Mar 5, 2020

Colorado growers honor CSU’s Adrian Card

Adrian Card, Colorado State University (CSU) Boulder County Extension Agent and Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) founding board member, was named the CFVGA Robert Sakata 2019 Member of the Year. The honor was announced last week during CFVGA’s 6^th Annual Conference awards luncheon.

“This is a really special honor for me, because I have seen CFVGA grow from a group of northern Colorado growers who gathered to discuss ag labor shortages in 2012-13 to a vibrant and growing association today,” said Card.

CFVGA was incorporated in 2013 and today is comprised of nearly 250 farms, allied industry organizations and partner members.

“He has been responsible for countless programs that have profoundly advanced agriculture and the understanding of agriculture by the general populace,” said Michael Bartolo, of CSU’s Arkansas Valley Research Center. He added that Card “was absolutely critical and the driving force for the development and growth of the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. Since CFVGA’s inception, he has worked tirelessly to make the organization flourish. It is safe to say, that CFVGA and this conference would not exist without his leadership.”

Card has worked for CSU Extension in Boulder County for the past 16 years, where his work has included leadership roles in Building Farmers in the West, the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture, and small farms and specialty crop work throughout the state. Born and raised in Alabama, he studied anthropology and ecology at Emory University in Atlanta. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a master’s degree in agriculture extension education, both from CSU.

According to CSU Boulder County Extension Director Laura Larson, Card received the 2019 national Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agriculture Agents and the Colorado County Agents Association. “He continues to be recognized around the region for his role in educating the public and farmers about Colorado agriculture, and we are very proud and appreciative of his work with CFVGA,” she said.

Before joining CSU Extension, Card worked in the farming industry for ten years, including at a farm in Germany. He apprenticed at Happy Heart Farm in Ft. Collins, one of Colorado’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSU) operations, and co-managed Permagrin Farm near Wellington. In 2003, he also managed an organic farm, CSA and produce stand that were part of North Carolina State University.

“The 2019 Member of the Year selection committee’s decision was unanimous,” said CFVGA President Robert Sakata, the first recipient and after whom the award is named. “Adrian was instrumental in the founding of the CFVGA and is especially deserving of this honor.”

Card is the third honoree of this award. The 2017 recipient was Sakata. Bartolo was the 2018 recipient.