Louis Bacon Teams With the Trinchera-Tercio Foundation

The Trinchera-Tercio Foundation and Moore Capital Funds owner Louis Bacon, have donated over $100,000 to the Center Conservation District (CCD) and the Rio Grande Conservation District (RGCD) in order to save the soil on the Trinchera Ranch.

Over the years the soil has been heavily farmed for spinach, lettuce, and canola. Some of these crops were often grown using soil conditioners and fertilizers which have left pockets of nitrogen in the fields, damaging the remaining soil. These crops have consumed everything that the soil had to give and now it needs rehabilitation.

Louis Bacon and the Trinchera-Tercio Foundation's donation means that a new building will be able to go ahead and house not only the CCD and RGCD, but also Monte Vista Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and the Saguache County and Rio Grande County Farm Service Agencies (FSA). Together these groups will form the Rio Grande Watershed Conservation Education Initiative which will focus on soil health and green manure crop rotation techniques, specially along the 285 highway, and the Rio Grande County Road 10.

President of the CCD Danny Neufeld spoke about the donation: “The Trinchera Ranch was interested in soil health and they wanted someone to stick their neck out. The partnership with Trinchera has been fantastic. It is an opportunity that has benefited all districts in the Valley.”

Louis Bacon is no stranger to conservation projects. The environmental philanthropist and owner of a the Trinchera Ranch set-up the Moore Charitable Foundation to fund and work on various preservation projects both in America and abroad. In the years since his charity has been active he's helped save and restore numerous land, water, and wildlife habitats, ensuring their ongoing survival.

Rio Grande Conservation District President Jason Benton said about the project: “This will be a major benefit for the community. It is a perfect representation of a lot of the farm ground in the San Luis Valley. “