Welcome to
Collectors Corner!
Ed Sandoval Gallery's Newsletter
102-B Paseo Del Pueblo Norte, Taos, NM 87571
edsandovalart@gmail.com
(575) 770-6360
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The holiday season is upon us, and whatever our different faiths and beliefs,
we all have one thing in common - we LOVE to eat! In the past, many families brought their food into the house from fields and pens outside the back door. Today, we usually gather cans and plastic-wrapped selections from the gleaming aisles of grocery stores. This contrast got me thinking. Whether we are mingling at parties, passing tasty appetizers or sitting at dinner tables bursting with yummy foods -
we should take a moment to thank a farmer!
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Ed's Paintings "Village Fields" (Left) & "Working the Land" (Right)
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When I was a child in the rural village of Nambe, NM, our family lived an agricultural life, with a few crops, a large garden, orchards and lots of animals. Stores and shopping were so rare...people in our community had to grow it, raise it, trade what you grew or raised for it, or do without. I would follow my dad, uncles and godfather around the farm, tending to animals, weeding the garden and doing chores. If I got hungry and wanted to go into the house,
my godfather would say, "Ed, the animals always get fed before we get fed."
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My Grandfather (Left) and Uncle Solomon (Right) Getting Ready to Butcher a Hog
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Farmers and ranchers are among the hardest working people in the country. Vulnerable to the shifting tides of the agricultural economy, ever-changing weather extremes, costly equipment and never-ending breakdowns and repairs, they struggle to make ends meet. And don't forget diseases and veterinary bills for those who raise animals. But as tough as they have it and as bad as it gets,
they are first in line to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Family farmers are the backbone of our nation.
I am therefore dedicating this newsletter to three special farmers and to all farmers who, through their hard work and dedication, make our holiday memories possible.
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Phil - La Mesa, New Mexico
Recently, I had the opportunity to head south to visit a great friend of mine in La Mesa, NM (near Las Cruces). You may have seen some incredible pictures of that trip on my Facebook page – beautiful fields of fiery red chile and hundreds of acres of trees! Phil Archer is the family farmer who makes it all happen.
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Phil and his wife Tina live in a charming adobe casita in a rural, farming area in-between La Mesa and Mesquite, NM. Phil is a workhorse but also a horticultural genius. He is a master of the science of seeds. He uses secret, special varieties that only he knows for his chile and trees, and the results are amazing. Just look at that chile! I was as excited as a little kid to be in that field! Each year, he ships me a box. Beyond delicious!
Phil raises a variety of fast-growing pine tree (they grow 80 feet tall!) from seeds he acquired from Afghanistan decades ago. He winnows the seeds from pine cones to start baby trees, and he also uses pecan nuts to plant seedlings in something that looks like a long shot glass. Next, he nurtures them carefully until they reach about 12 inches tall before planting rows upon rows, acres upon acres. Most of his clients are plant nurseries around the country, but some folks buy just one tree each year for the holidays.
We had an absolute blast with Phil and his family. We filled a big burlap sack full of red, ripe, plump chiles, picked a peck of pecans right off the trees and toured the area – we highly recommend La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant and the Spotted Dog Brewery in Mesilla, NM. Getting there, we drove through miles and miles of pecan tree orchards – spectacular!
If you plan to have a Christmas tree or make authentic New Mexican dishes (or a pecan pie) for the holidays, think of Phil.
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They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that is certainly true in in Gruver, Texas, where big-hearted Walter Murrell is always hard at work. With thousands of acres under his care, and tending to hundreds and hundreds of Angus cattle, he rarely looks up or slows down. His family farm sits on vast windswept and softly rolling hills, with grasslands for the cattle as far as the eye can see, and fields upon fields of neatly planted crops. It is incredible.
Walter is at the helm of a 6th generation family farm.
I’ve known Walter for many years, and he is – without a doubt – one of the hardest-working men I've ever known. If he’s not on a tractor tending to his crops, he’s on a horse herding his cattle. His wife Deena is right there by his side gardening, cooking and taking care of grandchildren, which are their pride a
nd joy.
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In addition to raising crops and cattle, Walter and Buddy (his father) partner in raising quarter horses. Buddy has raised AQHA horses (American Quarter Horse Association) since he was a kid. He's 91 years old, and he got his first filly when he was just 16.
