Simpson, a fourth-generation farmer and rancher who has managed the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, would succeed Kate Greenberg, the first woman to hold the post. Greenberg was also the only agriculture commissioner in four decades without production agriculture experience, a distinction that sparked a lasting rift between the farming community and Gov. Jared Polis's office.

"Cleave Simpson is a true public servant who cares about rural Colorado, understands deeply the challenges we are facing and is committed to working with all of Colorado to build a better future," Weiser said in a statement. "I'm honored to have him as a part of my cabinet as the Commissioner of Agriculture and look forward to working with him to deliver results for our state."

Simpson, who has served in the Senate since 2021 and became minority leader in June 2025 after Sen. Paul Lundeen resigned, said the opportunity caught him off guard. "Six months ago, the commissioner job wasn't on my radar," he said. "To be the face and voice of ag in Colorado is humbling. I'm just thrilled about the opportunity and the honor to represent agriculture. This is the culmination of my life's work in agriculture."

The nomination requires confirmation by the state Senate after it convenes in January. Simpson will be the second Republican to lead the Agriculture Department under a Democratic governor in recent years, following Don Brown of Yuma, whom Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed in 2015.

Agricultural leaders welcomed the pick. Brown said the appointment "speaks volumes about Weiser's commitment to rural and ag," adding that Simpson "is as familiar with the working end of a shovel as he is navigating the halls of the state Capitol. Those are two skills that will serve him well."

John Swartout, who spent more than 30 years working on rural issues across Democratic and Republican administrations, said: "After eight long years of not having a seat at the table, I'm so happy that collaboration and partnership are back. These appointments signal a new era of working with people instead of working against them."

Gaspar Perricone, a Western Slope rancher and former Colorado Parks and Wildlife commissioner, said Simpson's selection, along with Jeni James Arndt as director of rural advancement, "is a clear sign that the incoming Weiser administration is serious about bridging the urban-rural divide through a renewed commitment to statewide leadership."

Erin Karney Spaur, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, said Simpson "understands firsthand the challenges facing our farmers and ranchers" and that his selection "sends a strong signal that change is coming and that agriculture and rural Colorado will once again have a meaningful voice."

Wade Harle, director of Club 20, a Western Slope advocacy group, called the move "brilliant," adding that Weiser "understands how bad the rural-urban divide has gotten in Colorado." He predicted healing that divide will define Weiser's legacy. "It has been a long eight years," Harle said, noting that Simpson knows "what it means to know when the rain's coming or not" and "what an 18-hour day is like."

Simpson's departure from the Senate will trigger a vacancy committee process in Senate District 35, where a GOP panel will select his replacement. Sen. Lisa Frizell of Castle Rock, who is expected to run for minority leader in Saturday's caucus elections, said she will continue Simpson's leadership. "Sen. Simpson is going to do amazing things for rural Colorado," she said. "It shows me that Gov.-elect Weiser is serious about repairing relationships with rural Colorado."

The appointment comes as Weiser, a Democrat, prepares to take office with a focus on mending the urban-rural split that widened over the past eight years. For a state where agriculture is a bedrock industry and water scarcity looms large, the choice of a San Luis Valley farmer and water manager carries particular weight.