Longtime Eddy County alfalfa growers honored as 2023 Farm Family of the Year in New Mexico

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·4 min read

A nearly lifelong commitment to agriculture, family and community led to longtime Artesia residents being named the 2023 Farm Family of the Year by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair.

Bob and Sandra Mayberry started farming alfalfa and cotton in the Artesia area in the late 1980’s and three years ago shifted to high quality alfalfa that is sold in horse, ranch and feed store markets, according to a joint press release from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) and the New Mexico State Fair.

The Mayberry’s were honored at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque, according to the release.

Sandra admitted surprise when friends and acquaintances contacted them regarding the honor.

“We got to go the fair and the rodeo and spend time with a lot of folks we know,” Bob said.

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“We heard from so many people around the state. (It’s) been great fun and quite an honor,” he added.

Farming in Mayberry Family DNA

Bob said his family started farming in the Artesia area nearly 70 years ago after settling in from Texas and Nebraska.

He said the Blue Quail Shopping Center, other retail establishments and housing developments now occupy the original family farm near Main street.

The family still farm around 800 acres near the Artesia Country Club.

Back row: (from left) Crew Mayberry, Craig Mayberry, Bob Mayberry, Sandra Mayberry, Hannah Mayberry, Meredith Mayberry, Jeff Mayberry and Emma Mayberry. Front row: (from left) Jacqueline Mayberry, Corbin Harvey-Mayberry, Elena Mayberry, Luke Mayberry. Bob and Sandra Mayberry of Artesia were named the 2023 Farm Family of the Year by the New Mexico State Fair and New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

“We’ve always farmed out here,” Bob said. The house overlooks the nearby alfalfa fields.

He and Sandra married while attending New Mexico State University in Las Cruces around 1985.

The couple raised three children, eldest sons Craig and Jeff and daughter Jacqueline.

“You learn a lot of honesty and there aren’t a lot of excuses," Jeff said. "That carries with you through life.”

Mayberry family does all the work

From irrigation, planting, equipment maintenance and filling out the necessary paperwork each member of the Mayberry family performs multiple tasks as there are no outside employees.

Daughter Jacqueline oversees the day-to-day operations. Craig and his family live in Albuquerque and Jeff and his family are set to relocate to Tennessee in nearly three months.

Jacqueline worked outside of the farm for a few years with a local telecommunications company.

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“Dad asked me if I wanted to come back and I was ready,” she said.

Jeff said family members figured the younger sister would run the farm operations as she got older.

“It’s a part of your life for a longtime,” he said. “There’s a lot of space to learn things and try things.”

Bob said working on the farm with his family is one of the rewards of the profession.

“It’s not a 9 to 5 job,” he said as the growing season starts in May and the harvesting season ends in the middle of October.

“Alfalfa has always been a good crop in this area,” Bob said.

The Blue Quail Shopping Center at 1500 West Main Street in Artesia sits on land once farmed by the Mayberry family, who was named the 2023 Farm Family of the Year by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair.
The Blue Quail Shopping Center at 1500 West Main Street in Artesia sits on land once farmed by the Mayberry family, who was named the 2023 Farm Family of the Year by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair.

Family activities not limited to the farm

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said the Mayberry’s deserved the Farm Family of the Year award citing their commitment to the community and New Mexico as an example of the work agricultural families perform across the state.

In addition to farming, Bob and Sandra are active members in the Artesia community.

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Sandra has served on the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity. She also serves on the board of The Bridge and works with Celebrate Recovery, which both provide sober living homes in the Artesia area, according to the press release.

Bob has served on various boards and committees within the agricultural industry.

He has served on the boards of American Cotton Producers and New Mexico Cotton Growers.

Bob is currently the chairperson of board of directors of the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces which opened in 1998.

“This multigenerational family has devoted the time and resources necessary for the next generation of agricultural leaders to thrive,” Witte said.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Artesia alfalfa growers named 2023 NM Farm Family of 2023