Laura Velasquez

Laura Velasquez ranches with her husband, Regan, in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, where they manage a small cow/calf operation at 8,200 feet. Their ranch spans from riparian riverfront along the Conejos River to piñon–juniper hills and is flood‑irrigated using historic ditches built in the 1880s.

After years of overgrazing by prior lessees, Laura and Regan committed to regenerating their land through adaptive grazing and intentional stewardship. Laura began taking Holistic Management courses in 2019 while exploring alternatives to continuous grazing, and in 2021 they returned full time to steward the ranch and use livestock as a tool to restore ecological function, applying what they had learned.

The San Luis Valley is a high‑altitude desert facing increasing land abandonment and climate variability. Laura is passionate about working with local landowners to demonstrate how animal integration can improve water cycles, restore productivity, and build resilience in working landscapes.

As a Whole Farm/Ranch Trainer, Laura supports producers in clarifying their holistic goals and applying adaptive decision‑making to strengthen their land and livelihoods.