NEWSLETTERApril 2018 | Seminar 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The Latest from Class 12

Collaboration &

Partnerships Key

From Crops to Cheese in

Tucumcari

Touring Conchas Dam

Producers vs.

Conservationists?

Minerals, Rights and

Economic Development

The Great Town of

Tucumcari

ALSO:

- Six Levels of Motivation

- Seminar 6 Photo Collage

- International Experience:

The Netherlands

- Applications due May 15 for

next NMAL Class

“Titles are granted, but it’s your

behavior that earns you respect.”

~James M. Kouzes

The New Mexico Agricultural Leadership program

is committed to developing knowledgeable,

multicultural leaders within the food, agriculture,

and natural resource industries of New Mexico.

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to join the list

The purpose of this seminar is to…

Learn about natural resource management efforts, in particular soil,

water, and land, in a specific area of Eastern New Mexico

Understand how oil and mineral rights compare to land property rights

Tour 1-2 businesses involved in the production of

energy and understand how they are seizing New

Mexico’s energy potential

Identify methods and practices other countries may

be using to manage their natural resources in relation

to agricultural production

Class 12 at the Tucumcari Bio-Energy Corporation:

Robert F. Hockaday & Robert G. Hockaday, founders of the company;

Jeff Anderson, Katie Kruthaupt, Shannon Berry, Eric Nez, Jeff Mayberry,

Beverly Idsinga, Amanda Ball (coordinator)

LEADERS ARE READERSFor this seminar and our international trip, the class is reading

Forty Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World by Howard G. Buffet

Collaboration & partnerships key to

maintaining strong agricultural industry By Katie Kruthaupt

The NM Agricultural Leadership program took us

to Tucumcari, where we learned about renewable

energy as well as conservation districts. We had the

opportunity to meet with local corporations,

educational institutions, federal and state agencies, and

producers. The seminar broadened participants’

knowledge about natural resource management

efforts in the area.

The North American Wind Research and Training

Center (NAWRTC) was very informative about wind

energy, providing both demonstrations and a tour. It

was interesting to learn more about the wind projects

across the state. NAWRTC, the Energy, Minerals and

Natural Resources Department, and the State Land

Office are involved with wind energy projects across

the state. Wind energy projects are currently located

mostly in the central eastern part of the state, and will

be expanding to other parts of the state as well.

The Canadian River Soil and Water Conservation

District was very enthusiastic about their partnerships

with other

local, state, and

federal entities

in conducting

restoration

projects to help

natural

resource

management

efforts.

The district is involved with community outreach

both locally and regionally and partners with other

conservation districts as well. Conservation districts

educate and remind communities, both rural and

urban, the importance of agriculture and keeping our

food local.

Renewable energy as well as conservation districts

impact the agricultural community statewide,

regionally, and locally. Throughout the program, one

of the overarching themes of leadership has centered

on the importance of developing impactful and

meaningful relationships. Strong partnerships on

conservation projects and collaboration on

agricultural issues are key to maintaining a strong

foundation for the state’s agricultural industry.

Fostering collaboration and building partnerships

help pave the way for credible leadership, enabling

others to act by facilitating relationships and

developing competence. Collaboration enables leaders

to be forward-looking, inspiring others through

shared values and common goals. Educating

communities throughout the state about natural

resource management efforts forges new relationships

and engages community outreach. Community

outreach allows leaders the opportunity to have a

dialogue with constituents and to be one of the many

voices that are heard within the industry, by sharing

their passion and enthusiasm for agriculture.

Professor Andy

Swapp of Mesalands

Community College

shows demonstrations of

wind energy technology

Sandy Morgan of the Canadian River

Soil & Water Conservation District

From Crops to Cheese in TucumcariBy Beverly Idsinga

Class 12 had to opportunity to visit with Dr.

Leonard Lauriault, the Superintendent at the NMSU

Agriculture Science Center in Tucumcari. Leonard

spoke with us at length on crop management,

livestock systems, water, and range and public lands.

He also gave us a detailed tour of the facility that has

been around since 1912.

Because of my involvement in the dairy industry, I

was most interested to hear what he had to say about

crops and improvement of cattle through feed

efficiency testing, as well as the Center’s reuse of

treated municipal wastewater for agriculture irrigation.

Because of the Ag Science Centers we have in New

Mexico and people like Leonard, who work to

discover best practices for agriculture producers, we

are able to have thriving agriculture industries in our

state.

