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The Four States Ag Expo in Cortez, Colo., topped last year’s record attendance

Tony Bruguiere Ft. Collins, Colo.

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.



Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.



The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.

Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.

The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.

Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.

The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.

Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.

The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.

Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.

The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.

Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.

The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”

The Four States Ag Expo has been raising awareness of the vital importance of agriculture to the four corners region for 29 years and continues to get bigger and better every year. Last year was their best attendance year ever with over 14,000 visitors and this year topped that.

Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Ag Expo was excited about the potential for attendance growth at the 2011 Ag Expo, “This year we have 90 programs and 175 exhibitors. We also have clinicians, stock dogs, Ranch Sorting, a bull sale, a beef show, and much more. We also have the CSU Ag Adventure with us this year.”

The Colorado State University Ag Adventure is an interactive educational adventure designed to create awareness for all aspects of agriculture and is targeted at elementary-aged children. Two hundred and thirty children from Durango Elementary Schools participated and learned about beef, goats, alpacas, bees, horses, and ranch safety, just to name a few topics.

Dawna Sims from the Painted Seven Stock Dog Training Facility in Dewey, Ariz., was on hand to present a program of clinics, classes, and instinct tests for all breeds of stock dogs. Sims calls her program I.C.E. Training for Instinct, Commitment, and Emotion. She stressed that the instinct to herd is present to some degree in all dogs and through her program of training the instinct can be controlled and the experience be fun for you and your dog.

Her classes were well attended and the dogs and humans had a great time with the challenge of herding fast running ducks. She also provided 15 minute tests to determine the amount of herding instinct that was present in local dogs.

The agriculture in the four corners area is mainly dry land farming but there are two area reservoirs that are used to some degree for irrigation There is some center-point irrigation for hay and pastures. The main crops in the area are hay, alfalfa, beans, and sunflowers for their oil. There was plenty of outdoor space at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and there was large and small farm equipment on display that were well suited for any crop in the area agricultural economy.

Last year there was a demonstration of Ranch Sorting and this year the Ag Expo and Ranch Sorting National Championships (RSNC) have upped the ante to make the Ranch Sorting at the Four States Ag Expo a fully sanctioned event with all points counting in the 2011 Colorado State Finals. “This is the second year.” Elizabeth Testa said, “We hope to make it an annual event because we like the sport. We like that the public wants to learn about horsemanship and cattle sorting.”

Testa continued, “One of the fun things people enjoy about it is that it is an amateur sport and it is a whole lot of fun. It’s a good entertainment value and a wonderful event. It’s a great way to test your skills and have fun.”

Returning to the Four States Ag Expo are horse trainers Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey from the Whispering Willows Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Jason Patrick has partnered with Rescued to Ride to demonstrate his effective colt starting techniques.

Rescued to Ride is a non-profit charitable organization, founded and operating out of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Proud to partner with Jason Patrick and Scott Whinfrey for the

Ag Expo event, Rescued to Ride actively works towards solving the unwanted, overpopulated horse problem in North America.

“We work with the horses that haven’t been handled very much, and we try to get those horses to a point where maybe they are more adoptable because they have been ridden or handled or saddled,” Jason Patrick said. Patrick and his trainers worked with 10 rescued horses during the four day run of the Ag Expo.

New this year was the PRCA sponsored Rodeo Camp. The camp was ground work only and for all roughstock events and was free. The Rodeo Camps are being put on around the country to address the declining number of PRCA card holders for roughstock events. “We have people from all over the four state area coming to the PRCA Youth Rodeo Camp. The PRCA does that for free for the participants. It’s to emphasize skills, techniques, safety, and the ethics of cowboying,” Testa said, “It’s a great program. It is our first year of doing it here and we have 38 participants.”

The Four States Ag Expo continues to grow and improve each year. There is plenty to learn no matter what your interests are and plenty of fun for the whole family. “We are expanding every year,” Elizabeth Testa, Executive Director of the Four States Ag Expo, said, “Every year we get further and further known so we get people from further and further away. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we are looking for something special to celebrate. We have something for everybody, because Ag touches us all.”


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