Lee to Lead New Mexico Federal Lands Council

New Mexico Federal Lands Council
Drawer 149
Alamogordo, NM 88311

Contact: Caren Cowan (505) 247-0584
For Immediate Release – March 1, 2010

Don L. “Bebo” Lee, Alamogordo, was elected President of the New Mexico Federal Lands Council (NMFLC) at the group’s recent annual meeting.

Lee, a southeastern New Mexico rancher, says he is honored to be elected. “For most of us, trying to stay informed, stay in business and deal with government regulations and agencies on an individual basis is almost impossible. The Federal Lands Council has a long history of protecting our industry, which I plan to continue.”

Other newly-elected officers include Carlos Salazar, Vice President, Medenales; Bobby Jones, Secretary/Treasurer, Dell City; Bill Sauble, Northeastern Regional Director, Maxwell; Jose Varela Lopez, Northwestern Regional Director, Santa Fe; Roy Farr, Southwestern Regional Director, Datil; and Lewis Derrick, Southeastern Regional Director, Artesia.

The organization got its start in the mid-1970s, as ranchers formed local grazing associations to help them work with land management agencies like the Bureau of Land Management. Those local groups grew into the NMFLC, which works to represent the livestock grazing industry on a state and national level, and keep producers informed. Past NMFLC presidents include Mike Casabonne, Hope; Bud Eppers, Roswell; Dick Corn, Roswell and Bob Jones, Dell City.

The NMFLC is made up of both individual members and grazing and agriculture trade organizations. Member organizations include the Gila Livestock Growers Association; the Lincoln National Forest Allotment Owners; Southwest Grazing Association; Fee & Public Lands Association; Southern New Mexico Grazing Association; West Central Grazing Association; New Mexico Cattle Growers Association; New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc.; Northern New Mexico Stockmen; and the New Mexico Farm &Livestock Bureau.
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