New Mexico is home to 142 dairies, which are all

family-owned and operated. We are ranked 9th in the

nation in milk production and 5th in cheese

production. New Mexico dairy producers are some of

the best in the world, with the safest and healthiest

milk and the most efficient practices.

There are four cheese plants located in New

Mexico, including the largest cheddar cheese plant and

the largest mozzarella producer in the world.

However, we also have a small, boutique cheese plant

located in Tucumcari.

Art Schaap, a dairy producer from Clovis, gave

Class 12 a tour of Tucumcari Mountain Cheese, of

which he is a co-owner. He and his staff showed the

class the process of turning milk into different

cheeses. Art owns and operates both traditional and

organic dairies in Clovis and Portales and sends the

milk from his own dairies to Tucumcari to turn it into

cheese.

Tucumcari Mountain Cheese produces a variety of

cheeses, including New Mexico favorites like Green

Chile Cheddar and Green Chile Jack (with chile from

Hatch), Holland-style Goudas and Edams, and an

Asiago. But the star of Tucumcari Mountain Cheese

is their Feta. Who knew that a small cheese plant in

Tucumcari, New Mexico, provides the Bellagio, one

of the most prestigious hotels in Las Vegas, with all

of the feta they serve?

If you find yourself in Tucumcari, and have the

chance, I would recommend a visit to the Ag Science

Center and Tucumcari Mountain Cheese. The Ag

Science Center comes up with sustainable methods to

produce feed, the cows turn the feed into milk, and

that milk is used at Tucumcari Mountain Cheese. It’s a

great operation that produces a terrific product. The

highlight is definitely getting to taste the cheeses at the

end!

Dr. Leonard Lauriault of the NMSU Tucumcari

Agricultural Science Center shows the class a test field

Art Schaap provides a tour of Tucumcari Mountain

Cheese, including a taste of their popular Feta

cheese and their inventive Green Chile cheddar

Touring Conchas DamBy Jeff Mayberry

Infrastructure is a word frequently heard in the

news in recent years. The current administration lists

one of its legislative goals is to “rebuild our nation’s

crumbling infrastructure.” Even as our national

legislature works to allocate $1.5 trillion for

infrastructure improvements across the nation, our

state is working to address similar issues. Maintaining

America’s infrastructure reaches even to the county

and city level, covering everything from roads,

railroads, waterways, and public utilities. Unless we are

currently inconvenienced by their malfunction, these

constructs largely escape our notice. Even so, this

logistical network is essential to our modern society.

In March, Class 12 of NMAL spent Seminar 6 in

Tucumcari to focus on energy, conservation, and

resource management. As part of this focus we were

able to visit Conchas Dam, a piece of American

infrastructure that is critical to the region. In an arid

location like eastern New Mexico, the ability to store

and deliver water efficiently with minimal loss is the

backbone of regional agriculture. Conchas Dam, and

the lake it creates, maintain a minimum supply of

water for the region, and coordinates with the

downstream irrigation districts to release water to

farms and ranches.

Contrary to the

mainstream perception

of ‘crumbling

infrastructure,’ Conchas

Dam stands largely

unchanged since it’s construction

was completed in 1939. The only significant change

was the removal of the hydroelectric generator from

the main spillway (the amount of water necessary to

constantly generate electricity was too costly to be

efficient). Though current security protocols

prevented us from taking pictures, Class 12 was given

a guided tour of the dam’s interior and was able to

view the massive gates that control the release of tens

of thousands of gallons of water every year. This

piece of public investment stands in good condition,

well maintained and ready to serve the region for

decades to come.

As agriculturalists, we are used to being

responsible for everything except the weather. We

know the comfort and uncertainty of having the

entire operation rest on our shoulders. Farmers and

ranchers spend countless hours wondering how to

improve their land and leave it better than they found

it. Less often do we consider that our operations

wouldn’t enjoy their current level of success without

the wealth of public investment in infrastructure that

allows us to focus only on our own production. The

abundance of dams, paved roads, railways, and

navigable waters built and maintained by public funds

give the American agriculturalist a tremendous

advantage over less developed countries, and afford us

the freedom to worry about our operation and

nothing else. The next time you load livestock or

produce on a truck and ship it off to market, give

thanks for American infrastructure. While you’re at it,

thank the ones who payed for it - the American

taxpayer, our unknowing partner in feeding a hungry

world.