Since then, Buddy's been off to the races! Today, Walter oversees the horses, manages the vast herd of cattle and controls the farm operation, and nothing makes him happier than having family and friends visit. Salt of the earth! (In the photo, guess who's painting is in the background...) :-)
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Walter, daughter Amber & Buddy...3 generations of 6!
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Fixing ribeye steaks or prime rib for your holiday dinner? If so, think of Walter!
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Garrett - Braman, Oklahoma
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OK Sunset & Garrett Returning from Combining Wheat on the Vickery Farm
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In Braman, Oklahoma, there’s an inspiring story about
the next generation of farmers
. Rollin Vickery’s family acquired their land south of the Kansas line in the Oklahoma Land Run (April 22, 1889). In the summers as a child, Rollin would go to live with his grandparents who lived there, learning about farming, eating green tomato pie (he hated it) and eventually inheriting the land, which he expanded over time.
I met Rollin in Taos but didn't know him well. He passed away six years ago, but I’ve heard all about him from Gwen (he’s her father). A veterinarian, rancher and farmer, “Doc” Vickery raised five children on that farm, but with an assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, all five decided to leave and pursue professional careers. That could have been an end to this historic family farm, but it wasn’t...
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Years and years earlier, Garrett Haskins was a little boy being raised by his grandma. Before she took him in, to say that Garrett’s childhood had been traumatizing would be an understatement. His mom couldn’t care for him, his father left the marriage and Garrett became collateral damage. He was about to be placed in foster care…but thankfully, his grandma stepped in and took custody. She also did something that would change his life – she took him to the Vickery farm when she cleaned. She began cleaning when Rollin’s wife Loretha became sick, and she stayed on to help with household matters after Loretha passed away. During that time, Garrett at ten years old started coming to the house too.
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Rollin Coming Back from His Wheat Field Circa 1974
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Garrett Combining Wheat Circa 2016
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Understandably, Garrett got bored watching his grandma clean house. Quiet and shy, he began following Rollin around the farm, silently watching him work the cattle, haul alfalfa, plant wheat, fix fence, etc. He was curious, wanted a role model and became Rollin's little shadow. Rollin saw potential in the boy and began teaching him “the ropes.” He continued to mentor Garrett for years and years, first enrolling him in Boy Scouts (Rollin was a Scoutmaster and an Eagle Scout, so Garrett became an Eagle Scout too), hiring him to work year-round on the weekends and during the summers and absolutely insisting that Garrett attend college – which he did, earning a B.S. in Agricultural Business.
It was always Rollin’s dream that Garrett would eventually manage the farm and take it to the next level. Unfortunately, when he died, Garrett was still in college; however, with the family's support, Garrett chose to take on the weight of the whole farming operation, especially planting and harvesting wheat. He was up for the challenge. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Garrett had already started his own custom combining business at eighteen years old. He was established, not only as a hard worker but also as a savvy businessman who helped many other farmers in the community.
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Rollin’s Wheat - He Was Proud of the Height!
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Garrett's Wheat Years Later
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In twenty years, Garrett went from a small boy who played with toy tractors and dreamed of being a farmer to a successful, self-employed businessman who oversees nearly 2,000 acres of farmland and cattle grasslands.
If you are enjoying breads and tasty baked goods over the holidays, think of Garrett!
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Four Big Paintings at Big Savings
Call to inquire or to request a high-resolution photograph of these large paintings:
575-770-6360
or
edsandovalart@gmail.com
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"Autumn Chamisa of Taos (48x72)
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"Changing of the Seasons" (48x72
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NEW! Art of Taos Chocolate Series
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Bowe Ellis, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (Taos), and Ed
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The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in the Taos plaza and Ed are pleased to present the delightful "
Art of Taos Chocolate Series.
" A feast for the eyes AND your taste buds.
Two boxes/paintings are available. One is for their standard chocolate selections (about nine types of boxes...caramels, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, etc. - two sizes), and one is for customized "pack your own" boxes (also two sizes).
To order, email rmcftaos@gmail.com (preferred)
or call (575) 758-8855.
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Would you like to be a featured collector?
If so, please send your personal story and photo(s) to edsandovalart@gmail.com.
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Contact
Ed Sandoval Gallery
102-B Paseo Del Pueblo, Taos, NM 87571
www.edsandovalgallery.com | (575) 770-6360 | edsandovalart@gmail.com
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