Cheers for Conservation

Join us for a farm-fresh dinner, auction, and celebration as we present the 30th Annual George E. Cranmer Award to Senator Michael Bennet. Senator Bennet has been a tireless advocate for protecting Colorado’s natural resources. He has worked to increase public access to land to ensure ongoing recreational opportunities and economic development, and worked to protect the future of farms and ranches through his leadership on the Senate Committee on Agriculture. In the current Farm Bill reauthorization, Senator Bennet has fought for the inclusion of incentives and the improvement of programs that encourage innovative solutions to our water challenges in the West. He led the introduction of the Voluntary Groundwater Conservation Act, based on Colorado Open Lands’ groundwater conservation easement pilot program in the San Luis Valley.

Colorado Open Lands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust that exists to protect Colorado’s land and water resources. We work primarily with private landowners to place voluntary agreements called conservation easements on their property. Their ranch stays their ranch, their farm stays their farm. The process is driven by the wishes of the landowner with the goal of protecting open space, water, and wildlife habitat – forever.

We believe that the unmatched quality of life that Colorado offers is directly tied to our natural resources. With projected growth of 36% population growth by 2050, (Source: Colorado Demographer’s Office) we believe we can preserve that quality of life by protecting the most special places in Colorado while we still have the chance.