Our Team | Colorado Farm Bureau

Our Team

Chad Vorthmann

Executive Vice President

Chad Vorthmann

Executive Vice President

Chad Vorthmann was born and raised on a fourth generation row crop and cattle farm in southwest Iowa. He attended the University of Nebraska, competed on the livestock judging team and studied journalism and diversified agriculture. After college, he worked as a beef nutrition specialist. Two years later, he joined the staff of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Association and was eventually hired to run the national Beef Quality Assurance program for NCBA. Wanting to work more closely with grassroots members, Vorthmann went back to the state level, joining Colorado Farm Bureau in 2002 as the Director of Communications. He was promoted to Vice President of Organization in 2007 and Executive Vice President in 2012. Chad’s wife, Garin, works for Colorado Legislative Services, who provides contract advocacy services for Colorado Farm Bureau. The couple has two daughters. Chad enjoys cycling, and hunting elk, deer and black bear on the family's cattle ranch in Southwest Colorado.

Jayde VanCleave

Senior Director of Membership and County Development

Jayde VanCleave

Senior Director of Membership and County Development

Jayde Van Cleave was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved to Douglas County, Colorado, when he was 3 years old. He graduated from Northeastern Junior College with an associate’s degree in ag science and later finished his higher education at Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences. Jayde has been involved in agriculture all his life with his family working on ranches in Colorado and Nebraska. He now runs his own small ranch in Rush, Colorado, and loves ranching, fly-fishing and restoring motorcycles. Jayde started working for Colorado Farm Bureau in 2002 and is currently serving as the Regional Manager for Districts 3 and 6.

Taylor (Lobato) Szilagyi

Vice President, Strategy and Operations

Taylor (Lobato) Szilagyi

Vice President, Strategy and Operations

From a cattle ranch in the San Luis Valley, Taylor’s family has been in Colorado since 1765. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in strategic communications and public policy from the University of Denver. Taylor then honed her communications skills at a Denver communications firm focused on public issues. At CFB, Taylor works across departments to ensure the voice of Colorado agriculture is heard far and wide while representing the organization, it's members and the industry.

Ashley House

Director of Public Policy, National Affairs

Ashley House

Director of Public Policy, National Affairs

Ashley’s love of the land and the agricultural industry began on her family’s commercial cow-calf ranch in south Texas. She remains actively involved in the wildlife and cattle enterprises on the ranch, with a deep appreciation for Tex-Mex cuisine. Prior to Colorado Farm Bureau, Ashley served as the Executive Vice President and CEO for the Washington Cattlemen’s Association (WCA) where she managed the association’s advocacy, outreach, and educational activities. As Director of Leader Engagement with Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Ashley served as the liaison between the association’s 135 member Board, federal agencies, state agencies, and allied industry. With the Texas Agricultural Land Trust, she worked on early case-making for the Texas Farm and Ranchlands Conservation Program; which resulted in $2 million in appropriations funding for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. She also has a background in agricultural finance, working for three years as a Loan Officer with Lone Star Ag Credit. In her spare time, Ashley serves on the College of Fine Arts Board of Visitors for her alma mater, Texas Christian University, and is involved as a team lead for the TCU Institute of Ranch Management’s activities in Scotland.

Austin Vincent

General Counsel; Director of Public Policy, State Affairs

Austin Vincent

General Counsel; Director of Public Policy, State Affairs

Austin Vincent was raised on his family’s fifth generation cow-calf ranch in north eastern New Mexico. He attended Texas Tech University, competed in college rodeo and received a bachelor of business administration in energy commerce and a bachelor of science in agribusiness. He remained in Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University School of Law.

Rebecca Edlund

Director of Technology and Membership

Rebecca Edlund

Director of Technology and Membership

Rebecca Edlund is a Colorado native. The granddaughter of a dairy farmer in Maryland, she was raised a city girl with a love and curiosity for creation. She came to us from Colorado Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and brings with her more than ten years of experience in office management and customer service. She is married to Hans and they live in northwest Denver where she favors her rapidly growing indoor garden. Together, they are active in their church and community.

