farm Broadcaster of the Year in 2024 by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
Photo by Chris Coleman
Lorrie Boyer has deep roots in Colorado and farm broadcasting.
Ag Queen
farmers and ranchers
A couple of things keep me motivated in doing this every day,” Lorrie said, “I learn at least one new thing every single day, and I’m providing important information that farmers and ranchers can use to make operational decisions. They’re out in the field producing my food. This is what I can do for them.”
ROOTED IN AGRICULTURE
Raised in rural Boulder County, and the daughter of a Paint Horse breeder and trainer, Lorrie grew up loving and showing horses. In 1992 she was crowned Boulder County Rodeo Queen, an experience she credits for laying the groundwork of her interest in communication and leadership. “She’s very proud of her roots,” David said, “She grew up around 4-H and FFA and has a lot of savvy about agriculture.”
After attending Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Lorrie transferred to Colorado State University where she earned a degree in technical journalism with an emphasis in agriculture. She and her husband Brian married the day after graduation.
Her career took off soon after, with a first job at the Ag Journal in La Junta. Her next opportunity at KLMR radio in Lamar officially set her on a career path in broadcasting. For the next five years, Lorrie focused on delivering ag news and farm reports to listeners across southeastern Colorado, developing her reporting skills, and deepening her industr y knowledge.
Joining the region’s competing station KVAY was the next level in her career trajectory. There she was charged with building the station’s ag department from scratch. “I love a good challenge, and it was an opportunity for me to not only to have that on my resume but also to mold it into what I wanted it to be.”
Lorrie and Brian’s first son was born during the four years she worked at KVAY. She was able to shift to part-time work, but it wasn’t long until she was ready for a new challenge. “My next natural
Lorrie Boyer reports ag news to Coloradans both at her home studio and from the fields.
Photo courtesy of Lorrie Boyer
Lorrie was crowned as Boulder County Rodeo Queen in 1992.
Photo by Chris Coleman
Lorrie interviews ag industry individuals at Commodity Class in Houston in 2024.
Photo courtesy of Lorrie Boyer
WHERE TO FIND LORRIE
• All podcast platforms — search “Ag Queen”
• AgInfo.net
• KSIR Radio — streaming and at 1010 AM and 93.1 FM
• Youragnetwork.com
• Successful Farming — YouTube
• lorrieboyer.com
progression was to ask, ‘Now what can I do?’ So, I started my own network. It was called the Colorado Agriculture News Network. It was crazy because I was literally feeding my son in his high chair while I was creating my website and getting it going.”
Through the Colorado Agriculture News Network she created, Lorrie distributed three daily agricultural news reports. The network eventually reached 20 stations across Colorado, and some in Kansas and New Mexico.
Then came a call from KSIR radio in Fort Morgan. While her young family wasn’t ready to move at that time, the station was so eager to bring her on, they hired her anyway. Broadcasting equipment was shipped to her, and she worked remotely long before it would become commonplace.
Eventually her family moved to Morgan County, and Lorrie remains a fixture at KSIR today, delivering daily market reports and ag news, interviewing people from all walks of ag life, and covering farm news with award-winning skill and her own unique style. “I’ve done my ag news and interviews from a swather, a combine, a sugar beet picker, feedlots — and so many shows from the sale barn.”
LEADERSHIP AND LEGACY
Among the U.S. farm broadcasting industry, Lorrie’s influence and leadership reaches far beyond Colorado. She has been a key leader for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting, an organization that represents, supports, and promotes the success of farm broadcasting nationally. She was a board director, served as regional and national vice president, and ultimately as the NAFB national president in 2019.
“Lorrie elevates the standard of farm broadcasting by setting an example of professionalism which is helping shape the next generation of farm broadcasters,” Corryn said. “She represents the kind of journalism that reinforces the importance and credibility of agricultural media.”
It was through the NAFB Leadership Academy that Lorrie met Jesse Harding Campbell a decade ago. Fresh out of college, Jesse appreciated having an experienced farm broadcaster to look up to. “I still to this day consider Lorrie a mentor. I started my own business a couple of years ago, and she’s someone who I’ve looked up to, and we’re really close friends as well,” Jesse said.
