What is a Matriarch?

The definition of matriarch is “head of family or tribe” or an “older woman who is powerful within a family or organization.”

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) wants to recognize the respected, hard-working, and often humble women in New Mexico Agriculture who have devoted most of their lives to improving our state’s agriculture industry, their community, and their family. These matriarchs are leaders, mentors, and advocates.

We are currently taking nominations for the 2026 Matriarchs of New Mexico Agriculture.

Maiden Matriarchs

With 2025 being the inaugural year, NMDA has chosen two deserving and legendary women in New Mexico agriculture to help kick off the nomination process for 2026.  These ladies are not only shining examples of NMDA’s vision of a Matriarch, they were also the inspiration behind this new program as they both supported their industry and the Department through other initiatives over the past year.  Both will be recognized at the 2025 New Mexico State Fair.

Mary Alice Garay was born and raised in Garfield, New Mexico, on a farm owned and operated by her parents. A love of agriculture was instilled in her from a young age, as she was brought up feeding animals, hoeing fields, and so forth. She has now passed on her love of agriculture and the value of hard work to her children and grandchildren. When her father was no longer able to continue farming, Mary Alice purchased the farm and processing plant, with the help of her sons, Frank, Randy, and Patrick, and became President/Chief Executive Officer of M.A. and Sons, Inc. M.A. and Sons is one of the largest processors in New Mexico’s Hatch Valley. Mary Alice shares her family’s agricultural operation at every opportunity. M.A. and Sons has been featured in farming magazines and advertisements, and Mary Alice has participated in meetings with the USDA and other agencies and organizations.

The progress she sees each year inspires her to keep going. Agriculture and farming aren’t easy, as farmers learn to accept the challenges of the weather and other hardships, but she’s always looking forward to the following year. She says the best part of her day is her early morning walk with her dog to the river behind her home. She looks at the mountains surrounding the valley, the pecan trees, onions, and chile fields on both sides of the road.

She admits that, in the last five to ten years, agriculture has been very challenging due to water shortages, labor shortages, and changing weather patterns. However, she says that with the help of God and her family, they have been able to prosper and expand their operation. She shares that the farm and processing plant have been kept viable for the next generation and the generation after that. Her three sons and five grandchildren are already involved in continuing the operation.

Mary Alice shares her advice for the next generation of agriculturalists, saying that the joy far outweighs the hardships. “Agriculture gets in your blood, and you can’t imagine a life without farming and agriculture once you have been involved in that life.”

When discussing the future of women in agriculture, she notes that women can be highly successful in the field if they are passionate about the land and willing to put in a great deal of hard work. “Agriculture gives so much enjoyment in life, and we all know that there is nothing a woman cannot do.”

Margie McKeen grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of California. She always had a love for animals and everything around them. She attended the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, where she was one of the first women to take an agriculture class. She transferred to Fresno State and earned her degree in art with a minor in agriculture. She went on to work for the Western Livestock Journal in Los Angeles, where she combined her love of art with her passion for agriculture. She married Hugh B. McKeen and later moved to western New Mexico to work on the ranch her father-in-law owned, marking her introduction to ranching in New Mexico.

Margie became involved in the local 4-H club and helped organize a local CowBelles organization, where she learned more about promoting beef and agriculture. Through the New Mexico Beef Council and the Cattle Growers Association, she conceived the idea of visiting schools to share agricultural programs. In 1994, Margie began visiting the local K-12 schools to teach agriculture lessons. Margie’s efforts culminated in an agricultural day held in the school gym, where students learned about the importance of agriculture in their community. She did this for five years, and then she and her husband opened their ranch to anyone interested, creating the annual McKeen Ranch Days.

Students, parents, teachers, journalists, homeschool groups, and many others have participated in McKeen Ranch Days. Presenters include staff from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, USDA Cotton Ginning Research, New Mexico Ag in the Classroom, and the U.S. Forest Service. McKeen Ranch Days have become the largest ag classroom and ranch day in Catron County. At this two-day event, attendees enjoy a chuckwagon serving biscuits, a beekeeper station, a mobile dairy presentation, 4-H shooting sports, archery, and ATV safety courses. They also have the USDA research center bring in a cannulated cow and a microscope. It doesn’t stop there; they also serve homemade burgers from the New Mexico CowBelles, and have live cattle branding, castrating, and dehorning of the cattle if necessary – all while the area County Extension Agent explains each step and answers questions.

Margie begins each morning by looking over her green fields before she starts the day. She is motivated by seeing children learn about and experience agriculture and enjoys seeing adults come and learn alongside the children. She is also inspired by all the people who are willing to help with Ranch Days. Over the years, she has learned to not be afraid to ask for volunteers. If she meets someone whose expertise would add to the Ranch Day offerings, she just walks right up and invites them to be a part of the event.

Margie’s ultimate goal is to inspire students to pursue careers in agricultural fields and research. The McKeen Ranch Days have been going strong for 27 years now, with approximately 450 students and 30 to 40 educators participating each year. She wants to remind everyone that anything they eat, wear, or do is connected to agriculture. “You can’t live without it! And a very small percentage of people feed the country. We must keep reminding people how important it is.”

Nominate a Matriarch

NMDA invites the agriculture industry and families across New Mexico to nominate the inspiring women who have made a lasting impression on New Mexico agriculture. Click here for the nomination form for the 2026 Matriarchs of New Mexico Agriculture.

Nominations must be received no later than midnight on July 21, 2025