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15th Annual New Mexico Ag Expo Chair
Not New to the Job or to Agriculture
Portales, NM — Chester Harth could have been many things in life but he chose to stick with the family tradition of farming. He began farming with his dad before he was out of high school. He is the third generation in his family to farm in Roosevelt County, both sets of his grandparents homesteaded in the Territory of New Mexico in 1904 and 1906.
“Staying involved with the Ag Expo keeps farmers and ranchers informed on the latest technology and machinery. The seminars keep us up to date on regulations and legislation,” says Harth.
Harth’s real love is antique tractors. He has organized the antique tractor games and parade at the Ag Expo since its inception. His passion for the tractors is based on his belief that, “We need to know how agricultural equipment and practices have changed over the years and pass that knowledge on to future generations.”
Harth starts working on the Expo early by traveling to farm shows in the area to recruit new exhibitors to the New Mexico show. This year he has already attended the Amarillo show and will attend the Lubbock show the end of January.
This is Harth’s second year to serve as chair of the New Mexico Ag Expo. As the Expo gets closer, you will find him at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds hauling peanuts into the Pavilion, putting up signs with the forklift, assembling exhibitor booths, running electrical cords or chairing the committee meeting -- but you won’t find him sitting back doing nothing.