Tucumcari ranchers win conservation award

Tom and Mimi Sidwell of the JX Ranch south of Tucumcari recently won the Leopold Conservation Award for New Mexico.

The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in managing soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

The Sidwells will be presented with the award Friday at the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau's annual meeting in Albuquerque.

JX Ranch was a semifinalist for the award in 2021.

The Sidwells have adopted grazing practices that create a resilient landscape and mitigate drought. It once took 58 acres of grass to annually feed a cow at JX Ranch, but now takes just 27.

According to a news release from the Sand County Foundation, the Sidwells over a 20-year period transformed an arid landscape that was overgrazed and overrun by invasive species. They bulldozed mesquite trees and juniper shrubs and later installed fencing and water distribution to create 30 pastures.

When cattle only graze a pasture for three to five days, the grass has more time to recover. Rather than reseeding pastures, natural grasses began regrowing on once-bare soils. More ground cover led to better water infiltration, less erosion and improved soil health and forage production.

Rotational grazing created a more resilient ecosystem better able to retain moisture and mitigate drought. More living plants on the ground pull more carbon from the atmosphere and store three to four tons of carbon per acre.

Six wells powered by solar pumps move water through 10 miles of pipe, and storage tanks can hold about 100,000 gallons of water. Water evaporation is curbed by covering storage tanks and placing black plastic shade balls in drinking tanks.

Improved forage and water resources for cattle also provide benefits for wildlife including quail, turkey, antelope and elk.

"Tom and Mimi Sidwell understand the meaning of soil health and water conservation," said Willard Hall, New Mexico Association of Conservation district president. "They have hosted many ranch tours and serve as mentors to many conservationists."

A video about JX Ranch can be viewed at https://youtu.be/CCpquGNCcIA?si=RM6WsNW7l8DNpoaG.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement.

In his 1949 book, "A Sand County Almanac," Leopold called for what he called "a land ethic," an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Among the New Mexico landowners that were finalists were Lanford Livestock of Truth or Consequences and Philmont Scout Ranch of Cimarron.