KIT CARSON, Colo. – Feb. 7, 2025. More than 450 farmers, ranchers, students, and agriculture industry professionals met in Burlington, Colorado, on Feb. 4th and 5th for the 37th Annual High Plains No-Till Conference. Hosted by the Colorado Conservation Tillage Association, the event provides education on topics related to no-till, soil health, conservation, and farm business management.
Don Day Jr. kicked off the conference with a weather forecast presentation in the Old Town Museum. Breakout sessions continued throughout the day at the Burlington Community and Education Center, with an emphasis on how producers have applied soil health principles, improved soil biology, reduced inputs, or experimented with diversified enterprises on their operations.
In a last-minute switch, Fernando Falomir with Understanding Ag filled in as the second day’s keynote speaker when Allen Williams was unable to attend due to illness. A fifth-generation cattle rancher from Chihuahua, Mexico, Falomir discussed how his family ranch’s productivity had degraded to a low of 230 acres to sustain one animal unit, but after several years of implementing regenerative principles, were able to improve that number to 40 acres.
“The conference was once again amazing,” said retiring CCTA President Jay Young. “I’ve attended every year since 2017, and it has been so incredible to see how much farmers have been able to implement practices they’ve learned and changed their farms for the better. Many have seen a huge increase in water infiltration rates, better soil structure, reduced inputs, and overall profitability. I can’t wait for the 2026 conference.”
CCTA also held the organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 5th, during which four members were elected to join the nonprofit’s board of directors. The CCTA board is comprised of eight producers and five industry representatives, all currently residing in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska.
In addition to the regular conference activities, 2025 brought the 3rd Annual FFA Day for CCTA. Nine chapters, including Burlington, Bethune, Limon, Hi Plains, Eads, Idalia, Stratton, Karval, and the Nebraska Ag Academy, participated by bringing students to the educational sessions and completing a scavenger hunt at the event.
CCTA partnered with more than 80 organizations and businesses from across the High Plains region for the 2025 gathering.
“We would like to thank all the vendors and sponsors from the conference this year,” said CCTA Coordinator Joni Mitchek. “Whether they put together a booth, provided a speaker, or sponsored an FFA chapter, their contributions add tremendous value and make this event possible each year.
The 38th Annual High Plains No-Till Conference is scheduled to return to Burlington on Feb. 3-4, 2026. To connect with or learn more about the organization, please visit www.highplainsnotill.com.
CCTA is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the conservation and no-till farmers of the High Plains. The group facilitates the exchange of ideas to preserve agricultural soil and water resources for generations by providing education on a system which drastically reduces soil erosion, conserves soil moisture, and builds organic matter.
# # #