Rachel Spencer Gabel

Colorado

Reporter & Assistant Editor at The Fence Post

Agriculture Columnist at Colorado Politics

Articles

COLUMN: Protecting private property rights, and farm workers' health

6 days ago | gazette.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

Gov. Jared Polis signed SB25-128 Agricultural Worker Service Providers Access Private Property, into law last week at Marc Arnusch Farms near Keenesburg. It was a righting of a major wrong brought in 2021 as part of SB21-087, Agricultural Workers’ Rights, known as the Farmworker Bill of Rights. The portion of the 2021 law, sponsored by Sen. Jessie Danielson and Rep.
Polis, state lawmakers admit an ag wrong and make it right | GABEL

6 days ago | coloradopolitics.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

Gov. Jared Polis signed SB25-128 "Agricultural Worker Service Providers Access Private Property", into law last week at Marc Arnusch Farms near Keenesburg. It was a righting of a major wrong brought in 2021 as part of SB21-087, "Agricultural Workers’ Rights", known as the Farmworker Bill of Rights. The portion of the 2021 law, sponsored by Sen. Jessie Danielson and Rep.
Arnusch: Bill repeal is a monumental win for ag, private property rights

1 week ago | thefencepost.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

Gov. Jared Polis signed SB25-128 Agricultural Worker Service Providers Access Private Property, into law May 29 at Marc Arnusch Farms near Prospect Valley, Colo. It repealed provisions that prohibited an agricultural employer from interfering with an employee’s access to service providers on private property granted in 2021 as part of SB21-087, known as the Farmworker Bill of Rights. The provision granted the right, Arnusch said, to trespass.
COLUMN: Handing the keys to the kingdom to an extremist?

1 week ago | gazette.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

Much of the land around Vail that is now developed as resorts, ski slopes, and golf courses first belonged to sheep ranchers with Greek roots. By the 1960s, development was pushing them out of the valley and activists were bemoaning the negative effect on wildlife that took place when livestock grazing was replaced by progress. In 1998, Vail Resorts was on the cusp of developing 2,2oo acres of backcountry.
Land Board appointee has activist roots rooting on vicious Vail arson | GABEL

1 week ago | coloradopolitics.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

Much of the land around Vail that is now developed as resorts, ski slopes and golf courses first belonged to sheep ranchers with Greek roots. By the 1960s, development was pushing them out of the valley and activists were bemoaning the negative effect on wildlife that took place when livestock grazing was replaced by progress. In 1998, Vail Resorts was on the cusp of developing 2,200 acres of backcountry.
May Kiyota: A story of growth and beauty

2 weeks ago | thefencepost.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

Mayrene Kiyota’s kitchen walls are covered in cards and photos. The bare wood of the doorway is, rather than photos, covered in neatly measured and labeled growth charts of her children and grandchildren. She lives across from her family’s Kiyota Greenhouse near Fort Lupton, Colo., her planters overflowing with yellow pansies and her love of the Denver Broncos on display in the picture window.
Rosmarino’s previous comments raise concern ahead of SLB appointment

2 weeks ago | thefencepost.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

In 1998, Vail Resorts’ plans to develop 2,2oo-acres of backcountry angered activists, especially those devoted to preserving the habitat of elk and Canada lynx. According to 1999 reporting by Alex Markels, members of the radical Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the now defunct-Rocky Mountain Animal Defense (RMAD) marched through Vail together in opposition to the development.
The keystone species needing protection from Polis? The Colorado rancher | GABEL

2 weeks ago | coloradopolitics.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

By placing one of his cronies in control of the State Land Board’s 2.8 million surface acres and 4.0 million mineral estate acres, the last thing standing between Gov. Jared Polis and his renewable energy goals — production agriculture — can be hamstrung. His appointment of Nicole Rosmarino as the new SLB director will solidify him as the nation’s most anti-rural, anti-agriculture governor.
COLUMN: Polis appointment threatens rural Colorado

3 weeks ago | denvergazette.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

By placing one of his cronies in control of the State Land Board’s 2.8 million surface acres and 4.0 million mineral estate acres, the last thing standing between Gov. Jared Polis and his renewable energy goals — production agriculture – can be hamstringed. His appointment of Nicole Rosmarino as the new SLB director will solidify him as the nation’s most anti-rural, anti-agriculture governor.
Rewilding advocate hired to lead Colorado State Land Board

3 weeks ago | thefencepost.com | Rachel Spencer Gabel

According to an email sent May 13, 2025, by Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Gibbs, Nicole Rosmarino is the sole finalist for the director of the State Land Board, which is the state’s second largest landowner with 2.8 million surface acres and 4 million mineral estate acres. Gibbs said, per statute, the board provides public notice for 14 days prior to a formal appointment which will occur at the next regularly scheduled public board meeting, which is June 11 and 12 in Denver.