Our community is incredibly special because of the many organizations that work to create opportunities for our youth to become amazing human beings. The Scouting America Adventure West Council and the individuals that support them is one such group. They deliver the promise of Scouting to youth (boys and girls) in Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and Wyoming. Their programs provide families with fun and adventure, friendship, education, service, and leadership.
I had the tremendous opportunity to be recognized by the Adventure West Council as their Fort Collins Distinguished Citizen. I am truly humbled by the recognition and honored to be awarded such a designation. As part of the recognition, I had the opportunity to reflect on my thoughts about leadership and how experiences have shaped my core values.
As a community leader, I wanted to share those thoughts with you. The Chamber is fortunate to be in a position of influence, and I wanted our larger community and our membership to learn a little bit more about me. While I am incredibly proud of this recognition, I really share my comments as a mean of inviting you to hold me accountable as a leader and the voice of business – based on these ideas.
Ann Hutchison Comments
2025 Scouting America Adventure West Council Fort Collins Distinguished Citizen Celebration
2025 Scouting America Adventure West Council Fort Collins Distinguished Citizen Celebration
This moment has invited me to reflect on how I became who I am today.
My parents and my sister made sure to create and inspire as many opportunities as possible for a curious young person growing up on the eastern plains of Colorado and my leadership and character skills were grounded in sports and 4-H.
That meant spending hours with my sister, my neighbors and class members playing basketball, softball and volleyball; cooking and building rockets with my 4-H club members and saying yes to all kinds of opportunities from singing in the school choir to serving on student council.
Growing up in a small town, with a family that encouraged me, meant that I had a safe place to test out who I was as an individual and to develop the leadership skills that I use daily as a community leader.
Through those experiences, I learned the following secrets to success:
-
Kindness is imperative. Sharing your heart creates opportunities that no amount of debate will ever establish.
-
You can lead from any role on a team. Sometimes, that is as the top scorer in the championship game, but a lot of times, it is as the teammate at the end of the bench, cheering on your partners and helping them find success.
-
Curiosity can open doors that you never noticed.
-
Saying yes can change you and your world.
-
And don’t forget to Show up!
My first job out of college was with Kansas State University as a 4-H Agent in Garden City, Kansas. That moment in my life required all of these secrets to success. I moved to an ag community six hours from my home, where I didn’t know a single person, and I found my place.
Interestingly enough, that place included a Scouts experience at Philmont Scout Ranch. A group of 4-H leaders from across the state saw the incredible value of the Scouts Trekking experience, and created a special partnership with Philmont for youth involved in the 4-H program.
As adults, we needed to experience a multi-day trek before we loaded up a bunch of kiddo to have the same experience. I still remember Pat Fultz from the State 4-H Office calling. And then quickly thinking….you want me to buy hiking boots, learn how to carry 30 pounds of gear, sleep outside with bears, not shower and hike how many miles a day in the wilderness? And for how many days?
I’m happy to say – it was an experience that I still carry in my heart today – and showcased my “secrets to success”….
- I said yes to a brand new opportunity – even though I didn’t know what was ahead.
- I joined a group of coworkers as the youngest and least experienced member of the team – and had the opportunity to create exciting new programs from the front of the stage, but learned even more from the back of the stage and the pack!
-
I built a community of friends because I shared my heart with them – many of whom helped me grow as a leader and influenced many of my next steps as a leader.
- And I learned so much about hiking, Philmont, leadership and my colleagues because I was curious and invested in being a part of a community.
As a community leader, I can also affirm that these values drive how I lead, the role that our organization and I play, and serve as a foundation for tremendous opportunity.
I am so honored to be recognized this evening and thank you all for this incredible moment.