Future of Venetucci Farm uncertain as revenue source goes away

The future of a historic local farm is now facing tough times.

A majority of the Venetucci Farm revenue came from leasing wells on the property to Security Water Sanitation District.

But that lease has ended, because of perfluorinated compounds have contaminated the water in Security-Widefield.

“There’s a water remediation plan that needs to come together and we’ve decided we can be part of that solution because the wells to provide drinking water for those communities,” Sam Clark with Pikes Peak Community Foundation, which owns Venetucci Farms, said. “This is essentially kind of an agreement to row together over the next couple of years working on a solution… The consequence of that is we have to make some staff changes and change some of our operations in 2018 and until the remediation plan for the water is implemented.”

“We finished our 11th season here,” Susan Gordon, the outgoing farm manager said. “It’s sad to see it all come to an end.”

Gordon and her husband Patrick have taken care of the farm for a decade, but now they’re being let go as farm managers.

“This farm is one of the many casualties of this water contamination,” Gordon said. “This has been our home, our work, and our community now for the past 11 years. It’s been a real honor and a great incredible experience.”

It’s unclear if events like the annual pumpkin patch will be around in 2018 and the years to come.

“I just really hope it’s preserved as both a food-producing farm and an educational farm,” Gordon said.

While much of Venetucci’s future is up in the air, one thing is for certain: the farm will not be developed, as there is a conservation easement protecting it.