A new legacy fund honoring longtime community leader Roger Cotten is helping power the future of agricultural education in Gunnison County. Thanks to a generous donation from the Gunnison Bank and Trust Company (GB&T), the Gunnison County CSU Extension Office now has an endowment hosted by the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley that will support vital programs for years to come.

The fund, established in memory of Roger Cotten, invites contributions from anyone wishing to support the Gunnison County CSU Extension Office—similar to the well-known Nadine Henry Fund.

Roger Cotten dedicated more than 50 years to GB&T and was a passionate supporter of local ranchers and the 4-H program. A Gunnison High School graduate, he was actively involved in 4-H and FFA, winning numerous awards. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to agriculture and youth development, GB&T created the Roger E. Cotten Legacy Fund (RLF) to honor his values and vision.

The purpose of the RLF is to expand access to, and increase the capacity of, the Gunnison County CSU Extension Office’s programs—particularly those supporting agricultural education in Gunnison County.

The fund supports a wide range of programming, including:

• Beginning farmer and rancher education
• Educational opportunities for women, veterans, and other underrepresented agricultural producers
• Food preservation and healthy living classes
• Adoption of agricultural technology
• Rural landowner and agribusiness management
• Youth agriculture education
• Agricultural research, including varietal trials, cropping systems, water and irrigation efficiency, and livestock management
• Horticulturist training
• Marketing and outreach support for Extension programs

Through these efforts, the fund ensures that adult learners in Extension programs can reach their full potential through continuing education—while equipping producers to pass on sustainable agricultural and business practices to future generations.

“We’re proud to honor Roger’s legacy by investing in the future of agriculture and education in Gunnison County,” said GB&T Executive Vice-President Chad Zummach.

One of the first projects supported by the fund is the Gunnison Basin Virtual Fencing Trial, which is already benefiting local producers. Since 2022, the Extension Office has partnered with ranchers to test the VENCE virtual fencing system, a new livestock management tool.

Similar to systems used with dogs, virtual fencing for cattle uses collars that emit sounds and stimuli as animals approach a boundary. Each cow wears a battery-powered collar, individually fitted for comfort and accuracy. These collars communicate with solar-powered base stations, which send data to a web-based platform producers use to manage their herds. When cattle near a designated boundary, the collar emits a sound followed by a stimulus, encouraging the animal to stay within its virtual pasture.

Though the technology is still developing, the trials allow producers to explore whether it suits their operation—without the financial risk of investing in a system up front. Thanks to GB&T’s support, the Extension Office is able to offer these trials at a significantly reduced cost.

In addition to supporting producer trials, the fund has also made it possible for the Extension Office to invest in future agricultural leaders. For two consecutive years, local seventh-generation rancher Kaden Robbins has served as the program intern. Kaden, who is completing his degree online through CSU, helps teach producers how to use the new technology, gathers feedback from users, and interviews land managers about their experiences.

“This internship really changed my career goals,” said Kaden Robbins. “Getting this experience working with producers on the ground made it clear to me that I wanted to pursue this line of work for my future.”

Kaden’s contributions have been instrumental in the success of the virtual fencing project. This kind of opportunity—for both interns and producers—is only possible through the support of visionary community partners like GB&T.

And this is only the beginning. The GB&T Roger E. Cotten Legacy Fund will continue to fuel a wide variety of initiatives at the Gunnison County CSU Extension Office. From cutting-edge technology trials to expanded educational access, this funding ensures that innovation, community education, and agricultural resilience will thrive in the Gunnison Valley for years to come – thanks to the generosity of GB&T.

-Written by Gunnison County CSU Extension Director and Ag Agent, Hannah Cranor-Kersting