Each year since 1928, the Greeley Stampede has recognized outstanding citizens for their many community and regional contributions to Northern Colorado. The Stampede is happy to announce Gene and Julie Haffner as the Grand Marshals for the 95th Annual Greeley Stampede.
Gene and Julie are not only part of the Northern Colorado community they are longtime supporters of the Stampede and prominent community leaders.
Gene has been a resident of Greeley and Northern Colorado for 40 years. He is currently the Director of Public Relations at Banner Health North Colorado Medical Center and has been with NCMC for 23 years. Gene has served our community in a variety of capacities over the years including United Way Campaign Chair; Greeley Chorale Board of Directors; Greeley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Downtown Development Authority Marketing Committee; Hospice of Northern Colorado Board of Directors; President of the Kiwanis Club of Greeley and Lt. Gov. of Kiwanis Rocky Mountain District Division II with responsibility for clubs in Berthoud, Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, Greeley, Sterling and Fort Morgan.
He enjoys reading mystery novels; music of all genres; supporting community events and country dancing.
Julie has forty years of leadership positions under her boots with fundraising, philanthropic non-profit foundations including Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation (Ft. Collins); the Community Foundation serving Greeley and Weld County; and the McKee Medical Center Foundation (Loveland). After 12 years as Executive Director of the McKee Foundation, Julie left in February 2016 to take a ‘time-out’ to spend more time with family and engage in non-profit organization consulting and coaching.
Julie has been dedicated to Rotary as a member of clubs in Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland. She served as the President of the Loveland Rotary Club and has been a leadership presenter at Rotary District 5440 assemblies, conventions and officer training sessions. She is currently a member of the Loveland Rotary Foundation Board of Directors and will serve as an Assistant Governor in Rotary District 5440 during 2016-2017 for the Greeley Clubs. She has also served as a member and President of the KUNC Public Radio Board of Directors.
Julie is an avid knitter—having won awards at the Taos (NM) Wool Festival, Weld County Fair, Larimer County Fair and Windsor Harvest Festival.
Gene and Julie both enjoy spending time with family, which includes their three daughters: Lindsay, an attorney in Castle Rock, CO, Carrie an OB/Delivery Nurse in Omaha, NE, and registered nurse, Kelley, the 2015 Miss Colorado and Miss America 2015 2nd Runner-up. They have 1.75 grandchildren, granddaughter Harper, age 3 and a grandson due in late May.
Find out more about current and former Grand Marshals at
www.GreeleyStampede.org/p/grandmarshals. We will recognize the Stampede Foundation recipients and officially introduce our event Grand Marshals at our June 2nd Kickoff Luncheon. Individual tickets will be $5, table reservations will be $40 for eight guests. Please call 970-356-7787 for tickets.
ABOUT THE GREELEY STAMPEDE: The Greeley Stampede, a 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation, is the Colorado’s premiere summer western celebration. This longstanding event has grown in diversity and popularity since its inception and has provided music and rodeo entertainment to hundreds of thousands of people every summer. The Stampede was inducted in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2014 and the event was named 2015 Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Mountain States Large Rodeo of the Year. The Stampede will be celebrating its 95th annual event in 2016. For more information about the Greeley Stampede visit
www.greeleystampede.org.