Sixth Annual Mimbres Valley Harvest Festival

Agriculture has played a major role in community building in the Mimbres Valley in southwestern New Mexico since the Classic Period Mimbres Indians, living in large pueblos along the Mimbres River between A.D. 1000 and 1150, cultivated extensive irrigated fields.  Agriculture continued with the Apache Indians when they migrated to the valley sometime after 1600.  In 1780 a Spanish military expedition, led by New Mexico Governor Don Juan Bautista de Anza, reported extensive Apache farms or rancherias, along the banks of the upper Mimbres River. 

In 1848 the United States took possession of New Mexico from Mexico and in 1852 established Fort Webster across from the present day San Lorenzo.  The following spring the soldiers planted large fields of vegetables, corn and grains. With the discovery of gold, silver and copper in the early 1800s came the need for a sustainable supply of food to feed the rapid growth of area communities.  In the coming years small towns began to develop around acequias (community irrigation ditches), which supplied water for agriculture, starting on the lower Mimbres and continuing up the river 35 miles. This tradition of agriculture and community in the Mimbres Valley continues today in the many small communities such as Dwyer, Faywood, San Juan, San Lorenzo and Mimbres.

As the growing season continues in September, residents of the Mimbres Valley will be coming together to celebrate their life in the valley, inviting everyone to their 6th Annual Mimbres Valley Harvest Festival, Saturday, September 24th, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  A day long hoe down, when farmers put down their hoes for a celebration, is planned with valley growers, storytellers, musicians and craftspeople coming together to share their love of the Mimbres at the San Lorenzo Elementary School on NM Highway 35, just off NM Highway 152. A good variety of food options will be available all day long.  Bring your entry to ‘The Best Tasting Pie Contest’, to be judged by a most distinguished panel of judges. Agricultural workshops will be presented throughout the afternoon, and a free health fair, provided by the Grant County Health Council, includes over 20 free comprehensive health tests and evaluations.  Events for kids and adults alike will be happening throughout the day, and there is plenty of free parking with shuttle service provided.

The festival is made possible through the continued generosity of local sponsors. This year Gila Regional Medical Center and Hidalgo Medical Services will again be the Event Sponsor and the Title Sponsor, while AmBank and Silver Health Care will be back as our Transportation Sponsor and our Music Sponsor. For more information about attending or participating in the 6th Annual Mimbres Valley Harvest Festival visit their website at mimbresharvestfest.com or call Kate at (575) 536-9935.

Misty Blue and Nancy Coinman / Promotion Co-Chairs, mistblue@gilanet.com