Friends, I’m on my way to get on a horse and gather a three year old heifer whose calf died. She’s a few miles over there and I have to have her here and loaded and hauled to town by 1 pm. But, I’m going to take a minute and state a few facts.

As the dust continues to blow past the kitchen window I’m reminded that there is still great hope for our country and people in agriculture. This hope stems from the people I call friends. These friends are the people in agriculture that I visit with once in awhile or daily about current events. One of those topics we visit about are conservation easements. Conservation easements are a huge concern, as they will ruin agriculture by turning all land and water into open space/wilderness or be owned by the government. Why would anyone want to take in a partner that they don’t know or trust? With a conservation easement, that other partner/owner can dictate what you may or may not do on the ranch. Oh, no it won’t happen right at the beginning, but just give that land trust time as things will change. And, speaking of change, so can the land trust. One land trust can buy the other one out, so the one you think you are going to work with could change for the worse, much worse. Conservation easements are all about control, as the government and these land trusts want to control us. We must keep educating everyone we see about this concern and get the truth out. That’s the problem with knowledge; it eats at you when you know something that can harm others.

The California Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Bureau went “green” many years ago. They took the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association with them. Any cattlemen’s or farmer’s association that promotes conservation easements should be a concern for their members. Why wouldn’t those officers of those cattlemen’s associations not have conservation easements? I’ve wondered that for years. I think all president’s of those associations that endorse conservation easements should get one. It’s kind of like the vacuum salesman or the insurance salesman; don’t you always ask the did you buy one of these?

Korry Lewis is one of Kimmi Lewis's 6 successful Children

The Nature Conservancy (using their government funded muscle) enjoys the ignorance of the gullible landowners and their overpaid executive directors. You should be cautious - very cautious about TNC/government funded conservation easements. Of course, everyone must know that TNC and the Army are partners, so beware landowners! TNC and the Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding back in the year 2000. The Nature Conservancy has big plans for all of us in Southeast Colorado. At a meeting in Trinidad two years ago they bragged about signing up 10% of the private property into conservation easements. And, it looks like they are getting it accomplished.

I had no brothers and am therefore...the one “in charge” here. My late husband and I bought this ranch (The Muddy Valley Ranch) from my dad 20 years ago. There was no inheritance or gift. My six kids are a big factor here, as they work hard to help out and keep the ranch going. I can assure you there are no lazy government dependents here! This ten year drought we’ve been in has increased the stress level. But, let me assure you that all is going to be fine - as our faith keeps us going forward.

Living here, working the land, and raising USA BEEF is a true gift; one that I'll never take for granted.

Although some might portray those of us in agriculture as dumb hicks, we're not. In particular, there's great hope in our young ag people. These smart industrious youngsters question everything, while taking strong clear stands for our Constitution.

I'm proud of our young farmers and ranchers, as I believe these living legacies are what's best about America.

God Bless You!
Kimmi Lewis, Muddy Valley Ranch LLC
Colorado Independent CattleGrower’s Association Immediate Past President