Hagenbuch Earns First-Ever RMFU Fellows Excellence in Leadership & Service Award

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Dr. Dale McCall recognized Todd Hagenbuch as the recipient of the first RMFU Fellows Excellence in Leadership & Service Award. The award is sponsored by American AgCredit and RMFU. Shown from left are Dr. Dale McCall, Todd Hagenbuch, Trevor and Amelia Hagenbuch, and Victoria Conklin

For Immediate Release

Contact Bob Kjelland   970-397-0039   bob.kjelland@rmfu.org

(Denver, CO) – Todd Hagenbuch of Phippsburg, CO, was chosen to receive the first-ever Fellows Excellence in Leadership & Service award jointly sponsored by American AgCredit and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). This award honors a past Fellow who has put the program experience to good use for their hometown community and state and regional agriculture. The RMFU Fellows program was created to help individuals develop and hone the skills needed to effectively create and sustain vibrant communities by providing emerging leaders a foundation in key areas such as agriculture, farm policy, food systems, cooperation, and advocacy.

“As an educator, volunteer, rancher, and community leader, Todd’s active involvement in Colorado agriculture is stellar,” says RMFU President Dr. Dale McCall. “I have watched him excel in leadership in these responsibilities. He encourages farmers and ranchers to be at the table and share their stories.”

Hagenbuch has worked with local, state, and national policymakers to advocate for realistic and workable solutions to the challenges facing farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. He served as vice president of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union from 2005 to 2010. He has chaired the National Farmers Union’s 2020 National Policy Committee. For the past five years he has been a National Farmers Union delegate and he has chaired RMFU Bylaws and Policy Committees. Hagenbuch was a Northwest Farmers Union chapter officer and has been a presenter at various conferences on legacy planning and generational transfers.

“When I see who else has completed the RMFU Fellows Program and know what they have done for the organization and Colorado agriculture, I’m very humbled to have even been considered for this award,” says Hagenbuch. “I consider many of those who completed the Fellows Program before me, with me, and even after me mentors, and many are stalwart agricultural leaders across the state. Being presented the first-ever Fellows Excellence in Leadership and Service Award is an incredible honor, and I thank RMFU and American Ag Credit for the recognition.”

As the Director and Agriculture Extension Agent for Routt County, Hagenbuch handles all manner of agricultural issues including small acreage management, weed identification and control, rangeland management, and more.

Hagenbuch received a bachelor’s degree in farm and ranch management from Colorado State University. He earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Regis University in Denver. He is on the board of directors for the Yampa Valley Land Trust and provides guidance for the Northwest Colorado land conservation organization. He serves as the executive director of Historic Routt County. His commitment to community and to agriculture is proven.

Hagenbuch and wife Sarah live near his family’s fourth-generation Green Creek Ranch in Steamboat Springs. Their children Trevor and Amelia have attended Farmers Union camps.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is a general farm organization whose 20,000 members live and work in communities across Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

American AgCredit is a lending cooperative owned by farmers and ranchers.