Steve Lucero, NMSU Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Service director, shows campers the reproductive organs of a cow during New Mexico Youth Ranch Camp All Things Beef Day. The campers have hands-on learning during much of the four-day curriculum that includes all things beef, marketing and economics, natural resources and range land management.
(NMSU Photo by Jane Moorman) WRITER: Jane Moorman, 505-249-0527, jmoorman@nmsu.edu
CIMARRON - Cimarron is known for the Philmont Scout Ranch where Boy Scouts from across the nation come each summer for an experience of a lifetime camping in the Northern New Mexico wilderness.
This year a different group of youth will be heading to Cimarron for an experience of a lifetime that could help them make career decisions.
New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences will hold its annual New Mexico Youth Ranch Camp at the CS Cattle Company's 130,000-acre ranch at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range near Cimarron.
"Last year this location allowed our campers to see a real-life working ranch," said camp director Jack Blandford, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service program director in Luna County. "The CS is a working cattle and hunting operation and has been family owned and operated since 1873. We all are excited to be returning to the ranch this year."
The CS Cattle Company was founded by Frank Springer and his brother Charles, whose initials are used for the ranch name and historic brand. Les Davis, grandson of Frank Springer, took over management of the CS in 1947 and today his children continue managing the operations.
The youth ranch camp is administered each summer by NMSU's Extension Service. It began in 2011 at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Since then more than 150 youth have participated in this unique opportunity to gain a greater appreciation of the science and opportunities in agriculture.
"We are proud to offer this one-of-a-kind program for the future cattle producers of our state," said Jon Boren, NMSU College of ACES associate dean and director of the Extension Service. "The collaboration between our Extension specialists, county Extension agents and members of the ranching industry has provided an opportunity for the youth to learn about the many aspects of managing a ranch and natural resources."
NMYRC is a week-long, hands-on, college-caliber educational experience for youth ages 15-19. Each day is filled with information necessary to manage a ranch including all things beef, marketing and economics, natural resources, and range land management. At the end of each day, one camper receives the Top Hand award for their outstanding participation in that day's activities.
Throughout the week the youth are compiling information to design their team's own ranch management plan, which they present to a panel of judges from the beef industry and NMSU on Friday in competition for the coveted team jacket.
"You don't have to just be in ranching to attend this camp. It offers a wide variety of career avenues," Blandford said. "I encourage any youth within the age group to apply."
Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 camp, which will be held June 11 to 16. Deadline to apply is May 5. Cost for the camp is $300. For more information, or to apply, visit http://nmyrm.nmsu.edu.