STAR AFFILIATES: NEW MEXICO STAR

New Mexico STAR was officially established with the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD) as the lead Affiliate in October 2024. Along with other conservation partners, including New Mexico Department of Agriculture, NM USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, NM State University, Quivira Coalition, local SWCDs, Farm to Table, and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, they have been working together since January 2024 with the goal to help implement soil health practices and principles across New Mexico. The New Mexico STAR Steering Committee and the New Mexico STAR Science Committee have developed state specific field forms for grains and legumes, which were launched in August 2025. The newly developed regional STAR for Grazing Lands Tool will be available for New Mexico ranchers in September 2025. New Mexico STAR is focusing on getting conservation on the ground through soil health practices and believes that STAR is an excellent platform for land users to easily and simply install these practices.

Any questions on New Mexico STAR can be directed to Steve Kadas, New Mexico STAR Coordinator.

NM STAR Affiliate Steering Committee members include:

• Delane Atcitty, Executive Director | Indian Nations Conservation Alliance
• Jim Berlier, Rancher | Berlier Ranch
• Katie (Goetz) Crayton, Healthy Soil Program co-lead | New Mexico Department of Agriculture
• Debbie Hughes, Executive Director | New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts
• Gillian Joyce, Executive Director | Alianza Agri-cultura de Taos
• Leonard Luna, Public Affairs Specialist | USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Maya Martinez, Farmer Innovation Program Director | Farm To Table
• Peter Vigil, District Manager | Taos Soil & Water Conservation District
• Elicia Whittlesey, Education and Outreach Director | Quivira Coalition

NM STAR Science Committee members include:

• Kimberly Boswick – Producer
• Dean Bruce – Soil and Water Conservation Specialist, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
• Rajan Ghimire – Associate Professor of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University
• Will Jaremko-Wright – County Director and Agricultural/4H Extension Agent, New Mexico State University Extension
• Steve Kadas – Southwest Regional Director, Soil and Water Conservation Society
• Eva Stricker – Research Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico
• Andy Yates – Producer

Steve Kadas is the owner/operator of Soil Health LLC. He is currently working with the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts as their Soil Health Specialist and Program Manager. Steve worked for the NRCS as the State Resource Conservationist (SRC) in New Mexico when he retired after a 34-year career. As SRC, he supervised and managed the Ecological Science Department in NM.  He is highly skilled in conservation planning, practice standards and specifications, and several conservation programs: CTA, EQIP, CSP, CRP, EWP and others.  He is also highly skilled in working with conservation partners such as Conservation Districts, government agencies, NGOs and other partners.