by Mike White, President NMF&LB
Leon and Betty Hemann, alfalfa farmers near McDonald, New Mexico, were named Farm Family of the Year by the state’s largest agriculture organization at the 97th annual meeting of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau.
Leon was born in Oklahoma where he spent many summers helping his father around his farm and ranch. Betty was also born into a farm and ranch family in Lea County. They met as seniors at Tatum High School and were married after graduation. Leon promptly left for four years as he served in the US Navy. When he returned they moved to McDonald so that Leon could help his father in-law Marvin McClish, with the family farm and ranch. They raised cotton, sorghum, wheat, hay grazer and alfalfa for many years. The ranching part consisted of Angus and mixed bred cows, sheep and hogs.
Over the past 30 years Leon and Betty raised alfalfa hay small bales and hay grazer that they used for the winter months to feed their cattle operation and also sale to local buyers. Their family includes two children, Lisa and Len, and grandchildren Karie, Trever, Trent and Kelly Shay.
“Leon and Betty have worked tirelessly through their Farm Bureau activities to promote and conserve agriculture. We thank the Hemann family for all they do,” said Mike White, President of the New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau. ▫