Cattleman of the Year is the most prestigious honor given by New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) and is given to a well-rounded member of the ranching community.
Darrell Brown and his family have been involved with NMCGA since his dad served as executive secretary of the association in 1969. Though he never owned a ranch of his own, he worked side by side with his mentor and grandfather on his grandfather’s ranch in Durango, CO, later taking care of the cattle when they were moved to Mt. Taylor, west of Albuquerque, NM.
Darrell graduated from West Mesa High School in Albuquerque and went on to attend and graduate from New Mexico State University (NMSU) in 1978 with a bachelor’s of science degree in animal science. He then earned a master’s degree in agriculture business from NMSU in 1983.
He met his wife, Michelle, at NMSU and the two were married in 1978 while he was employed at the College Ranch. After graduating, the couple took a position in White Lakes, NM, south of Santa Fe, in 1983, where Darrell was employed building fences. That year, their first son was born. Shortly thereafter, the young family moved to Sedalia, CO, where Darrell traveled throughout the western U.S., showing Santa Gertrudis cattle for the Cherokee Ranch.
In 1985, Darrell moved his family to take a job in Artesia, NM. He began working as the ranch manager for Yates Petroleum on the Four Dinkus Ranch, west of Artesia. Here, the family welcomed a daughter and another son. As his children grew up in the community, Darrell fostered a positive working relationship with the local school system, going into the schools to bring about a favorable image of agriculture to the second graders at each of the school district’s five elementary schools.
Darrell’s dedication to children in the state didn’t end with the local school district. For several years, he co-chaired the successful Stockmen Care About Kids promotion done in conjunction with KOB-TV, the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.
In 1999, after the death of his immediate boss, Darrell was promoted to the position of general ranch manager of all four of the ranches under the Yates Corporation. He spent many hours on the road, traveling to the Ojo Feliz, north of Las Vegas, NM; the Atarque, west of Albuquerque; and the Cross D at Mayhill, while still running the Four Dinkus. He eventually relinquished his duties at the Cross D, but continued as general manager of the other three ranches.
In 2020, after the dissolution of Yates Petroleum, Darrell was hired by Yates to exclusively manage the Cross D Ranch at Piсon, NM; so, after 35 years in Artesia, he and his wife moved to the base of the Sacramento Mountains. — NMCGA
