2011 N.M. State Fair Ranch Family of the Year – The Denetclaw Family, Shiprock, NM 2011 New Mexico State Fair Ranch Family of the Year / (l to r) Caren Cowan, NMCGA; Governor Susana Martinez; Milford, Mamie, Myron & Matt Deneclaw; New Mexico Director/Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte.
radition, ranching heritage and family values are all words that best describe the State Fair, the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association (NMCGA) and the 2011 New Mexico State Fair (NMSF) Ranch Family of the Year. Milford and Mamie Denetclaw continue to farm and ranch on land that has been historically used by their family for generations in the Navajo Nation. Milford is a fourth generation sheep and cattle rancher. His grandfather, Clarence Denetclaw, Sr. purchased cattle after he returned from serving in WWI and his father, Wilfred maintained the herd and moved to Shiprock, NM in the late 1950s and married Mae Garnenez. Milford’s maternal grandparents Natoni and Anna Garnenez established a range management unit that had been previously grazed as the family’s customary use area near the Shiprock pinnacle. Milford and Mamie enhanced their herd through networks established as members of the Foundation Beefmaster Association in 1985. They established a Beefmaster herd and became members of the NMCGA where Milford serves as a director. Through his association with NMCGA, Milford is an alumnus of the first class of the New Mexico Agriculture Leadership Program. He continues to support the program annually by providing insight into cultural customs, traditions, and tribal agriculture programs to class participants. He’s
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been active in organizing seminars for local ranchers since the 1990s and served in a leadership capacity for the local irrigation board. Their sons, Matthew, 17 and Myron, 12 are both active 4-H members. Matthew started with showing hogs at age 9. He expanded his interest in showing livestock to market lambs, steers, and heifers with many blue ribbons to his name. He was awarded the reserve breed champion in the 2010 NM Bred Lamb Show. Matthew challenged himself to show at the National Western Livestock and Arizona National Livestock shows and was rewarded with not only ribbons, but with camaraderie and a network of contacts who share his interests. The NMSF catch Calf Scramble program afforded him the opportunity to start his own herd and raise club calves. Matthew has accomplished himself as an outstanding 4-H/FFA member and earned his FFA degree. The highlights in Matt’s 4-H career include: 2010 NM State 4-H Livestock Judging Champion Team, 2010 Champion Skillathon Team, placed in top ten at 2010 NAILE 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, 2011 Ranch Camp Top Hand Award, and voted the 2011 4-H National Conference Speaker of the House in Washington, DC. He is currently a freshman at Frank-Phillips College and a member of the FPC Livestock Judging Team. Myron started his 4-H career with a poultry project. He won the champion of show his first year at the county fair and
multiple grand champion poultry awards at local tribal fairs. Myron is following his brother’s footsteps showing hogs and market lambs. He is more right brained and expresses his creativity through drawing and painting. He earned several best of shows for his art. Milford and Mamie’s support of the 4H program extends into the community as 4-H leaders. Mamie shares her knowledge as a certified diabetes nurse educator and encourages community members to live a healthy lifestyle by volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club as an indoor cycling instructor. Her encouragement to make healthier food choices does not go unnoticed at home or with the 4-H program. She supports her children’s education by serving as an officer with the Parent Advisory Committee. The Denetclaw family enjoys spending time together whether it’s vaccinating, fixing fences, weeding, participating in school activities or livestock camps, 4-H meetings, “vacationing” at a fair, or traveling to a livestock show. The time and effort it takes to raise show stock and maintain a livelihood as ranchers many do not appreciate, has kept this family together. Together, they learn and teach responsibility, respect, honesty, integrity, citizenship, values, promote the beef industry, advocate for the 4-H/FFA programs, and n maintain their native customs. OCTOBER 2011
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