Kacie Sallee

Associate Director of County and Member Development

Kacie Sallee

Associate Director of County and Member Development

Kacie Sallee is a native Coloradan who was raised on her family's cow-calf ranch in Paonia, Colorado. Kacie attended the University of Wyoming where she received a B.S. in Agriculture Communications. She joined the CFB team after completing a fellowship with the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Kacie focuses on offering support to county farm bureaus, coordinates the young farmer and rancher programs and leads the execution of the Elite Leadership Academy. She now lives in Fowler, Colorado with her husband.

Brandon Bainer

Associate Director of County and Member Development

Brandon Bainer

Associate Director of County and Member Development

Brandon was born and raised in Colorado. He spent the first 18 years of life in Ft. Collins before moving to Grand Junction to get a degree in Political Science. Following graduation, Brandon went to work for Congressman Scott Tipton, and spent five years working for him. While working for him, he was able to get involved with Agriculture policy, and meet with numerous farmers and ranchers to hear first hand the issues they face on a day to day basis. At Colorado Farm Bureau he looks forward to continuing to assist farm bureau members moving forward.

Vanessa Reyes

Member Services Specialist

Vanessa Reyes

Member Services Specialist

Originally from San Diego, CA, Vanessa Reyes has been enjoying Colorado for almost 6 years now. Her favorite activities are hiking in the summertime and visiting small Colorado towns all year round. It's a pleasure to join CFB and she is looking forward to working with members and learning all about the culture of agriculture.

Luke Munchrath

Content Creator

Luke Munchrath

Content Creator

Luke Munchrath is the most recent addition to the Farm Bureau Federation staff. He moved to Denver from Ft. Worth, Texas. Luke graduated from Tarleton State University in 2019 with an honors degree in communications. He has an emphasis in public relations and event management with a double minor in wildlife science and technical writing. For the past two years, he has been a consultant for his fraternity, FarmHouse. In his free time, Luke enjoys photography, hunting, fishing and being outside with his red heeler, Rue. Luke is excited to live out the values of the Farm Bureau and native Coloradans. He hopes to be a great asset to the Farm Bureau family.

Evan Eaves

Office Administrator

Evan Eaves

Office Administrator

Carlyle Currier

President
Statewide

Carlyle Currier

PresidentStatewide

James Henderson

Vice President
Statewide

James Henderson

Vice PresidentStatewide

Connie Hass

Secretary
Statewide

Connie Hass

SecretaryStatewide

Gary Melcher

Treasurer
Statewide

Gary Melcher

TreasurerStatewide

Chad Musick

District 1
Adams, Boulder, Larimer, Weld

Chad Musick

District 1Adams, Boulder, Larimer, Weld

Nathan Weathers

District 2
Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Yuma

Nathan Weathers

District 2Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Yuma

Jason Vermillion

District 3
Cheyenne, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln

Jason Vermillion

District 3Cheyenne, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln

Don Richards

District 6
Douglas, Elbert, El Paso

Don Richards

District 6Douglas, Elbert, El Paso

David Brown

District 7
Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Saguache, Mineral

David Brown

District 7Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Saguache, Mineral

Charly Minkler

District 8
Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan Basin (Montezuma, Dolores, San Juan), Southern Hinsdale

Charly Minkler

District 8Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan Basin (Montezuma, Dolores, San Juan), Southern Hinsdale

Zandon Bray

District 9
Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray & San Miguel

Zandon Bray

District 9Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray & San Miguel

Reece Melton

District 10
Eagle, Garfield, Middle Park, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt

Reece Melton

District 10Eagle, Garfield, Middle Park, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt

Roxi McCormick

State Women's Leadership Committee
Statewide

Roxi McCormick

State Women's Leadership CommitteeStatewide

Tim Volberding

State Young Farmers & Ranchers Chair
Statewide

Tim Volberding

State Young Farmers & Ranchers ChairStatewide