The Chicken Farm Giving Greeley Kids a Second Chance Sean Short from Blooming Health Farms

The Chicken Farm Giving Greeley Kids a Second Chance Sean Short from Blooming Health Farms

What can a chicken farm teach a young person about responsibility, failure and starting over? In this episode of Weld Said, Mary talks with Sean Short, co-founder and executive director of Blooming Health Farms [https://bloominghealthfarms.com/], a working chicken farm on the edge of Greeley that provides entrepreneurship education and mentorship to justice-involved youth. Sean shares how his own struggles with alcohol and the criminal justice system shaped his commitment to reaching young people before their mistakes become their entire story. He explains why working with animals creates immediate, meaningful lessons about accountability, and how treating young people as capable equals can help them recognize possibilities others may have overlooked. The conversation also explores agriculture, working-class knowledge, the importance of allowing people to fail safely and the surprising origin of Blooming Health Farms’ annual Cakes and Eggs fundraiser. This is a conversation about chickens, community and what can happen when someone believes in a young person who has been written off.Support Sean’s work by joining community at their annual fundraiser. Details below. Blooming Health Farms’ 4th annual Cakes and Eggs fundraiser! Sunday, August 2nd9 a.m. to Noon Glenmere Park in GreeleyKids 13 and younger eat free! You can donate, like, follow and subscribe to Blooming Health Farms on their website at https://bloominghealthfarms.com [https://bloominghealthfarms.com]! Would you like to be on the podcast or recommend a guest for Weld Said? "Contact us via Substack or email us at greeleyfreepress@gmail.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit greeleyfreepress.substack.com [https://greeleyfreepress.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Weld Said | Rethinking Homelessness in Greeley with Davey Autobee

In this episode of Weld Said, Mary sits down with David, a lifelong Greeley community member and the founder of Last Light, a new nonprofit focused on supporting unhoused neighbors and people living close to homelessness. This conversation is about homelessness, but it is also about the way people see each other. David talks about what inspired him to start Last Light, including the example of his uncle, who helped unhoused people when David was growing up, and the community spaces he experienced through music where everyone was welcome. Mary and David talk about how easy it is for people to judge unhoused neighbors without understanding how close so many people are to losing housing themselves. They also talk about the many forms homelessness can take: the person sleeping outside, the worker living in their car, the person fleeing domestic violence, the person struggling with mental health, addiction, or simply not having the documents, transportation, shower, bathroom, food, or support they need to get back on their feet. David’s message is simple: communities need to rethink how they help people. Instead of asking whether someone “deserves” help, what if the question became: what would actually help? A ride to an appointment. A shower. A clean pair of socks. Access to food. A phone number. An email address. A community garden. A benefit show. A safe place to sleep. Someone willing to sit down, listen, and say: you still belong here. They also talk about how community care cannot only happen during the holidays. Families need food, diapers, formula, tampons, toilet paper, transportation, support, and connection all year long. Kids need meals in the summer, not just during the school year. People need help before they fall all the way through the cracks. Last Light is still new, and David is inviting the community to help build it. Anyone with an idea, a resource, a connection, a donation, a space, food, supplies, or even just a few minutes to make a phone call may have a way to help. David and Last Light can be reached at: lastlightoutreach@gmail.com [lastlightoutreach@gmail.com] Resources for families and kids food programs: Weld Food Bank Child Feeding Programs:https://weldfoodbank.org/child-feeding-programs/ [https://weldfoodbank.org/child-feeding-programs/] High Plains Library District Kids Eat Free calendar:https://highplains.libcal.com/calendar/hpld?t=d&q=kids%20eat%20free&cid=8181&cal=8181&inc=0 [https://highplains.libcal.com/calendar/hpld?t=d&q=kids%20eat%20free&cid=8181&cal=8181&inc=0] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit greeleyfreepress.substack.com [https://greeleyfreepress.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Weld Said | You Can Choose the Sheriff, But Only If He Gets on the Ballot

In this episode of Weld Said, Mary talks with Fabian Rodriguez, an independent candidate for Weld County Sheriff in 2026. The sheriff’s race is one of those local elections that can be easy to overlook until you stop and think about how much the sheriff’s office actually touches. The jail. Public safety. Immigration fears. Technology and surveillance. Mental health. Discretion in policing. The relationship between law enforcement and the people it serves. In this conversation, Rodriguez talks about his background in law enforcement, why he decided to run, and why he believes the sheriff’s office should be more connected to the community. Mary and Fabian discuss what experience should mean in a race like this, how law enforcement can build trust with immigrant communities, what role technology like Flock cameras should play, and how officers can use discretion when working with people who are already living paycheck to paycheck. They also talk about mental health support for officers, the importance of transparency, and why Rodriguez believes the sheriff’s office should be rooted in public safety and community - not partisan politics. At the center of the episode is a simple question: What kind of sheriff’s office does Weld County need, and how do voters get a real choice in deciding that? Listen to the full conversation on Weld Said Episode 16. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit greeleyfreepress.substack.com [https://greeleyfreepress.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Petition for a Choice: Stacey Graham Wants Weld County Voters to Have an Option for Commissioner

Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about county commissioner races — but those decisions shape a lot of what happens in our daily lives. In this episode of Weld Said, Mary sits down with Stacey Graham, an independent candidate hopeful for Weld County Commissioner At-Large. Stacey is working to collect enough petition signatures to get her name on the ballot, giving Weld County voters another option in a race that is often quiet, and more often than not, uncontested. The conversation covers Stacey’s background in law firms, policing, investigations, and her current work with District 6 students. Mary and Stacey also talk about smart growth, data centers, water, transparency, public involvement, working-class representation, and why local government should do a better job listening before big decisions are made. This episode is not just about one candidate. It’s about what happens when someone steps forward to run, what it takes to get on the ballot, and why voters deserve a real choice. If you’d like to learn more about Stacey Graham or help her petition onto the ballot, visit: grahamforweld.com [http://grahamforweld.com] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit greeleyfreepress.substack.com [https://greeleyfreepress.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Keep the B******s Honest

In advance of the Colorado Democratic and Republican primaries, we are inviting candidates to talk more about who they are and what they believe in. We welcome any candidates who reach out to speak with us. We don’t focus on policy issues, because you can find those elsewhere. We hope you find these conversations insightful into the people behind the issues.This episode of Weld Said was a little different from the start. When the podcast studio was not available at the last minute, Mary had to pivot. Since the conversation had to happen over Zoom anyway, she decided to try something new: her first video podcast! And somehow, that fit the conversation perfectly. Mary sits down with David Seligman, a workers’ rights, civil rights and consumer protection attorney running for Colorado Attorney General, for a conversation that feels less like a campaign interview and more like two people talking honestly about work, grief, dignity and what it means to fight for people. They talk about his father, his grandfather, the people he has represented, the meaning of working class, the cost of unchecked corporate power, and why the law should feel like something regular people can use, not something that only belongs to lawyers and the powerful. It is also a conversation about Colorado, about water, housing, metro districts, data centers, medical debt, public spaces, and what happens when people feel like decisions are being made about their lives without them. This one is thoughtful, grounded and surprisingly personal. Watch or listen to Mary’s first video episode of Weld Said with David Seligman.To learn more about David Seligman or contact his campaign, visit seligmanforag.com [https://www.seligmanforag.com]. David is a democratic candidate and will face several others in the primary elections on Tuesday, June 30th. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit greeleyfreepress.substack.com [https://greeleyfreepress.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]