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We sit down with Tom Paterson, rancher and new president of New Mexico Cattle Growers, to talk stewardship, drought strategy, and how data and design make cattle calmer and beef better. From policy wins to local processing, we share a clear path to resilient ranching.

• law-to-ranch journey and Spur Ranch origins
• role and scope of New Mexico Cattle Growers
• drought, culling decisions, and infrastructure pivots
• Temple Grandin handling systems and hydraulic chutes
• breeding with EPDs for calving ease and moderate milk
• written protocols for vaccines, minerals, and breeding
• water development expanding wildlife habitat
• coalition policy wins and legislative focus
• mentorship, asking for help, and leadership growth
• local beef markets, state inspection, and processors

"Join our team. Join our team to protect rural New Mexico, to protect the men and women and children who live in rural New Mexico, protect them from the craziness that sometimes goes on, protect them from the additional cost burdens, tax burdens that make it more expensive for us to do our work. Work with us on rural health care, work with us on rural education, join the team." -Tom Paterson

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Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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We trace how a ranch family in Curry County built a vertically integrated beef business, from wheat pasture yearlings to a fresh meat counter known for prime cuts, green chile brats, and face-to-face service. We compare grocery and direct beef, tackle pricing myths, and share what’s next, including USDA inspection and expanded local delivery.

• Family ranch roots and multi-state cow-calf, stocker, and feeding operations
• COVID catalyst for direct-to-consumer sales and retail launch
• Managing inventory, grades, and the ground beef challenge
• Customer education on antibiotics, hormones, and grass versus grain finishing
• Why grocery beef is safe and why food choice matters
• Building a premium, service-first butcher shop with specialty items
• Genetics, Simmental and Speckle Park trials to lift marbling and yield
• USDA inspection plans to unlock shipping and wholesale flexibility
• Hiring for character, training skills, and growing community ties
• Practical advice on risk, resilience, and saying no

Thank you for joining us for today’s episode
If you would like more information, please visit nmbeef.com
Whether it be a burger, a steak, or another beef dish, we hope you are enjoying beef at your next meal

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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Start with 12 cows, add three counties of scattered leases, mix in a veterinarian, a range scientist, and two determined brothers, and you get a modern ranch story that’s as practical as it is inspiring. We sit down with Jim and Jovani Armendariz to trace their family’s path from their parents’ arrival in America to a 300-cow operation known for turning bare ground into healthy grass—and healthy beef.

We talk through the real economics of ranching: why leasing often beats buying, how scattered parcels drive up time and costs, and what it takes to build a reputation that opens doors to new leases. Then we get into the tools that changed their trajectory. Virtual fencing lets them run adaptive rotations without miles of wire, boosting forage diversity and carrying capacity. Water sensors cut 120-mile tank checks down to a glance at an app. The result is a sharper, soil-first approach where observation, timing, and animal health work together.

When COVID froze the supply chain, the brothers and a family friend launched A&G Family Meats to create cash flow and connect directly with customers. They share how they educate buyers on live weight vs. hanging weight, the typical 60–65 percent yield, and how cut sheets, bone-in choices, and dry-aging affect freezer pounds. We also dig into the balancing act between steaks, roasts, and ground beef, plus why social storytelling matters as much as marbling for building loyal local demand.

Along the way, you’ll hear about mentorship from their father, the confidence their kids gain working cattle, and the philosophy that drives every decision: if you’re going to do it, do it right. If you care about regenerative grazing, ranch technology, direct-to-consumer beef, or the grit behind American agriculture, this conversation will stay with you.

Enjoyed the story? Follow, rate, and share the podcast, and tell us which idea—virtual fencing, water sensors, or direct sales—you’d try first.

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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Hard truths, open pastures, and a lot of heart—Heidi Humphries invites us into her family’s Black Angus cow‑calf ranch outside Tucumcari, New Mexico, and shows what real stewardship looks like. We dig into the daily choices that keep cattle healthy and a multi‑generation operation moving forward: adapting to arid grasslands, rotating pastures with intention, fixing water lines after storms, and building a uniform herd that fits today’s beef market without losing sight of long‑term resilience.

We also talk biosecurity with urgency and calm. Screwworm is on every producer’s mind, so Heidi explains how local meetings, county extension testing kits, and neighbor‑to‑neighbor communication create a line of defense. Her message is clear: proactive beats reactive, and community beats isolation. Along the way, you’ll hear how off‑ranch work provides benefits and stability, why gentle cattle make better health checks, and how steady vaccination protocols pay off when the unexpected hits. 

