Final Seminar

Wow the past 18 months have sure flown by.  What an amazing group of people to experience New Mexico Agriculture with.  Our last seminar together took us to Northwest New Mexico. It has been a while since I was up in that area, and I am always taken aback by the beautiful scenery while up in the four corners area. Our adventure started out visiting the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI), it was great to finally visit here. Classmates Dineh and JD both work here, and we have had many great conversions about this operation during our time together. To be able to see the vastness of that operation was great to see in person.  The hospitality we were shown was just great. 

 

We traveled from there to the San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District office to meet with Gary Hathorn.  Talk about someone who cares about the community, retired to come back to a full time position, trying to stay on top of all the happens in San Juan County.  The day ended at the Growing Forward Farm that is part of San Juan County Extension. What a nice operation to show others on a small scale all of the undertakings of agriculture from watering systems to the different stages of compost. Our seminar wrapped up at PESCO (Petroleum Equipment Service Company), where we received an outstanding tour of the operation. It added to the reality of the size of operation and all the detail needed to complete their jobs. The day wrapped up visiting with Dr. Kevin Lombard at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center. We were given a tour of the center and the research projects that were going on. It was nice to see the interaction not only with NAPI, but the other states and crops that are being tried all over the country.

 

Are next stop?  Graduation!! I am grateful to have spent the time together with this group of individuals. We come from different backgrounds, hold different roles in the agricultural industry, but share a common passion for agriculture. Advise to the incoming class, take full advantage of the opportunities in front of you that are presented through this program.  

 

Change the Shape, Change the Mission

Washington D.C. Trip in March

 

Class 15 took to Washington D.C. in early March.  Although it was a little cold, it was a great time to embark on our Washington trip.  The cherry blossoms were on the verge of blooming, Farm Bill was a hot topic everywhere we went, and we expanded our network.  Not only was New Mexico present, but also Washington State, Kentucky, Kansas and Virginia groups, and we had multiple sessions together with those groups.  We started off with Washington and our trip to Gettysburg with Diamond 6 leadership.  This bonded us quickly, as our groups were task with real scenarios on the battlefield and what decisions we would make in the moment.

 

The week was filled with many meetings, USDA, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, U.S. Army of Civil Works and our legislative members. We were also able to take in some sight-seeing on Thursday and Friday.  Never being to D.C. before, it was great to take in the monuments and all the history that is in one place. I walked away realizing that there are two worlds there, the political realm and the history portion.  Our class is nearing our time together, we have had a lot of great discussions and continue to build our strong relationships.

 

I hope to go back to the east coast and visit Gettysburg again. We were there for a very short time and so much to explore and take it.  We hope that our time talking about the Farm Bill will be beneficial to the decision makers. Looking forward to our Northwest visit in May.  

Social Issues and Cultural Awareness

 September took us to Albuquerque for our seminar with Class 15.  Social Issue and Cultural Awareness was the focus our time.  We were able to visit and experience many different faiths. It was a nice experience to visit with each group and learn a little bit about their faith.  We were able to go through a brief guided mediation at the Kadampa Mediation Center.  This was nice to go through and something I am trying to take with me in my everyday practices. 

We also had the opportunity to tour Joy Junction. This organization was established 36 years ago. They are a shelter that takes in people in need, but has a program from them to help rehab back into society. If they decide to join the 9-month program, they are required to work forty hours a week of which 10 hours of that are bible study and life skills classes. This spark an idea for the group that hopefully we can accomplish. More to come on that!

It was nice for all us to get together, we had a little free time and some of us went over to the New Mexico State Fair and visited the NMDA booth. It is great to see the excitement of the fair back in full force after the past couple of years. We were also able to have dinner at Rio Bravo Brewing Company and meet up with the owners. They traveled with us to the United Kingdom so it was great to catch up and see how their trip went with the connections they made across the ocean.

Next on our schedule, some reading.  Personal leadership books were decided on.  Atomic Habits is on my reading list. I am hoping to take some good things away from it. The cover reads “Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results” so…here it goes.   

 

New Mexico Innovation and Trade Mission

 The summer took us across the ocean to the United Kingdom where we were able to represent the great state of New Mexico as part of the Innovation and Trade mission trip coordinated with New Mexico Department of Agriculture.  

Our adventure started with meetings at the US Embassy, tour of Keys Garden and Parliament. It was exciting to sit across the table with our group of New Mexicans but also hear the voices of the people involved in the United Kingdom agricultural industry.  After our meetings in London, we traveled to Scotland, where we toured some very nice farms.  We were able to visit both livestock and farming operations.  Their struggles are much like ours here in the U.S. and some common ground was a good way to forge a relationship.  

 

From our class perspective, this trip pushed us out of our comfort zone or at least speaking for myself.  I have traveled aboard before but always had someone I knew on the "other side."  We conquered traveling by public transportation and by the end of it were professionals. It was a very convenient way to travel. Not sure how I would get my horse around that way but where there is a will there is a way. 

I am grateful for the time with my fellow Class 15 members to build on our relationships as well as gain new relationships with our group members and international contacts. Traveling aboard always gives you perspective of what you have and opens your eyes to the many possibilities that are out in the world. The agricultural community is strong no matter what country you are in.  We find common ground because of the passion we share for this industry. Our trip was amazing and can't wait until our next adventure. 

 

Southeast New Mexico

Mid April took us to Artesia for our second seminar. We were happy to see each other and catch up with one another. Our adventures started with a sit down with some House of Representatives to discuss the legislative process, what's going on within the state and some of the bills the representatives we're working on. Southeast New Mexico is a huge economy driver for the state and much of our time during the seminar was discussing that, if that meant oil and natural resource energy or current water issues. 

We also had great conversations as we shared our Strengths from our Clifton Strength Finder exercise. It was also get to get out on the farm and visit with the manager of Seven Rivers Farms located between Artesia and Carlsbad. It is always great to step foot on operations. Our host was great to visit with about their pecan operation. 

We were all a bit tired at the end of the seminar but also very excited the next time we get together it will be across the ocean. Our international trip is planned to visit England and Scotland. I can't wait!!

Here's to the Beginning

 So excited to be a part of Class 15 with the New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program. We have a great class of fellows from across the state of New Mexico. We gathered in January for our first seminar and had the opportunity to meet one another, enjoy some laughs and sit through some very valuable workshops. 

We had our first reading assignment. Who Moved My Cheese?  A great read and something to keep handy for future re-reads to reset and evaluate where you are in life. A definite recommendation for this book. 

We also received some exciting news about our summer plans. No spoiler alert here but after receiving the clues from Tina, I believe we are all very excited for our trip.  Check back for updates as our adventure continues with class 15.