NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MSC 3189, P.O Box 30005 - Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8005 Office of the Director/Secretary Dr. I. Miley Gonzalez, Director/Secretary
MEDIA ADVISORY	Fax: (575) 646-8120

NMDA HONORS NEW MEXICO FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR

Las Cruces, New Mexico – New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) has selected the Lieb family of Portales, New Mexico, as the “2009 Farm Family of the Year.” Johnny Lieb, originally from Portales, grew up in Elida, New Mexico, and has been involved in agriculture his entire life.

He started his agriculture career showing livestock at county and state fairs, and has been involved in ranching, trucking and organic farming. In 2005, Lieb partnered with Stanley Jones and built an organic dairy in Portales, NM. Lieb was instrumental in implementing organic procedures to comply with the policies and organic certification requirements of the New Mexico Organic Commission.           

In 2006, Lieb successfully transitioned his dairy herd of about 1,000 animals to organic and received organic certification for Sandcrest Dairy. He expanded to a second dairy, Sunridge, encompassing an additional 1,000 cows, with both dairies now operating under the name of Nature’s Way. The dairy ships to Horizon™, the nation’s leading organic and natural dairy brand.

Lieb has done an exceptional and innovative job of creating hundreds of acres of permanent pasture for his cows, in an environment where creating good pasture means a lot of thought, planning, and hard work.

The dairy has also provided a market for over a dozen local feed and forage producers who now receive premium prices for their crops. The dairy has also created jobs for over twenty residents in eastern New Mexico.

“The Lieb family is the real definition of a farm family, pursuing the American dream. Hard work, very smart decisions, and innovative marketing have created a formula for success that will keep the Lieb family in agriculture for years to come,” said Dr. Miley Gonzalez, NMDA director/secretary.

For all these reasons, Lieb was presented with the Good Earth Award at the 2008 New Mexico Organic Farming Conference. This award is presented every year to a farmer who has recently transitioned to organic production and has done so in a way that shows exemplary stewardship of the land, a deep understanding of the principles of organic agriculture, and who serves as an inspiration for all organic producers.

NMDA congratulates the entire Lieb family for their contributions and dedication to the New Mexico agriculture industry.

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