2025 Interview with new Rio Arriba County 4H Agent, Lucinda Montano

The Farm & Ranch Show talks with the new 4H agent in Rio Arriba County, Lucinda Montano, about 4H programming in the county.  Sage, a longtime supporter of 4H, and Lucinda talk about all things 4H in the county and all the different programming options available.  

Thanks to Lucinda and all the 4H folks across the county, state and world!  4H grows great youth!  

For more information, please go to www.chamapeak.org!

Transcript

UNKNOWN: 0:00

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 0:39

Greetings, I'm Sage and I'm your host for the Farm and Ranch podcast. The Farm and Ranch show is sponsored by Chalma Peak Land Alliance. Membership is free and you can find out more at www.chalmapeak.org. We also do the social medias, just do a search for Chalma Peak Land Alliance. We want to thank you for joining the Farm and Ranch Show today, where we talk about all things agriculture, and especially the agriculture of the San Juan Chama Watershed. It is a large watershed, and there is a lot going on. And we thank you for making time to listen in to our podcast. Good morning, this is Sage Faulkner, and I am your host for the Farm and Ranch Show. This morning I have in my dear friend, Lucinda. I'm Tanya, and we're going to talk about 4-H programs in Río Arriba County. Good morning, Lucinda. Good morning, Sage. Thank you for having me. Why don't you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_01: 1:38

So just a little bit about myself. I actually relocated to Río Arriba County about two and a half years ago. So prior to me living here, I lived in Las Vegas, New Mexico. I worked with law enforcement for about 10 years. I also did teaching for about two years. So I have a plethora, a little bit of everything, just kind of trying to wrap my head around what I want to do. So having these experiences is, I think, a little late in life, but

SPEAKER_00: 2:08

we're getting there. Well, welcome. And you sound like a perfect 4-H person to me, a little law enforcement, a little bit of education. It sounds just right. Well, we're really glad to have you. And just so you know a little of my history, I've been here, gosh, 25, 26 years now and and have been a supporter of 4-H from the day I got here. I was active in 4-H as a kid, and so I just see a huge benefit for the youth, especially in rural areas. There's a component for urban folks with 4-H as well, but you couldn't have a bigger cheerleader for 4-H. So I'm so glad you're here, and I'm glad you're going to visit with us today on the podcast. So let's talk a little bit about the role of 4-H. So 4-H

SPEAKER_01: 2:53

is a youth development program that is extended to all youth. So I didn't know that 4-H existed until I got this position and I'm like, this is everyone's type of dream. They give the youth many opportunities to experience different types of activities. They give them developmental programs to do workshops for public speaking, for applying for a job or to kind of get them prepared, resumes. And then we also do a lot of fun things with them to kind of get them to spark their interest as to what they would want to do. So this kind of gives them more of like a foothold to see where they want to go and what they want to do. And so 4-H is giving them that opportunity to kind of explore a little bit more now that they're at a younger age so they don't have as much difficulties as I have.

SPEAKER_00: 3:46

Perfect. Perfect. And so 4-H has been around for quite a while and it's unique in that We have you as an agent and you advise and you do the paperwork and the record keeping and a lot of the material development and distribute that to the clubs. Off the top of your head, do you know how many clubs we have in Rariba County? We currently have

SPEAKER_01: 4:08

12 active clubs. We're trying to get more kids involved. We're starting to get a lot of new families moving into Rariba County. And so we're starting to see a lot of clover buds. So I'm super, super excited. We get to start a whole brand new programming kind of it in a different direction so yes so 12 currently

SPEAKER_00: 4:27

perfect well congratulations on the 12 and I love that you're getting the clover bugs and that's pretty exciting so one of the things we can talk about and and I'll have I have my lots of thoughts on this where 4-H can take kids and and in kind of the directions and some of the lessons and some of those kind of things what do you feel like some of the places kids can go and get to do with 4-H

