"LEADERSHIP IS NOT POSITION OR TITLE, IT IS ACTION AND EXAMPLE"

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​Randell Major; President
Magdalena, NM 

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Water Gap - Katherine Field

Message from The President 
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September 2021
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New Mexico Cattle Growers attended the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s 2021 Cattle Industry Convention meeting held August 9th-12th in Nashville, Tennessee. There were more than 6,000 cattle producers, industry partners and stakeholders that came together to participate in educational opportunities committee meetings, and the board meeting. There were over 100 total resolutions and directives that were either newly passed or renewed.
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There was discussion about carbon sequestration in the Property Rights committee.  NCBA supports the landowner’s or lessee’s ability to generate ecosystem credits and be eligible for payments in accordance with any agreement negotiated between a landowner and lessee in the resolution presented. They also support that if there is any government role in carbon trading, that it be limited to USDA providing any applicable regulatory oversite of the private markets to ensure for the protection of agriculture producers and credit purchasers. Carbon markets and payments are the new hot topic. It is unclear whether a carbon credit is an interest in real property or personal property. A federal court in Louisiana held the “right to report, transfer, or sell carbon credits is part of the bundle of rights associated with property ownership”, suggesting that the credits are real property. My question that I have asked several times is still yet to be answered: If a carbon credit is considered real property, then can it be retired, severed, or sold from the land like minerals or water rights? We know that special interest groups are working overtime to separate us from our land and our rights. We should take caution when entering a contract or considering these kinds of markets to make sure that rangeland and grazing rights are not harmed for our future generations.    

All waters in New Mexico were deemed non-navigable at Statehood. The NM Department of Game and Fish promulgated rule 19.31.22 NMAC which provides a definition of “navigable-in-fact” to assess if a waterway is navigable. Landowners can make application for Certification of Non-Navigable waters. The rule prevents people who are floating down a river from walking or wading in the streambed or onto private property. On August 12th, the NMDGF commission voted to deny all applications that deem waters non-navigable, ignoring constitutional statutes. This decision by the NMDGF commission violates private property rights and creates more confusion between private landowners and recreationists. Even though the law has not changed, opponents will claim this as a victory and landowners may see an increase in trespass. This law is being challenged in the NM Supreme Court, so until the decision is made, NMCGA recommends posting your property and report to the local sheriff and NMDGF conservation officer to record any trespass issues.

NMCGA is awarding a Heritage buckle to each 33 counties during their County Fairs. The contestants had to write an essay about the “Value that you place on the Heritage of the cattle industry and ranching in New Mexico.” I had the privilege of being one of the judges in some of the counties. As I read these young adults’ words, I became very encouraged about the future of the cattle and ranching industry. Agriculture has a very bright generation coming up and I believe that the future of agriculture will be in good hands!
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I hope everyone has received good rains and my best to you all.
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Until next time,
Randell

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Executive Committee:

​Randell Major, Magdalena – President
Loren Patterson, Corona – President Elect
Joe Culbertson, Datil - Vice President at Large
Jeff Decker, Lovington - SE Vice President 
Roy Farr, Datil - SW Vice President
Cliff Copeland, Nara Vista - NE Vice President 
Dustin Johnson, Farmington – NW Vice President
Shacey Sullivan, Bosque Farms – Secretary/Treasurer
Tom Sidwell, Quay – Past President 
Pat Boone, Elida – Past President

Board of Directors:

