The volunteer leaders and staff of the Colorado Livestock Association work to represent, inform, and advance Colorado's livestock industry. Made possible by the investment of membership dues at work every day on behalf of the industry, we have had many successes in our efforts to fulfill our mission. Check out the top five highlights from the most recent quarter.

The Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) welcomed a crowd of more than 230 livestock producers, agribusiness partners, policymakers, and industry leaders to its 2026 Annual Meeting, held June 8–9 at the Monarch Casino Resort & Spa in Black Hawk.

The meeting theme, 150 Years of Colorado Agriculture, 250 Years of American Legacy, celebrated the rich history and enduring impact of agriculture in Colorado and across the nation.

During the Annual Membership Meeting, members elected Britt Dinis of Empire Dairy in Wiggins as CLA President. A second-generation dairy farmer and longtime CLA leader, Dinis will serve a two-year term with a focus on strengthening membership and engaging the next generation of Colorado livestock producers.

View pictures from the event.

Read more highlights from the 2026 Annual Meeting.

Learn more about Britt Dinis and her election as CLA President.

Save the date for the 2027 CLA Annual Meeting, June 13–15, 2027 in Keystone, Colorado!

CLA leadership and staff traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress to advocate for the future of our industry. Alongside our partners at Colorado Cattlemen's Association they met with nearly the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation to advocate for policies that support livestock producers and rural communities.

The second quarter brought several major policy wins at both the state and federal levels, thanks to the strong advocacy of CLA members, lobbyists, and staff. At the state level, CLA, working alongside partner agricultural organizations, helped pass SB26-121, increasing the agricultural overtime threshold to 56 hours, while defeating SB26-081, which would have reduced it to 40 hours. CLA also successfully opposed SB26-062, preventing costly restrictions on rodenticides and glue traps that would have created additional expenses and biosecurity challenges for agricultural operations.

CLA also played a key role in the Water Quality Control Commission's triennial review of Regulation 81, which governs animal feeding operations. Consistent with the industry's position in the 2020 and 2023 reviews, both CLA and CDPHE staff recommended no changes to the regulation. After testimony from CLA members and staff highlighting the rule's effectiveness and regulatory certainty, the Commission voted to leave Regulation 81 unchanged until the next scheduled review in 2029 unless a formal rulemaking petition is accepted.

On the federal front, Immediate Past President Kory Kessinger and staff members Travis Grant and Brittany Dennison joined NCBA and state affiliates in Washington, D.C., meeting with nine of Colorado's 10 congressional offices to advocate for policies supporting livestock producers. CLA members Monica Bettencourt (West Plains, LLC), Matt May (4M Feeders), and Jose Woolfolk (Five Rivers Cattle Feeding) also participated in NCBA's Young Cattlemen's Conference, where they gained firsthand insight into the beef supply chain and met with Colorado's congressional delegation to discuss priorities for the state's cattle industry.

Congress also advanced work on the next Farm Bill. On April 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) by a vote of 224-200. The Senate Agriculture Committee followed on June 23 by releasing its own Farm Bill discussion draft, with committee markups expected to begin this summer.

The Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) is proud to announce that William “Bill” Hammerich has been named the recipient of the 2026 Top Choice Award, recognizing his decades of leadership, advocacy, and service to Colorado’s livestock industry.

Hammerich served as Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Livestock Association for 20 years before retiring in 2022. During his tenure, he was a leading advocate for livestock producers at both the state and federal levels, helping shape legislative and regulatory policy on issues impacting agriculture across Colorado and the nation.

His vision and support for initiatives that advanced the efficiency, safety, sustainability, and productivity of livestock operations helped strengthen Colorado’s reputation as a national leader in animal agriculture.