Members of

Conchas Lake State

Park and the Army

Corp of Engineers

give Class 12 an

inside look at the

Dam and irrigation

heads

Conchas Dam was

constructed from

1935-1939 through

the public works

projects of the

New Deal

Producers vs. Conservationists?By Shannon Berry

The NRCS formerly known as the Soil

Conservation Service was created as a national

response to the Dust Bowl Catastrophe of the 1930’s.

Hugh Hammond Bennett, the agency’s first chief,

convinced congress that soil erosion was a national

problem that needed to have a permanent agency

within the USDA. The NRCS has since morphed into

a much larger department than that it was originally

intended, covering soil, water, air, plants, and animals

concerns. The NRCS prides itself in being a forward-

thinking Agency that recognizes the issues of today

and at the forefront of helping solve the challenges of

tomorrow.

It is fairly common knowledge that many

producers do not trust the government and would

prefer to keep them at a distance at all times. While

there is also the stereotype that producers do not care

about their land, conservancy, and only want to make

money and move on from the wastelands they have

created. What the two parties fail to realize is that in

the end, these are both misconceptions, and ultimately

they both have the same core goals; in that they both

rely on that land lasting and providing for this world

thousands or years to come. Having the opportunity

to meet with District conservationist, Relissa Nials of

Tucumcari, NM was a

real treat for those of

us who tend to be more of a producer advocate.

It was refreshing to meet someone working on

behalf of the government and conservancy advocacy,

who knows as understands the producers she works

with. Relissa was raised on a ranch, and still ranches

today; therefore she is able to connect with the

producer clients on a different level, than someone

who was not raised or continues to live the same way

as they do. She loves what she does, and admitted that

she gets most satisfaction out of her job, when

producer comes back to her, and admits that the

program she designed for and with them was the best

thing that ever happened to their business and their

land. Having folks like Relissa in these roles show

how the placement of one key employee, can help

mend the relationship and properly translate between

producers, the government, and environmentalists -

she understands them all, and how they must work

together.

While we have learned throughout this program

that government moves slowly, it is exciting to see we

can all work together for the common good of the

soil, water, air, plants, and animals we all depend on.

Have you heard? NMAL is traveling to…

May 5-13, 2018

Highlights of the trip include:

Meetings with government officials

Visit to the world’s largest flower auction and

Keukenhof flower exhibition

Company tours in “Seed Valley” – the silicon

valley of seed technology and plant varieties

Tours with major operations including

greenhouses, dairies, and crop production

Historical & cultural sites including van Gogh

art museums, the Anne Frank house, the

Heineken brewery, and more

Minerals, Rights and Economic Development

By Jeff Anderson

In the beginning, Dinosaurs ruled the world, and

we have proof of that in their bones. I would like to

have been able to see that world, but not the parts

where the dinosaurs eat you. We, however, live in a

world ruled and dictated by mans’ will. It is hard to

imagine that the dry deserts of New Mexico were

once home to dinosaurs and tropical forests. What

we now have left from this Jurassic Period are fossil

bones and by-products, namely oil and gas. New

Mexico is rich in oil and gas but, these are finite

resources that are not sustainable

So what other resources does this state possess?

Eric Nelson, State Land Office, Clovis, NM took the

time to meet with us to discuss the history and

resources of New Mexico’s minerals. The mineral

resources of New Mexico that were discussed

included: water/geothermal water, sand, gravel, coal,

gold, silver, uranium, copper, and potash. These are

the main ones available to support the activities and

revenues for the state of New Mexico.

Mr. Nelson explained to our Leadership Group

how mineral rights work in regards to ownership, legal

acquisition and access to mineral rights in NM. It

disturbed me to learn that the way mineral rights are

set up in New Mexico, an owner of private property

has no rights to land preservation if a mineral rights

owner chooses to develop them. For example, if the

owner of mineral rights wants to remove coal from a

property and it involves the

destruction of a forest above

the coal, then, by law, it is

deemed legal to destroy the forest for the coal. But

who speaks for the forest and its ecosystem? Isn’t the

forest just as valuable and worthy of preservation, is

this sound economic development?

One step in the right direction for our economic,

environmental and renewable energy future though, is

the Tucumcari Bio-Energy Corporations revitalization

of a defunct ethanol plant. This new venture into bio-

energy will transform the abandoned plant into an

anaerobic digester of locally sourced dairy manure.

Dairy manure is an abundant by-product of New

Mexico’s large dairy industry. TBEC plans on using

anaerobic digestion to produce ethanol and methane,

(a combustible gas), from the cow manure. The

methane gas can then be sold as a gas similar to

natural gas, and used in the same ways and the ethanol

can serve as a clean burning fuel source.

