Voices of the Past: Lessons from the Land (Part 1)

Scott Perez grew up in farm country and spent nearly 50 years as a working cowboy. But it was his passion for oral history that led him to dig deeper into the agricultural past of Southwest Colorado — poring over old journals, talking to longtime residents, and uncovering the small, vivid details that bigger histories tend to overlook. In this episode, Scott shares what drew him to write for the Power of Place Magazine, why he believes local agriculture deserves protection, and what indigenous land stewardship can still teach us today. It is a candid, grounded conversation about the hidden costs of losing farmland — for wildlife, for water, and for the communities that depend on both.The Power of Place Magazine is a special initiative of the Colorado 150 Southwest organizing committee, featuring 20 articles by professional historians and local writers exploring Southwest Colorado's rich and complex heritage.By Scott PerezThis story is sponsored by Alpine Bank, Sky Ute Casino and Strater HotelWatch the full Voices of the Past: Southwest Colorado series on our YouTube.