Meet the Board

Duke Jackson, President

Duke grew up in Taos, New Mexico, and moved to Durango, CO, in 2012 to attend Fort Lewis College, where he gained a BA in Environmental Studies. In 2015, Duke began volunteering at FLC’s small vegetable garden and orchard. This experience sparked his passion for agriculture, which has only grown since then. Duke has been consistently involved in food and farming in the Southwest over the past five years. He has worked on multiple farms in the region, designed and managed the campus Food Forest at FLC, participated in the incubator program at the Old Fort, and currently is the owner of Sol Vista Farm LLC, located in Mancos, CO. He participated as a RMFU fellow in 2024-2026.

Vice President, Vacant

Chuck McAfee, Treasurer

Chuck was born in Cortez, grew up in Lewis and graduated from M-CHS. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Colorado and then at Stanford University. His professional career was with Hewlett-Packard. Chuck and his wife MB returned to Southwest Colorado in 1998 to become re-engaged with their home community. They are living on the dryland farm where Chuck’ grandparents homesteaded and began farming more than 100 years ago. They are implementing a long-term project to convert their farmland to native and introduced grasses for livestock forage. Their priorities are healthy soils, healthy grass, happy rancher. His favorite pastimes are conversation, laughing, and attempting to keep up with friends on local mountain bike trails.

Emily Lockard, Secretary

Emily Lockard grew up in La Mesa, California and spent summers at her grandparents farm in Viola, Idaho. She moved to Montezuma County in 2018 with her partner after traveling the west in their Four Wheel Camper. She previously worked as an agriculture extension agent in Pueblo, Colorado and Bozeman, Montana and as a research associate at the Southwestern Colorado Research Center in Yellow Jacket, CO. She is now the director and agricultural specialist for CSU Extension in Montezuma County. In 2020 she was hired as an instructor at Pueblo Community College – Southwest to teach animal science and ag buisness. Her background is in range science and animal science and she has worked with a diversity of agricultural operations. She enjoys the challenge of growing native plants and depending on the year may have extra for sale at a local farmers market. She enjoys ceramics, packrafting, canoeing, gardening and going on backcountry adventures.

Cindy Dvergsten, Board Member

Cindy has served as a director with Four Corners Rocky Mountain Farmers Union since 2011, including serving as president. Growing up on a berry farm in Minnesota, Cindy has been a lifelong farmer. With her husband Mike, she operates Arriola Sunshine Farm north of Cortez. She began selling at the Cortez Farmers Market in 1987 and continued to raise leaf lettuce and other products from a market garden for 25 years. They also have raised heritage turkeys and at one time had 200 laying hens. Currently Cindy and Mike manage a flock of 35 registered Navajo-Churro Sheep. Practicing holistic grazing planning, they have witnessed a doubling in the productivity in their pastures. They believe that managing with a whole-farm approach is essential to the success in today’s changing world.

Mike Rich, Board Member

Mike grew up in Wisconsin where he enjoyed spending time at his grandparent’s dairy farm. He moved to Colorado in 1980 and settled in Montezuma county in 1984. Mike worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Iowa, Montrose and Cortez in various positions including soil scientist, conservation planner, Colorado River Salinity Control Project team leader, farm irrigation planner and District Conservationist. Mike and his wife Cindy operate Arriola Sunshine Farm raising registered Navajo Churro Sheep. Their farm is recognized as a demonstration farm for Holistic Management International. Mike enjoys hiking, exploring canyon country with friends and fishing.