Like so many of our local and state legislators, Republican Sen. Greg Brophy donates time away from his family and farm in order to serve the people of Colorado. He commutes three hours every week from the eastern town of Wray, which is where he lives with his wife, Angela, and their three children: Megan, Jordan and David.

Politically, Brophy describes himself as true conservative who values limited government, personal responsibility, protection of property rights and the free market system – a true Coloradoan. He is a farmer by trade and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Sciences at Colorado State University in 1988. During the growing season, he raises corn, beans, alfalfa, wheat and watermelons.

When asked what makes the family-life sacrifice worth it, Brophy replied, “The job is worth the sacrifice because I believe in the conservative values of the people I represent, and I want to make sure the job gets done right.”

The senator acknowledged what he loves most about the job is the people he gets to meet and the pace.

Brophy, 40, represents Colorado’s District 1, which is geographically one of Colorado’s largest. He said his biggest concerns for the 2007 Legislative session are agriculture and energy, and he is a member of both senate committees, in addition to the Finance and Appropriations Committee.

As a champion for agriculture, Brophy has been devoting long hours this session to helping local farmers, whose livelihood was hurt by two major holiday blizzards. He hopes that his efforts will bring aid to those farmers.

His commitment to agriculture was evident on Jan. 11 when he and state Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, led a bipartisan effort for a Livestock Disaster Assistance Resolution that seeks disaster assistance from the federal government for eastern plains counties that continue to suffer from effects of two powerful blizzards. The legislation was immediately approved by both chambers of the Colorado Legislature.

The farming and ranching industry is one of our nation’s oldest professions, and the men and women in the fields and on the land represent the backbone of our state’s workforce,” said Brophy on the importance of the measure.

In addition to his agricultural efforts, Brophy noted that he will be closely following what happens with renewable energy in Colorado.

“I just want to make sure we are truly making advances and not just benefiting special interest groups,” Brophy said.

The senator started out as a state representative for House District 63, serving from 2003 through 2005. He was later appointed to the state Senate, replacing former Sen. Mark Hillman, who resigned to run for the state treasurer’s office. Brophy was elected to the seat in November 2006.