SPEAKER_01: 4:50

so some of the programs that we currently do have We have SLR or the Senior Leadership Retreat. It's for a specific age, usually high school age. So they'll go for the weekend to this last time we had it in Glorieta. They had a bunch of workshops. They got to meet with other 4-H youth from the different parts of New Mexico. They got to learn how to communicate with each other, kind of get out of their shell. So SLR is one. We have a youth getaway, and that was also held in Glorieta. And that one was also for a weekend. And that's for the younger, we call them novice and junior, which are usually middle school and of, I guess, elementary. And they're also given the opportunity to kind of learn and they get to do fun activities. But majority of it is just to kind of get them to get out of their shell, meet new people, kind of understand what the 4-H really is and grow as a family. Some other opportunities that they would have, we have a bunch of opportunities opportunity as far as state conference. So we'll gather so many students from Río Arriba County, take them to state conference in Las Cruces. They get to kind of see what the Land-Grant University does provide for 4-H. And so there's different opportunities for livestock, rodeo, even if they wanted to do stuff in like hotel and restaurant management. So there's many opportunities that we'll be able to go ahead and get them to go out there. And that's just state We're also working with some of the youth to get him to go to Washington, D.C. for Citizen for Washington Focus. And so we'll be gone for about seven days. And so this one, we get to go to different memorials, kind of just, you know, go over the United States and really what is representative and as to why we need to partake in that citizenship. Some of the kids are extremely excited. I want to start including more youth. We currently have about two 213 youth that have been signed up into our 4-H in Rio Riva County. So I'm wanting to kind of just push it a little bit more, get those kids involved, because they really truly are our future. So there's going to be so many opportunities for them. They'll even have a chance to even compete at nationals. So we currently have a group of seniors that are going to be competing in nationals in Texas for Food Challenge. So there's many opportunities for them. And it's just to help them find their spark and

SPEAKER_00: 7:26

get them to shine. And I love that you say that, find their spark, because that's it, right? We're giving them all these exposures so that they can maybe find their passion and work towards that. And maybe it won't be a lifelong passion, but if it's a passion right now, then there's something in 4-H that can do that. That's wonderful. One of my favorite things about 4-H is the leadership development. As a farmer or rancher, I think there's places where we just have to step forward and take some leadership positions, whether it's a local cattlemen's association or myosachia. And so those skills end up coming in really handy down the road. And again, you know, we're a rural community. Not all of our kids are going to be farmers and ranchers, but whatever they do, if they decide to go into nursing or food services, we've got some incredible chefs in this county, those kind of things. And so I love that in addition to finding components that kids really like, whether it's the food services or the arts or showing a steer. We also give them this base set of skills that include leadership and maybe some public speaking and some understanding of how meetings are run. And so those skills, they combine together to just really create outstanding young adults and adults down the road. So those are some of the reasons why I like 4-H so much. Let's talk some more about projects. What can kids do in 4-H? There's... about 250

SPEAKER_01: 8:54

different types of projects. We have livestock, we have beef, we have dairy cattle, we have goats, we have pygmy goats, horses, swine. We're working with poultry as well as rabbits. So if you're into the life stock, there's that. We have a lot of arts and crafts stuff. So this can range from fiber crafting for like weaving or needlepoint. all the way down to woodworking and welding. And so those are just some of the vast area that arts and crafts cover. But then you also have shooting sports. Shooting sports is one of the biggest programs that we have in Río Riva County. And I'm learning to see how these kids are learning to adapt. You know, we do have a competition in Ratón, New Mexico. And usually it's pretty windy there. So, you know, kind of trying to... explain to the kids like, okay, well, it may be a little bit windy here, but when you get to competition, it's going to be a little bit different. So just providing them with those types of obstacles to kind of prepare them for a competition. So we have archery, we have rifle, we have shotgun, we have pistol, muzzle loader. So we're kind of working our way through that. And then there's just, there's health, food and nutrition, home. It's not home in economics anymore. It's family consumer science. It could be baking. You could do food preservation. There's a lot of different types of things that you can cover in just family consumer science or FCS. So there's just a plethora of different types of programming. There's even competitions for talent shows. We have some amazing youth that have just their type of skills, their set of skills that they have is amazing to me because I was even meeting with one of our 4-H'ers in Dulce and she was talking about how she was going to beat a garment and granted she was like 11 or 12 years old but still. It was just something that I am not accustomed to seeing. So there's just so much talent up here in Rio de Janeiro County, and I think us providing these types of programs for the youth, we can see what we have, the potential

SPEAKER_00: 11:16

we have, and see how we can make it grow. Well, that sounds absolutely wonderful. There's also been a push towards STEM projects to science and natural sciences, and particularly in our areas, we have a lot of kids that come from families that hunt. So there's opportunities to do wildlife judging. And so let's talk a little bit about that. So the

