Economic Impact of Ag on Western CO - Business Incubator Center

“The Economic Impact of Agriculture on Western Colorado”

January 19th, 2026 | Mesa County

January 29th, 2026 | Garfield & Rio Blanco Counties

January 30th, 2026 | Delta & Montrose Counties

Join The Business Incubator Center and AgriWest for the public release of a groundbreaking agricultural study that brings together data, trends, and lived experience to provide a clear picture of agriculture across Western Colorado.

This study was commissioned by the Business Incubator Center as part of the AgriWest initiative and conducted by Nathan Perry, Ph.D., Professor of Economics at Colorado Mesa University. It represents one of the most comprehensive, region-wide assessments of Western Slope agriculture conducted to date.

RSVP for Mesa County Launch – January 19th

RSVP for Garfield/Rio Blanco Presentation – January 29th

RSVP for Delta/Montrose Presentation – January 30th

What to Expect

A clear, data-driven snapshot of agriculture on the Western Slope
Findings from Census data, producer surveys, and economic modeling
Agriculture’s impact on jobs, GDP, and regional economy
Key challenges: aging ownership, succession, drought, rising costs, and access to technology
Each presentation will cover the same content and findings.

Why Agriculture Matters

Agriculture supports thousands of jobs and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity across Western Colorado. At the same time, producers face growing pressures related to drought, rising costs, workforce challenges, and generational transition.

The Economic Impact of Agriculture on Western Colorado Study, establishes a shared, credible baseline that allows communities, producers, policymakers, and economic development partners to move toward informed, coordinated decision-making about the future of agriculture and the regional economy.

Janie VanWinkle, a lifelong beef producer from western Colorado, brings extensive experience in land, livestock, and water management, rooted in her upbringing in rural areas along Unaweep Canyon and the Dolores River. Alongside her husband Howard, they manage 550 head of cattle in Mesa County, with their son Dean and daughter-in-law Tayler joining the family business. Holding permits on Forest Service and BLM land, and collaborating with the City of Grand Junction, they prioritize stewardship of the land, livestock, and community partnerships.

Active community leaders, Janie and Howard’s contributions span 4-H leadership, board memberships, and Janie’s presidency of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, earning recognition such as Protect the Harvest’s Friend of the Land and the Colorado Farm Bureau Who’s Who in Ag Trailblazer Award. Through their ranch, they support food security initiatives, supplying high-quality protein to families in need via partnerships like the Food Bank of the Rockies. Janie also shares agricultural insights through her column in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel and maintains a social media presence advocating for responsible agriculture and community engagement.

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