Behind the Burger
Created by the New Mexico Beef Council, we are telling the stories behind the beef in New Mexico.
Behind the Burger
How A Multi‑Gen Ranch Thrives On Adaptability, Community, And Care with Heidi Humphries
Hard truths, open pastures, and a lot of heart—Heidi Humphries invites us into her family’s Black Angus cow‑calf ranch outside Tucumcari, New Mexico, and shows what real stewardship looks like. We dig into the daily choices that keep cattle healthy and a multi‑generation operation moving forward: adapting to arid grasslands, rotating pastures with intention, fixing water lines after storms, and building a uniform herd that fits today’s beef market without losing sight of long‑term resilience.
We also talk biosecurity with urgency and calm. Screwworm is on every producer’s mind, so Heidi explains how local meetings, county extension testing kits, and neighbor‑to‑neighbor communication create a line of defense. Her message is clear: proactive beats reactive, and community beats isolation. Along the way, you’ll hear how off‑ranch work provides benefits and stability, why gentle cattle make better health checks, and how steady vaccination protocols pay off when the unexpected hits.
Beyond production, we explore beef nutrition, consumer choice, and the surprising reach of cattle byproducts—insulin, leather goods, tallow skincare, brushes, and more. Heidi is candid about the gap between TV portrayals and real ranch life: profit is uneven, work is constant, and meaning comes from small wins—a straight fence at sunset, a bottle calf that finally makes it, a family team pulling in the same direction. For anyone curious about New Mexico ranching, sustainable beef, or how legacy actually survives, this conversation offers practical insight and a grounded sense of hope.
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Welcome back to another episode of Behind the Burger. I'm Caroline Romo, the Executive Director for the New Mexico Beef Council. And I'm here with Heidi Humphries from Tukum Carrie. Heidi, thank you for agreeing to do a podcast. Absolutely. And um, will you introduce yourself and kind of give your background?
SPEAKER_01:My name is Heidi Humphries. My family ranch is in Quay County and Quay Valley. Uh they're just south of Tucum Carrie. Uh although I did grow up on a ranch in northwestern New Mexico in Rio Reba County. We sold that ranch probably about 20 years ago and bought this place in Tucum Carrie.
SPEAKER_00:And what tell me a little bit about your ranch there?
SPEAKER_01:We have a cow calf operation uh running Black Angus. And um my dad's actively involved, lives on the ranch, I live on the ranch, my sister and brother-in-law live on the ranch building a home, so we are all actively involved. Uh two nephews, they're both currently in two different directions in the United States, but uh both have an active interest in the ranch and hopefully come back someday.
SPEAKER_00:And when we talk about your sister and brother-in-law, so they were some of our first podcast guests. They were the uh guinea pigs, as we say, uh-huh. Uh uh Justin and Cheryl Knight. So we're grateful that uh that that uh they did it and didn't tell you run away, don't do it. Right. Uh but I I really appreciate your your family's willingness to um to share, to be involved, and I think that's a really uh obviously important thing, and uh yeah, I just appreciate you guys being open to that. Um so what would you say uh can you tell me about New Mexico's landscapes and how they impact uh what you guys do, the climate and landscape.
SPEAKER_01:Oh gosh, New Mexico has a variety of landscape and climate conditions. Growing up in northwestern New Mexico, Rio Reba County, I mean we could have a frost into June and an early frost into September. So it did a very different and an elevation of about 7,200, so very different climate. Eastern New Mexico uh elevation about 5,4800, um, more grass, less mountainous, uh lovely winds in the spring. Um but I think as long as people have adapted to the their area and um make a success out of their family operation, it's doable in any part of the state.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. I think adaptability is probably a a middle name of a rancher or should be. So tell me about that. Your your family operation, you guys um you guys are obviously willing to work together and then also have some jobs in town, right? Because sometimes living the dream of ranching doesn't pencil out all the time, right?
SPEAKER_01:Right, right. So my dad has retired completely and is pretty much ranches and does his thing and stays uh on the ranch, which he's actually he's earned that right, and um has built and created a a wonderful ranch for us and uh herd. Uh yes, my sister and brother-in-law are actively involved in some other occupations, as well as me. I'm a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, just celebrated 27 years with them. So that provides me an opportunity. Uh, well, it provides extra income, provides my benefits. Uh, but yes, it provides me an escape once in a while if I need to get away.
