{"id":46175,"date":"2026-05-26T16:04:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T16:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/?page_id=46175"},"modified":"2026-06-01T20:33:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T20:33:57","slug":"spring-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/newsletters\/spring-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring 2026 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Reflections on Fall 2025<\/h1>\n

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Another amazing semester in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (DARE), I am continually inspired by the accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff, and partners. From Jordan Levi\u2019s nomination to the 2027 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame, to Jason Delfico becoming our first RAISE Scholar student to earn CSU\u2019s Mentored Research and Artistry Distinction, this newsletter highlights the innovation, leadership, and dedication that define our department. We also celebrate the success of our graduate and undergraduate students, including more than 80 graduates this spring and the very first cohort of Livestock Business Management students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This issue highlights some of the many ways DARE continues to make an impact across Colorado and beyond\u2014through award-winning research, statewide outreach efforts like the Colorado FFA Career Development Events, and faculty\u00a0expertise\u00a0featured in national publications and media. Equally important are the connections and community built within our department, whether through student events like DARE Bowling or the upcoming Hall of Fame celebration and Ag Day festivities coming this fall. Thank you for being part of the DARE community and for your continued support of our mission to develop future leaders in agriculture, natural resources, and applied economics.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nDepartment Head and Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics” title_text=”h-chouinard-260×293-min” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”highlights” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F1F1F1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” width=”100%” max_width=”85%” custom_margin=”0%||||false|true” custom_padding=”|2%|0px|2%|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Squiggle – Aligned Left” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\t\t

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DARE Highlights\u00a0<\/h3>\n

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NWSS Ag Adventure<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The agricultural literacy program, CSU Ag Adventure, had a record-breaking year at the 2026 National Western Stock Show. The program engaged 48,118 visitors while teaching them about the food and fiber systems in Colorado\u202fagriculture. CSU Ag Adventure welcomed around 12,500 students with school groups while also engaging with more than 3,300 visitors in CAM’s Classroom. Through the duration of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>16 days<\/span>, we had a total of 108 Ag Leaders join us: 45 CAS students, 3 Spur Start students, and 60 FFA members. We had a total of 6,500 learners that earned the title of Junior Ag Ambassador through the educational Ag Adventure Guide that they completed. CSU Ag Adventure aims to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>provide agricultural literacy opportunities for the visitors at the National Western Stock Show in partnership with 16 agricultural commodity groups around Colorado as well as the strong partnership with the National Western Stock Show<\/span>!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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DARE Affiliate Faculty nominated for the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame<\/strong><\/p>\n

DARE Affiliate Faculty, Jordan Levi, who has been involved in several of our classes including co-instructor for AREC 419, Commodity Market Trading Experience, was nominated for the 2027 Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame. Learn more about Jordan here.<\/p>\n

DARE Bowling<\/strong><\/p>\n

The DARE Diplomats hosted a successful bowling night in March, bringing mentors and mentees together for an evening of friendly competition on the lanes!<\/p>\n

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First RAISE Scholar student, Jason Delfico, recognized for completing the \u2018Mentored Research and Artistry Distinction (MRAD)\u2019 process<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jason Delfico, an undergraduate agribusiness student in DARE, was honored with CSU\u2019s Mentored Research and Artistry Distinction (MRAD)! This distinction is noted on students\u2019 transcripts at graduation in recognition of their commitment to research involvement, professional development, and service. Over the past year, Jason contributed to research through the department\u2019s\u202fRAISE Scholars\u202fProgram, evaluating the economic feasibility of winter peas as an alternative cropping option in the Upper Colorado River Basin.\u202fCongratulations\u202fon this well-deserved recognition!<\/p>\n

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Colorado FFA Career Development Events<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every year, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Agricultural Education Program hosts a massive competition: the Colorado FFA Career Development Events. This year, 1,875 FFA students from all across Colorado from the biggest cities to the smallest towns competed in 14 different agriculture, natural resource, and food events. This is a huge lift for our Ag Education Team, including our main event coordinators: Nathan Clark, Jenny Bennett, Don Thorn, and Katharine Eshelman. Many DARE faculty members also led competitions and events, including Katharine Eshelman (Ag Mechanics) and Dan Mooney (Farm & Agribusiness Management). Additionally, Dr. Kellie Enns and her Student Success Team coordinated this year’s BBQ and student experiences. To wrap up a fantastic event, DARE awarded more than $3,000 in student scholarships to the top-placing students in several events.<\/p>\n

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Livestock Leaders Association student group held its donor appreciation dinner on April 30 at the CoBank Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

The students expressed their gratitude to the Colorado Livestock Association and others for their support in helping them attend NCBA CattleCon 2026 and other events.\u202f It was a wonderful event to celebrate these students and their external partners.<\/p>\n

4th\u202fAnnual CAS Graduate Student and Post-doc Research Showcase<\/strong><\/p>\n

Congrats to all our Graduate Students for presenting at the 4th Annual Graduate Student & Post- Doc Research Showcase, Shuhang Lou, Jayna Mallon, Bishal Bista, and Rebecca Wasserman-Olin. Special congratulations to Jayna Mallon (M.S.) for being a top presenter on her research, \u201cEstimating the Value of Congestion Reduction in Katmai National Park\u201d.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/05\/NWSS2-225×300.jpg” alt=”Students at National Western Stock Show” title_text=”NWSS2″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/05\/bowling-300×225.jpg” alt=”DARE Diplomats at a bowling alley” title_text=”bowling” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2%||||false|false” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/05\/MRAD-Delfico-300×292.jpg” alt=”Jason Delfico leading a presentation” title_text=”MRAD Delfico” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2%||||false|false” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/05\/CDE-300×225.jpg” alt=”Students at the Colorado FFA Career Development Events” title_text=”CDE” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2%||||false|false” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/dare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/05\/cattlecon-300×225.jpg” alt=”Livestock Leaders Association student group” title_text=”cattlecon” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2%||||false|false” border_width_top=”4px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” width=”100%” max_width=”85%” custom_margin=”0%||||false|true” custom_padding=”|2%||2%|false|true” border_width_top=”2px” border_color_top=”#F15625″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Spring 2026 Awards<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Undergraduate 2026 Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year we presented over 52 awards to DARE undergraduates for their amazing leadership, academic excellence, and outstanding efforts! Congratulations to all our students and thank you for the work that you do within the department and college!<\/p>\n

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College of Ag Awards<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Many of our faculty, staff, graduate students and undergraduate students received awards at a college and University level. Take a look at this year\u2019s awardees!<\/p>\n