​Linn Blancett  Aztec Trent Bilberry Roswell  Irvin Boyd  Eunice Darrell Brown  Artesia  Ron Burnett  Datil Kendell Buzard  Floyd Michael P. Carrica  Roswell  Jim Ross Caviness  Hobbs Jack Chatfield Mosquero Gerald Chacon  Espanola  Ricky Chavez  Quemado Emery Chee  Bloomfield Kim Chesser  Roswell Brad Christmas  Wagon Mound John Coniff  Las Cruces Pat Copeland  Nara Visa
Mike Corn  Roswell Bronson Corn  Roswell Caren Cowan   Albuquerque  Amanda Culbertson  Amistad  Bruce Davis Springer
Linda Davis Cimarron Troy Daniels  Wagon Mound  Jeff Decker  Lovington Joe Delk  Mesilla Park Matthew Denteclaw  Shiprock 
Lewis Derrick  Artesia  Crystal Runyan Diamond  Truth or Consequences Tommy Dinwiddie  Capitan Tracy Drumond Reserve Wesley Eaton  La Mesa Alden Elkins  Pinon Dan Estrada Trementina Roy Farr  Datil Kevin Floyd  Roswell Wayne Franklin  Tohatchi Cole Gardner  Yeso  Sid Gordon High Rolls  Jim Grider  Carrizozo Anita Hand  Datil  Nolberto Hernandez  Rio Rancho     
Heidi Humphries  Tucumcari Jim Jackson  Albuquerque Stan Jones  Broadview Curtis Kelling  Cuervo
Dave Kenneke Cimarron Garland King  Capulin  Justin Knight Tucumcari  Colton Lee  Alamogordo Boe Lopez   Springer 
Kenneth McKenzie  Encino  Sarah McKenzie  Fort Davis, TX Louis Montoya  La Plata Joe Bill Nunn  Deming Justin Nunn  Deming Tom Paterson  Houston, TX Tom Payne  Roswell  Tate Pruitt Capitan John Richardson  Winston  Bob Ricklefs  Ute Park
Charlie Rogers  Clovis John Romero  Albuquerque Carlos Salazar  Medanales Troy Sauble Maxwell
Becky Spindle  Moriarty Gary Stone   Weed  Troy Stone  Capitan  Felicia Thal  Buena Vista  Jim Thorpe Newkirk Ernie Torrez  La Jara  Bernarr Treat  Roswell  Tom Ulik  Stanley Lance Vicente ​Vaughan Judy Wallin  T or C Mike Wear  Hillsboro Gene Whetten  Magdalena Jimbo Williams  Quemado Marshal Wilson  Mesilla Park Pat Woods Broadview

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Past Presidents:

T.E. Mitchell, Albert *1922-1924        
Hugh L. Hodge, Silver City *1924-1926      
C.M. McDonel, Bell Ranch *1926-1928      
Tom P. Tallé, Las Vegas *1928-1930      
T.A. Spencer, Carrizozo *1930-1932       
Robert H. Royall, Tyrone *1932-1934      
Albert K. Mitchell, Albert *1934-1936       
Lee S. Evans,  Marquez *1936-1938        
A.D. Brownfield, Deming *1938-1939        
Oliver M. Lee, Alamogordo *1939-1941       
Con W. Jackson, Las Vegas *1941-1943      
Tom Clayton,  Spear *1943-1946        
E.G. Hayward,  Cimarron *1946-1948      
George A. Godfrey, Animas *1948-1950      
G.W. Evans,  Magdalena *1950-1952        
Roy Forehand,  Carlsbad *1952-1954       
Ed Heringa, Clayton *1954-1956      
S. Culberson, Lordsburg *1956-1958        
Dick Snyder, Clayton *1958-1960        
W.I. Driggers, Santa Rosa *1960-1962      
John Stark,  Deming *1962-1964        
Will Orndorff, Roswell *1964-1966        
J.L. (Les) Davis, Cimarron *1966-1968      
Noel Rankin,  Silver City *1968-1970       
W.O. Culbertson, Jr.,  Las Vegas *1970-1972 
Reuben E. Pankey, Santa Fe *1974-1976 
Charlie T. Lee,  Alamogordo *1976-1978  
Albert J. Mitchell, Albert *1978-1980      
Phil Harvey, Sr.,   Cave Creek, AZ 1980-1982 
Phillip Bidegain,   Tucumcari *1982-1984       
Bob Jones,  Crow Flat 1984-1985        
Don Hofman Tucumcari *1985-1987       
Peter T. Mocho Belen *1987-1989      
W.F. (Dub) Martin Santa Fe *1989-1991      
H.W. (Bud) Eppers Roswell 1991-1993       
Bill King  Stanley 1993-1995         
Wesley Grau, Grady 1995-1997         
William Humphries, Tucumcari 1997-1999    
Bob Frost, San Jon *1999-2001      
Jimmy R. Bason,  Hillsboro 2001-2003      
Phil H. Bidegain,  Tucumcari 2003-2005      
Don L. Bebo Lee,  Alamogordo 2005-2007     
Bill Sauble,  Maxwell 2007-2009      
Alisa Ogden, Loving 2009-2011        
Bert Ancell, Wagon Mound 2011-2013      
Rex Wilson,  Carrizozo 2013-2015        
​Jose Varela Lopez, La Cienguilla 2015-2017    
​Pat Boone, Elida 2017-2019

