What comes to mind when you think of fall in Colorado? The wonderful colors? Maybe the shorter days and colder temperatures? No matter how you look at it, you can find beauty.
The mountains of Colorado are known for their beautiful colors and their brisk, clean air; however, there are many operations happening behind the scenes that residents and guests, alike, can be a part of.
Hunting Season
Hunting season brings a multitude of adventure. Families get to harvest their food while making memories. Outdoor enthusiasts get their chance at that trophy animal they have been dreaming of. The Colorado mountains are home to elk, mule deer, and big horn sheep. The elk herd in northwest Colorado is among of the largest in the nation, offering hunters the ultimate location and experience. There are 11 national forests and 8.4 million acres of Bureau of Land Management property to publicly hunt on in Colorado (Kayser, 2004). The excessive hunting pressure on public land offers great opportunity for landowners, as the animals migrate heavily to private parcels. Habitat in the region is also very suitable for substantial mule deer herds. Wildlife in the area bring sportsmen from around the country. The variety, as well as the volume of game available, draws crowds to Colorado. The crowds then bring revenue to our small towns, as we gladly welcome them. Hunting is a tradition, a pastime, and a hobby for many locals, as well as an opportunity for outsiders to enjoy our wonderful state.
Agriculturalists Rounding Out Their Year
In the FFA Creed, EM Tiffany states “I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.”
All year, agriculturists have been doing just this; working to raise and market products produced with much care, knowledge, and hard work. Many livestock producers are watching truckloads of their product pull out of the driveway this time of year. Semi-trucks full of calves, lambs, and pigs are being sent to their next location. This is a busy time for producers as they are gathering, weaning and shipping the livestock they have been caring for all year. Farmers are harvesting and transporting the crops they have been growing. The ag community is preparing to start their year over again in the spring as their crops go dormant and they stock up on winter feed. Fall is unique for agriculturalists, as it is both the year wrap-up and the season of preparation for the year ahead.
Holiday Festivities
The holiday season in Colorado offers fun opportunities for families and friends. Halloween brings adventure. There are pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, trick-or-treating, and more. Thanksgiving offers time of thanks and Christmas brings time of giving; both bring time with those you love. Western Colorado is the perfect place to experience these wonderful holidays.
Fall brings beautiful colors, winter brings snow, and all aspects bring us together.
Until Next Month,
God Bless.
Lori Ann Klinglesmith – Rancher – Writer – Land and Wildlife Advocate
