Grassroots Organizing and Colorado’s Cage-Free Egg Crisis

On January 25, 2023, Kim examines grassroots political organizing in Douglas County with Andy Jones running for GOP Chair, caucus system mechanics with Ted Mische, and food security threats from Colorado’s cage-free egg law with sixth-generation farmer Trent Loos.

Colorado’s Cage-Free Egg Law and Food Security

Start listening at 71:50 – Hour 2

Sixth-generation farmer Trent Loos discusses how government overreach threatens food security, focusing on Colorado’s cage-free chicken legislation. Loos traveled to California 14 times in 2008 warning that Proposition 2’s cage-free requirements would triple egg prices. When implemented in January 2015, newspapers asked why no one warned them despite clear advance notice. In Australia 2015, Loos documented eggs at $9 per dozen with carton notes claiming higher prices ensured chicken welfare—justification he rejects as disconnected from actual animal husbandry.

Colorado’s similar law took effect January 1, 2023, but enforcement is delayed until January 2024. Egg prices already increased 133% from avian flu and law anticipation, but full impact awaits enforcement. USDA exacerbated the crisis by euthanizing 38 million laying hens in 2022—destroying entire flocks when single birds tested positive despite zero transmission risk through eggs. Loos shares how a friend raised in poverty with four siblings relied on eggs as affordable protein. Her recent grocery photo showing two-carton purchase limits captioned “This is hunger” illustrates how regulation harms struggling families who cannot make daily store trips.

“Somebody sitting in a cubicle designed some animal welfare guideline that had nothing to do with what the chicken actually was needing or experiencing, or why we call chickens a flock, because they come together. They flock together in tight spaces. They’re not people, they’re chickens, they’re laying eggs.”

— Trent Loos, Sixth-Generation Farmer and Rancher

Caucus System and Bonus Member Elections

Start listening at 36:15 – Hour 1

Ted Mische explains Colorado’s caucus process as critically important for grassroots influence but poorly understood by citizens. The caucus system, occurring every two years, provides an alternative to the petition process for reaching the primary ballot. Without it, only wealthy candidates who can afford signature gathering would qualify, and the Secretary of State would control Republican candidate access by validating or invalidating signatures. Misha notes from Proposition 115 experience that close to half of petition signatures were nullified, many legitimately.

Precincts contain 1,500 to 3,000 people with two Precinct Committee Persons elected at each caucus. PCPs vote for party officers and bylaw changes. Delegates elected at caucus are even more critical because they decide which candidates appear on primary ballots at local, judicial, state, and presidential levels—each delegate’s vote worth hundreds or thousands of regular votes. Bonus members, elected by precinct leaders, serve on both county executive and state central committees. Douglas County’s bonus member election is February 7th at 6 PM at the Event Center. Misha encourages face-to-face candidate interviews and church engagement, having brought 50 people from his church to caucus training.

“James 4:17 says, ‘Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.’ We see a lot of evil out there in the world today, and those of us who stand back and watch it happen, same thing happened in Nazi Germany… Take the first step.”

— Ted Mische, Grassroots Organizer

Douglas County GOP Chair Race and Party Growth

Start listening at 4:20 – Hour 1

Andy Jones, a Navy veteran who served 30 years including 12 as an aviator flying off aircraft carriers, announces his candidacy for Douglas County GOP Chair with a slate focused on growing the party while maintaining conservative principles. Jones served as First Vice Chair in 2020 when the county raised $45,000 and led the 2021 school board campaign that raised over $500,000 to flip a liberal board conservative in the most expensive school board race in U.S. history. His slate includes Mike Dixon (West Point graduate and retired Army colonel) as First Vice Chair, Leo Stegman (retired corporate accountant) as Treasurer, Monica Waston (20-year party veteran) as Secretary, and Keelan Thomas as Second Vice Chair for communications.

Jones emphasizes that Douglas County is the last conservative county on the Front Range, making it critical to counter left-leaning counties like Jefferson and Arapahoe. With unaffiliated voters outnumbering Republicans 138,000 to 100,000, Jones identifies four priorities: inclusive growth without compromising values, year-round messaging beyond election cycles, substantial fundraising for sustained operations, and building a bench of principled leaders. Thomas, joining by phone, outlines her vision for bringing the party to people through local events, neighborhood barbecues, and her successful monthly happy hour connecting young families to freedom principles using relatable messaging about choice.

“If we keep the Democrats off the bench, they don’t make it on the playing field. That means we fight for every single one of those positions.”

— Andy Jones, Candidate for Douglas County GOP Chair