SPEAKER_01: 11:37

wildlife, there's wildlife judging, there's range management and land judging. So I am trying to get the kids geared into kind of looking at the land, kind of knowing what's there and how to interpret that data. As far as for range management, you know, there's a competition that comes up every... And so it kind of gives light to conservation. You do have where you look at a problem, kind of see how you're going to fix it. But as you're doing that, you're helping them collect the data. And the same thing for wildlife. There's just a bunch of different aspects to that judging that you can actually look at it and be like, okay, well, how can we better it? Or what is the cause of this? And it kind of gives them that other perspective. foothold to look at it in a critical thinking position. And then from there, once they kind of understand it, then we're going to be able to build and kind of give them more of an in-depth understanding. So if they decide to go to NMSU, go NMSU and kind of get them involved with a range management, they can actually come back or wildlife management and come back to Rio de Janeiro County to be able to help serve our rural area. So in hopes that we kind of get them to understand those types of opportunities we're hoping that that would kind of just spark them in that sense but also for stem we do have robotics we have um there's a rocketry so we try to cover as much as we possibly can give a youth every opportunity they possibly can to just see what they're interested in. You know, much times we kind of go through life and we're like, okay, well, we should do this. Well, I feel like doing this. And so we kind of have that whole change in career. So this will kind of give them like a plain focus to be like, okay, this is what I want to do, or I didn't really care for this. So the 4-H does provide those STEM and natural sciences. And we're hoping that we can start getting kids more involved to be able to help with our egg portion here in rural New Mexico. Just trying to get them to understand, you know, what happens when droughts are taking place and why acequias are important. And I think it's more rural new mexico northern new mexico that deal more with waiting for the frost to hit waiting for you know the snow to melt to be able to have that water to be able to irrigate and kind of see what issues we really do have and how major can affect us so we do have some of those types of programs just to say the least but yeah it's it's those are some amazing programs too that we do we do offer them for each

SPEAKER_00: 14:22

well again i'm a huge fan of all the work and the the outreach and the educational opportunities that come through 4-H. There's just some really neat things that happen here. We have a wonderful county fair here. What are some other events that folks that maybe we have somebody listening, they're 50 years old, they're not going to do 4-H, but they want to celebrate and support 4-H youth. We have a county fair that will come up at the end of July, beginning of August. What are some other things that folks can see 4-H kids?

SPEAKER_01: 14:53

So where I'm pushing to do a little bit more community service, kind of get out, get the kids involved in different projects to kind of see how they can get people involved. We actually had a project in Chama with the upper Chama Soil and Water Conservation District. We actually did, we got together with Escalante High School and just seeing how the residents around the Soil and Water Conservation District along with Escalante High School, they got to work together and and kind of get involved with each other. So they were working with each other in a different aspect where they just came in and they're like, oh, hi, I'm so-and-so. And then they got to kind of working, how do you square a building? This is how we're gonna do this. So it was just a lot of working in that sense. And so that was a great opportunity to meet with some of the residents in the upper trauma area and just kind of explain to them what 4-H is. Majority of them do know what 4-H is. So I'm extremely excited. And so we are more than happy to take anybody that wants to come in and do volunteer work. I'm currently looking for resources as to being able to provide workshops, specific workshops for our kids. I know that we've talked about tin smithing, leather work, livestock school, that kind of stuff. I want to just make sure that we have workshops for those kids and so they get to see not just the project that we're handing to them but they get to do the hands-on and be like okay well that's what this is. ones that are not in 4-H but they want to volunteer, we are happy to to welcome you to 4-H and we will have a blast. We do have a couple of clubs that come in and assist us, not only with county fair, but with district contest. Sometimes they'll assist us with clover bud camps or just the county camp. So we're trying to provide those opportunities, but we're also wanting to get the communities involved and kind of just get them to understand like, hey, I can be part of this. And we invite everybody and anybody that wants to be part of it to, help us grow this program and i think with all of the help that we are getting i'm hoping to get more but i'm i'm excited to just welcome anybody if if you guys are interested in 4-h just we are here

SPEAKER_00: 17:18

Well, perfect. And I think both the folks that have those skills will be happy to volunteer and you're so welcoming. And so that'll give the youth that participate in 4-H more opportunities. And I think that's going to be just a great opportunity there. Let's talk a little bit. You and I were in a meeting this morning and we talked a little bit about one of the components, a program that 4-H has in this area, and it's uniquely New Mexico. And I think that one's a really special one because maybe a kid or a youth The young member is thinking, well, I don't want to show a pig. I'm not interested in that. But maybe this Uniquely New Mexico thing might reach out to them. Let's talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_01: 17:59

So Uniquely New Mexico is obviously about New Mexico. And we usually present it for county fairs. And then eventually it'll make it to state fair once they do compete. And if they do make it to state fair, then we're able to go ahead and show that aspect of our culture of New Mexico. Because New Mexico is very different where we have a vast range of land. And where I am currently from, when I moved here to Río Riva County, I realized that it was so culturally infused. These kids are happy of who they are and they're not afraid to show who they are. And I think Uniquely New Mexico will just provide them to be able to show how proud they are of their culture. And so what makes me excited about it is we are a mix of culture we have you know we have Native American we have Spaniard now we have a mix of just a bunch of different people coming in and they have so many different ideas and being able to provide those opportunities to these kids to be able to kind of show their culture and not be afraid to show their culture and so uniquely New Mexico there's there's a plethora of things that is very unique to New Mexico especially to northern New Mexico that's very different from Southern New Mexico. So just being able to show those different aspects of New Mexico. You know, some of them do retablos. They do, some of them will do pottery. Some of them will do beading. You know, there's just a plethora of these different culturally infused projects that these kids can actually partake in. And I think that is what makes me more excited about uniquely New Mexico because New Mexico is big, but there's so many aspects that make New Mexico, New Mexico. So those projects are going to be open. Then you're going to have New Mexico flavor. So if you're into food and all that kind of stuff, we have challenges for those too. And it's, you know, uniquely about New

