Our Team

Beth LaShell
Director

Beth brings many years of experience in agriculture to the Old Fort at Hesperus. After serving as an instructor in the FLC Agriculture and Biology Department for 17 years and as a researcher for a Colorado State University Agriculture Experiment Station, she became the Coordinator of the Old Fort at Hesperus in 2010. Her current duties include day-to-day operations, financial management of cattle, hay, and sustainable agriculture enterprises, coordinating FLC and community uses, conducting research projects, and identifying new activities for the property.

The Old Fort Market Garden Incubator program began in 2012 as the first one in Colorado. With the assistance of the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative (NIFTI), the Old Fort developed a trial incubator program. Because technical assistance was so critical to the early success of our program, Beth offers expertise to regional programs who are interested in duplicating our incubator and farmer training model.

  Phone
FLC Campus: 970-247-7189
Hesperus Office: 970-385-4574

Beth LaShell

Elicia Whittlesey
Farmer Training Program Coordinator

Elicia began her farming journey at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in California over 10 years ago and has been at the Old Fort since 2015. “I farm because I love the sense of power in doing physical tasks together. In a world where so much work happens digitally, it’s refreshing and important to help people experience the power of their own bodies, transforming the ground and coaxing food from the fields. Growing at 7600 feet is challenging, but I love the creativity in adjusting the farm plan every year to grow as much diverse and delicious food as possible for the community.” Elicia holds a bachelor’s in Environmental Analysis from Pomona College and a master’s in Geography from the University of Minnesota. She lives in Mancos with her daughter and husband, where they let dandelions take over their yard alongside a few apple trees, herbs, and flowers.

Beth LaShell

Dan Selzer
Property Caretaker | Cattle and Hay Manager

After graduating from Cortez High School, Dan attended Fort Lewis College, where he received an AA in Agriculture. He worked for Colorado State University as a Research Associate until 2010, when he became Fort Lewis College staff. In addition to his duties at the Old Fort at Hesperus, Dan owns a ranch in Mancos where he runs 80 cows.

  Phone
970-385-4574

Dan Selzer

Duke Jackson
Production Manager

Duke grew up in Taos, New Mexico, and moved to Durango, CO, in 2012 to attend Fort Lewis College, where he gained a BA in Environmental Studies. In 2015, Duke began volunteering at FLC's small vegetable garden and orchard. This experience sparked his passion for agriculture, which has only grown since then. Duke has been consistently involved in food and farming in the Southwest over the past five years. He has worked on multiple farms in the region, designed and managed the campus Food Forest at FLC, participated in the incubator program at the Old Fort, and currently is the owner of Sol Vista Farm LLC, located in Mancos, CO. Apart from farming, you may find him rambling through thick alpine forests while searching for edible mushrooms, taking sunset ski laps at Hesperus, or compiling playlists of eclectic music and sharing them with friends.

Duke Jackson

Steering Committee

The Old Fort Steering Committee was formed in 2010 to determine trust and land use agreements. Committee members, meeting agendas and minutes, and documents are available upon request.

Request information

The Old Fort

18683 CO-140
Hesperus, CO 81326
 oldfortathesperus@fortlewis.edu
 970-385-4574

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Land Acknowledgement 

We acknowledge the land that the Old Fort is situated upon is the ancestral land and territory of the Nuuchiu (Ute) people who were forcibly removed by the United States Government. We also acknowledge that this land is connected to the communal and ceremonial spaces of the Jicarilla Abache (Apache), Pueblos of New Mexico, Hopi Sinom (Hopi), and Diné (Navajo) Nations.

The Old Fort and Fort Lewis College are committed to reconciling their history as a federal Indian Boarding School from 1892 to 1909.

Learn more about reconciliation

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The Old Fort is owned by the Colorado State Land Board and managed by Fort Lewis College.


Digital accessibility