The other by-products from anaerobic digestion

will generate heat, CO2, nitrogen and compost. All of

these can then be used to run a proposed vegetable

greenhouse production facility and employ workers at

$10/hour starting. These proposals, if successful will

help revitalize not only Tucumcari’s economy, but the

states as well. This model could then be utilized

wherever dairy operations exist, utilizing renewable

resources while creating jobs and improving

economic growth.

Eric Nelson shows Class 12 a map of land and

property rights across New Mexico

Bob Hockaday shows the plan for

the Tucumcari Bio-Energy Facility

PHOTO COLLAGE

Seminar 6: Tucumcari, NM

The Great Town of TucumcariBy Eric Nez

As I began to make my travel toward the town of

Tucumcari, the thought came to me that this will be

my first time to Tucumcari, New Mexico. I entered

into the town on the south entrance off Interstate 40.

Seeing abandoned stores and homes raised the

question “what happen to this town?” So I continued

with an open mind and I was certain, my question

would be answered.

On Thursday, March 15 our class met with Patrick

Vanderpool, who was representing the Economic

Development Corp for Tucumcari. With his help and

members of his committee they are responsible for

attracting more people and travelers to the town.

Before the construction of Interstate 40, the only

road from Chicago to Los Angeles was Historical

Route 66 and this major highway ran right through

town. Route 66 brought revenue to the town causing

this town to grow and when Interstate 40 opened a

majority of the revenue was lost. After the many years

of drought, farmers and ranchers also began to

leave town. Pat and his team are planning to bring

back more attraction to the town by attracting and

growing new businesses, expand existing businesses,

and building better products.

On that same day our class met with Jeremy Lewis,

the Bureau Chief for Energy Conservation and

Management Division. His organization is funded by

the state of New Mexico and the federal government.

Their mission is to support NM citizens, businesses

and governmental entities. It was stated that New

Mexico is second most-recommended state for solar

resources in the United States. New Mexico has the

largest potential for solar, wind, and geothermal

energy. It was also explained that every year, solar and

wind energy is continuing to grow in the state of New

Mexico. As a group we discussed that maybe solar and

wind energy could also help New Mexico receive

positive recognition. We could also be the lead state in

solar, wind and geothermal energy since we have all

those natural resources.

A WORD FROM COLLEGE DRIVE:

Six Levels of MotivationBy Amanda Ball, Coordinator

Motivation can be the force that keeps us up until midnight

finishing a project proposal, or that mysterious missing element that

prevents checking a single thing off the to-do list. Bloggers write

about, HR heads preach about, and motivational speakers, well, they

talk about it! When it comes to understanding our motivation (or lack

thereof), I recently stumbled on a new framework that provided quite a

lightbulb moment.

In his book Marching Off the Map, Dr. Tim Elmore describes the

“Six Levels of Motivation” for engaging learners. While it is initially

geared toward today’s teenagers (Generation Z), I couldn’t help but

reflect on its application to our program, and the careers of many

agricultural professionals.

Take a moment to ask yourself:

1) I get to do something

2) I get to do something interesting to me.

3) I get to do something interesting, using my gifts.

4) I get to do something interesting, using my gifts with people I enjoy.

5) I get to do something interesting, using my gifts with people I enjoy,

that solves a problem.

6) I get to do something interesting, using my gifts with people I enjoy,

that solves a problem regarding something that matters.

If you are not at the top level in your current role, how could you get

there? Self-reflection goes a long way to finding where motivation took a

detour. Ultimately, our goal with NMAL is to reach this sixth level of

motivation for our participants - to provide experiences that interest

them, unveil their gifts and talents, build community with class members,

and address key issues facing New Mexico’s agricultural, food, and

natural resource industries.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We will embark on our trip in

less than a month! Follow

along @NMagleadership and

@NMDeptAg for the latest

photos on social medial

Please consider a $50

donation to our scholarship

fund this month. This is a tax-

deductible contribution and

invests back in our program

and students. Your support

keeps our leadership class

thriving.

GIVE NOW

Know someone who would

benefit from the NMAL

program this year? Visit

aces.nmsu.edu/nmal

and click on the “Application”

page to see the schedule,

tuition, and required forms.

Deadline May 15, 2018

New Mexico Agricultural Leadership ProgramMSC 3501 Box 30003 | Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003

Phone: 575-646-6691 | Fax: 575-646-4082

Email: nmal@nmsu.edu | Website: aces.nmsu.edu/nmal

Follow Us! @NMagleadership