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Colorado NextGen Leaders in Food & Agriculture
Apply Today: 25-26 Colorado NextGen Leaders in Food & Agriculture (NGLFA)
Click Here To Apply

We are excited to announce the launch of the Colorado NextGen Leaders in Food and Agriculture program and invite applications for our 2025–2026 cohort.

This premier leadership initiative is designed to equip the next generation of food and agriculture leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to shape the future of Colorado’s food and agricultural policy.

This year, twelve leaders aged 18–24 years old will be selected to represent Colorado’s diverse regions.

Through this program, participants will:

  • Identify and address pressing food and agriculture challenges in their regions
  • Gain hands-on experience in policy and advocacy
  • Engage with state and local leaders, policymakers, and industry professionals
  • Develop policy recommendations based on the 2025 Colorado Food Summit regional reports

Application and recommendation form deadline: November 20, 2025 @ 11:59PM MT

Applicants notified by or before: December 1, 2025

We encourage applications from students, young professionals, and emerging leaders with a passion for agriculture, food systems, and community leadership.

The program culminates in the NextGen Ag Policy Summit, a three-day capstone event where participants will attend the Colorado Ag Forum, take part in workshops, and refine their recommendations before presenting to statewide food and agriculture leaders.

Benefits for participants include:

  • A $500 scholarship upon successful completion of the program
  • A certificate of completion recognizing their leadership achievement
  • Opportunities to engage directly with policymakers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders
More About the NextGen Leaders in Food & Ag Program (NGLFA)

Building on the Colorado Food Summit

Over the past year, the Colorado Food Summit has convened 15 regional events across Colorado, each focused on identifying pressing local challenges and opportunities. These events highlighted the need for fresh voices and future leaders to be more directly engaged in shaping the state’s food and agriculture systems.

In 2026, the statewide Colorado Food Summit will unite food system leaders, producers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, educators, and community advocates, to transform regional insights into eight cross regional strategies. These strategies will guide team-based working sessions where participants will design implementable action plans backed by seed funding and technical expertise.

Why NGLFA?

As the Summit process unfolded, one message became clear: to achieve long-term, community-led transformation, the next generation must be at the table. To meet this need, the Colorado NextGen Leaders in Food & Agriculture program was created. This initiative is designed to:

  • Equip young leaders (ages 18–24) with the skills, confidence, and networks to influence Colorado’s food and agriculture policy landscape
  • Engage regional perspectives, ensuring all six agricultural regions of Colorado are represented
  • Build pathways for leadership and careers in agriculture, food systems, and policy
  • Strengthen intergenerational collaboration by embedding youth leaders alongside seasoned professionals in decision-making spaces

The NGLFA Experience

Twelve NextGen leaders will be selected statewide. Their journey will include:

  • Virtual pre-Summit training focused on food systems literacy, collaborative leadership, and policy development
  • Integration into the Colorado Ag Forum and the 2026 Colorado Food Policy Summit
  • Mentorship and networking with policymakers, industry leaders, and community organizers
  • Opportunities for ongoing internships and career exploration in food and agricultural policy

Investing in Colorado’s Future

The NGLFA program ensures that the Colorado Food Summit is not just a space for strategy, but also a pipeline for leadership. By engaging young voices, we are preparing a new generation to carry forward the work of building a more resilient, equitable, and community-driven food system.

Questions? Email us!

Christian Gomez
Program Coordinator
c.gomez-navarrete@colostate.edu

Program Funding Provided by:
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“The NextGen Ag Leadership Grant Program provides grants to organizations and educational institutions to support educational, training, and leadership development opportunities for Colorado’s emerging food and agriculture leaders.”

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Colorado State University Local and Regional Food Systems
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