“Oh say, can you see by the dawn’s early light.”
Howdy Folks,
I have begun this letter with the opening line to our national anthem. We all have, or should have, studied a little of the poem Francis Scott Key wrote as he was held prisoner on a British warship during the shelling of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.
As the story goes, after a brutal bombardment all during the night, Key was asking if the flag was still flying over the fort. Upon seeing the banner, he knew our country was still free. Our great nation has faced many trials and tribulations through the years, and I pray that 2011 is another turning point to the greatness we have known. It is our duty as citizens of this state and nation to hold our elected officials to the task of bringing our country back to the greatness it is known for worldwide.
We are starting another legislative session in Santa Fe with a lot of new faces in the Roundhouse and need to make ourselves known to these people. They are dutiful citizens of our state that work for our behalf with little recognition. Sometimes we tend to forget that many of them have strong roots to agriculture. I want to list a few, and I know I will probably leave someone out, so please forgive me if I do.
Anna Marie Crook comes from eastern NM ranching families Barnes and McClures. A couple of her kinfolk – World Champion team roper Jake Barnes and calf roper Jake McClure.
Candy Spence Ezell grew up on a farm near Artesia and still is in the ranching business near Roswell.
Andy Nunez grew up on a ranch northwest of Roswell and has been involved with the industry, one way or another, all his life.
Stuart Engle is a farmer in Roosevelt County.
Larry Larranaga’s family is in the ranching business near Vaughn.
George Munoz’s family has farming interests near Belen.
Joseph Cervantes’ family has farms in the Las Cruces area.
There are many others who need to be mentioned – Clint Harden, Nora Espinosa, David Kintigh, Jimmie Hall, Don Tripp, Jane Powdrell Culbert, Rhonda King – the list just goes on.
What I am trying show is that we have representatives in Santa Fe that are knowledgeable of our problems and concerns. We are lucky in this state that we can go to Santa Fe and have access to the elected officials there. If you have time, please make the trip to Santa Fe during session and give a new face to them. If you ask any of these representatives, they will tell you they listen to the ordinary people more than the paid lobbyist (or activist) that walks through their door.
Have a Happy New Year and hope to see you in Santa Fe.
May God Bless Us All,
Bert Ancell
“Light is sweet: how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
– Ecclesiastes 11:7 NLT