FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NMDA Contact: Jenny Green
Public Affairs Specialist
jgreen@nmda.nmsu.edu | 575-202-4249

EXPO NM Contact: Ty Stevers
Media & Marketing
Ty.stevers@expo.nm.gov | 505-435-1711

September 22, 2026

NMDA, NM State Fair announce 2026 Farm and Ranch Families

ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair recognized the 2026 New Mexico Farm and Ranch Families of the Year Sept. 17 during the rodeo at the Albuquerque fairgrounds.

This year’s honorees are the Achen family of Triple A Farms in Las Cruces, named Farm Family of the Year and the Lantana family of Crownpoint, named Ranch Family of the Year.

Buddy Achen founded Triple A Farms in 1992 with 65 acres of pecan trees and has since grown the operation to nearly 1,200 acres. Today, his son Derek helps manage the farm and the family’s pruning business, Precision Hedging. The Achen family is also developing an agritourism and event venue to showcase New Mexico pecans and other local commodities.

Five people pose for a group photo indoors, standing together in a rustic setting with stone and wood accents. The group includes three women and two men dressed in casual Western-style clothing. — The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair recognized the 2026 New Mexico Farm and Ranch Families of the Year DATE during the rodeo at the Albuquerque fairgrounds. The Achen family of Triple A Farms in Las Cruces is the 2026 Farm Family of the Year. (Photo courtesy of the Achens)

Fourth-generation rancher Marjorie Lantana leads her family’s Black Angus cow-calf operation in northwest New Mexico. Today, her children and grandchildren help run the ranch, while the family supports agriculture and rural communities through industry leadership and youth programs, including 4-H and the Eastern Navajo Junior Livestock Show and Archery Event.

A multigenerational family stands together in a grassy pasture, with several cattle grazing behind them and trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background. — The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair recognized the 2026 New Mexico Farm and Ranch Families of the Year DATE during the rodeo at the Albuquerque fairgrounds. The Lantana family of Crownpoint is the 2026 Ranch Family of the Year. (Photo courtesy of the Lantanas)

“Families like the Achens and Lantanas embody the dedication, resilience and family traditions that make New Mexico agriculture so special,” said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. “Their commitment to their operations, communities and the next generation reflects the strength of agriculture across our state.”

The New Mexico State Fair presents the Farm and Ranch Families of the Year awards annually. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture helps select the Farm Family of the Year, while the New Mexico Cattlegrowers’ Association helps select the Ranch Family of the Year. The Achen and Lantana families join past honorees including the Silverblatt-Buser and Elkins families (2025), the Wagner and Major families (2024), and the Mayberry and Perez families (2023).

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The New Mexico Department of Agriculture benefits the public by promoting the viability and advancement of New Mexico agriculture and affiliated industries. The agency promotes a fair marketplace, food safety, marketing, and economic development; supports the beneficial use and conservation of natural resources; and works cooperatively with the public and private sectors.

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NMDA, NM State Fair announce 2026 Farm and Ranch Families