SPEAKER_00: 20:10

Mexico as

SPEAKER_01: 20:11

well.

SPEAKER_00: 20:11

Absolutely. And you've got some young artists that are absolutely budding through these programs. I will tell you, gosh, it's probably been 20 years ago at County Fair in the indoor exhibits, a young man had made a chair and it was beautiful. And I bought that chair and I still have it. And I love how it's, you know, this incredible piece of furniture, but it's also a piece of art. And then another young 4-H-er a couple of years ago, Andrea Thronas, had done welding projects. as part of her 4-H stuff. And so I got together with Andrea and she actually made some horseshoe crosses for me to give my kids as Christmas gifts. So there are some incredible young artists and crafts people that are going to come out of your program. And so I think doing these kind of things just lets them show that off. And as a community member, it's really exciting for me to be able to support those projects and those dreams and goals. And that's just a tiny place but I can tell you the exact time I saw that chair in Andrea's welding projects and it was through 4-H so congratulations in promoting that and you're going to see some incredible stuff going forward so walk me through Lucinda if we've got a listener listening out there and they've got youngsters and they think you know what maybe I want my kids to be in 4-H how does that process start let's just kind of walk us through how a family reach is out to you?

SPEAKER_01: 21:42

So usually you can well you can reach out to me through the extension office there in Abiquiu. We have a system an electronic system, ZSuite. So you would get in contact with me. I'd send you over the link. You'd go in and create, you know, your profile, that kind of stuff. And then when you enroll your youth, then you can actually pick an existing club unless you guys are excited enough to start another club. That's a whole other process to get it chartered and all that stuff through the land grant university, which is New Mexico State University. And then you can go ahead and pick projects. And those projects can range from whatever, you you know, your youth is interested in. Most of my newer families are like, well, my kid wants to do this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and this. And I'm like, okay, let's start off small first, just so they can kind of see where it's at and they get to enjoy the process of it. So we're doing it electronically. Usually whenever you create your stuff and you put it for Rio Riba County, I'll go in and kind of just process the paperwork. If you have questions or whatever, you know, I'm always open to email. I have my email with me majority of the time. you know if i'm not in the office we you know we do have staff there as well so it's it's not a tedious process but it's just there's a lot of bits of pieces of that need to be inputted into the new system so i'm hoping through different workshops and meetings that i have with whomever to kind of get them to walk through the whole process to get them enrolled so the deadline for to add anything more to our actual system is may 1st usually it's the end of January for all re-enrollment and then for new ones the deadline is March 1st. But for us to make sure that we have projects and all that stuff accounted for has to be May 1st.

SPEAKER_00: 23:39

Sounds good. And how can folks reach you? Let's give that information.

SPEAKER_01: 23:42

Okay, so you guys can actually reach me at the Abiquiu office, also known as the Rural Event Center. We have what is just called the Cooperative Extension Service office. We do house... For age, we do house FCS or Family Consumer Science, Agriculture, and our ICAN program. And my phone number or phone number to the office is 505-685-4523. And if you guys want more information, you can email me at rala87 at nmsu.edu. Sounds good. And you guys have a

SPEAKER_00: 24:19

website as well.

SPEAKER_01: 24:20

Yes, we do have a website. We're currently trying to update that, but we're in the process of trying to become fully staffed so hopefully that happens rather soon and we also have a facebook page um so that one's the rio riba county 4-h youth development program nmsu we usually post everything and anything we can regarding 4-h we currently have some amazing kids that are actually involved in our county council that are doing amazing great things outside of 4-H. So I'm excited to see how that all kind of flows together.

SPEAKER_00: 24:56

So let's see how it goes. Well, good. Well, folks, you've been listening to the Farm and Ranch Show. My name is Sage, and I've been visiting with Lucinda, who is the new 4-H agent in Rio Arriba County. And Lucinda, again, welcome and thank you for all that you do and you're planning to do for the 4-H of this area and it's a it's a big county so I know you have your hands full but we look forward to partnering with you any place that you need us and again thank you thank you so much I do appreciate your time thank you absolutely