agInnovation Fall Meeting- Grand Junction, Colorado

agInnovation Fall Meeting

Grand Junction, CO

September 21-24, 2026

Questions: Jenn Horton 307-219-8449 OR 970-219-2219

Hotels- our hotel room blocks are sold out. Rooms are still available at the following hotels- just at a slightly higher rate than the group rate. All hotels are located across the street from the convention center, where our meetings will be located.

Spring Hill Suites-SOLD OUT

Fairfield Inn- SOLD OUT

Hampton Inn- SOLD OUT

TRU by HILTON- SOLD OUT

Communicating Science Workshop- By Invite Only

Contact your regional association for availability

Monday, September 21st – Spring Hill Suites, Main Street Conference Room

9:00 am-5:00 pm   Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science Workshop (by invitation only)

Agenda

Monday, September 21st – Grand Junction Convention Center- Whitewater Room

9:00 am-5:00 pm Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science Workshop (by invitation only)

Monday, September 21st - Grand Junction Convention Center

5:00-7:00 pm Opening Reception- Colorado Ballroom

Tuesday, September 22^nd - Grand Junction Convention Center

8:00-9:00 am Breakfast- Colorado Ballroom

8:30-9:00 am ClearPath, Organizational Priorities and Opportunities for Collaboration- Elizabeth Stulberg, Program Director of Agriculture, ClearPath

9:00 am-12:00 pm Regional Meetings

-agInnovation Northeast- Adobe

-agInnovation Northcentral-Escalante

-agInnovation South-Plateau

-agInnovation-West-Whitewater

-agInnovation-ARD-Dominguez

10:00-11:00 am Morning Break

12:00-1:00 pm Lunch- Colorado Ballroom

1:00-2:00 pm Opening Remarks & Host Welcome: “From Headwaters to Tidewaters: New Coalitions to Finance the Next $2B in Agricultural Innovation.” Virtual Fireside Chat.

Gene Kelly Moderator and Director of Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, Tony Frank, Chancellor, Colorado State University and The Honorable Tom Vilsack – Colorado Ballroom

2:00-2:30 pm Session 1: Large increases in public R&D investment are needed to avoid

declines of US agricultural productivity. Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University

2:30-3:00 pm Networking Break

3:00-4:00 pm Session 2: Beyond the Traditional Advocacy Playbook

Helen Silver, Co-Director, Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils (IN-RICHES), Colorado State University Spur

4:00-5:00 pm Session 3: Effective Advocacy and Science Communication

Julie McClure, Torrey Advisory Group

Anne Megaro, Director of Government & Community Relations, UC ANR

Anton Beckerman, Associate Dean for Research and Director of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station

5:00 pm Meeting Adjourn for the day- Dinner on your own

Wednesday, September 23^rd -

7:30-8:15 am Breakfast- Grand Junction Convention Center- Colorado Ballroom

8:15 am Load Bus at Convention Center & Travel to Colorado State University Western Campus

8:45-9:45 am Session 4: Philanthropy & Impact Investing

Isabelle Wood, Founder and Executive Director, Ranch Lab

Daniel Aizenman, Director of Development and Design, Conscience Bay

Jeremy Cost, Technology Advisor, T-Mobile

Rohan Shirwaiker, Director, Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein, North Carolina State University

9:45-10:45 am Session 5: Keys to Influencing Policy

Lauren DeNinno, Deputy Policy Director, Western Governors' Association

Edgar Ruiz, Director, Council of State Governments West

10:45-11:00 am Break

11:00 am-12:00 pm Session 6: Design a “$50M/year regional ag innovation collaborative” that blends all four levers (advocacy, philanthropy, coalitions, policy).

Helen Silver, Co-Director, Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils (IN-RICHES), Colorado State University Spur

12:00-1:25 pm Lunch & Brief Overview of Western Colorado Research Center

1:30:2:30 pm  Tour of Western Colorado Research Center

3:15-4:45 pm         Tour of Talbott's Vineyard- Installation & Interior tour of Winery, Coolers and Packing Shed.

5:15-7:00 pm Dinner at Wine Country Inn

7:00 pm             Return to hotels

Thursday, September 24^th – Grand Junction Convention Center, Colorado Ballroom

7:30-8:30 am Breakfast

8:30-10:00 am agInnovation-Awards Ceremony

10:00 am-1:00 pm agInnovation Business Meeting

1:00 pm Meeting adjourns- Box lunches available

Airport- Grand Junction Regional Airport- GJT

Home - Grand Junction Regional Airport

A rental car is not needed. We are staying downtown with several restaurants in walkable distance.

~16 minutes from hotels/convention center

Airlines: United, Delta, American, Breeze

14 flights a day from Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas and Salt Lake City

Dress Code- Business Casual 

Restaurants within walking distance

Bistro 317

• Address: 317 Main St.
• Cuisine: French-inspired American
• Approx. walk: 3–4 minutes
• Known for upscale dining, steaks, seafood, and cocktails. [evendo.com], [bistro317.com]

Dream Cafe

• Address: 314 Main St.
• Cuisine: Breakfast, brunch, café fare
• Approx. walk: 3–4 minutes
• Great for breakfast meetings and casual lunches. [evendo.com], [dreamcafegj.com]

Pablo's Pizza

• Address: 319 Main St.
• Cuisine: Pizza, Italian
• Approx. walk: 3–4 minutes
• Local favorite for pizza and beer. [evendo.com], [tripadvisor.com]

The Goat & Clover Tavern

• Address: 336 Main St.
• Cuisine: Irish pub
• Approx. walk: 4–5 minutes
• Popular for fish & chips, burgers, and drinks. [evendo.com], [tripadvisor.com]

Guru's Kitchen

• Address: 356 Main St.
• Cuisine: Indian & Nepali
• Approx. walk: 5 minutes
• Offers curries, biryani, and vegetarian options. [evendo.com], [tripadvisor.com]

Rockslide Brew Pub

• Address: 401 Main St.
• Cuisine: Brewpub/American
• Approx. walk: 6 minutes
• House-brewed beers, burgers, fish & chips, and a lively atmosphere. [rockslidebrewpub.com], [downtowngr...orhood.org]

The Winery Restaurant

• Address: 642 Main St.
• Cuisine: Steakhouse
• Approx. walk: 8–10 minutes
• One of downtown's more upscale dinner options. [The Winery...Restaurant], [concerthotels.com]

Tacoparty

• Address: 126 S 5th St.
• Cuisine: Creative tacos & margaritas
• Approx. walk: 8–10 minutes
• Popular casual dinner spot. [evendo.com]

Pufferbelly Station Restaurant

• Address: 337 S 1st St.
• Cuisine: American breakfast & lunch
• Approx. walk: 5 minutes
• Well-known for hearty breakfasts. [evendo.com], [tripadvisor.com]

Best Choices for Business Dinners

1. The Winery Restaurant (upscale steakhouse) [concerthotels.com], [The Winery...Restaurant]
2. Bistro 317 (fine dining atmosphere) [evendo.com], [bistro317.com]
3. Rockslide Brew Pub (great for groups and networking) [rockslidebrewpub.com], [downtowngr...orhood.org]

Best Casual Lunch Options

1. Dream Cafe [dreamcafegj.com], [evendo.com]
2. Pablo's Pizza [evendo.com], [tripadvisor.com]
3. Guru's Kitchen [guruskitchentogo.com], [evendo.com]