Lorrie is widely known for being supportive and generous with her knowledge, while also open to learning from the next generation of farm broadcasters, calling them her mentors. She founded the NAFB Mentorship Program in 2017, which pairs new members with experienced mentors to support their confidence and help them build professional relationships.
“She’s fantastic with other broadcasters, especially those up and coming,” said Sabrina Halvorson, former NAFB member and CEO of the North Dakota News Cooperative. “She has made it a point to be a role model for other women in the industry. She is really good at having other women’s backs.”
When Lorrie was starting out in the industry three decades ago, women farm broadcasters were rare. She knows the challenges that can come with forging a new trail and believes in supporting those who are just starting out.
“Her faith is very important to her,” Sabrina shared. “She actually walks the walk. To take care of people, help people — she just lives that life, and I’ve always respected that about her.”
Photo by Chris Coleman
Lorrie attends the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk in Kansas City, Missouri
Photo courtesy of Lorrie Boyer
BECOMING THE AG QUEEN
Not one to rest on her laurels, Lorrie’s growth mindset led her to launch her own podcast seven years ago to adapt to evolving media platforms, expand her reach, and build credibility with a new generation of ag leaders. Her top-rated Ag Queen Podcast, with listeners across the U.S. and beyond, is a platform for longform interviews with “movers and shakers” in the ag industry. She enjoys the chance to have deeper conversations than traditional radio segments allow and says her many years of delivering morning, noon, and mid-afternoon shows as well as working in both entertainment and talk radio formats prepared her well for the podcast format.
“The podcast was the first way for me to go national on my own with my own brand,” Lorrie said. “I strive to keep authentic to who I am. You must be accurate, relevant, nonbiased, but also have a personality. And why not? That’s how people connect to me.”
The Ag Queen nickname was bestowed upon her by colleagues early in her radio career. Once a moniker, she’s turned it into a unique brand that has proven itself to be engaging, memorable, and perfectly Lorrie. “I just kind of glommed onto it, being a rodeo queen. My parents will tell you that I still think I’m a queen. And my husband calls me his queen.”
With industry acumen and care, Lorrie expertly balances credibility and journalistic professionalism with a style that resonates and challenges stereotypes in a traditional field. “I want to be different. I want to be memorable, and I want to have bright colors on my business card and wear fun cowboy boots and still provide the information that our farmers and listeners need to make their operational decisions every day.”
LIFE BEYOND THE MICROPHONE
Like farmers and ranchers, farm broadcasters don’t come close to keeping regular business hours. Life and activities outside of work require flexibility. It’s one reason Lorrie has been a longtime fitness enthusiast and former CrossFit coach and competitor. When she’s not in the field or studio, she can be found weight training, spinning, or getting in a barre workout. And now that her sons are young adults, she has also begun to reconnect with her equestrian roots and is filling a big need in Colorado as a certified horse judge for all types of shows and competitions.
With an inquisitive mind, a generous heart, and authentic spirit, it’s exciting to imagine where Lorrie’s next 30 years will lead and what it could mean for the ag industry in Colorado and beyond. “I like to just be who I am and have a little fun along the way. I don’t think you have to be boring to be a farm broadcaster. You need to be accurate, relevant, and nonbiased, but also have a personality. And I think that that’s probably what makes me different in this industry.”
RECOGNITION AND RESPECT ACROSS THE INDUSTRY
Being named the 2024 NAFB Farm Broadcaster of the Year was another in a long list of awards and honors presented to Lorrie by the many agriculture and industry groups she works alongside, including:
• American Sheep Industry
• Colorado 4-H
• Colorado Association of Conservation Districts
• Colorado Broadcasters Association
• Colorado Corn Growers Association
• Colorado Young Farmers
• Denver Business Journal
• Future Farmers of America
• Morgan Community College
• National Association of Farm Broadcasting
• Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
• United Stockgrowers of America
Mary Peck is a freelance writer based in Northern Colorado and enjoys sharing stories of rural communities.
