Message from the President 

February 2023
The Power of Association….
​
I am always surprised with the inspiration I get when the time to write this letter rolls around.  This morning I received the news that one of my college friends has been named Executive Vice-President of the Nebraska Cattlemen Association.  I could tell you about what a great job she will do and the benefit she will have to the industry but that would take away from all the accomplishments of the many friends I had as a student at Texas Tech.  The little College of Agriculture, and in particular the Animal Science Department was very close knit group of students.  We worked hard and we played hard but we always did it as a group.  The success of many of my classmates within that circle of friends, is really amazing.  We have numerous individuals that went on to Medical careers, Veterinarians, Deans and Professors of Universities and true leaders within our own beef industry.  Going to conventions or attending University functions in Lubbock always end up as mini reunions and the closeness of the circle picks right back up.  I was fortunate to attend Texas Tech University at that particular time.  The professors we had, the timely research and the drive within my classmates was something special.  I am at the age now where we lose a member of that circle every so often but it is easy to remember their success and the motivation they brought to the group. 

The reason I bring this topic up is not to relive old college days but to remind ourselves of the importance of association.  Not only is the Freedom of Association protected in the Bill of Rights under the First Amendment, “Right of Assembly”, it is a great way to share ideas and push ourselves beyond our own comfort zone.  The leadership found within our very own New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association goes far beyond the names on the left side of this page.  We have members volunteering their time and talents everyday with the goal of promoting our industry forward for the next generation.  I challenge each member to donate your talent and time to the worthy mission of NMCGA.  You might be amazed at the friends you make and the accomplishments that occur within the circle that surrounds you.

As I write, the legislative team under President-Elect Bronson Corn’s leadership is fighting the challenges being proposed in the Roundhouse.  Please help by answering the Calls to Action that will be coming out.  Keep your legislator’s phone number handy and be ready to donate your voice and testimony to protecting the next generation of cattle growers.  I would like to thank all the bill readers volunteering their time and those with expertise on topics volunteering their council.  We are fortunate to have members and friends with a diverse background. 

One of the biggest challenges we currently face is the newly designated endangered Lesser Prairie Chicken.  Within that challenge is a very vague set of guidelines on critical habitat criteria from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  We will continue to try and give our members the latest information.  We were fortunate to get a 60 day extension before implementation of the designation goes into effect.  The impact of the Lesser Prairie Chicken designation could impair grazing on no less than a third of New Mexico pastures. 

Pray your neighbor gets rain!
​Loren N. Patterson

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Executive Committee:

Loren Patterson, Corona – President
​Bronson Corn, Roswell - President-Elect
Joe Culbertson, Amistad - Vice President at Large
Cliff Copeland, Nara Vista - NE Vice President 
Jeff Decker, Lovington - SE Vice President 
Roy Farr, Datil - Vice President at Large
Dave Kenneke, Cimmaron – NW Vice President 
Shacey Sullivan, Bosque Farms – Secretary/Treasurer 
​Randell Major, Magdalena - Immediate Past President
Tom Sidwell, Quay – Past President  ​

Board of Directors:

