Have Your Say: Do you think Polis intentionally ignored the agricultural industry in his speech?

COLORADO: Let's talk about Polis's State of the State speech. Why didn't he talk about our agricultural industry?

• The agricultural industry is Colorado's second biggest economic driver.
• Most Coloradans are supportive of the agricultural industry.
• Polis did mention water and its importance to agriculture.

Should he have said more about agriculture?

Colorado farming is supported by 98% of residents.Photo byImage by David Mark from Pixabay

An insult to agricultural industry?

Two cousins representing the rural sector, Sen. Rod Pelton and Sen. Byron Pelton wrote a letter to the editor, published Jan 22, expressing their disappointment in the Gov. Polis's 2023 State of the State address.

he did include one point about water where he highlighted the importance of water to our great state of Colorado and to agriculture," the Pelton counsins wrote to Journal Advocate.

They felt the exclusion was purposeful and said it was "a direct insult made at the rural communities of Colorado."

The one mention of farming was in relation to water.

In his speech, Polis covered such topics as housing, education, crime, taxes and the environment.

"Farmers and ranchers across the state fear that Colorado won’t have the water resources to sustain the next generation of agricultural jobs. 

He talked about looking at who we want to be in Colorado when our State turns 150 years old.

When Colorado is 150, I want our state to have the water resources necessary for our farms, communities, and industries to thrive, and the tools in place to protect our state’s waterways and defend our rights. --State of the State speech

Where is the support?

According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s recent survey, Colorado residents are united in their views on the agricultural sector.

"In today’s society, it is hard to get most of the public to agree on anything; however, 98% of those who took the CDA’s survey do agree and support our agricultural industry." Pelton and Pelton, Journal Advocate

Join the conversation

• Do you agree with the Peltons? Was it a direct insult to rural communities or not?
• Why would Gov. Polis not mention the agricultural industry?
• Do you think he should have?

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