Lorrie receives the Farm Broadcaster of the Year in 2024.
Photo courtesy of Lorrie Boyer
Low-Cost Ways to Save Energy
By Miranda Boutelle
Saving energy doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars or get the newest technology to use less energy. There are several steps to reduce energy use, even on a tight budget.
Here are some low- and no-cost ways to save energy around your home.
Adjusting the thermostat is an easy way to save. On the hottest days, your cooling equipment must work much harder and use more energy to maintain the same temperature. Nudge the thermostat a few degrees closer to the outside temperature, especially on extreme weather days.
Fix any hot water leaks or dripping faucets. Those tiny drips can add up to big energy waste, not to mention water waste. If you need to hire a pro to fix it, turn the shutoff valve under the sink to stop the leak until you can get it fixed.
Wash clothes in cold water to avoid using the energy required to heat it. Washing on hot or warm settings can really add up, especially if you have a top-load or older washing machine that uses more water.
Adjusting the temperature on your water heater can save energy and money too. Depending on the water heater, this is either an easy adjustment or something a little more complicated that requires removing access panels. If you don’t know how, consult a professional.
Air sealing is a do-it-yourself, beginner-friendly project that improves comfort and reduces energy waste. For around $20 and a few hours of time, you can fill gaps, cracks, and holes to prevent air from
leaking in and out of the home. From the inside of the home, seal trim on windows and exterior doors with caulk for about $4 a tube. Buy paintable caulk so you can touch it up when it dries, if needed.
A can of spray foam is about $5 and seals gaps around plumbing lines around pipes under sinks, in the crawlspace, or in the basement. Cold air can travel up through those spaces, causing drafts and wasting energy. Sealing these areas also stops insects and rodents from using these gaps to enter your home.
Spray foam is messy and nearly impossible to get off whatever it touches, so wear disposable gloves and clothes you don’t mind dirtying, and use drop cloths to protect finished floors. Be careful if you’re working with spray foam overhead. If you get it in your hair, it’s not coming out with anything less than a haircut. Move any items and clean surfaces in areas you intend to seal before cracking open a can. Put the can in a cardboard box to carry throughout the house so you don’t leave a trail of spray foam.
For $10 to $15, you can buy weather stripping to improve the seal on exterior doors. If you can see light around doors or feel a draft between the door and the door jamb when the door is closed, weather stripping will help.
Try these easy, low- and no-cost improvements to reduce energy waste and improve comfort in your home.
Miranda Boutelle is the chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company. She has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy at home.
The Place to Celebrate Summer Mancos
By Melinda Taylor Editorial Assistant
Mancos is a small, energetic town within 10 minutes of Mesa Verde National Park. There is a vibrant arts scene, complete with massive, building-sized murals, and the friendly locals really love a festival. If you are lucky enough to visit this summer, be sure to keep the following events in mind.
On June 20, the Mancos creative district will host its signature event, the seventh annual BurroFest. This summer, the focus is on Colorado’s 150th birthday. You will find costumed burros engaging in a history-themed obstacle course, artist demos, live animal painting, sculpting, and more. It is a family- friendly, community-focused tribute to burros and their contribution to mining. Find more details at burrofest.com. Be sure to read the hilarious FAQ page, and please leave your dogs at home for this event.
During the last full weekend in July each year since 1968, the town has another festival, Mancos Days. This year the theme is “Mancos Ever After: Myth, Magic, and Fairy Tales” and it falls July 24-26. You’ll find a parade led by the Mancos Days Pioneer Queen and Little Miss Mancos, a classic car show, a cornhole tournament, a fun run, a library book sale, live bands, and the list goes on. For more information, visit mancosdays.com.
In early September, the creative district will host the Mesa Verde Literary Festival, which occurs just after the Writers Conference The festival will include a day of readings, talks, and panel discussions. If writing is your passion, don’t forget to check out the Mancos Common Press, which is a historically restored 1900s newspaper shop and museum in downtown. For more information, visit mancoscreativedistrict.com
Most Mancos events are held at Boyle Park on the east side of town. On Thursday nights from June through October, the park is host to a weekly farmers market. Be sure to also visit the local art galleries, restaurants, history museums, and shops — the town is 0.6 square miles and is easily walkable.
