ABOUT
Purpose
To ensure agriculture thrives as a vibrant core of our Valley.
Mission & Vision
Values
- A commitment to agriculture is the core of our existence
- The credibility of our organization is paramount
- We treasure our heritage while adapting to the future
- We honor diverse perspectives
- Together we achieve more
What We Do & How We Do It
We provide leadership, education, and programs that promote agriculture and connect the shared interests of our Valley by:
- Enhancing and promoting local agriculture: food, fiber, products, and services
- Providing resources, advocacy, and support for local agriculture
- Fostering meaningful connections between agriculture and our community
Ensuring the vitality and continuity of agriculture in the Yampa Valley is our primary focus.
Through actions and programs we lead Community to grow Agriculture and to create Alliance among individuals with shared passions and goals.
History
The Community Agriculture Alliance (CAA) is a Colorado incorporated, non-profit community organization serving Routt County and the Yampa River Valley. The CAA was established in 1999 to ensure that the agricultural community can adapt to changes in the local and regional economy and still be active and vital in the Yampa River Valley for generations to come.
The Yampa Valley is truly a unique place. We have a rich history of cattle and sheep ranching, dating from the 1870s, with many of the ranches still in continuing family ownership. We have a deep economic base of coal mining with a heritage of gold and silver mining. We are located in the heart of the Colorado Rockies and are blessed with abundant scenery and wildlife that provides a strong recreational economy. We are also home to the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, an internationally acclaimed ski and snowboard area, which provides a strong resort and service economy. All segments of the area are dependent upon each other for economic survival because of soaring land prices, continual residential and commercial growth and the desire to maintain the rural way of life. The challenge is to intermingle all of the players in northwest Colorado to assure that the amenities that we so love will exist for generations to come.
CAA Board & Staff
2023 Board of Directors
- Mikinzie Taylor, Co-Chair
- Colby Townsend, Co-Chair
- Megan Knott, Secretary
- Cebric Damby, Treasurer
- Joella West
- Greg Brown
- CJ Mucklow
- Kent Sandstedt
- Claire Sollars
- Eric Wellman
- Conni Robertson
2023 Advisory Committee
- Carol Atha
- Kyle Bond
- Tiffany Carlson
- Kristi Doran
- Todd Hagenbuch
- Chereen Leong Schwarz
- Sonja Macys
- Clinton Whitten
Michele Meyer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michele has worked at CAA since 2010 and assumed the Executive Director role in 2018. She brings over 20 years of professional fund raising and marketing experience to the CAA. Michele previously worked for United Way, Hospice of Larimer County and has her own business as a personal trainer/yoga instructor, she is also a part time ski instructor With a diverse background, Michele comments, “I am honored to be a part of the Community Agriculture Alliance. I truly believe in the organizations’ mission of preserving, promoting and supporting agriculture. One of the main reasons I moved here, and I think a very common one, is the scenic working landscapes and heritage of agriculture. The natural beauty of the area and the scenic views that rural agriculture provide are critical to keeping the Yampa Valley so unique and special. I truly believe the mission of CAA is critical to the fabric of our community.”
Contact Michele at michele@communityagalliance.org
Patrick Stanko
AG RESOURCE COORDINATOR
Patrick is a fourth-generation rancher on a local Yampa Valley ranch that has been in the family for more than 100 years. After a 20-year hiatus from the Valley, while gaining his Engineering degree and working in the business world, Patrick moved back to the ranch in 2013. Starting work for the CAA in 2018 Patrick is dedicated to the work of promoting agriculture in the Yampa Valley. As the Agriculture Resource Coordinator, Patrick will continue the water education programs and outreach for agriculture in the Yampa Valley.
Contact Patrick at patrick@communityagalliance.org
Olivia Goldsworthy
DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING MANAGER
Olivia’s interest in working with non-profits started with her involvement with Real Food Generation and Food Recovery Network in college. Olivia enjoys creative problem-solving and is excited support a vital Yampa Valley agricultural community with her role at CAA. Her previous development experience has included Princeton Nursery School, C-Change Conversations, U.S. Coalition on Sustainability, and Help a Diabetic Child. Olivia received her B.A. in Sustainability Studies at Colorado Mountain College and has also pursued certificate coursework in Fundraising and Development from the University of California Davis. She has lived and worked in the Yampa Valley for 10 years and when not working, she can be found rowing her boat on the Yampa, enjoying an après ski session with friends, or giving belly rubs to her dog Gracie May.
Contact Olivia at olivia@communityagalliance.org
Chris Balenske
CAA MARKET MANAGER
After moving to Colorado in 2009 Chris’ passion for the outdoors, local food, and small mountain communities eventually brought him, his partner Caitlin, and dog Goat to the Yampa Valley in the spring of 2022. “We came to Steamboat Springs because we were looking for a place with a strong sense of community. It is important that we feel like we are helping to preserve the foundation of this unique and vibrant valley.”
Chris came to the CAA in June of 2023 after nearly 18 years in the hotel and property management industry where he opened several hotels, and oversaw many large capital projects. Farms and agriculture have always been a big part of his life, as his family has a 3rd generation dairy farm in central New York.
Chris is excited about using his background and passion to help the CAA Market grow, enhance the support of the local producers, and ultimately bring more local food to the people of this community.
Contact Chris at chris@communityagalliance.org
Lucas Morter
CAA MARKET SALES ASSOCIATE
Born and raised outside of town in Steamboat Springs, Lucas was always surrounded by farms which sparked his interest in local agriculture. Starting at the age of ten, he participated in the local Routt county 4-H program which taught him a lot about how much time and effort goes into growing the food that you can buy at the grocery store. It also taught him about how much better it can be for you depending on what you feed your animals and how they are taken care of. Working at the CAA Market is a great way for Lucas to see old friends from 4-H while still being connected to the community through agriculture. Outside of working at the CAA Market you can find him skiing, floating down the river, and hanging out with his friends.