​Loren Patterson, Corona Bronson Corn, Roswell Joe Culbertson, Jr. Amistad Shacey Sullivan, Albuquerque Cliff Copeland, Nara Visa Jeff Decker, Lovington Dave Kenneke, Cimarron Roy Farr, Datil Randell Major, Magdalena Thomas Sidwell, Tucumcari Jeff Bilberry, Roswell Trent Bilberry, Roswell Linn Blancett, Aztec Irvin Boyd, Eunice Jim Bob Burnett, Lake Arthur Ron Burnett, Datil Michael Carrica, Rio Rancho Mike Casabonne, Hope Jim Ross Caviness, Maljamar Jack Chatfield, Mosquero Kim Chesser, Roswell Blair Clavel, Roy Mike Corn, Roswell Caren Cowan, Albuquerque Amanda Culbertson, Amistad Bruce Davis, Springer Linda Davis, Cimarron Joe Delk, Las Cruces
Matthew Denetclaw, San Juan Crystal Runyan Diamond, Elephant Butte Denton Dowell, Clovis Tracy Drummond, Reserve Wesley Eaton, Vado Alden Elkins, Pinon Dan Estrada, Trementina Kevin Floyd, Roswell Wayne Franklin, Yahtahey Sid Gordon, High Rolls Colten Grau, Grady Jim Grider, Carrizozo Anita Hand, Datil Nolberto Hernandez, Rio Rancho Jim Jackson, Salmon, ID Stan Jones, Broadview Curtis Kelling, Cuervo Justin Knight, Tucumcari Majorie Lantana, Crownpoint Colton Lee, Alamogordo Boe Charles, Springer Kenneth McKenzie, Encino Sarah McKenzie, Fort Davis Jeff Menges, Safford Louis Montoya, La Plata Joe Bill Nunn, Deming Justin Nunn, Deming Tom Paterson, Houston Kyle Perez, Nara Visa Nancy Phelps, Winston Tate Pruitt, Capitan Bob Ricklefs, Ute Park Megan Richardson, Monticello Charles Rogers, Clovis John Romero, Casa Blanca Carlos Salazar, Medanales Troy Sauble, Maxwell Becky King Spindle, Moriarty Casey Spradley, Cuba Gary Stone, Weed Kimberly Stone, Capitan Jim Thorpe, Newkirk Bernarr Treat, Roswell Lance Vicente, Vaughan Judy Wallin, TorC Dee Wear, Hillsboro Kendal Wilson, Carrizozo Marshal Wilson, Mesilla Park Pat Woods, Broadview  Pat Boone, Elida Jose Varela Lopez, Santa Fe Rex Wilson, Ancho Bert Ancell, Tucumcari Alisa Ogden, Loving William Sauble, Maxwell Don (Bebo) Lee, Alamogordo Phil Bidegain, Tucumcari Bob Frost, San Jon William Humphries, Tucumcari Wesley Grau, Grady Bill King, Moriarity Ryan Perry, Roswell Susan Navarro Cordova, Los Lunas Bob Homer, Albuquerque Jim Lyssy, Fort Sumner Dr. Rolando Flores, Las Cruces Jacinda Price, Santa Fe

Past Presidents:

T.E. Mitchell, Albert *1921-1923        
Hugh L. Hodge, Silver City *1923-1925      
C.M. McDonel, Bell Ranch *1925-1927      
Tom P. Tallé, Las Vegas *1927-1929      
T.A. Spencer, Carrizozo *1929-1931       
Robert H. Royall, Tyrone *1931-1933      
Albert K. Mitchell, Albert *1933-1935       
Lee S. Evans,  Marquez *1935-1937        
A.D. Brownfield, Deming *1937-1939        
Oliver M. Lee, Alamogordo *1939-1941       
Con W. Jackson, Las Vegas *1941-1943      
Tom Clayton,  Spear *1943-1945        
E.G. Hayward,  Cimarron *1945-1947      
George A. Godfrey, Animas *1947-1949      
G.W. Evans,  Magdalena *1949-1951        
Roy Forehand,  Carlsbad *1951-1953       
Ed Heringa, Clayton *1953-1955     
S. Culberson, Lordsburg *1955-1957        
Dick Snyder, Clayton *1957-1959        
W.I. Driggers, Santa Rosa *1959-1961      
John Stark,  Deming *1961-1963        
Will Orndorff, Roswell *1963-1965        
J.L. (Les) Davis, Cimarron *1965-1967     
Noel Rankin,  Silver City *1967-1969       
W.O. Culbertson, Jr.,  Las Vegas *1969-1971 
Reuben E. Pankey, Santa Fe *1971-1973 
Charlie T. Lee,  Alamogordo *1973-1975  
Albert J. Mitchell, Albert *1975-1977      
Phil Harvey, Sr., Cave Creek, AZ *1977-1979 
Phillip Bidegain,   Tucumcari *1979-1981       
Bob Jones,  Crow Flat *1981-1983        
Don Hofman, Tucumcari *1983-1985       
Peter T. Mocho, Belen *1985-1987      
W.F. (Dub) Martin, Santa Fe *1987-1989      
H.W. (Bud) Eppers, Roswell *1989-1991       
Bill King, Stanley 1991-1993         
Wesley Grau, Grady 1993-1995         
William Humphries, Tucumcari 1995-1997    
Bob Frost, San Jon 1997-1999      
Jimmy R. Bason,  Hillsboro *1999-2001    
Phil H. Bidegain,  Tucumcari 2001-2003      
Don L. Bebo Lee,  Alamogordo 2003-2005     
Bill Sauble, Maxwell 2005-2007      
Alisa Ogden, Loving 2007-2009       
Bert Ancell, Wagon Mound 2009-2011      
Rex Wilson, Carrizozo 2011-2013        
​Jose Varela Lopez, La Cienguilla 2013-2015    
​Pat Boone, Elida 2015-2017
Tom Sidwell, Tucumcari 2017-2019
Randell Major, Magdalena 2019-2021

