Agriculture Leadership in New Mexico

Joy Junction: "A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out"       Poverty and homelessness is an issue that many experience, but few understand.   As part of the seminar week, the group toured a privately-run facility called Joy Junction.   Located in southern Albuquerque, this organization focuses on keeping family units together and safe off the streets.   The tour was led by Mr. Patrick Hankins, the primary volunteer coordinator for Joy Junction.   He began by giving us the program’s history.   The non-profit was established in 1986, after its founder, Dr. Jeremy Reynalds found himself in a situation he never thought he would be in; homeless.   From this experience he built Joy Junction from the ground up, with the goal to keep family units together after severe hardship.   Mr. Hankins discussing the children's learning center Families and individuals must first go through a screening process, but once accepted into their long-term program, they are ...

  This year, class 15 participated in the New Mexico Agricultural Innovation and Trade Mission trip to England and Scotland in late June. The international trip is everyone’s highlight of the NMAL program.   It gives members of the class an opportunity to gain a new perspective about global agriculture.   My primary goal of this trip was to learn more about their livestock systems, marketing, and management.   Our first two days were visiting with members of the US Embassy in London, the United Kingdom's department of Ag, and a member of parliament. On day three we traveled out to the country to visit with a variety of farms.  The first was Cragend Farm whose focus will be agri tourism and rare livestock breed preservation.  To conclude the day we visited with a commercial producer.  Their perspectives on agriculture we fairly different.  The first was more idealistic with profit from their animals as low priority and the other more pragmatic an...

  In mid-April, class 15 traveled to Artesia, NM to visit with several professionals tied to agriculture and natural resource development in the region.   One of the topics covered was water issues facing farmers and ranchers that live in the Pecos Valley.   Mr. Aron Balok, superintendent of the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District (PVACD) spoke on the subject.    Established in 1931, the PVACD is funded through mill levies. The mission of the PVACD is to monitor water use in the region, while navigating regulations that impact the waters that travel through the district.   Its board of directors is made up of local citizens, farmers, ranchers, and oil and gas personnel that all provide input to Mr. Balok.   It is then his job to ensure all obligations are met as effectively as possible. Water is vital to support both agriculture and oil production in this very productive area of New Mexico.   The battle over water between industries and...