Protecting Open Space by Preserving Agriculture Mission The mission of the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust is to help Colorado's ranchers and farmers protect their agricultural lands and encourage continuing agricultural production for the benefit of themselves, their families and all of Colorado's citizens. Recognizing the need to help Colorado ranchers and farmers protect their agricultural lands, in the face of growing development and economic pressures, the Colorado Cattlemen's Association in 1995 formed the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT).
CCALT's primary emphasis is to increase awareness among agricultural landowners about the use of conservation easements as a means of protecting land and as a tool for facilitating the inter-generational transfer of productive lands.
This was a revolutionary undertaking for an agricultural organization. The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association was the first mainstream ag organization in the nation to form a land trust. Over 30 land trusts exist in Colorado and until CCALT's founding, none exclusively served the needs of the agricultural community. CCALT was created with the primary interests of the landowner in mind. It is a land trust OF landowners, BY landowners, and FOR landowners. CCALT is proving to be an important mechanism in preserving agricultural opportunities and protecting the open space that is valued by both Colorado residents and visitors.
Certified by the Conservation Easement Oversight Commission - Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Real Estate.