Raising Our Voices from the Field: Julissa Soto Speaks at Voices of the Field Conference

Date of Event: June 8, 2025
Location: Delta, Colorado
Event: Voices of the Field: Leadership Conference
Hosted by: Colorado Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor & Employment, and Western Colorado Rural and Migrant Coalition

On June 8, 2025, Julissa Soto delivered a powerful keynote address at the Voices of the Field: Leadership Conference in Delta, Colorado—a transformative gathering devoted to empowering and elevating the agricultural workforce across all sectors: from field labor and fruit orchards to meatpacking, poultry, and forestry.

This was more than a conference.
It was a call to action.

Leadership Rooted in Struggle—and Strength

Speaking to a room filled with agricultural workers, organizers, and allies, Julissa brought more than a message—she brought lived experience, fierce advocacy, and an urgent reminder:

“We are not just workers. We are leaders. We are not just part of the economy. We are its foundation.”

Her keynote centered on the resilience and generational strength of agricultural families and highlighted the systemic inequities they continue to face—from unsafe labor conditions and housing insecurity to limited healthcare and language-accessible services.

Empowerment Through Education and Resources

Breakout sessions during the day reflected the conference’s commitment to real change, covering topics such as:

• 🌱 Next-Generation Farming

• 💼 Business Incubation for Ag Workers

• 🏥 Health and Immigration Services

• ⚖️ H-2A Protections and Workers’ Rights

Participants gained access to practical tools and direct resources while building a sense of community rooted in dignity and collective leadership.Mental Health in Agriculture: A Fight That’s Personal

Julissa also spotlighted an often overlooked crisis: mental health in the agricultural community.

As a newly appointed member of the Agricultural Behavioral Health Community of Practice Work Group, Julissa is working closely with Commissioner Kate Greenberg and state leaders to develop trauma-informed, culturally relevant behavioral health strategies for rural and migrant communities.

Additionally, as a Suicide Prevention Commissioner for the State of Colorado, she advocates to:

• Build community-rooted suicide prevention models

• Expand access to Spanish-language and culturally affirming mental health care

• Erase stigma and save lives

The Voices of the Field conference wasn’t just about dialogue.
It was about mobilizing agricultural communities to lead, advocate, and rise.

Julissa closed her keynote with a message that echoes across every field and every family:

“We will continue to raise our voices from the field—until every agricultural worker is treated with the dignity, protection, and opportunity they deserve.”