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 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

Although she is new to the role, Meredith is no stranger to local food. In college, she took a course that sparked her interest in agriculture. This interest became a hobby when she moved to the Yampa Valley in 2014 and started volunteering for the Community Ag Alliance. She then became a staff member and helped grow the program and perform admin duties. Her hobby of local food grew into a passion and is now the north-star in her career path. Presently, she is a Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Fellow and part of the Northwest Colorado Food Coalition. She enjoys connecting with local food any chance she gets and sharing the farmer’s story. She is the owner of Rose West, an ag marketing and resource business, that launched this year. Away from the CAA Market you can find her cross-country skiing or hiking with her dog, Tilly, or enjoying a beer at Storm Peak Brewing Co.
Contact Meredith at caamarket@communityagalliance.org

Growing up in Steamboat, she developed a strong sense of loyalty and pride for this community; the people, the culture and the history are so special to me. Her passion for the food system and agriculture as a whole has grown and grown after years of selling local produce at farmer’s markets and working on a farm. Now, she’s seeking a lifelong career connecting people to their food and what better place to do it than in the community she loves. Working at the CAA Market is a beautiful opportunity to combine the two things she loves most. Outside of work and class, you’ll usually find her romping around North Routt or enjoying a beer with her pals.

Jessie has always had a passion for food, be it cooking or helping her grandpa harvest vegetables in his garden. In college, she was introduced to the Slow Food movement, which motivated her to be more cognizant of where our food comes from and to support local agriculture. After graduation, she spent a few months working on a farm in Idaho. While she was there, she found that she not only loved the process of growing produce, but also getting to connect with the local community. She moved to the Yampa Valley in 2015 and has continued to pursue her passion of farming, working for a summer at Elkstone, as well as the 2020 growing season at Bee Grateful Farm. Even when she’s not working on a farm, Jessie tries to grow as much of her own produce as possible. Now working at the CAA Market, she hopes to share her passion for eating local, and is eager to help connect the growing community to their farmers. Outside of the market, she is a part time ski instructor, an avid runner, and she loves exploring the Flattops and Zirkels with her family.

Our current Chair of the CAA Board of Directors is Shiloh Whaley. Shiloh, her husband Jay and their four daughters, run a diversified ranch in South Routt. They raise sheep, goats, cattle, rabbits and chickens. Whaley Lamb meat is sold at the CAA Market. Shiloh has been an excellent chair, as she understands diverse ag operations and the work that truly needs to be done to get meat on the table for her customers. We appreciate her leadership and hard work on the Board and on the ranch!