The inaugural year of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association Heritage buckle award is off to a great start as New Mexico fair season is well underway. The month of August will host 18 county fairs, so make sure to go out and support the youth in agriculture this summer.
“The essays received from around the state have been absolutely amazing,” said Ron Burnett, New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association Promotions and Marketing Committee Chairman. “With ag kids like these leading the next generation our future looks brighter than ever.”
Submitted photo
Myra Olivas, left, receives the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association Heritage buckle award from New Mexico Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-49), right.
This week’s winners included Myra Olivas from Valencia County.
In her essay, Olivas wrote she recently asked herself, “Who will share the heritage of the cattle industry and ranching in New Mexico if there is no one in the future to maintain its legacy?”
“I was able to explore this more after attending the New Mexico Youth Ranch Management Camp. Surrounded by like-minded youth, we learned about grazing, administering vaccines and consumer driven markets. Consumers want to know where their food comes from,” Olivas wrote. “I see opportunities now that I didn’t see before attending camp.”
The Valencia County award was sponsored by New Mexico Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-49).
Other winners included, Isabella Sugg, Lincoln County; Breylin Rubio, Colfax County; Earl Velasquez, Sandoval County; James Tucker Santa Fe County; Natalie Smith, Harding County and Kooper Kerby Lea County.
To be eligible for the Heritage buckle award, youth ages 9-21 were asked to provide a 200-500 word essay on the “value they placed on the heritage of the cattle industry and ranching in New Mexico.”
Recipients from each county are presented with a trophy belt buckle and a one year junior membership to NMCGA. Winners are then automatically entered in the overall state Heritage contest.
To learn more about the Heritage contest and NMCGA please visit nmagriculture.org.
1079
April 18, 2024
