Colorado Gov. Jared Polis told a Pueblo audience Friday how his administration is preserving the Centennial State’s proud agricultural history, as well as how working to improve the farming and ranching sectors for the years to come.

“Colorado’s economy is strong,” Polis told a crowd of about 100 at the Ag Commissioner’s Luncheon at the Colorado State Fair.

“We are the envy of the nation with agriculture as one of our big drivers here in our state — $7 billion in revenue last year.”

After first scoring points with the crowd by assuring Mayor Nick Gradisar, who was in attendance, not to worry and that the State Fair will remain in Pueblo, and then singing the praises of Pueblo’s signature crop, the Pueblo chile, Polis discussed initiatives his administration has undertaken and continues to undertake for the benefit of agriculture producers in the Centennial State.

“As much as, as a business person, I see ag through the economic lens — the jobs we produce, the exports we have, whether it’s beef or corn — I also know that ag and ranching are a critical part of our identity as Coloradans,” Polis said.

“They’re really part of our heritage. They’re part of our future. It’s really part of how we define ourselves as westerners and as Coloradans. So while the numbers are impressive enough, what ag brings to our state is more than just the numbers; it’s really core to our identity.”

Polis went on to say that some of his goals as governor are to ensure the state’s agricultural legacy is “alive and thriving and growing,” and to make sure future generations of farmers and ranchers are positioned to succeed in “an increasingly changing and complicated 21st century economy.”

He cited work by his administration to improve access to broadband in rural areas, reducing barriers to employee ownership business models, and to supporting an immigrant work force so local farmers and ranchers have the staff they need to succeed and profit.

His administration is also seeking new avenues in which to sell Colorado-grown products.

“We are firmly committed, as I have always been, to opening new markets, national and international, for Colorado products,” Polis said.

“That’s a very important voice in these challenging times with the discussion of tariffs and trading wars — to maintain our steadfast commitment to open up new markets and new ways of selling Colorado grown products across the entire world.”

Speaking to the mixed crowd comprised of citizens, representatives from the state agriculture department, and city, county, and state politicians from both parties, Polis concluded by saying how some state institutions are too important for partisan politics.

“Ag and ranching is one of those things,” he said.

“Everyone is going to disagree over plenty of things. It could be disagreeing over health care policy, it could be disagreeing over social policy, but when it comes to one of Colorado’s big drivers … I think it’s important that Democrats and Republicans together show support, again for the economic contribution, but even above and beyond that, for what ag and ranching bring to our identity as Coloradans and as westerners.

“So our administration is excited to be a future-oriented partner to help make sure that Colorado ranching and farming isn’t just a thing we do now, isn’t just a thing we did before, but is an even bigger part of a vibrant growing sector in Colorado for the next half century and the next century.”

zhillstrom@chieftain.com

Twitter: @ZachHillstrom