STAR AFFILIATES: NEW MEXICO STAR

New Mexico STAR was officially established with the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD) as the lead Affiliate in October 2024. Those partners have been working together since January 2024 with the goal to help implement soil health practices and principles across New Mexico. The New Mexico STAR Steering Committee and the New Mexico STAR Science Committee have been developed and both committees include conservation partners from the state. New Mexico STAR is focusing on getting conservation on the ground through soil health practices and believes that STAR is an excellent platform for land users to easily and simply install these practices.

Any questions on New Mexico STAR can be directed to Steve Kadas, New Mexico STAR Coordinator.

NM STAR Affiliate Steering Committee members include:

• Debbie Hughes, Executive Director | New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts
• Katie (Goetz) Crayton, Healthy Soil Program co-lead | New Mexico Department of Agriculture
• Jim Berlier, Rancher | Berlier Ranch
• Maya Martinez, Farmer Innovation Program Director | Farm To Table
• Kristin Graham Chavez, Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships  | NRCS
• Gillian Joyce, Executive Director |  Alianza Agri-cultura de Taos
• Delane Atcitty, Executive Director | Indian Nations Conservation Alliance
• Peter Vigil, District Manager | Taos Soil & Water Conservation District
• Dawz Cochran, Farmer  | Cochran Farms LLC
• Max Neumeyer, Principal | Ground Up Consulting
• Jake Deutmeyer, Program Director | National STAR
• Caroline Wade, Executive Director | National STAR

Steve Kadas is the owner/operator of Soil Health LLC. He is currently working with the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts as their Soil Health Specialist and Program Manager. Steve worked for the NRCS as the State Resource Conservationist (SRC) in New Mexico when he retired after a 34-year career. As SRC, he supervised and managed the Ecological Science Department in NM.  He is highly skilled in conservation planning, practice standards and specifications, and several conservation programs: CTA, EQIP, CSP, CRP, EWP and others.  He is also highly skilled in working with conservation partners such as Conservation Districts, government agencies, NGOs and other partners.