“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” – Patrick Henry

Howdy Folks,

These letters have to be in to Caren on by the 15th of the month before the Stockman goes out, so sometimes we put in something that hasn’t happened yet, knowing it will. This happened in the May letter that I wrote in April. I bragged on the turn out for the Northeastern Regional Meeting scheduled for May 1st. Who was to know that a snow storm in May would cancel it. Well, here it is again, before the 22nd (the rescheduled date) and I will brag on it again. I hope a big rain cancels this one.

Seriously though, I did go to the rally against endangered species listing of the Sand Dune Lizard in Roswell April 28th and it was a huge event. There was not enough seating room for all the attendees at the listening session. Representative Steve Pearce gave a couple of inspiring speeches at the rally and the listening session. He knows that these listings can and do cripple the economies of the localities, counties, and states. I know many U.S. legislators are timid because of the green movement, but these listings could and would affect wind and solar programs as well. If only some more in Washington would follow suit, some good could come out of it without as much governmental control and still save the species. I don’t know where our electricity, heating fuel, and gasoline would have to come from and how much we, as a state and region, would have to pay for our utilities.

Congratulations or condolences to Scott Bidegain being appointed to the State Game Commission. From the meeting in Albuquerque on May 5, we are lucky to have a rancher on the Commission. Environmental groups were sure trying to sway the commissioners even though this was mainly a discussion meeting only. We are going to need to be vigilant on the trapping regulations in the future. Many attendees were asking the Commission to put a permanent ban on trapping for the whole state. I sit perplexed of the rationale of these folks painting a word picture on the beauty and grace of predators, and never mentioning the game these predators are decimating. Back in the old days, when the state had government trappers and such, anyone could buy a deer license over the counter. Now a person has to count on the luck of the draw. Do you think there might be a correlation between predator control and a more vibrant deer and antelope population? There was praise aplenty for the delisting of the desert bighorn from these groups though there was a very aggressive control of mountain lions around the sheep.

Also congratulations to Jeff Witte, our newly appointed Director/Secretary of Agriculture. I am sure that with his experience and knowledge of the legislative process, that our industry will be well represented in Santa Fe and the nation.

In one of my previous letters, I was hoping La Niña and El Niño would get in a fight, make up, and pour their tears out over New Mexico. I guess they’re still fussing. It sure has been windy without much moisture. But on the bright side, we’re one day closer to a rain. I hope all can attend the summer meeting the June 26-28 at Buffalo Thunder just north of Santa Fe. See you there.

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 “Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the

rains he sends are an expression of his grace.”

               – Joel 2:23