Like the River: Finding Hope, Common Ground, and Colorado’s Future with Theron Verna

More than 200 high school students, teachers, and local partners gathered for this year's Weld County Youth Environmental Leadership Summit — a day dedicated to sustainability solutions, leadership, and careers in natural resources. When Palmer Land Conservancy’s Theron Verna stepped to the podium as keynote speaker, he wasn't just an established conservation professional; he was speaking to young people walking the same campus halls where he once earned two degrees.

Theron was the starting tight end for the UNC Bears from 2015-2018.

Theron’s connection to water runs in his roots. Raised along the Colorado River in Grand Junction, he grew up clearing irrigation ditches on his great aunt’s farm and tending family gardens alongside generations of Hispanic, Italian, and Serbian growers and landscapers. That deep reverence for working landscapes traveled with him to Weld County, where he made a home with his family. After years of stewarding over 150,000 acres of open space, working farms, and wildlife habitat across Colorado as Palmer’s Land Stewardship Manager, Theron recently transitioned into a new chapter as Palmer’s Water Program Manager, focusing on researching, establishing, and scaling balanced water initiatives across the state.

Addressing the packed room, Theron challenged the students to find wisdom in Colorado's waterways:

“There may be no better metaphor for life than a river. In years of plenty, sharing is easy. In years of scarcity, the river eeks along, yet it persists. It finds a way — bending, cutting through, or flowing underground... What could be construed as a weakness in too little water and too much demand becomes a strength: a knitting together of interests, and solutions that fit many. I challenge you to mimic the river.”

Rather than sidestepping the tough realities of water scarcity, Theron offered honest perspective, acknowledging that while water can bring friction, it also inspires unprecedented collaboration among farmers, cities, and conservationists. That pragmatic optimism resonated across the room. During the summit’s tabling session, students eagerly asked questions about conservation careers and innovative water solutions, showing that the future of Colorado’s working lands and waterways is in thoughtful, capable hands.

Conservation is ultimately about people navigating complex ground together to protect what matters most.

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