Rancho Armendariz of Cuervo, NM, has been selected as the New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award recipient.
The $10,000 award honors farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.
Carlos and Nelia Armendariz, who own and operate Rancho Armendariz and A&G Family Meats, were presented with the award at the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts’ 80th Annual Meeting in Albuquerque on Oct. 20.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In New Mexico the award is presented with New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, and Quivira Coalition.
Carlos and Nelia Armendariz immigrated from Mexico in 1989 with little more than determination and a deep respect for the land. With their two young sons, Jim and Jovani, they worked hard as ranch hands and sheepherders, learning, saving, and quietly nurturing a dream of their own.
By 2002, they acquired a small grazing lease for 12 head of cattle. Years of experience had taught them that if they took care of the land, it would take care of them.
Many of the properties the Armendariz family first leased were in poor ecological condition. Overuse had left them with spots of bare ground, low vegetation diversity and declining forage productivity. Within a few years of thoughtful grazing management and timely rains, these parcels transitioned into productive, biologically diverse grassland savannas.
Their stewardship caught the attention of landowners who agreed to lease the Armendarizes more land. Eventually, they were able to purchase their own land. Since then, the family has built more than a ranch, but a legacy.
Rancho Armendariz and its leased properties consist of 14,000 acres spread across De Baca, Guadalupe, Quay and Roosevelt counties.
Since 2017, the family has installed nine solar pumps, four miles of water pipelines, 14 watering facilities, and more than nine miles of cross fencing. All these upgrades were to improve the grazing distribution of their 250 beef cattle.
The use of telemetry water-level sensors monitors water levels in remote storage tanks which saves time and money. The recent deployment of 350 virtual fencing collars on cattle has enabled precision grazing at a scale rarely seen in this region. Rotational grazing and the creation of 32 erosion control structures promote soil health and biodiverse range conditions.
The investment in vegetation management and restoration at Rancho Armendariz has been equally significant. More than 5,000 acres of mesquite and juniper have been removed, reducing the risk of wildfire while conserving soil moisture. Another 700 acres of prescribed burning has allowed native grasses to reestablish, which provides increased forage for grazing and enhanced wildlife habitat.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the beef supply chain, the Armendarizes founded A&G Family Meats, a direct-to-consumer meat company. Selling grass-finished beef, lamb and pork has strengthened the ranch’s economic resilience.
Carlos and Nelia encouraged their sons to pursue degrees in agriculture-related fields. Jim went on to serve as state rangeland management specialist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Jovani is a veterinarian. Together, with their education, experience, work ethic and passion for conservation, they round out a strong ranch team.
True ambassadors for conservation and agriculture, the Armendariz family is eager to share what they’ve learned and have been instrumental in helping others embrace conservation practices.
But this family’s story is not just about cattle or conservation, it’s a tale of grit and grace across generations.
Vincen Cordova, the chairman of the Guadalupe Soil and Water Conservation District had this to say about the family’s selection for the New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award: “With this recommendation, we do not just honor a ranching family. We honor dreamers, doers, mentors, and pioneers. A family who reminds us that the American Dream is alive and well—and sometimes, that dream wears boots and a cowboy hat.” — Sand County Foundation