Yesterday’s News, a mural by renowned local artist and illustrator Brad Goodell, is on the west side of the Mancos Common Press building. Mancos features a growing collection of public murals that highlight local culture, history, and Indigenous art. Photo by Melinda Taylor
HawaiianBratwurst
By Melinda Taylor Editorial Assistant
Recipe and photo courtesy of Charcutnuvo
Recently, CCL staff members were treated to a wonderful tour of the Charcutnuvo factory. Immediately upon entering the squeakyclean facility, one could smell delicious aromas of sausages being made. Charcutnuvo has been family-run since 1969. The company prides itself on adhering to strict Swiss sausage-making traditions and creating cleaner, kinder, and better sausage. Each batch of sausage is handmixed in small quantities. Try some for your next barbecue.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp teriyaki sauce
1 tsp sambal oelek
chili paste
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package of Charcutnuvo
Organic Beef Bratwurst
4 sausage buns
4 slices of pineapple
½ cup sliced red onion
½ cup minced chives
½ cup chopped cilantro
2 tbsp paprika
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the mayonnaise, teriyaki sauce, and chili paste to a small bowl and mix well. Adjust the amount of mayonnaise you’d like for ideal thickness and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Heat grill to medium high and grill sausages, about 3-4 minutes on each side.
Lower the heat on the grill. With tongs, carefully place the sliced pineapple on the grill. Grill on each side for about 2-3 minutes then set aside.
Place sausage buns on the grill and toast for 1-2 minutes on low heat.
Cut each pineapple slice into quarters.
Place the sausage in the bun, and garnish with pineapple, red onions, chives, cilantro, paprika, and teriyaki mayo. Enjoy!
Hotdog
Pineapple
photo by Liliia
Bila / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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As beautiful as it is functional, this knife is 10" overall and features a high-quality 420 surgical stainless steel blade with a serrated spine. The handle is constructed of genuine natural bone with redwood spacers. On the handle you’ll find design work that’s carved by hand, a testament to its craftsmanship.
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Colorado’s Historic Summer Rodeos
By Jacey Blue Renner
A Colorado summer isn’t complete without a visit to one of Colorado’s best high-energy, incredible local rodeos. Bull riding, team roping, bronc busting, and barrel racing carry spectators on an excitement high, and the cowboy traditions show visitors and locals the glory of Colorado summers. Is it your first time in the stands? Maybe this is your summertime family tradition, or you’re working behind the scenes to make the 2026 rodeo season the most memorable yet. No matter what, these rodeos will have you out of your seat and remembering the experience for years to come. Pencil these five rodeos onto your Colorado summer bucket list.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS PRO RODEO
Weekends, June 19-August 29, 6 p.m. BBQ and music, 7:30 p.m. rodeo start
Beginning June 19, every Friday and Saturday night until the end of August, find yourself at the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo. BBQ and live music kick off each twilight weekend rodeo, which is rooted in traditions and celebrations dating back more than 100 years and was established as a weekend series since the 1970s. From steer wrestling to bull riding and every fast-paced event in between, Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo offers both beauty and brawn every summer weekend. To plan your weekend itinerary, explore the schedule, and grab your rodeo tickets, visit steamboatprorodeo.com
PLATEAU VALLEY HERITAGE DAYS
July 2-4; Junior Roughstock event July 4, 1 p.m.
Tucked in the center of Colorado’s Plateau Valley you will find Collbran, which annually hosts Plateau Valley Heritage Days. It is the perfect way to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, and the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association. Kick off your holiday with the Mesa County Horse 4-H pancake breakfast and parade, carnival and car show, and the running of the horses. End the night with the CPRA rodeo and after-party event, Dance in the Dirt. To explore more of the Plateau Valley, get more event details, and learn how to grab your tickets, visit pvheritagedays.com
Photo by Regina Guthrie
Photo courtesy of Ralph Prideaux
Photo by Michael Magill
RED RYDER ROUNDUP RODEO
July 2-3, 6 p.m. and July 4, 2 p.m.
