John Salazar

John Salazar is an American politician and farmer who served as the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2011. Born on July 21, 1953, in Alamosa, Colorado, Salazar grew up working on his family's seed-potato farm in the San Luis Valley. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Adams State College in 1981 and served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1976. Before entering Congress, he was active in local agricultural organizations and served on the Colorado Agricultural Commission .

In Congress, Salazar was known for his advocacy of agriculture, water rights, and veterans' issues. He served on the House Appropriations Committee and was a member of the Blue Dog Democrats, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats. Salazar introduced the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, aiming to protect the integrity of military honors. After leaving Congress, he was appointed as Colorado's Agriculture Commissioner in 2011, a position he held until his retirement in 2014 .

Salazar's quotes reflect his commitment to rural America and its values. He once said, "I have always said there is only one thing that can bring our nation down – our dependence on foreign countries for food and energy. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy." He also emphasized the importance of supporting veterans: "How do you tell troops who volunteered to fight for our freedoms that the country they fought for won't take care of them when they come back?"