Beyond production, we explore beef nutrition, consumer choice, and the surprising reach of cattle byproducts—insulin, leather goods, tallow skincare, brushes, and more. Heidi is candid about the gap between TV portrayals and real ranch life: profit is uneven, work is constant, and meaning comes from small wins—a straight fence at sunset, a bottle calf that finally makes it, a family team pulling in the same direction. For anyone curious about New Mexico ranching, sustainable beef, or how legacy actually survives, this conversation offers practical insight and a grounded sense of hope.

Subscribe for more stories from the people behind your steak and burger, share this with someone who loves the land, and leave a review to tell us what surprised you most.

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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A famous outlaw's grave you can see from the kitchen sink, a trail that once fed frontier forts, and a family betting on rain—this is ranching in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. We sit down with Sarah Fitzgerald, chair of the New Mexico Beef Council, to unpack what it really takes to raise beef in an arid landscape where stocking rates stretch to 50–70 acres per animal unit and every decision hinges on land, water, and numbers.

We explore the engine room of their operation: a small, tightly run grow yard designed for careful weaning and efficient gains. Sarah explains how a grow yard differs from a feedlot, why audited feed labels and certified natural programs matter, and how source verification with EID tags builds traceability and trust. The conversation moves from dust to data—budgets, P&Ls, forward contracts, and the high cost of inputs that shape thin ranch margins. Along the way, we tie in Wild West history, the Goodnight Loving Trail, and the modern realities of rotational grazing, native grasses, and adapting to weather that doesn’t always cooperate.

This episode is also a window into family life on a ranch. Sarah shares how she runs the books, handles audits and trucking, and still reads the land for subtle signs—trampling near waters, cow patties, grass height—that guide pasture moves. We talk land prices, leasing strategies, and how to make farmland and forage work together when buying a traditional ranch won’t cash flow. For students and career changers, the beef industry’s breadth comes into view: animal science, meat science, nutrition, accounting, marketing, trucking, and more. And for anyone curious about grocery store beef, Sarah’s message is simple and clear: family-owned operations care deeply, and beef safety and quality are non-negotiable.

Stick around for a bit of holiday warmth as Sarah shares her family’s tradition of homemade Italian meatballs on Christmas Eve—proof that beef is more than a meal; it’s memory and connection. If you value grounded stories about food, land, and the people who make both possible, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves beef, and leave a review to tell us what you learned.

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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Curiosity, service, and straight talk drive this deep dive with New Mexico rancher and board member Boe Lopez, who opens up about life on the range and the work behind a trustworthy beef supply. We trace his path from a family operation rooted in generations of grit to leadership roles that demand tough decisions, transparency, and constant learning. Along the way, Boe breaks down what most folks never see: how Beef Council dollars are governed, why promotion needs to be bold yet accountable, and how a hot air balloon turned into a surprisingly powerful conversation starter for producers and consumers.

We explore the real mechanics of herd health across New Mexico’s diverse terrain—from 5,900-foot headquarters to 8,500-foot summer leases—where weather, wildlife, and elevation shape daily choices. Bo explains practical nutrition and animal care: forage and fecal testing, targeted minerals and salt, vaccination protocols, and sunflower cake adjusted to temperature and grass growth. He connects those details to bigger themes like biosecurity during transport, veterinary partnerships, and the shared goal of healthy cows and calves that produce high-quality beef.

Economics and legacy thread through every story. Yes, prices are up, but so are inputs: diesel, fencing, minerals, equipment, and freight. Bo breaks down how thin margins, estate planning, and variable markets force families to think decades ahead so the next generation inherits opportunity, not a tax bill and a for-sale sign. Still, he’s clear about why it’s worth it: neighbors who show up without being asked, a faith-driven commitment to land and wildlife, and a lifestyle that rewards perseverance. He closes with practical advice for newcomers—start small, stop comparing, learn fast—and a simple favorite: a medium filet, no sauce, with salad and a baked potato.

If you value honest stories from the people who raise your food, tap follow, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find Behind the Burger.

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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We sit down at Corralitos Ranch with fourth-generation cattleman Ross Foster to explore drought planning, water work, herd temperament, and the real meaning of stewardship on public and private lands. Grit meets grace as we follow the choices that make cattle calm, grass recover, and families keep going.

