The New Mexico state flag features a representation of the Zia Pueblo sun. But that is not the only representation of the sun in New Mexico. The rising sun is a part of the FFA emblem. The two images were merged to represent agricultural education and FFA in New Mexico.
Figure 1. The New Mexico flag and the FFA emblem represent the FFA in New Mexico.
In 1969 the national FFA voted to allow girls to be members of the FFA, thus the sun should be rising in New Mexico for females to be members of the FFA after that date. But that sun was a little slow in rising for the New Mexico girls.
In an interview with Mr. H.S. Breckenridge, the agriculture teacher at Hobbs High School, (Hobbs Daily News-Sun, May 25, 1969) he stated that the motion at the 1968 convention to allow girls to be in the FFA at the national level was defeated by one vote. Mr. Breckeridge went on to say “…that Mississippi and New Mexico delegates fought the hardest against their admission.”
If what Mr. Breckenridge said was true, then how were girls “welcomed” into the FFA in New Mexico in 1969 and thereafter since the New Mexico delegates fought against allowing them membership in 1968.
Personally, Mr. Breckridge was in favor of allowing girls to be in the FFA. After describing the legal reasons for allowing girls in the FFA he stated (Hobbs Daily News-Sun, May 25, 1969, p. 21):
I think we are behind the times if we don’t take them in. We might as well face facts: Kids should be allowed to take whatever courses they want. A woman on a farm or ranch has a lot to say about the way it is run, and the more she knows about the subject, the better counsel she can give.
Breckenridge had no illusions about why the boys in the FFA were against allowing girls to be in the FFA. He stated, “Some of them are afraid of the girls—they think they will be more competitive than boys against boys have been.”
Tim Cox, vice president of the Hobbs FFA chapter, said he thinks girls have as much right to know about agriculture as boys, and he, as well as some others, were encouraging girls to enroll.
It appears the views of Tim and Mr. Breckenridge were genuine. Two girls, Brenda Nelson and Charlotte Pierce, were signed up to take agriculture in the fall of 1969 at Hobbs High School (note: this was prior to the decision by the FFA to allow girls to be members). Brenda and Charlotte stated they were going to enroll in vocational agriculture because “…they simply want to learn something about animals and how to care for them, and a little about what it takes to raise crops.” They were adamant this was not some crusade for women’s rights.
Figure 2. Hobbs Daily News-Sun, May 25, 1969.
In numerous states having girls in the FFA would not be a big news item, but apparently it was in New Mexico. There were numerous articles in local newspapers about girls being in the FFA up through the 1970s.
The Las Cruces High School had an interesting take on allowing girls to be in Vocational Agriculture. According to the Las Cruces Sun-News (Feb 23, 1971) “Vocational Horticulture was introduced last year and enrolls girls.” So now we know what to do with the girls in the program (lol)!
The Rio Grande Sun of Espanola, NM (March 18, 1971) featured a photo of a female FFA member with the caption “GIRLS ARE IN” in an article about a FFA judging contest. In the article it was reported “This year was the first that girl FFA members attended such an event. Girls were allowed into FFA chapters last year. They arrived here sporting their blue corduroy jackets and blue jeans.” Later in the article we learn that “One of the girls at the event, a student from Los Lunas, gave a speech on the woman’s role in agriculture.”
Figure 3. Rio Grande Sun, March 18, 1971
The photo byline “The Girls Aren’t Afraid!” appeared in an article about girls on FFA judging teams in the Albuquerque Journal, April 26,1971. The first three paragraphs of the article read (p. 8):
Some members of the vocational agriculture classes and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) judging team at Rio Grande are showing that girls do have a place in the field of agriculture.
Rio Grande’s FFA judging team is regarded by other teams in the state as the “team with all the girls.”
“It’s sort of funny because when we are talking to kids from other teams in the state they say ‘You are the ones with all the girl judges.’
Figure 4. Albuquerque Journal, April 26,1971
The FFA girls were soon demonstrating their capabilities. At the 1974 state convention, Wendy McLean, a greenhand from Animas placed third in the state in the Greenhand Quiz contest.
Figure 5. The Lordsburg Liberal, June 21, 1974
As late as 1975 having girls in the FFA was still news in the New Mexico newspapers. The headline in an article published in the Albuquerque Journal (January 27, 1975) was “Two Girls Take Pride in Being Cibola FFA Members.” The first two paragraphs set the stage (p. 6):
A common image of the Future Farmers of America is a group of strangely dressed cowboys getting ready to socialize.
But in the Cibola chapter of the FFA, there are two girls who are trying their hardest to dispel that notion.
We soon learn that the two girls were winners in a district FFA competition. Anna Widner took first place in public speaking and Kim Cowley won first place in Greenhand public speaking.
Figure 6. Albuquerque Journal, January 27, 1975.
Concluding Remarks
Bob Dylan’s 1964 song “The Times They Are A-Changin” could be the theme song for girls in the FFA in New Mexico in the early 1970s. Having a girl in the FFA in New Mexico made the news. But that was happening in other states, not just New Mexico.
The 2026-27 State FFA Officers in New Mexico are predominantly female. As agricultural education and FFA move forward, we should welcome all students into the FFA. The FFA sun should be rising for everyone.
Figure 7. 2026-2027 New Mexico State Officers