Innovation and Collaboration Showcased at Colorado Project's San Luis Valley Convening

Over three immersive days in the San Luis Valley, community leaders from across Colorado gathered for the second stop on the Colorado Project’s Rural Learning Tour. Convened by the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs and the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, the Colorado Project is a statewide effort to advance shared prosperity, sustainability, and inclusive growth in every corner of the state. The San Luis Valley convening offered a vivid look at both the opportunities and challenges in rural Colorado. Guided by the Colorado Project’s four cornerstones — Colorado’s Promise, Sustainability and Resilience, Economic Mobility and Workforce, and Cost of Living — participants engaged directly with agricultural entrepreneurs, educators, nonprofit leaders, and civic partners who are shaping the future of their communities. 

From the outset, the convening highlighted the Valley’s spirit of collaboration and resilience. At Adams State University, participants heard from President Dr. David Tandberg and community leaders on how educational institutions serve as an anchor for economic mobility across the region. Conversations at the Valley Roots Food Hub revealed the importance of strengthening local food systems and connecting family farmers to markets. At the Center Viking Youth Club, youth leaders and educators shared how mentorship and career-connected learning are expanding opportunity for the next generation. Tours of White Rock Specialties and discussions at the Colorado Farm Brewery demonstrated how creative agriculture ventures can drive economic growth. 

The final day brought innovation to the forefront. Participants began with a field demonstration of Barn Owl Precision Agriculture’s Autonomous Nano-Tractor, an AI-powered robot designed to help farmers and producers weed their crops in a more sustainable way. The demonstration offered proof that cutting-edge technology can support agricultural producers in ways that increase productivity while prioritizing sustainability and saving costs. At the Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista, The Attainment Network’s San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership outlined pathways for training the local healthcare workforce, highlighting how collaboration between institutions can prepare local students for in-demand jobs while addressing pressing community needs. The day concluded with a panel hosted by the LOR Foundation, which highlighted their unique approach of listening locally, acting quickly, and investing in community-driven ideas to create lasting change in rural communities. 

The San Luis Valley convening underscored that rural Colorado is not waiting on solutions, it is creating them. From agricultural innovations to career-connected education and community-led philanthropy, the Valley’s leadership is creating models that can inform the rest of the state. As the Colorado Project continues its Rural Learning Tour with an upcoming stop in the Yampa Valley, these lessons will carry forward as a roadmap for statewide prosperity. The San Luis Valley left participants with inspiration to honor the ingenuity of rural communities and ensure their innovations are woven into Colorado’s future.