|
Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom Selects Board of Directors, Advisory Board Members
Westminster, Colo. (September 19, 2023) - During its first quarterly meeting of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom (CoAITC) elected four individuals to serve on its board of directors and added five new members to its advisory board. These members join the current directors and advisors, who all voluntarily serve the organization and contribute to the development of agricultural literacy education across Colorado.
Sallie Miller of Briggsdale, Colo., was elected to a second three-year term on the board of directors. Along with working full time for American AgCredit, Miller and her family own and operate Croissant Red Angus.
Three individuals were elected to their first three-year term on the board of directors. Cassidy Johnston, Kiowa, Colo., is a communications and ag consultant working with several ranchers and is an ambassador with US Farmers and Ranchers in Action. Idella Lewis, Wheat Ridge, Colo., is a retired teacher and is a member of Colorado State Grange and Maple Grove Grange. Cindy Staheli Pearson, Loma, Colo., recently retired from many years of teaching at Loma Elementary. She and her family also own and operate 2XL Cattle Company. All three new board members previously served on the CoAITC Advisory Board.
The other four individuals making up the CoAITC Board of Directors include Keri Powers of The Growing Life Garden Project with Las Animas/Huerfano Health Department in Colorado City, Colo.; Jennifer Luitjens Bahr, director of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Foundation located in Denver, Colo.; Jim Ehrlich, executive director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee-San Luis Valley located in Monte Vista, Colo.; and Sondra Pierce of Escalante Farms and Pierce Farms in Delta, Colo.
Selected to join the CoAITC Advisory Board include Tasha Chevarria of Kiowa, Colo., Charity Dowdell of Eaton, Colo., Shelby Rich of Grand Junction, Colo., Michelle Skaggs of Bennett, Colo., and Sarah West of Fort Collins, Colo. Chevarria is the district manager for the West Arapahoe Conservation District. Dowdell is a teacher at Eaton Middle School. Rich is the education manager for the National Western Stock Show. Skaggs and her family own and operate Tuff’s Ranch and Tuff’s Animal Rescue. West is a graduate of Colorado State University’s agricultural literacy program and is the director of communication strategy with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.
Rounding out the CoAITC Advisory Board is these six individuals: Jenny Bennett of Fort Collins, Colo., CSU instructor and agricultural literacy outreach coordinator; Bethany Howell of Del Norte, Colo., deputy director of communications and outreach for the Colorado Department of Agriculture; Julie Moore of Englewood, Colo., director of nutrition and education for the Colorado Beef Council; Colleen Peppler of Peppler Farms in Platteville, Colo.; Terry Tormohlen of Countryside Pullets, LLC and the Colorado Egg Producers from Fort Morgan, Colo., and Aubriel Zachman, who works for CSU’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in Fort Collins.
“Our nine directors and 11 advisors all play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom and drive our mission forward. We are excited about the diversity of backgrounds, outstanding expertise, and strong commitment to agriculture and education each of these individuals bring to the organization,” said Jennifer Scharpe, CoAITC executive director.
About Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom (CoAITC)
Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom (also known as Colorado Foundation for Agriculture) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is the lead agricultural literacy organization in the state, serving the full spectrum of prekindergarten through 12th grade formal and informal education across Colorado. Its mission is connecting Colorado educators and students to their food, fiber, fuel, and natural resources. CoAITC annually provides resources and programs to 325,000 educators and students in urban, suburban, and rural communities, most of which are free. To learn more or to make a tax-deductible gift, visit GrowingYourFuture.com or email Info@coagclassroom.org.
###
| 