SPEAKER_00:And um I think that's a a lot of ranchers have uh other jobs, or um, you know, we just recorded with uh Sarah Fitzgerald and she said they they say anything to make a buck because uh the lifestyle is worth it.
SPEAKER_01:Right. Right. Right. And having a job in town can provide the benefits that uh are a little less expensive than paying as a uh an employer.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely, absolutely. Insurance and and retirement and all the things that that uh maybe I take for granted living in town and having a town job, right? That that uh if you're ranching full time, you're gonna have to pay that to take care of yourself, right? And your employees if if you have them. Um what do you think is one of the biggest challenges you all face in your ranch?
SPEAKER_01:I would say probably the climate and um it's pretty arid eastern New Mexico. Um you know, you're constantly grass management, pasture management, um and and building a quality herd, which I think we have done very well. Uh and um I think that the climate, the landscape, uh and building a quality herd. It's a it's a hard job, it's a constant job, but it is very rewarding in the end.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. And um how do you think you got to the place where where your herd is? Or or what is the you know, what's been the steps to get there? Because I I I mean I look at your cattle and I think they're beautiful, right? Um what little I know about that.
SPEAKER_01:I think working at building a um uniform herd, uh adapting to what the market wants, what people want. Black Angus, the Angus Association has done a phenomenal job of marketing the black Angus. And uh so I think uh building that market and filled it filling the niche that people want. Um and then things are like we're looking at the screw orb, you know, something that hasn't been here since the 50s or 60s, and you talk to those people, it's something I don't want to deal with. So adapting and being observant and on top of health issues, political issues, environmental issues, it is a day-in, day out uh fight for us.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, uh and and you are I you know I've met you at a New Mexico Cattle Growers event before. You are are always at these events because of that, right? You're getting your community and your information so that you can do a better job, right?
SPEAKER_01:And share with neighbors that don't attend.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. And especially right now with the screwworm, like you said, there's there's a biosecurity meeting happening right now that that uh we'll go back to. And I think uh anything we can do to learn learn from each other is always a good thing. And be proactive. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, right, right, because if we can have a conversation, I mean using screwworm again as an example, if we can proactively have a plan for if it comes to the states, that will be better than just sitting around saying, Oh, we hope it doesn't. Right. We do hope it does not. Right. And if it does, uh there's there's uh steps. And um one of my favorite steps is they already have kits in every county extension office to test so that if you see a larva um on an animal, even if it's wildlife, that you can get a kit, submit it, and submit it quickly because any sort of larva on a on an animal we want to know, or the you know, state vet and the USDA and everybody, it's a reportable disease. Right. Everyone wants to know because we need to know if it comes, we need to know as soon as it does. Right. Absolutely. Proactivities is very important. Um can you give an example of how you care for your cattle to ensure their health and well-being?
SPEAKER_01:Oh gosh, you're out there almost every day, somebody is um going through the herd, you know, looking for stuff. Sickness, um not being in the right place, you know, how they like to find a hole in a fence, or if we've had rain and it washes out a water gap. There is it's a constant. Um and I think uh the love of the land and the animals uh is part of the job and um watching for those things, like I just said, the disease, uh sickness. Um and then you know, ours are big pets. They they see you coming and they are right there, most of them wanting some little handout, and that provides the opportunity to walk through. A lot of them have personalities, you know, and if some of them like the treats more than others, and if you're not paying attention, you could get a little nudge that might knock you over.
unknown:Right.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, because they don't know that they're too big to be right. They had no idea. That's fun. I know um even when uh Justin and Cheryl were driving me around to see some of the the property, there was a calf that we were they were trying to find for me, and right away they found it, and it was the one that had it had a real blocky uh black and white face that was just really cute, but they knew exactly where it would be and where its mom was, and um just comes with knowing the cattle and then having them gentle enough that they come to you, right?
SPEAKER_01:And a good vaccining vaccine program, you know. And uh we have some phenomenal resources for that. So always keeping up to date on that. You know, that was one of the panels this morning. So that's one of the things as well.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, another way, another way you care for your cattle. Um what do you think is one thing most people don't know about raising beef, and maybe specifically in New Mexico or just in general? That it's not Yellowstone. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Yes. Um something that they don't know? Well, there's a lot of things. I mean, they they think it's horseback and sunsets and you know that everything's honky-dory. It's not. It there's fences to fix, there's windmills to fix, there's water lines to fix, or add, or improve, or we're dividing pastures to better manage the pasture so that they'll work one side better than they do the other. Because they do. They have their, they like certain grasses, they like certain spots, and they will stay right there. So it's a it's a management. Um it's very rarely a moneymaker. We're in it because we love it. We love the land, we love the animals, we love our family, we love our country, and it's a way of preserving all of that and passing it on.
