CLA’s Top 5 of 2024
The volunteer leaders and staff of the Colorado Livestock Association work diligently to represent, inform, and advance Colorado’s livestock industry. We have had many successes in our efforts to represent, inform, and advance Colorado’s livestock industry. Below is a summary of the top 5 CLA highlights from 2024 and a look ahead into 2025.
#1 Colorado Voters Firmly Reject Animal-Related Initiatives
This past November, voters rejected efforts to ban slaughterhouses, fur products, and mountain lion hunting. Since the proposed slaughterhouse ban initiative was introduced in the city and county of Denver in June 2023, the livestock industry has been working to preserve 20% of the nation’s lamb harvest capacity at Superior Farms in Globeville. Denver voters were not fooled by this misleading initiative and defeated this egregious ban on an employee-owned business, which plays a crucial role in maintaining our food supply, protecting labor, and ensuring that our community has access to locally sourced food.
“I am thrilled with the success of defeating these initiatives by such a significant margin, sending a clear message that these harmful policies will not succeed in Colorado,” stated Zach Riley, CEO of the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA). “It has been a hard-fought costly battle to reach this point, and this is no small victory.” CLA greatly appreciates the hard work and support behind these efforts. We especially thank the campaign donors who entrusted CLA with their resources and provided leadership in this fight for animal agriculture.
#2 CLA Members Elect New Leadership
President Kory Kessinger shares his vision for the future, the livestock industry, and CLA in the most recent edition of Vision. Kory Kessinger serves as the 21st President of the Colorado Livestock Association. He began his term at the Annual Meeting in Black Hawk on July 16, 2024, and will serve for two years. Check out his interview on page 10 of the newest edition of Vision!
#3 Key Service Provider Access Lawsuit Continues
Since the enactment of Senate Bill 21-087, there have been instances of individuals entering private property and businesses under the auspices of providing services to those employed on-premises. CLA and other agricultural associations are providing clarifying literature that can be used in postings on-site and in conversations with employees and Key Service Providers (KSPs) or those seeking entrance on farms and businesses. Most importantly, farms need to create their own detailed plans for directing this sort of foot traffic to ensure the safety of the employees, animals, and visitors.
CLA’s attorney along with multiple other agriculture organizations have filed in appellate court once again to address the issues of taking by trespass and impeding business. This appeal is paralleled to the Supreme Court case Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, decided in California just days before Governor Polis signed Senate Bill 87 into law. The appeal challenges the applicability of this provision in law. Given the nature of takings and the pretense of case law, compensation should be required by the enacting government entity.
#4 CLA Brings in Experts on Ag Safety
The CLA Safety Group Program continues to benefit the membership through reduced premiums, safety group dividends, excellent claims assistance and return to work services and agriculture safety resources. CLA hosted in-person and virtual Safety Group meetings featuring agriculture safety experts. Meeting recordings can be found on CLA’s YouTube channel.
Highlights from 2024 include:
–Rural Fire Mitigation, Galeton Fire Chief, Mr. Russ Kane
–Managing Farm Stress so Stress Doesn’t Manage Us, Chad Reznicek MA, LPC
Stay tuned for the 2025 Safety Group meeting schedule to be announced shortly after the first of the year!
CLA members have access to safety training and safety program development resources as well as bilingual templates for employee handbooks, job descriptions, policies, and more! Members can view these under the Resources tab on the CLA Member Portal.
#5 Looking Forward to 2025
The first regular session of the 75th General Assembly will convene on January 8, 2025, with nearly two dozen brand-new legislators. CLA’s lobbying team remains vigilant in representing farming and ranching families on issues that could impact their ability to achieve economic sustainability and pass their farms down to the next generation. CLA anticipates key issues, including foreign investment in agricultural land, ag labor, and the environment, to take center stage over the next 120 days.
CLA members who would like to participate in the bi-weekly conference calls to hear updates from our lobbyists may contact the office for more information.