SENATE MEMORIAL 74

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

George K. Munoz

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A HALL OF FAME FOR RANCHING, RODEO AND HORSE RACING.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a rich history based on its western heritage and western way of life; and

     WHEREAS, ranching and cowboy traditions have been a part of the American landscape and culture since New Mexico was under Spanish rule, and today's ranchers, cowboys and cowgirls continue to strive to preserve and perpetuate this unique element of America's heritage; and

     WHEREAS, the livestock and livestock product industry is one of the largest in New Mexico, with the dairy industry bringing in the most money annually, followed by the beef industry; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico ranchers are excellent stewards of the land and its creatures; and 

     WHEREAS, the ranchers and cowboys who settled the llano estacado and other ranching areas around the state deserve recognition for their efforts; and

     WHEREAS, rodeo has been an old western tradition for centuries; and

     WHEREAS, long before rodeo became a professional sport and industry, rodeo derived from the basic practicalities of everyday ranch chores; and

     WHEREAS, annual attendance at rodeos exceeds thirty million fans worldwide; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a long history of supporting the sport of rodeo and the athletes who compete in rodeos; and

     WHEREAS, the sport of horse racing in the west is also a logical outgrowth of ranching; and

     WHEREAS, the pari-mutuel horse racing industry strives to protect the interest of wagering patrons and New Mexico in a manner that promotes a climate of economic prosperity for horsemen, horse owners and racetrack management; and

     WHEREAS, a hall of fame honoring the men and women who exemplify the best in the areas of ranching, rodeo and horse racing would recognize their contributions to the quality of life in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico state university, located in Las Cruces, is the state's agricultural university, with its constitutional focus on agriculture and its statutory obligation to provide a thorough course of instruction in all branches of learning bearing on agriculture;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that New Mexico state university be requested to study the feasibility of creating a hall of fame to honor those who exemplify the best in ranching, rodeo and horse racing lifestyles; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the president of New Mexico state university.

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