Seasons of change in the Four Corners

by Richard Blancett

Fall weather in the Four Corners makes me think about change. Besides the usual change in the seasons, we're seeing changes in agriculture here, with more to come.

It's been a good year. We had the wettest summer I can remember. The Animas River flowed more water than I've ever seen-the most in 68 years, according to the paper. I helped with the hog and steer shows at the county fair in mid-August. Our produce was down a little, but the livestock sale was really good.

It's sprinkling as I look out the window today. I live three miles out of Aztec on an oil road going into town. We see a lot of geese, deer and pheasants close to the yard.

In this area, we're 30 miles from the mountains. The other way, it's desert country. We're on what's known as the Checkerboard, which is made up of small Navajo allotments, alternating with private and Bureau of Land Management land.

My folks settled here in 1867, and this house was built in 1903. Hanging on the wall is the homestead grant from President Benjamin Harrison. Today, we run 200 mother cows and farm 100 acres of irrigated land and 300 acres dryland.

Some of my first memories are of driving the horses, plowing, haying and shocking. Growing up, I was in 4-H. Our county agent, Bernie Williams, took a liking to me for whatever reason and helped me a lot. I give my 4-H work a lot of credit for what I've accomplished.

I'd have to count to tell you how many county Extension agents I've worked with over the years-Orion Utton, Doug Baird, Norm Wolf and now Gary Hathorn, to name a few. If I had any advice to give Extension, it would be "Keep up the good work."

That's what we intend to do in my family. It seems that every time I drive to town, there's a new home. Farms are being split up into small acreages for subdivisions every day. Small parcels sell for $10,000 to $20,000-it's unbelievable. We'll keep the land in farming as long as we can. Both of my sons are interested in agriculture and have their own ranch.

Some things haven't changed. We still go to cow camp every summer. Our summer range adjoins the Colorado border. We used to ride the 25 miles there. Now we haul the horses and truck, and drive the cows back.

Being ranch-oriented, when I travel, I'll think to myself, "Boy, that sure looks like good cow country." I've enjoyed being in agriculture all my life. I like it, I grew up in it and never did want to quit. I think there will always be some agriculture in this area, at least some truck farming and gardening. It's good cow country.

Aztec native Richard Blancett has been a member of New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau for 50 years, New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association for 45 years and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service state board for 35. He was grand marshal of the San Juan County Fair in 1995.