Chamber takes new look at Ag 50 committee

CLOVIS — Agriculture is one of the biggest industries in Curry County and the Clovis/Curry Chamber of Commerce has decided it’s high time to get the word out.

The Chamber held a meeting Thursday afternoon to re-organize the Ag 50 of Eastern New Mexico Committee by inviting new members and arranging a monthly meeting schedule.

Interested agriculture business owners, both big and small, showed up to discuss the committee’s role moving forward.

The purpose of Ag 50 is to promote long-term success of agriculture in the county through political activism, public involvement and promotion of the industry.

“Ag 50 has been a part of the chamber since 2004 and has done a lot of important work, but we really need to bring some new energy to this committee,” said Ernie Kos, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “The young farmers here today, the majority of them, are second-generation farmers, whose parents were on the committee at one time.”

Kos said she was pleased with the turnout of potential new members and has high hopes for the committee moving forward. She plans to hold elections for new officers and set goals for the committee during the next meeting.

Veteran members were in attendance, providing insight into the history of the committee and leading discussion on where to focus future efforts.

“Most people don’t realize just how strong agriculture is here in New Mexico and just how much power it’s got, if we utilize it.” said Walter Bradley, from Dairy Farmers of America and former lieutenant governor for New Mexico. “If you take the dairy and livestock industries combined, they generate more than oil and gas. It’s huge, near $7 billion.”

Discussion leaned toward ideas to raise awareness of the importance of agriculture in Curry County and how members of Ag 50 could work with other groups to promote Curry County agriculture and its interests, both locally and statewide.

Ideas included orchestrating tours of dairies and farms and working with groups like the Committee of 50 for cross promotion.

The ag committee heard ideas on how it might use its budget of roughly $10,000 and decided to waive the $500 membership dues for new members until it re-evaluates the policy.

The committee took action on one item during the meeting, approving the donation of $300 to help purchase the Championship Steer at the State Fair after a resident of Curry County raised the animal and won at the state level for the first time in 33 years.

The meeting adjourned with Kos agreeing to arrange the next in several weeks while she takes nominations for officers and works on proposals for the group’s future plans.

The Ag 50 committee will meet again at 2 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Business Enterprise Building in Clovis.