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Staff:

Shelleen Smith, Executive Director
shelleen@nmagriculture.org

Michelle Frost-Maynard, Deputy Director
​nmwgi@nmagriculture.org

Taylor Riggins, Administrative Assistant
taylor@nmagriculture.org

Committees:

ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT:
Finance Committee:
Chairman- Tom Sidwell
All past presidents and NMCGA executive committee
 
Litigation Committee:
Chairman- Alisa Ogden
Vice Chairman- Jim Jackson
Howard Hutcherson
Tom Paterson
Bill Suable
Phil Bidegain
Mike Casabonne
 
Nominating Committee:
Chairman- Pat Boone
Vice Chairman- Loren Patterson
Milford Denetclaw,
Mike Casabonne,
all past presidents
 
Bylaws Committee:
Chairman- Alisa Ogden
Vice Chairman- Phil Bidegain
Member- West Eaton
Member- Nikki Hooser
Member- Bebo Lee
Member- Tom Patterson
 
Allied industries Committee:
Chairman- Ryan Perry
Vice Chairman- Susan Navarro
 
Resolutions Committee:
Chairman- Chelsea Wilson 
Vice Chairman - Judy Wallin
 
Feeder Committee:
Chairman- Bruce Davis
Vice Chairman and Treasure- Bill King
 
MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS:
Membership Recruitment Subcommittee:
Chairman- Boe Lopez
Vice Chairman- Heidi Humphries
 
Cross Cultural Subcommittee:
Chairman- John Romero
Vice Chairman- Marjorie Lantana
 
Young Cattlemen's Leadership Subcommittee:
Chairman- Dusti Caviness
Co-Vice Chairman- Trent Bilberry
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JR Subcommittee:
Chairman: Dusti Caviness
Vice Chairman: Trent Bilberry
 
AG POLICY:
Legislative Subcommittee:
Chairman- Loren Patterson
Co Vice Chairman- Nikki Hooser
Co Vice Chairman- Cole Gardner
 
Water Subcommittee:
Chairman- Ernie Torrez
Co Vice Chairman- Carlos Salazar
Co Vice Chairman- Anita Hand
 
Wildlife Subcommittee:
Chairman- Dave Kenneke
Co Vice Chairman- Tom Patterson
Co Vice Chairman- Jimbo Williams
 
Energy, Oil & Gas Subcommittee:
Chairman- Ervin Boyd
Co-Vice Chairman- Bill King
Co-Vice Chair- Jim Bob Burnett
 
Private Lands Subcommittee:
Chairman- Elena Farr
Vice Chairman- Scott Bidegain
 
Federal and Trust Land Subcommittee:
Chairman- John Richardson
Co-Vice Chairman- Gerald Chacon
Co-Vice Chairman- Colton Lee
 
Taxation & Special Issues Subcommittee
Chairman- Tamara Hurt
Vice chairman- Kenneth McKenzie
 
Theft & Health Subcommittee:
Chairman- Tracy Drummond 
Vice Chairman- Dan Estrada
 
Promotion & Marketing Subcommittee:
Chairman- Ron Burnett
Vice Chairman- Amanda Culbertson
 
Research & Improvement Subcommittee:
Chairman- Kendell Wilson
Co-Vice Chairman- Jim Thorpe
Co- Vice Chairman- Sarah McKenzie