Malone finds it satisfying to assist individuals in adopting new and successful ideas and techniques in their personal agricultural businesses. The challenge is to help producers look beyond their current circumstances and a natural resistance to change in the midst of difficult economic times.

Formerly a loan officer at the First National Bank of Las Animas for six years, Malone assists individuals to sharpen their business skills and plan for their futures. Malone is currently working toward a Masters Degree in Agriculture from Colorado State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance emphasis from Adams State College.

A native to the Wiley area, Malone grew up on an irrigated farm and understands the passion for farming and ranching. He continues to keep his hand in agriculture by living and working on his wife’s family farm and ranch and running cattle of his own. He is married to Stephanie (Smartt) and they have one son, Quade.

Del Chase, LCC’s coordinator of agricultural studies, teaches, advises students, develops curriculum and course delivery models, creates and improves existing articulation agreements with 4-year institutions, coordinates recruiting of ag students, and supervises LCC’s ag faculty. His main emphases outside the classroom have been to continue to strengthen LCC’s ag programs, in part by developing articulation agreements with four year colleges and universities, and expand continuing education courses to the local ag industry.

Chase’s love for agricultural youth fuels his compassion to make LCC’s agriculture programs challenging and rewarding. “We have some of the most knowledgeable instructors that truly care about the success of their students. We believe that our ag programs are the ‘The Best in the West’,” explains Chase.

A resident of McClave for over twenty years, Chase was an ag education instructor as well as FFA advisor for twenty-one years, sharing responsibilities with Don Thorne for the last six. During his tenure, McClave FFA won multiple state and national awards for its innovative and successful endeavors. A Colorado native, Chase was born and raised in Flagler. He graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Masters of Agriculture. His wife, Lori, and daughter, Tatum, reside in McClave and are involved in family ranching and farming enterprises.