Picture this: 900+ people gathered at the Colorado State Fair, plates piled high with barbecue, talking shop about everything from economic development to workforce challenges.
It’s not your average networking event—it’s the Legislative BBQ, and this year’s turnout shattered records.
Minnequa Works Credit Union and Wings Credit Union joined forces to sponsor the 2026 event, hosted by the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. And honestly? The partnership itself tells you everything you need to know about how credit unions operate differently than your typical bank.
When 900 Leaders Walk Into a BBQ…
The guest list read like a who’s who of Colorado movers and shakers. Legislators rubbed elbows with business leaders. Political candidates chatted with community organizers. Industry representatives from across Southern Colorado and beyond swapped stories and solutions over brisket.
For years, the Legislative BBQ has served as Pueblo’s go-to gathering spot for serious conversations about the stuff that actually matters—advocacy, public policy, economic development, and the real challenges facing Colorado communities. This year just happened to be the biggest one yet.
Collaboration Isn’t Just a Buzzword Here
“Wings and credit unions across our state are deeply invested in Colorado’s future and in the success of the communities we serve,” explained David Sprenger, SVP of Government Relations & Credit Union Advocacy at Wings Credit Union. “As cooperatives, collaboration is part of who we are. We loved having the opportunity to work alongside Minnequa Works and demonstrate that when credit unions come together, we can strengthen our collective voice, build meaningful relationships, and ultimately help strengthen communities throughout Colorado.”
Here’s the thing about credit unions that sets them apart: they’re member-owned financial cooperatives, not shareholder-driven corporations. That “people helping people” philosophy isn’t marketing fluff—it’s literally baked into their structure. Which means credit unions can team up on advocacy efforts, financial education programs, and community initiatives without worrying about competing for Wall Street’s approval.
Problem Solvers Gonna Solve Problems
Nathan Cape, CEO of Minnequa Works Credit Union, saw the cooperative spirit play out in real-time at the event. “Credit unions were created to be problem solvers, and you could see that mindset come to life in so many of the conversations happening at this year’s Legislative BBQ,” he said. “Whether the discussion was about economic development, affordability, workforce challenges, access to financial services, or the future of our communities, there was a common theme of people coming together to identify opportunities and find solutions.”
Cape emphasized the value of working with Wings to showcase what makes credit unions different to both community members and state leaders. It’s one thing to talk about the credit union advantage—it’s another to actually demonstrate it through collaborative action.
Independent But Not Alone
The Minnequa Works and Wings partnership illustrates a pretty clever balancing act. Both organizations maintain their independence and serve their own members, but they can still work together toward bigger goals that lift up entire communities. Think of it as the financial services version of “rising tide lifts all boats.”
With record attendance bringing together representatives from government, business, nonprofits, and industries across Colorado, the 2026 Legislative BBQ proved that creating space for genuine conversation and relationship-building still matters in our increasingly digital world.
And for two credit unions committed to advocacy, collaboration, and advancing Colorado communities? Sponsoring that space was an easy call.