• family history and purpose of the Las Cruces ranch 
• drought, wind and the decision to let pastures seed 
• water lines, dirt tanks and center pivots for resilience 
• rotational grazing and matching herd size to forage 
• genetics, temperament and culling for calm handling 
• cake-broke cattle for low-stress health checks 
• public land etiquette and better gates for users 
• kids, mini breeds and building next-generation interest 
• why this life is hard, redeeming and worth it 
• cooking tips from brevet cuts to sous vide

If you would like more information, please visit nmbeef.com

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

Send a text

What does it take to keep a ranch thriving when prices swing, rain stalls, and the next generation needs a runway? We sit with Jim and Jay Hill outside Las Cruces to map a path from mules and tobacco fields to GPS tractors, custom feeding, alfalfa, cotton, seed crops, and even commercial real estate. Their story is equal parts resilience and reinvention, proving that diversification is not a buzzword—it’s a survival plan that protects both cattle and family.

Jim shares how smart buying, timely selling, and steady expansion turned a small New Mexico farm into a multi-faceted operation, while Jay recounts scaling production to 21,000 acres and two feedyards before stepping back to reassess bandwidth and balance. Together they break down how to think like a ranch CFO: hedge drought with insurance, buy feed when it’s cheap, prioritize airflow and shade to combat heat stress and parasites, and build rotational grazing that holds up when the monsoon doesn’t. They also push back on the idea that agriculture is closed to newcomers—start small, grow smart, and let partners amplify your effort.

Beyond economics, they tackle the human side of the beef industry: mental health in a comparison culture, making peace with your pace, and the hard conversations of succession planning. Their take on marketing is clear and actionable: put your name on your beef, use local processing and directories, consider co-ops carefully, and keep your face in front of your product so trust outlasts any single buyer. Through it all, the Hills return to what matters—healthy animals, honest stewardship, and a community of people you’d happily break bread with.

If you care about ranch resilience, drought strategy, animal comfort, and building a brand that lasts, this conversation delivers practical steps and real encouragement. Subscribe, share with a ranching friend, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway so more producers can find it.

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

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We celebrate a year of bold outreach: a locally piloted hot air balloon, a fast-growing school beef grant, a statewide sports nutrition push, and farm tours that bring health pros onto ranches. Every move centers one goal—connect producers and consumers with clear stories, real education, and local pride.

• Launching a New Mexico Beef hot air balloon with Zia approval
• Starting a podcast to bridge ranch and table
• Extending the Sports Nutrition Game Plan through NMAA
• Practical fueling tips for student athletes on the road
• Farm tours for dietitians and health sciences students
• Photo contest showcasing ranch life across the state
• Beef grant expansion from 17 to 55 schools
• Teaching beef cookery and nutrition in classrooms
• Community engagement at state basketball in The Pit
• Stewardship of producer dollars and board-led priorities
• Upcoming KOB4 cooking competition series
• Balloon Fiesta debut and ongoing outreach

This podcast covers the fiscal year from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

If you would like more information, please visit nmbeef.com

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.

Send a text

A lobby fight over the beef checkoff. A dusty arena humming with beginners and world champs. And a simple reframing that changed everything: team roping isn’t just a rodeo discipline - it’s “cowboy golf.” We sit down with Denny Gentry to chart how a ranch kid from southern New Mexico helped unite a divided industry, grew local qualifiers into national institutions, and built the infrastructure that turned a ranch skill into a billion‑dollar ecosystem.

Denny recounts the hard lessons from Santa Fe, where ranchers split over a new assessment and the vote became an eye‑opener in coalition-building. That political savvy carried into the arena, where smart handicaps and day permits opened the gate to new ropers without diluting the culture. We follow the rise of USTRC and the World Series of Team Roping, the birth of a barrier system now used nationwide, and the people-powered database that quietly became a travel safety net and community directory for Western families crisscrossing the country.

Horses, cattle, and beef are the same story here. Denny explains how roping cattle move into the beef supply, why Corrientes fit evolving consumer tastes in lean beef, and how the Riata Stallion Incentive links earnings to bloodlines in partnership with AQHA and Equine Network. The result is a clearer market for performance horses and a recognition that roping increasingly sets the price signals for the broader Western horse economy. We also touch on modern nutrition science, methane research, and how better data has shifted the tone from defense to confident clarity.

If you care about ranching, horses, beef demand, or just love a good origin story, this one is packed with trail-tested insights and practical wins. Subscribe, share with a friend who ropes (or wants to), and leave a review telling us the moment that surprised you most.

Thanks for tuning in to Behind the Burger!
Stay connected with us — follow @NMBEEF on TikTok and Instagram, New Mexico Beef Council on Facebook and visit nmbeef.com for recipes, nutrition info, a local beef directory and more.