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah, and and I always say I'm very thankful that that someone like you is willing to do that and that you make those sacrifices and and put in that hard work so that so that the legacy continues and so that we have, you know, safe, nutritious, and delicious uh beef on our table, right?
SPEAKER_01:Right.
SPEAKER_00:Um what's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
SPEAKER_01:To live in the moment, to enjoy that moment. There when you're horseback and you're riding through the herd or you're with family or friends that are helping you, you're building memories, and I think just live in the moment, in that minute and enjoy it. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:I think um, yeah, I I I that's great advice. Great advice. Someone I I listen I heard a video recently that said uh the advice was to romanticize your life in those little moments. Think of it, romanticize it, and I think when I think of ranching, it's romanticized in my head, right? And not the romance like you know, mushy gushy romance, but just the romanticized of of getting that you know peaceful moment in the you know amidst uh you know a world of of uh hard work and and other problems and other things that you have to fix, but those moments, that's a great, great advice. Um what is something you're excited about in your operation right now?
SPEAKER_01:Gosh, Carolyn, I have never thought about that. I think that because we're family operated, we get along, we all have the same goals of uh improving the herd, improving the ranch. Um I kind of I I think that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, that's something to be excited about and to be proud of that that you can have a family business where you're on the same page and and moving forward. Absolutely. And to be able to pass it on, that's that's the goal. Yeah. Oh, and and the ultimate goal. I I keep saying there's not a lot of industries or careers or businesses in general that have the goal of passing it on and actually get to do it.
SPEAKER_01:Right.
SPEAKER_00:Right? Because there you guys are as an example of a uh, you know, two generations already working and kind of passing on, right? And three with my nephews. Right, right. And so to to really see it in action consistently in agriculture and in ranching specifically is is always a wonder and a really important thing that I hope consumers understand that that family is such an important part of it.
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:What is your favorite part of your job as a rancher?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, I think the rewards at the end of the day, whether I mean this fence building or repair is my favorite thing. No, but it needs to be done. It has to be done. And when you're done at the end of the day, it's rewarding. You can look back on that fence and say, we did that. Or the um calves, you know, sometimes you have to assist and help pull a calf, and sometimes they need a little extra help. So if they lose their mother, then we're bottle feeding. And that is uh it's work, but it is so cute and it's so rewarding. And then when you can finally turn them out, you know, that's that's a good thing. Yeah. The sunsets, I I mean it it is so hard to pick one thing, but it it's rewarding at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_00:Why do you do what you do? What makes you keep going?
SPEAKER_01:The reward. The the love of it. I you know, in my other job, people ask that, and it's hard to it's in our blood, it's in our heart, it's in our soul. And and that's even the same thing for New Mexico. People are like, oh, New Mexico, and I said, there is something about it that draws us back here time and time again. And I I'll admit when I graduated high school, oh, I'm never going back. Well, and I really did, no, I did go back to Lindworth, I take that back, but and I taught. But um then I lived in Albuquerque for a little while, and when we bought this ranch, I you know, I talked to my parents and I said, I I really think I want to come home. That was the new home. And of course they were like, of course. Uh there's just something about it that again it's the reward at the end of the day. It's the family, it's seeing wildlife uh that other people don't get to see. Or, you know, you're out horseback and you find an arrowhead or some old homestead or you know, something that other people just don't get to see or enjoy. Yeah. It is the love at the of the hard work at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_00:And that's truly uh inspirational and and uh uh wonderful, right? I think you have to have that love so that you can make the sacrifice. Yes. Um what is there anything else that you would like to add about the beef industry for someone who is not familiar?
SPEAKER_01:That it's healthy for you. That uh it provides an excellent meal at the end of the day that will feed your family and covers all the good nutrition that you need. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely, and we have a lot of resources on our website, uh nmbeef.com, and and we believe it's a high quality protein. What is it, more than 10 essential nutrients and a significant source of zinc, iron, and protein. It is absolutely a a healthy meal for your family.
