Farm to Table's NMFIP to Host
Statewide Agricultural Conference in New Mexico
October 6, 2026
By Maya Martinez, Farmer Innovation Program Director, Farm to Table NM
Farm to Table’s New Mexico Farmer Innovation Program invites agricultural leaders, organizations, farmers, ranchers, and community partners to participate in our upcoming conference, Roots & Resilience: Strengthening New Mexico Farms, Food & Communities, a statewide conference designed to strengthen connections across New Mexico’s food and agricultural sectors.
The event will take place December 1-3, 2026, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and will bring together farmers, ranchers, food system advocates, educators, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the state to collaborate on solutions that support a stronger and more resilient local food system.
Farmers and ranchers—this conference is for you! We want your voice to shape conversations and lead discussion of how to make New Mexican agriculture even stronger. At the conference, you will be able to deepen statewide relationships. Sessions will help you plug into opportunities that benefit agricultural communities throughout New Mexico.
The three-day event will feature a diverse lineup of plenaries, workshop-style sessions, and farmer-led discussions focused on key issues affecting agriculture and food systems across the state.
The conference is designed to help participants build meaningful partnerships, access valuable resources, and exchange practical knowledge that strengthens New Mexico agriculture.
“Our goal is to create a collaborative space where farmers, ranchers, and food system leaders can learn from one another, build relationships, and identify solutions that support thriving agricultural communities,” Maya Martinez, NMFIP Program Director said.
For more information about the Roots & Resilience Conference, and to register, visit www.farmtotablenm.org/roots-and-resilience-conference.
Here are a few of the featured speakers at workshops and breakout sessions:
Zacharaiah Ben
Zach is a 6th generation farmer and sandpainter from Shiprock, NM. He is of the “Giant People” born for the “Red Running Into Water” clan. His maternal grandfather’s clan is the “Red House People” and his paternal grandfather is of the “Salt People.” Zach has over 15 years of experience in traditional Navajo farming and is the Co-Founder and sole Owner of Bidii Baby Foods LLC. Zach also serves as a part time Consultant with WESST where he supports other Indigenous entrepreneurs as they establish their businesses in/near tribal communities.
Photo: DeAnne Payne
Mary Ben
Mary has been farming in New Mexico for over 8 Years, and has 15 years of experience working in public health nonprofits. She is a founding member of The BEN Initiative, a 501c3 established to provide capacity building for farmers and grassroots organizations working in Birth, Environment and Nutrition (BEN) related projects across northwest New Mexico. Mary co-founded Bidii Baby Foods LLC with her partner, Zachariah Ben, and helps operate their 40-acre farm in Aztec, NM. She is a proud mother of two children, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ethiopia 2012-14). Mary holds a Masters of Public Health (MPH) in Maternal and Child Health and a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) in Health Equity & Social Justice from Johns Hopkins University.
Photo: DeAnne Payne
Shenoah Dalziel
I’m Shenoah Dalziel, the general manager of Khalsa Farms, a Certified Naturally Grown, non-profit organization located in Espanola, NM. We grow and sell a variety of produce all year round, including tomatoes, cucumbers, salad greens, cooking greens, root vegetables, herbs, and microgreens/sprouts. Our mission is to continue growing fresh, healthy food for our nearby communities through regenerative, sustainable practices while extending our growing season with the use of greenhouses and grow tunnels. The majority of our produce is allocated to tribal and rural communities through a collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Grown Program.
Photo: Gabriela Campos