Past Award Winners:

Cattleman of the Year: 
Darrell Brown, Weed 2022
Tom Sidwell, Tucumcari 2021
Caren Cowan, Albuquerque 2020 
    
Ayudando Siempre Alli:
Jess Carey, Reserve 2022
Tom Paterson; Houston, TX 2021
Joe Culbertson, Amistad 2020 

Green from Ground Up:
Kendal & Chelsea Wilson; Carrizozo 2022
Ron Burnett, Datil 2021
Linda Davis, Cimarron 2020 

King Service Award:
Patty Waid; Albuquerque 2022
Dr. John Wenzel, Las Cruces 2021
Dina Chacon-Reitzel, Albuquerque 2020 

Livestock Inspector of the Year: 
David Trujillio; T or C 2022
Cathy Truby, Farmington 2021
Justin Gray, Roswell 2020 

Committees:

ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT:
Finance Committee:
Chairman- Randell Major
All past presidents and NMCGA executive committee
 
Litigation Committee:
Chairman- Alisa Ogden
Vice Chairman- Jim Jackson
Howard Hutchinson
Tom Paterson
Bill Sauble
Phil Bidegain
Mike Casabonne
 
Nominating Committee:
Chairman- Tom Sidwell
Vice Chairman- Bronson Corn
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 Paterson
 
Allied industries Committee:
Chairman- Ryan Perry
Vice Chairman- Susan Navarro-Cordova
 
Resolutions Committee:
Chairman- Casey Spradley
Vice Chairman - 
 
Feeder Committee:
Chairman- Lance Vicente
Vice Chairman and Treasure
 
MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS:
Membership Recruitment Subcommittee:
Chairman- Heidi Humphries
Vice Chairman - Cheryl Knight
 
Cross Cultural Subcommittee:
Chairman- Marjorie Lantana
Vice Chairman- Boe Lopez
 
Young Cattlemen's Leadership Subcommittee:
Chairman- Dusti Caviness
Vice Chairman- Trent Bilberry
​
JR Subcommittee:
Chairman - Dusti Caviness
Vice Chairman -Trent Bilberry
Vice Chairman - Barbara Corn
 
AG POLICY:
Legislative Subcommittee:
Chairman- Bronson Corn
Co Vice Chairman- Cliff Copeland
Co Vice Chairman- Cole Gardner
 
Water Subcommittee:
Chairman- Anita Hand
Co Vice Chairman- Carlos Salazar
Co Vice Chairman- Casey Spradley
 
Wildlife Subcommittee:
Chairman- Tom Paterson 
Co Vice Chairman- Dave Kenneke
Co Vice Chairman- Wes Eaton
 
Energy, Oil & Gas Subcommittee:
Chairman- Irvin Boyd
Co-Vice Chairman- Bill King
Co-Vice Chair- Jim Bob Burnett
 
Private Lands Subcommittee:
Chairman- Kimberly Stone
Vice Chairman- Jeff Bilberry
 
Federal and Trust Land Subcommittee:
Chairman- John Richardson
Co-Vice Chairman- Elena Farr
Co-Vice Chairman- Colton Lee
 
Taxation & Special Issues Subcommittee
Chairman- Tamara Hurt
Vice chairman- Kenneth McKenzie
 
Theft & Health Subcommittee:
Chairman- Dustin Johnson
Vice Chairman- Dan Estrada
 
Promotion & Marketing Subcommittee:
Chairman- Amanda Culbertson
Vice Chairman
 
Research & Improvement Subcommittee:
Chairman- Jim Thorpe
Co-Vice Chairman- Sarah McKenzie
Co- Vice Chairman- Leigh Ann Marez