Colorado Dry Bean Committee

We were created by the Colorado Department of Agriculture to promote the Colorado dry bean industry through market development and research.

We have an Administrator, an Executive Director, four Grower Directors, two Dealer Directors, and one Alternate Dealer Director.


Meet Our Team!


Administrator

Bob Schork

Bob Schork

Bob was the Manager of the Colorado Dry Bean Committee for 26 years and is now our Administrator.

Although he enjoyed his career as a computer programmer, he finds that beans have at least one major advantage over computers: they are delicious! Especially Colorado beans, of course.


Executive Director

Chelsea Didinger

Chelsea is a Food Science and Human Nutrition PhD student at Colorado State University researching beans. Her goal is for everyone to be at least half as excited about beans as she is. Of course, it is too hard to pick a favorite Colorado bean. However, if you have not yet tried Mayocoba beans, then she thinks you should remedy that as soon as possible! She also operates A Legume a Day, which contains recipes, fun science tidbits, and more.


Grower Directors

Colorado beans

Brent Adler

Brent Adler is a Grower Director in Wray. He has been growing beans his whole life, as did his dad and grandpa. He enjoys his two daughters’ college and high school activities and also family church functions. 

“My favorite type of bean is a pinto, especially when it is made into a spicy refried bean.” – Brent


Harvey Colglazier

Harvey is the President of the Colorado Dry Bean Committee and is based in Holyoke. He has been involved in growing beans for 58 years!

When asked about his favorite ways to enjoy Colorado beans, Harvey says, “Any bean dips to baked pinto over chips to bean soups.”   


Gary Cozzens

Gary Cozzens is a Grower Director in Eaton.

He has been in the bean business for 49 years and shares, “We are a fourth-generation farm that enjoys raising pinto beans. I enjoy Mexican Pinto Bean soup over corn chips.”


Troy Seaworth

Troy is the President of Seaworth Ag Enterprises and Wildcat Farms. He is third generation on a farm near Wellington where they currently grow dry beans, corn, sugar beets, hay, and wheat.

“My favorite dry beans to eat are pinto and Mayocoba. One favorite dish with beans would be pork and bean soup, as well as pinto bean pie that tastes similar to pecan. What I like most about Colorado beans is the quality of bean our area produces.” – Troy


Dealer Directors

Jerry Haynes

Jerry is our Secretary. He is with Jack’s Bean Company in Holyoke.

Jerry shares, “In the edible bean business for almost 38 years, I have learned never trust the person that has all the answers!”


Jay Ewald

Jay is a Dealer Director and CEO of Northern Feed and Bean in Lucerne. He is a passionate international entrepreneur involved at various levels of the agricultural value chain, who has built businesses for the past 40 years, as Founder, CEO, Board Member, or Advisor.

My favorite Colorado bean is the pinto bean and I love bean and cheese burritos.” – Jay


Samuel Peck

Samuel is an Alternate Dealer Director. Since 2017, he has been the International Trade Specialist for Jack’s Bean Company in Holyoke.   

Samuel has been in the international bean industry for over 40 years and was instrumental in introducing the first chickpeas to the PNW growers in the mid 80’s, which have now spread out to many other areas of the US. His focus is on exporting US dried beans around the world, but also trading beans from third country to third country. He has lived in Dubai and Peru and traveled extensively in the growing areas of China, Ethiopia, and much of South America.

When asked about his favorite Colorado bean, he says, “I enjoy working with light red kidneys the most of any of the dried bean varieties.”  


Our Memberships

The Colorado Dry Bean Committee promotes the Colorado bean industry by being members and sponsors of the following great organizations and groups:

Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

They provide critical resources for Colorado fresh fruit and vegetable farmers. Did you know that beans are considered a member of two food groups according to MyPlate? Protein foods and vegetables!

Rocky Mountain Bean Dealers Association

This association works with beans throughout the Rocky Mountain region, including Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado (of course), and other states. Check out their website here.

United States Dry Bean Council

The US Dry Bean Council promotes beans through facilitating bean exports and national marketing campaigns. Explore their website for resources, events, updates about bean harvests, and more.