By: Gracie Hooten, NMCGA
New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) announced Macklee Cain of Mountainair as the 2022 recipient of NMCGA Statewide Heritage Contest during the Joint Stockmen’s Convention held December 2022. Honored for her reflection and commitment to her roots in New Mexico’s ranching industry, Macklee received a commemorative Torrance County Heritage belt buckle, a one year junior membership to NMCGA and a $1,000 scholarship funded by the NMCGA Promotions and Marketing Committee.
Macklee is a fifth grade Mountainair Mustang who is active in 4-H and loves everything about ranching, except building fence. A portion of her winning essay reads, “As a fifth generation rancher, I plan to build on the legacy of agriculture in New Mexico by becoming an Ambassador for the ranching industry. Only 2% of the U.S. population are involved in agriculture."
"There are many people who do not understand how difficult feeding America is. It is my goal to educate those who are not directly involved in agriculture and show them how passionate agriculturalists are about taking care of animals and the land. I will continue to build the industry by making sure everybody knows where their meat comes from. I will show them that eating beef can be both nutritious and delicious. I will do all I can to make sure my passion for New Mexico agriculture is contagious.”
New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association extends a congratulations to all of last year’s countywide winners and is also proud to announce the opening of their third annual Heritage Contest. The contest aims to tell the stories of New Mexico’s youth involved in agriculture and highlights the importance of generational ties to land and livestock.
“It’s always a wonderful journey to see how excited our youth are about their futures,” says Amanda Culbertson, NMCGA Promotions and Marketing Committee Chairman. “The lessons these kids learn when working alongside their fathers and grandfathers are priceless. Cattle Growers’ wants to help tell the story of New Mexico agriculture and we believe this contest showcases our diverse industry and the families who make their livings at the end of the dirt road.”
Youth, ages 9 to 15 years, in all 33 counties of New Mexico are eligible to apply, but previous winners will not be selected to receive honors. Entries require a 200 to 500 word essay response to the prompt: “How would you like to continue your family’s agriculture heritage to better your community?” Essay submission deadline is May 12, 2023.
NMCGA board members, county fair board members, and award sponsors will collaborate in deciding the final winners from each county. Winners will receive a belt buckle and a one year junior membership to NMCGA. All county winners will then be automatically advanced to the Statewide Heritage Contest, where their essay submissions could earn them a $1,000 scholarship funded through the NMCGA Promotions and Marketing Committee. The state wide winner and their family will be awarded and recognized as special guests during the 2023 Joint Stockmen’s Convention.
For more information on the Heritage Buckle Contest, including the contest rules and the essay entry form, visit us online at https://www.nmagriculture.org/heritage-contest.html. For further questions please call the NMCGA office, 505-247-0584