Soil Health Program Team & Advisors

John Miller, Program Manager

John was raised on a cattle ranch near Hotchkiss Colorado where he still lives with his wife and daughter. John led the Delta Conservation District's Irrigation Water Management Program for over a decade where he learned to design and troubleshoot various types of irrigation systems and gained expertise that he uses to promote efficient water usage and sustainable agricultural practices. In his role as the Soil Health Program Manager, John is enthusiastic about guiding the expansion of the State Soil Health Program, ensuring it continues to offer maximum education and assistance to Colorado's valued agriculture community.

Toby McPartland, Southwestern Soil Health Specialist

As the Soil Health Specialist for the State of Colorado, Toby provides technical support, outreach, and program development to assist farmers and ranchers in adopting practices that enhance soil health and long-term resilience. He owns a ranch on Colorado’s Western Slope, where he produces hay and grazes cows and previously owned and operated Colorado Pastured Pork. Toby has a background in vegetable production, farm management, and ranch consulting. He is passionate about growing and preserving as much food as possible for his family.

Rosie Skovron, ADCRO Program Assistant 

Rosie joins the Drought and Climate Resilience team after three years of food systems work in Boulder County. She managed the weekly Longmont and Boulder markets for Boulder County Farmers Markets and worked on two small-scale veggie farms in Boulder County. She loves bringing organization and maximized efficiency to teams and is excited to be working with farmers and ranchers across CDA's soil health, energy, and statewide climate programs. 

The Soil Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) provides guidance to the Colorado Soil Health Program (CSHP) and the Commissioner’s Office on statewide soil health and drought resilience initiatives. This committee plays a key role in ensuring that program decisions reflect the needs and perspectives of Colorado’s agricultural community. SHAC members bring a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise, representing multiple agricultural sectors and areas of knowledge to support effective program implementation.

Current Soil Health Committee Members

Margaret Lenz (Chair), Colorado State Conservation Board
Rob Jones, Organic Producer
Brad Buchanan, Dryland Producer
Shawn Bruckman, Expert in Soil Carbon Storage
Patrick O'Neill, Crop Consultant
Troy Schneider, Irrigated Producer
Brian Neufeld, Colorado State Conservation Board
Dale Parker, Colorado Association of Conservation Districts 
Nick Charchalis, Colorado Association of Conservation Districts 
Dave Gottenborg, Rancher
Regan Velasquez, Acequia Member
Roger Candelaria, Western Water User
Bradley Mortensen, Eastern Water User

Steve Blecker, CSU (ex officio)
Nora Flynn, CWCB (ex officio)
BJ Shoup, NRCS (ex officio)