Discover Nontraditional Agriculture Careers in Colorado
In partnership with: Colorado Department of Agriculture
A career in agriculture doesn’t always mean becoming a farmer. The industry boasts a variety of nontraditional careers, from radio broadcasting to international exports.
Agriculture Journalism
Lorrie Boyer grew up raising and showing horses but always wanted to be a writer.
“I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in technical journalism with an emphasis on agriculture,” she says. “One night, I heard an ad on the local radio station for an on-air assistant. It turns out they were also looking for an agricultural news director.”
Boyer’s mother always said she should be on the radio, so she applied. Now, 27 years later, Boyer is an award-winning broadcaster with Fort Morgan-based KSIR radio. She also reports weekly on RFD-TV and produces three podcasts.
Boyer never gets bored covering topics like the federal Farm Bill, crop insurance, conservation programs and more.
“I learn something new every day,” Boyer says. “I might go from talking about specialty crops to what’s going on for that year’s harvest. The next hour, I’m talking about weaning cattle.”
See more: Colorado’s Top 10 Agricultural Commodities
International Markets & Trade
John Addison and Ashley Warsh are a two-person team with Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Markets Division who help ag producers and business owners explore new markets across the globe.
“We cover all the main commodities that Colorado produces,” Warsh says. “Our work also entails advocating at state and federal levels to identify trade barriers and find solutions.”
To do well in the role, it’s essential to be a good listener, problem-solver, and spot opportunities in supply and demand. Flexibility is also key.
“We have to work long, unusual hours,” Addison says. “In Europe, 10 a.m. is 3 a.m. in Colorado; 7 p.m. is 9 a.m. the next day in Taiwan.”
Colorado exports more than $2 billion in agricultural products each year to approximately 115 countries, in many different time zones. In 2023, Colorado sent $632 million in ag exports to Mexico and $525 million to Canada, its top export recipients. The state also sent $3.7 million worth of ag exports to the United Kingdom.
Addison and Warsh work to ensure companies of all sizes and influence have access to existing and emerging market opportunities.