Nominating Committee - New Mexico

2025-2026 Nominating Committee Candidates

Candidate information includes a brief description of their farming operation, role in that operation, and/or business experience.

NEW MEXICO

Nick Pipkin – Clovis, NM

I currently own a cow/calf operation that focuses on an all-natural beef program. I retain ownership of the calf crop all the way to the rail. I also managed a extensive farm that spans 3 states that primary focus is on forage silage of all kinds to provide feedstock for a dairy. I have recently started a commercial real estate company that is leasing properties to corporations.

Rafael Rovirosa – La Mesa, NM

I am the VP of Operations at Stahmanns Inc – a tree nut business that includes 3,500 acres of mature pecan orchards, 1,400 acres of immature pecans and pistachios, a pecan shelling plant, and a greenhouse that grows nursery trees. I oversee all departments including accounting and sales. My role is to collaborate with my management team to develop and implement strategy, monitor performance, troubleshoot issues, create and monitor budgets, oversee large projects such as installation of buildings and machinery lines, approval of capital expenditure budgets, determine sales price and production priorities, development of systems and procedures, development of key staff, and all other jobs that I cannot delegate.

My most significant accomplishments at Stahmanns have been: to take charge of the entire operation within 4 years of returning to the farm; to hire and train new shelling plant, farm, sales, and accounting directors; to purchase and develop 1,400 acres of new orchards; to design and install a new cleaning plant; to automate shelling process and reduce costs by 50%; and to develop teams that are resilient to change.

My greenhouse business specializes in growing nursery trees that have roots that are colonized with truffle fungus. European truffle varieties are the most desirable truffles on the market. After years of foraged truffles dominating production, the majority of truffle production comes from intentionally planted and managed orchards. This is a burgeoning industry in the United States, particularly in the West Coast and in Southern Appalachia. I have been developing the business over the past 5 years and am now selling quality trees and providing consulting services to growers.

Troy Sauble – Maxwell, NM

I am a 4th generation rancher, and part of a family-owned ranch. I am responsible for maintaining ranch infrastructure, heavy equipment operator, cattle and financial records, primary point of contact dealing with government agencies and programs, purchasing of breeding livestock and general ranch hand.

Jett Sharp – Clovis, NM

I have managed my family’s cow calf operation for the past 12 years.