“Nobody exemplifies the Colorado Livestock Association quite like Bill Hammerich,” said Kory Kessinger, President of the Colorado Livestock Association. “His two decades of leadership defined the association, and his impact on the industry is still felt today. Bill recognized early on that livestock producers needed to have a seat at the table. He led our efforts and made significant contributions to the development of regulations and legislation that we still practice today. Bill led efforts from air and water quality to the health and safety of ag employees and livestock. I am proud that we can recognize Bill for all that he has contributed to our industry.”

Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) has named Congressman Gabe Evans the recipient of the 2026 Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership and advocacy on behalf of Colorado agriculture and livestock producers.

Congressman Evans currently serves Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing most of Adams County, Weld County north to and including Greeley, and part of Larimer County, including Berthoud. Throughout his public service career, Evans has been a strong advocate for rural communities and Colorado agriculture, particularly on issues impacting the livestock industry and agricultural workforce.

“It takes leaders in all positions to ensure that agriculture can thrive into the next generation,” said Kory Kessinger, President of the Colorado Livestock Association. “Congressman Gabe Evans is one of those leaders, fighting the good fight on behalf of Colorado livestock producers in DC. From the State House to the halls of Congress, Congressman Evans has been an advocate for our industry. His work on ag labor during his service has been a critical effort, and we look forward to continuing to partner with him to effect positive changes for the agriculture industry.”

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) Safety Group Program—a milestone that reflects a quarter century of commitment to protecting Colorado's livestock producers, their employees, and their families through industry-leading safety education and risk management.

Since its establishment in 2001, the CLA Safety Group Program has helped foster a culture of safety across livestock operations throughout Colorado. In partnership with Pinnacol Assurance as the workers' compensation carrier and endorsed insurance brokers since 2001, Flood & Peterson, HUB International, and Renaissance Insurance Group, who joined the program in 2022, the Safety Group provides livestock operations with timely, industry-specific safety training, proactive claims management, and a dedicated team of partners focused on preventing workplace injuries, reducing claims costs, and supporting employers.

"For 25 years, this program has helped build a culture where safety is part of everyday operations. That commitment saves lives, prevents injuries, protects families, and strengthens agricultural businesses. CLA is proud to be a leader in fostering a safety-first culture that benefits livestock operations and serves as a model for Colorado agriculture," said Britt Dinis, President of the Colorado Livestock Association.

In addition to creating safer workplaces, the program continues to deliver financial value to participating members. Through premium discounts, ongoing safety promotion, and improved claims management, eligible policyholders may receive an annual Safety Group Dividend based on both the overall performance of the CLA Safety Group and their individual policy performance. Since 2001, the CLA Safety Group Program has returned more than $3.1 million in Safety Group Dividends to participating members.

While Pinnacol Assurance has discontinued most of its safety groups over the years, the CLA Safety Group remains one of the organization's elite programs because of its exceptional performance and long-term results.

Twice each year, representatives from CLA, Pinnacol Assurance, and the program's endorsed brokers meet to review performance metrics, analyze accident trends, and identify opportunities to strengthen safety programming. This collaborative approach ensures that training remains relevant and addresses the real-world risks facing today's livestock operations.

Education remains at the heart of the program. Each quarter, CLA offers two agricultural safety training sessions available to all members, with recordings posted on CLA's YouTube channel to expand access to these valuable resources across the livestock industry. In recent years, CLA has also continued to grow its library of Spanish-language safety training materials, in partnership with High Plains Intermountain Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (HICAHS), helping ensure safety education is accessible to more agricultural employees throughout Colorado.

The association also celebrates farms that exemplify outstanding workplace safety through its annual Safe Farm Awards. These awards recognize agricultural businesses that maintain exceptional safety records while fostering a culture of safety throughout their operations and communities.

As the CLA Safety Group Program celebrates its 25th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, education, and continuous improvement. By helping livestock producers create safer workplaces while reducing costs and returning millions of dollars to members, the program continues to strengthen Colorado's livestock industry and reinforce CLA's leadership in advancing a culture of safety across Colorado agriculture.

Colorado Livestock Association  | (970) 378-0500 | www.coloradolivestock.org