Kim Vialpando
The Paw Print
During last March, the San Luis Valley agricultural public lost two very important members in a tragic incident. Doug Shriver and Ray Wright were longtime famers of the San Luis Valley. They were both great outdoorsmen and leaders in natural resource conservation, both of land and water. The two men were both highly respected by friends, family, and the community.
Doug Shriver was active in many conservation issues. He focused a lot of his time on the annual Ski-Hi Stampede and was even rewarded the Monte Vista Chamber Man of the Year in 2008. He held many titles in his life. Shriver was Vice Chair of the Rio Grande Roundtable, Director of the RGWA (Rio Grande Water Users Association), and was also an active volunteer and a board member of the Colorado Ground Water Commission.
Ray Wright was also very successful in his endeavors. He graduated from Colorado State University and carried on the family tradition of farming. To Wright, farming was a way of life, but his real love was fighting for the protection of water resources. He was a lead developer in a controlled mechanism to protect scarce water that water management subdistricts in the Valley are still using today. He was very dedicated to finding a way to protect water for the future. Wright was also the president of Colorado Water Conservation Board and held other board positions over the past years.
Coworkers, family, and friends of Wright and Shriver have fought to develop an endowment in their honor, so that the work they focused their life around could be carried on. The Shriver/Wright Agricultural Endowment will contribute to the farming and ranching region by supporting an agribusiness program here at Adams State College. The endowment will provide scholarships for students as well as provide for program and faculty development.
Dr. Zena Buser will direct the program which will help progress the agricultural practices in the San Luis Valley as well as the Rocky Mountain Region. Students in agribusiness will learn about positions in business dealing with agriculture, food conservation, and rural-associated sectors of the economy.
Adams State alumnus and chair of the Adam State Board of Trustees, Tim Walters said, “I have always believed that agriculture is the lifeblood of the San Luis Valley, with Adams State College providing the soul. Both are intertwined and inseparable, with the success of the Valley at Heart. The Shriver/Wright Agricultural Endowment will bring both of the entities together in a manner which pays tribute to these two men and forever benefits the Valley and Adams State College. This endowment will give our agricultural business program a sustaining economic base to aid both students and faculty. “
To make a contribution to the Shriver/Wright Agricultural Endowment, please contact Tammy Lopez, executive director of the Adams State College Foundation: 719-587-7122 tllopez@adams.edu
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