| 2025 FUSION Conference Tours |
During the registration process, you will have the opportunity to select a Monday tour or workshop. Please be sure to select your preference, as both are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. A boxed lunch will be provided for all tour and workshop attendees.
Monday Workshop Option for Monday, March 10,2025: (In lieu of attending a tour)
Farm Bureau Mini Campaign School
**If you select this option, you will not be able to attend one of the tours**
If you're considering running for school board, county commission or other local public office, want to manage a campaign, or just have a curiosity about political campaigns, AFBF's campaign training mini session, "So You Want to be a Candidate," can teach you the basics of campaigning and help you determine what is involved in a winning campaign. The mini session is based on AFBF's popular two-day Campaign School, which is nonpartisan, unbiased and has an 87 percent success rate of attendees being elected. This condensed training session introduces the fundamentals of campaigning and activities to help you understand the facets of being a winning candidate. This session is led by AFBF Advocacy & Political Affairs Staff.
Cost: Free
Capacity: 30 attendees
Estimated Time: 11:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Tour Options for Monday, March 10, 2025:
- Tours are subject to change.
- Closed toe shoes must be worn on all tours.
- Tours are open to all attendees and are free unless otherwise noted under the tour description.
- All tours will include lunch and will return to the Sheraton Downtown Denver.
- All return times are tentative.
Tour #1 Manitou and Pikes Peak
Experience the Cog Railway up 9 miles to the summit of Pikes Peak. This is the world’s highest and the world’s longest cog railroad in the United States. The route will take you through Pike National Forest, traveling along Ruxton Creek, by Diamond Rock, within the steep, rocky walls of Englemann Canyon, past stacked boulder formations, a striking waterfall, and through Deer Park. The view from Pikes Peak isn’t the only sight waiting for you at the top. Part of the adventure is what you see along the way. Pikes Peak abounds with fascinating wildlife, and visitors frequently see elk, deer, and yellow-bellied marmot en route, plus Pikes Peak is home to one of Colorado’s largest bighorn sheep herds.
Cost: $59
Available for Children
Tour Capacity: 100 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 5:30 p.m.
Tour #2 Foods and Feeds
Take a visit to JBS Foods Greeley Beef Processing Plant, a global, diversified protein company creating products for customers and consumers around the world. JBS Foods is the top beef producer in the world. On this tour, attendees will see how cattle are processed into food products. Please note this tour will require a significant amount of walking and standing. The next stop is Harper Feeders a fourth generation, family owned and operated feedlot. There you will see how they feed sheep and cattle with a capacity of 65,000 head of sheep and 3,000 head of cattle.
Pre-arrival waiver required.
Cost: Free
Tour Capacity: 40 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 5:00 p.m.
This tour will take you through the Western Sugar Processing Mill Factory, where you’ll see first-hand how the sugar beet is processed. You’ll learn about the history of how the company was started and also how they transitioned to who they are now. The Western Sugar Cooperative has over 700 shareholders/growers who own 134,150 shares of their cooperative.
Cost: Free
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 4:00 p.m.
Tour #4 Cyber Security and Space
Take a tour through Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company. You may know that the majority of Lockheed Martin's business is with the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. federal government agencies. In addition, Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, provides military and rotary-wing aircraft to five branches of the U.S. armed forces along with military services and commercial operators in 40 nations. The remaining portion of Lockheed Martin's business is comprised of international government and commercial sales of products, services and platforms. You’ll be able to step foot in a few areas of the campus for a behind-the-scenes look at some of their famous work.
Pre-arrival waiver required, ID must be present or birth certificate for children.
Cost: Free
Available for Child 4-12
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 4:00 p.m.