KIT CARSON COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO
July 25-August 1; rodeo July 30, 31, and August 1, 8 p.m.
Held in Burlington, the 109th Kit Carson County Fair and Rodeo is both a family-friendly and a quintessential Eastern Plains experience. Culminating with the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos, locals and visitors can explore livestock shows and grab funnel cake during the day. Allan Dessell will perform at the rodeo events while The Kentucky Headhunters will perform immediately following the rodeo on August 1. For tickets and more information, visit kitcarsoncounty.colorado. gov/fair-grounds/county-fair
Celebrate Independence Day in Pagosa Springs! Established in 1949, the Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo has been showcasing the best of the best rodeo events, including calf roping, ladies breakaway, team roping, bull riding, and junior bull riding for over 70 years. Littles will love the parade and mutton bustin’, while all-ages will enjoy watching rodeo traditions and fireworks from the grandstand. Added bonus: Pagosa Night Rodeos are Thursday nights from June 4 to July 23. Visit pagosarodeo.com to purchase tickets and build your Red Ryder Roundup bucket list.
GUNNISON CATTLEMEN’S DAYS
July 3-12; Ranch Rodeo July 4; PRCA Rodeo July 9, 10 and 11, 6:45 p.m.
Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days has something for everyone: horse shows, barrel racing, cowboy poetry, cowboy church, and the rodeos. Its capstone event, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo, kicks off July 9 with the Golden Circle of Champions Rodeo, raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer, followed by Patriot Night, July 10, and Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy Night, July 11. Gunnison is steeped in rich ranching history, and every summer celebrates its rodeo roots by hosting Colorado’s longest running rodeo. To plan your Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days and Rodeo experience and celebrate ranch traditions, visit cattlemensdays.com
Photo by BQ Gauck Photography
Photo courtesy of Gunnison Pioneer Museum
Photo by Kimberlee Hutcherson
Mary Roos, a member of Grand Valley Power, visits New York City and brings her copy of CCL along for the trip.
Morgan County REA member Michelle Christensen brings CCL on a Caribbean cruise while celebrating her daughter’s birthday.
Linda and Art Wilson enjoy one day of sunshine while visiting Lewis Harris Island in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. “We thought we would get out of the Colorado weather, but it snowed in Scotland too!” The Wilsons are Sangre de Cristo Electric Association members.
Valley REA member Jennifer Rivas (left) and her mom Irene visit the Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie, during a tour of whiskey distilleries in the Scottish Highlands.
Poudre Valley REA members Kerese and Dave Arnold bring CCL to Placencia, Belize, while vacationing in a beautiful fishing community. They went deep sea fishing in the inner and outer reef, which was the first time for Kerese.
Show us your adventures with the magazine for a chance to win $25.
Upload your photo with CCL at coloradocountrylife.coop. Find more reader photos on Facebook @COCountryLife and Instagram @cocountrylife. PACK. SNAP. SHARE. WIN!
Empire Electric Association Member Engagement Manager Andy Carter and his wife Beth grab a photo with their copy of CCL on Gobbins Cliff Path, stopping on the Gobbins bridge on the east coast of Northern Ireland.
the magazine.
Poudre
Tom Tsakopulos, a Mountain View Electric Association member, enjoys an evening in old San Antonio with his copy of
Highline Electric Association member Denise Sunderman snaps a photo with her copy of CCL at the beach in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Reliability means showing up — for today and tomorrow. We’re here before the sun rises and we’re working all through the night, 24/7/365.
Why? Because every community our members serve deserves power they can count on. From energy planning to system reliability, we work as one connected cooperative family. We’re sharing resources, expertise, and the strength that only comes from standing together so your co-op can deliver what matters most: reliable, affordable electricity for every moment of life.
Scan to learn more or visit www.tristate.coop/powering-future
