The Old Fort at Hesperus

09/30/2026

We had an amazing Blue Corn Event yesterday. Thank you to all of our staff, farmer training participants, graduates, students and community members who spent the morning with us.

Strong community turnout despite the forecast and a pivot indoors

09/28/2026

RAIN UPDATE for Blue Corn Harvest tomorrow 9/29: We will be hosting an abbreviated Blue Corn event inside the Old Fort library from 9:30am-1pm. This will include a traditional prayer, harvest stories, lunch, and a presentation on the traditional nixtamalization process for blue corn. We will not harvest corn since it will be too muddy in the fields, we hope you can still join us!

📸 Photo by TeAndre McLane

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

Rooted Together: Learning, Networking, & Partnerships for Farm to School Success
As the Training and Technical Assistance Provider for the statewide Local Food Program, Nourish Colorado invites you to join us at one (or multiple) "Rooted Together" events happening on Fridays, from Oct 23rd through Dec 11th!
As a producer, when considering which event(s) to register for, think about your delivery range and/or the delivery range of any intermediaries you may work. For our school district attendees, please join us at whichever location seems closest for you.

October 23rd - Greeley, CO - Greeley-Evans Weld School District 6 Central Production Kitchen
October 30th - Ignacio, CO - Ignacio Middle School
November 6th - Glenwood Springs, CO - Glenwood Springs High School
November 13th - Alamosa, CO - Alamosa Middle School
December 4th - Pueblo, CO - Pueblo D60 School
December 11th - Aurora, CO - Food Bank of the Rockies

This gathering will be a chance for school meal operators to glean success stories and strategies from their peers on how to grow and or expand their farm to school efforts. It will also be a chance for producers to meet with school meal buyers and also learn more about how school meal programs work, procurement timelines, and strategies for accessing K12 markets and meeting the increased demand. There will be plenty of time to network, connect with resources and partners in your region, and even learn a few culinary tips and tricks for weaving local foods into school menus in a way that works for your operation.

For more information or to register:

https://forms.clickup.com/9013769590/f/8cm6dbp-14873/WNAVWIT980PDN09EIY

09/18/2026

This is our rain total since Monday. Such a blessing for everyone. Our total accumulation last October was 4.25 so we're getting close to that amount with more rain in forecast.

09/16/2026

RAIN UPDATE for 9/29: We will be hosting an abbreviated Blue Corn event inside the Old Fort library from 9:30am-1pm. This will include a traditional prayer, harvest stories, lunch, and a presentation on the traditional nixtamalization process for blue corn. We will not be harvest corn since it will be too muddy to enter the fields 🌽💙

09/16/2026

Thank you for coming to visit and learning more about our programs.

Farmers-in-Training program at the Old Fort in Hesperus promotes agricultural education and cultural healing.

➡️ Read the full story or hit play and listen 🎧: https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/news/farming-program-at-old-fort-promotes-agricultural-education-and-cultural-healing/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

08/19/2026

The Old Fort’s Farmer Training Convergence is coming up next week on August 28 & 29! 🌱

We are so excited to welcome Toni Stanger-McLaughlin CEO of Native American Agriculture Fund as our keynote speaker for this year’s event. ✨ Workshops and sessions will cover topics like regenerative year-round farming, poultry management and processing, biochar, USDA resources and conservation implementation on the Rez, worm compost, Hopi dryland farming, flower farming, and much more. 🥕

We are so grateful to our sponsors Colorado Land Link Native American Agriculture Fund Quivira Coalition , Colorado Dept of Agriculture Fort Lewis College and to creambeanberry and Bread Bakery and Café of Durango for donating some refreshments!

Tickets are still available, register at tinyurl.com/FarmerConvergence and contact [email protected] with questions or to request a scholarship!

¡La Convergencia de la Formación de Agricultores de Old Fort se llevará a cabo la próxima semana, los días 28 y 29 de agosto! 🌱 Habrá interpretación en español en vivo y se ofrecen becas para los asistentes de habla hispana.

Nos complace enormemente contar con Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, de Native American Agriculture Fund, como ponente principal del evento de este año. ✨ Los talleres y sesiones abordarán temas como la agricultura regenerativa durante todo el año, el manejo y procesamiento de aves de corral, el biocarbón (biochar), los recursos del USDA y la implementación de prácticas de conservación en la reserva, el vermicompostaje, la agricultura de secano Hopi, el cultivo de flores y mucho más. 🥕

Agradecemos profundamente a nuestros patrocinadores Colorado Land Link, Native American Agriculture Fund, Quivira Coalition, Colorado Dept of Agriculture, y Fort Lewis College, así como a creambeanberry y Bread Bakery and Café of Durango por donar algunos refrigerios.

Aún quedan entradas disponibles; regístrate a tinyurl.com/ConvergenciaAgricultores y escribe a [email protected] si tienes preguntas o deseas solicitar una beca.

08/18/2026

The Farmer Training Convergence is coming up fast; on August 28 & 29! Here is a sneak peek of the great lineup of farmers, organizations, and researchers who will be sharing agricultural knowledge and skills 🫛 Register here to secure your spot: https://tinyurl.com/FarmerConvergence
Special thanks to Colorado Land Link, Native American Agriculture Fund, Quivira Coalition, Colorado Department of Agriculture, and USDA NIFA for helping to make this year's event possible!

08/07/2026

We're looking forward to hosting the Western Colorado Cattle Women.

REMINDER: If you are planning to attend the WCCC meeting hosted by the LaPlata La Plata County CowBelles and Southwest Cowbelles in Hesperus on August 11, RSVP by August 1. Hope to see you there.

Black Mesa CattleWomen,Delta Cattlewomen, Gunnison Valley Cattlewomens, Mesa County Cattlewomen Association - MCCA, Moffat County Beef, Montrose CattleWomen, Plateau Valley CattleWomen, Rio Blanco Cattlewomen.