As we look toward August 1, 2026, Colorado prepares to celebrate its Sesquicentennial—150 years of statehood. The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is celebrating this important milestone through a year-long celebration; Setting Colorado’s Table: 150 years of Agricultural Legacy.
The celebration will include a coffee table book exploring the history of agriculture. As part of the book, author Rachael Storm, Head of Curatorial Services at History Colorado, collected oral histories from farmers and ranchers around the state.
Throughout the year we will highlight the people Rachael spoke with who have shaped the Centennial State into a national leader in food production and natural resource management. Our first oral history to share is of former Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp.
Few names are as synonymous with the modern era of Colorado agriculture as John Stulp. A dryland wheat farmer from the Eastern Plains, Stulp’s journey from a Prowers County tractor seat to the Governor’s cabinet in Denver serves as a masterclass in consensus-building and public service.
Additionally, on January 10, to kick off the year of commemoration, CDA unveiled a mural created by local Denver artist, Thomas “Detour” Evans, who was inspired by Stulp’s story and commitment to resource conservation.
From the Dust of the Thirties to the Halls of Power
John Stulp was born into a legacy of resilience. His ancestors arrived in Washington County via covered wagon and survived the "Dirty Thirties," a time that shaped the conservation ethics he would carry his entire life. Stulp earned a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from CSU, but the call of the land brought him and his wife Jane back to southeast Colorado in the early 1970s to manage their family operation.
Stulp didn't just farm the land; he advocated for it. Over his nearly 50-year career, he served in roles ranging from Prowers County Commissioner to the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture under Governor Bill Ritter. As Ag Commissioner (2007-2010), Stulp was recognized as a champion for rural Colorado. During this period, he was a leading proponent of utilizing renewable energy to bring economic opportunities to farmers and ranchers. Known for his consensus building, Governor Ritter described him as a cabinet member for whom “polarization was not in his lexicon” and who focused on fixing problems regardless of political boundaries.
The "Water Czar" and the Colorado Water Plan
Perhaps his most enduring legacy is his work as the state’s first "Water Czar" under Governor John Hickenlooper. In an arid state where, as they say, "whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting," Stulp was the diplomat who brought urban CEOs and rural ranchers to the same table. He helped shape the 2015 Colorado Water Plan, a framework designed to protect agricultural viability while meeting the needs of a booming population.
He often spoke of farmers not just as food producers, but as "water harvesters." He believed the future of the state depended on finding alternatives to "buy and dry" tactics—the practice of cities purchasing and stripping water from productive farmland.
"One of the best things out of [the Water Plan process] was a rancher at Maybelle, Colorado could sit down at the table with the CEO of Denver Water and they were equals in the sense that they would listen to each other and discuss what was important to the future for them."
Conservation and Education
Stulp was an early adopter of sustainable practices, transitioning his operation to no-till farming to protect the health of his soil, which also helps retain moisture. He also remained deeply committed to the idea that a farmer's best tool is a good education.
"The theory is that, you know, you can mortgage your house and lose it, but you can't mortgage your education. If you've got a good education... it helps you prepare for whatever."
John Stulp passed away in July 2025, leaving behind a state that is more collaborative and better prepared for its next 150 years. This oral history was recorded just a few months before his death. As we listen to his words, his life and career reminds us that Colorado works best when we work together.
Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp (far right) presents the Centennial Farms and Ranches certificate to Fassler's Ranch family in 2008.