Tour #5 CSU Food Innovation Center and Meat Lab
Start this tour at the Global Food Innovation Center, a world-class facility for research, education and innovation at Colorado State University. During this tour you’ll spend time in the Innovative and Educational Meat Processing Plant. The Center includes a pilot meat processing plant with complete livestock and meat ‘ready-to-eat’ production, a Temple Grandin-designed animal system education area, a research and development center, sensory analysis room, a meat demonstration classroom, and a retail meat storefront. Then wrap up the tour at Canvas Stadium, home of the CSU Ram’s football operations.
Cost: Free
Available for Children
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Return Time: 5:00 p.m.
Tour #6 CSU Cattle Research Center
The tour will start off at the Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center (ARDEC). Featuring AgNext, you’ll learn how they find sustainable solutions for animal agriculture by working with members of the livestock value chain to produce new ideas that help move the industry forward. The next stop will be the CoBank Center for Agricultural Education at the ARDEC campus. This part of the tour will include a preview of the laboratory, technology (shop) and office space in support of CSU’s Agricultural Education teacher licensure program. Then wrap up the tour at Canvas Stadium, home of the CSU Ram’s football operations.
Cost: Free
Available for Children
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 5:00 p.m.
Tour #7 World of Candy and Planet Bubbles
Unleash your sweet tooth and embrace your inner child as you witness the mesmerizing world of confectionery come to life at Hammond’s Candies. Marvel at the creation of lollipops, candy canes, and other irresistible Hammond's treats (5,000lbs per day!). Finish the tour at Bubble Planet, an immersive experience with different rooms that feature different bubble themed activities. The unique rooms include the bubble ocean with a sea of living ballons, the giant bubble, the bubble bath, and even a selfie room!
Cost: Adult $27, Child $21
Available for Children
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 3:00 p.m.
Tour #8 The Wild Animal Sanctuary
This is a self-guided tour through The Wild Animal Sanctuary. Unleash your sense of wonder with 550 exotic and endangered rescued animals living here. There’s always so much to see and learn!
Cost: Adult - $50, Child - $30
Available for Children
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 3:30 p.m.
Tour #9 Lambs and Energy
The first stop will take you to Pivot Energy, a renewable energy provider and independent power producer that develops, finances, builds, owns, and manages solar and energy storage projects. The next stop is Superior Farms. Since 1964, they have been synonymous with quality lamb production, supplying product to grocery stores and restaurants across the United States. What sets Superior Farms apart is not just exceptional lamb but also their unwavering commitment to sustainability and animal welfare. Additionally, Superior Farms Denver has become a leader in sustainable agriculture and their approach to producing lamb is setting a new standard in the industry.
Cost: Free
Available for Children
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 4:30 p.m.
Tour #10 Denver MicroBrews (21+ only)
This brew tour will take you through four different breweries visiting the most popular brew neighborhoods of Denver: LoDo which is Downtown’s historical area and RiNo the arts district. You’ll see the unique Denver brew operations from different angles. The brew stops will include Wynkoop Brewing Company, Ratio Beerworks, Odell Brewing, and Bierstadt Lagerhaus. All stops will include a tasting. This tour is only available to attendees 21 years old and older.
Cost: $65
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 3:30 p.m.
Tour #11 Wine and Brews (21+ only)
Take a peek behind the scenes of Carboy Winery where you’ll visit their wine cellar, learn about their history, and see the winemaking process while sipping the delicious final product. Taste four wines throughout the tour, from the barrel, tank, bottle, and glass. The second stop will be Breckenridge Brewery where you can enjoy a guided tour through their brewhouse, fermentation alley, barrel aging area, and packaging hall. This tour is only available to attendees 21 years old and older.
Cost: $55
Tour Capacity: 50 attendees
Estimated Return Time: 3:30 p.m.
Tour #12 Volunteer: Food Bank
Let’s join hands to serve those in need! Share your time and talents as a volunteer at the Food Bank for the Rockies, a partner food bank of Feeding America. All who register for this opportunity will receive details via email before the conference. Lunch at a local restaurant will be provided for this group.
Cost: Free
Tour Capacity: 20 attendees
Return Time: 4:30 p.m.
