Board Updates: Thank you Reeves Brown, Welcome Nick Rusler
Farewell and Thank You Director Reeves Brown
The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District extends its deepest gratitude to Director Reeves Brown of Buelah, Colorado, who recently retired after 16 years of dedicated service on our board. Reeves has been a tireless advocate for water and agriculture in the Arkansas Valley and across Colorado, providing steady leadership and thoughtful vision throughout his tenure.
We also want to share our heartfelt appreciation to Reeve’s wife, Betsy, for her meaningful involvement and support for our organization over the years. Together, Reeves and Betsy have championed the preservation of water and agriculture while serving as exemplary stewards of their historic 3R Ranch near Beulah. Their commitment to conservation and education has made their ranch a model for holistic range management and land conservation across the valley.
Welcome Nick Rusler to the Lower District Board
The Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District is pleased to welcome Nick Rusler of Rusler Produce to our board. A sixth-generation Pueblo County farmer, Nick continues his family’s proud farming tradition under the Bessemer Ditch.
The Rusler family settled in the Vineland area in 1884, with the Mauro side arriving in the 1890s and hand-digging the first water well under the ditch. For many years, the family focused on onion production, supplying markets across Colorado and beyond. About a decade ago, they transitioned to growing, packaging, and shipping pinto beans while rotating in silage crops. Today, Rusler Produce partners with 15 other local growers to meet the region’s growing demand for pinto beans.
Nick earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Northern Colorado in 2006 before returning home to join the family business. His experience has given him a deep understanding of irrigated agriculture and a strong commitment to protecting water rights and preserving Lower Arkansas Valley water resources.
