RMFU Statement on Colorado and Denver Ballot Measures

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Statement on Colorado and Denver Ballot Measures

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is proud that Colorado voters stood with the agricultural community this election. RMFU took a position on two Colorado ballot measures and two Denver ballot measures and is pleased that the outcome of each ballot measure aligned with our positions.

Colorado voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition JJ which allows the state of Colorado to retain all sports betting tax revenue and use the funds for water conservation projects. Water is one of the most important issues for the West, particularly for our agricultural communities. RMFU welcomes the investment in additional water conservation projects.

RMFU is grateful that Colorado voters also rejected Proposition 127 which would have banned mountain lion, lynx, and bobcat hunting. Ballot box biology is not a good way to manage wildlife populations. This ballot measure would have negatively impacted agricultural producers across our state through increased livestock depredations and predator interactions.

Denver voters rejected the proposed fur ban by voting down Denver Initiated Ordinance 308. This far-reaching ban would have impacted local vendors selling everything from fishing flies to cowboy hats. RMFU is glad that this ban did not pass due to the negative impact on our agricultural community.

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) is thankful that Denver voters resoundingly rejected Initiated Ordinance 309—the proposed slaughterhouse ban. “It is encouraging to see that the voters of Denver stood with our agricultural community and the employee-owners of Superior Farms,” stated Chad Franke, President of RMFU. “Denver’s Initiated Ordinance 309 would have been devasting to the family farmers and ranchers who rely on Superior Farms to provide our communities with locally raised and processed meat, and it would have been detrimental to the economy not just in Denver but across the state and our wider region. This is a win for the agricultural community, for employee-owned businesses, for supporters of local foods, and for the citizens of Colorado and our region.”