BOD Meeting Minutes 4/16/25

NEW MEXICO PRODUCERS AND MARKETING ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

MINUTES 

APRIL 16, 2025 

CALL TO ORDER: 6:04 PM 

ROLL CALL: VIRGIL TRUJILLO, ABSENT 

WELCOME AND GUEST INTRODUCTIONS: DR. ANDREA WELCOMED MEMBERS FRED THRONAS AND STAR MATHIS. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: DR. ANDREA ASKED TO HAVE THE GRANTS DISCUSSION MOVED TO THE FIRST ITEM AS DR. VALENCIA WILL BE JOINING THE MEETING BY ZOOM. 

MOTION: A MOTION WAS MADE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION WAS SECONDED. 

ACTION: ALL IN FAVOR 

APPROVAL OF MARCH 12, 2025 MINUTES: A MOTION WAS MADE TO APPROVE THE MARCH 12, 2025 MINUTES. MOTION WAS SECONDED. ACTION: ALL IN FAVOR. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS: MEMBER FRED THRONAS PRESENTED THE PROPOSED MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2025. DR. ANDREA THANKED FRED AND STATED THAT THE BOARD WOULD REVIEW THE PROPOSAL AT THE MAY BOARD MEETING. 

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: DR. CRISTOBAL VALENCIA JOINED THE MEETING VIA ZOOM TO INTRODUCE POSSIBLE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE IN THE COMING MONTHS. 

1

DR. ANDREA STARTED THE GRANT DISCUSSION WITH THE STATUS OF THE ASSOCIATION’S CURRENT GRANTS. 

IT WAS NOTED THAT HFFF STATE GRANT REPORTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND THE GRANT SHOULD BE CLOSED. DR. ANDREA NOTED THAT THE USDA GRANT FUNDING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF MAY 2025. SHE WILL SPEAK TO FELICITY FONESCA ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS IN FUNDING. DR. VALENCIA EXPLAINED THAT THE RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FUNDING INCLUDES THE ADDITION OF SOLAR PROJECTS. THE DUE DATE IS FEBRUARY 2026. THIS GIVES THE BOARD A CHANCE TO DEVELOP TANGIBLE GOALS FOR THAT PROJECT. 

DR. VALENCIA PRESENTED A SECOND GRANT OPPORTUNITY. THE USDA BUSINESS BUILDER GRANT OPERATED BY THE REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESS CENTERS. ALL THE MONIES FOR NEW MEXICO ARE HELD AT TEXAS A&M. THERE IS $100.0 FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY, BUSINESS PLAN, AND MEAT PROCESSING. PROCESS MEAT TO MARKET AS AN EXAMPLE. IT WAS NOTED THAT OUR BEST BET IS TO CONSIDER A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND/OR BUSINESS PLAN. IT WILL NEED CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT TO PRESENT A SOLID IDEA TO DR. VALENCIA. THE DUE DATE FOR THIS GRANT IS FALL 2025. THE BOARD THANKED DR. VALENCIA FOR HIS TIME IN PRESENTING POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ASSOCIATION TO PURSUE. DR. ANDREA MENTIONED THAT SHE WILL BE APPLYING FOR A VETERINARY SERVICE GRANT FOR APRIL 2026 AND CAN INCORPORATE THE NMPMA INTO THE GRANT AS WELL. 

ON-GOING BUSINESS: 

TREASURER REPORT: JONATHAN MARTINEZ PRESENTED A LEDGER SHEET OF EXPENSES AND INCOME. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO OUTSTANDING INVOICES. THE CURRENT BALANCE OF THE ACCOUNT IS $7,171.09. 

2

WINTER GRAZING; DONALD MARTINEZ REPORTED THAT THE CATTLE ARE DOING WELL. THE COWS WILL COME OUT THE WEEKEND AFTER EASTER. DONALD NOTED THAT THE WINTER GRAZING PROGRAM IS A MEMBER BENEFIT AND THAT PERHAPS NOTICE FOR APPLYING FOR THE 2026 GRAZING PERIOD GOES OUT EARLIER IN THE FALL. (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER) TO GIVE MEMBERS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. WE WILL NEED TO CODIFY AN AGREEMENT WITH GHOST RANCH, PREFERABLY IN WRITING. 

2ND ANNUAL BULL SALE REVIEW: MIGUEL SALAZAR AND DR. ANDREA REPORTED THAT THE NUMBERS WERE GOOD AND THE HEIFERS DID WELL. THE WEATHER WAS HORRIBLE. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

RENTAL OF BARN FOR EVENTS: 

MIGUEL SALAZAR HAS REQUESTED TO RENT THE BARN FOR A GRADUATION PARTY ON MAY 24, 2025 AND DONALD MARTINEZ HAS REQUESTED TO RENT THE BARN FOR A GRADUATION PARTY ON MAY 31, 2025. DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE RE: RESPONSIBILITIES, FEES ETC. A LIABILITY AND ALCOHOL-FREE EVENT FORM WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR MIGUEL AND DONALD TO SIGN. IN LIEU OF AN EVENT FEE,THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVICING THE PORTA POTTIES AND FACILITY CLEANUP. FUTURE RENTALS WILL HAVE SPECIFIC FEES AND POLICIES IN PLACE. DISCUSSION CONTINUED CONCERNING THE BARN. MIGUEL WILL LOOK INTO AND GET AN ESTIMATE FOR BARN DOORS. 

LIABILITY INSURANCE: DONALD WILL LOOK INTO LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE FACILITY AND PRESENT HIS FINDINGS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. 

BIOSECURITY: DR. ANDREA RECENTLY ATTENDED A CONFERENCE CONCERNING BIOSECURITY ON RANCHES AND ANIMAL FACILITIES. IT IS ENCOURAGED THAT ALL RANCHES/FACILITIES HAVE A PLAN IN 

3

PLACE. THERE SHOULD BE CLEANING STATIONS AND A POLICY/PLAN IN PLACE INCLUDING SIGNAGE STATING OFF LIMIT AREAS TO THE PUBLIC ETC. DR. ANDREA WILL WORK ON A PLAN FOR THE FACILITY. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: A MOTION WAS MADE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:43 PM MOTION WAS SECONDED. ACTION: ALL IN FAVOR. 

A MOTION WAS MADE TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 8:55 PM. MOTION WAS SECONDED. ACTION: ALL IN FAVOR. NO FORMAL ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. 

A BRIEF DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE CONCERNING DATE OF THE UPCOMING ANNUAL MEETING IN AUGUST. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WILL HELD ON SUNDAY AUGUST 10, 2025. 

NEXT MEETING: MAY 21, 2025 

ADJOURNMENT: A MOTION WAS MADE TO ADJOURN. MOTION WAS SECONDED. ACTION: ALL IN FAVOR. 

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:05PM 

MINUTES APPROVED 05-21-2025.