John Messner, Gunnison County Commissioner, Dist. 1

John Messner came to Gunnison County from Denver in 1991 to attend Western State Colorado University and shortly after began working for both the Colorado and South African Outward Bound Schools. In 1999, he chose to chase his entrepreneurial spirit and open Gunnison Valley Tack & Saddlery. What started as a retail tack and saddle store evolved into High Country Cowboy Company — a manufacturing operation producing custom lines of saddles, tack and silver which were marketed and shipped across the country.
John’s parents joined him, and his brother Matt, in Gunnison County around this exciting time allowing John to take on a shared management roll of the families agricultural operation in the Ohio Creek Valley. John continues to enjoy that roll, and has an understanding of the importance that agriculture plays in the history and current economy of Gunnison County.
High Country Cowboy Company was sold in 2008 when John moved into a newly developed position of Facility and Event Manager within the City of Gunnison. This new opportunity tasked John with managing the Jorgensen Event Center, as well as developing, managing and supporting year round events for the City of Gunnison. In 2013, John left the City of Gunnison to become full time manager at what is now the Messner Ranch. Unable to let his entrepreneurial spirit rest he started a consulting business that focused on fundraising, grant writing and project management of Recreation Programs and Assets. In addition to the above roles, John has been a member of the Gunnison County Planning Commission for 6 years and is the proud father of Jospehine and August Messner who are both attending Gunnison High School.

From John Messner "Gunnison County is my home, our success is my passion and in the simplest terms I want us to thrive. I will wake up in the morning thinking about steps to move the needle forward, spend the day working hard to take those steps and take the evening to reflect on successes and challenges. We will take action on economic resiliency and diversity, affordable and available housing, technology and transportation connectivity and recreation and sustainable tourism. My door will always be open, my phone number and email available for feedback, suggestions, comments, concerns or just to chat. I will strive to represent all of Gunnison County and will support a culture of compassion, inclusiveness and community.
I think we found that while we all may come from different backgrounds, have different experiences and even have different opinions on how we move forward, I believe each of us has a desire and a willingness to work together, as neighbors, to make the county we live in successful, for us to thrive. I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with the citizens of Gunnison County as we move forward with excitement and optimism into the future. Together We Can! "