Saving the West: History, Land, and the Wolf Fight in Colorado
They start with the fight to save the historic Colorado Cattlemen’s building, the oldest cattle organization building in the country, now standing strong next to the new National Western Center. Robert explains how smart public-private partnerships, the Montfort family, and city leaders helped preserve this landmark and defend agriculture against anti-slaughter and anti-fur bans. The conversation also highlights a growing problem in Colorado: the state has lost more than a million acres of ag land in the last decade as cities keep spreading. Then the focus turns to wolves. Trent and Robert break down the costly wolf reintroduction plan, where only 9 of 20 wolves survived after more than $40 million was spent. They explain how out-of-state groups are driving policy and why lawmakers moved to defund parts of the program. Robert also shares real-world business challenges, from leaving the sale barn business to the heavy paperwork crushing the firearms industry and shrinking the number of local FFL shops. This episode is a clear, powerful look at the fight to protect ranchers, rural communities, and the future of agriculture in the West.