SPEAKER_01:Yes.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and especially, you know, protein is kind of a a hot topic of conversation. It's always been important for us. Right. And we talk about it more often now. If you're looking for high quality protein, beef, beef can and and uh dare I say should be a part of Right.
SPEAKER_01:And I, you know, some people I come across are vegan or you know, and I'm like, look at the products, the ingredients on your fake burger compared to mine. You've got five, six, ten, I don't know, to my one. And then it's the oh, well, the antibiotics in it, or the hormones, and so I'll go down that road with them.
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah, and I would say um the important thing is too that we live in a country where you can have food choice. Yes. So you can read a label and check what you want, and you can choose an antibiotic free or an all-natural program, or you can what whatever um whatever you choose, we support that. And we encourage you to to read about how healthy beef is and to look at the ingredients, yeah, because it's you know, if you want a a a burger with one ingredient, beef is a great products that come from cattle. Oh, absolutely. We love to talk about how uh how multifaceted the beef industry is and how you can find um beef. My favorite thing to say is is it's uh an important part of insulin, that life-saving medication, right? That is a beef byproduct. Um what do we say, insulin and insulation, crayons and cosmetics? Yes. Um tennis rackets rings. Right.
SPEAKER_01:I think there used to be a little um the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker, something like that that we covered every little aspect of that.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I think something came from. So it's really neat. Yeah, yeah, through uh New Mexico Farm Bureau. They do a great job. Um and then nowadays, too, beef tallow is uh coming back around and it's great for you know skin care, it's great for cooking. I've been cooking with it a lot, and then I do have some tallow products that a friend gave me. I've used for chapstick and lotion, and and uh yeah, it's it's more than just what it is, it's also our shoes and our belts and our your jacket, right? I think my jacket even has has uh some leather on it uh and a spillet.
SPEAKER_01:Cow heights for your rugs, your decoration, uh the hair, they make paint brushes, or you know, fine little paintbrushes out of it. Everything.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. Yeah, it's an important Important part of our life. I think um I think I've even heard some carpet comes from. There's pieces um in carpet and um there's byproducts and you know footballs, even though footballs are uh called pig skins, the modern day football is is uh cow leather, from what I understand. And uh yeah, it just goes on and on and it and it's such an important part of our world. And uh and uh we're grateful for uh gosh, uh ranchers like you that that uh help provide that because again, our a world without beef is more than a world without a food product, right? Um what is a piece of advice you'd give someone that might want to follow in your footsteps?
SPEAKER_01:I would say visit with other producers, other families. Uh check your resources. I think there's a lot of resources out there that can help you. I know there were some programs that were really trying to help uh younger people get started that maybe didn't have a family that's in it, but that's something that they want to do. So and you know you can find anything on the internet now. Yeah, you can Google it.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, absolutely. And and uh, you know, some of the organizations we work closely with would be the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau. Wool growers. Yeah, and wool growers, and um and uh I'm sure I'm gonna leave some out, but I just think even New Mexico Livestock Board has a lot of information on their website, and and the more the more you know, the more empowered you might be.
SPEAKER_01:Right. And start small or or jump right in. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:Find a little piece that makes you happy and go from there.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. I know we uh yeah, me and my husband are have just uh roping steers and and uh that makes us feel pretty cowboy some days and and pretty not cowboy most days. Uh well my last question, I always say it's my favorite question, maybe the most important question. Um what is your current favorite way to eat beef? Do I have to have one? No, oh gosh, no. You can if you have more, even if you have more recipes.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, I love a good grill green chili cheeseburger.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:Medium rare. You know, and it's gotta have New Mexico green chili. Yes, oh I'm traveling like I do, and you see chili on the menu, I'm like, no, yeah, I'm not not going down that road. Um and a good steak and um green chili stew. You know, this is the time of the year that that's one of my favorites, and it's easy. You know, it it's not that hard. You can cook it in the house, so your burgers and absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00:Well, I know uh one of one of the times I asked the question, they said uh what I said, what's your favorite way? And they said often, and I said, Well, that's that's pretty good answer. Good answer. I like that one.
SPEAKER_01:Yep, yep.
SPEAKER_00:So if you've got a lot of options, you are eating beef up often. Uh well, perfect. Well, thank you so much for agreeing to do the podcast. You're welcome. Thank you for um being a volunteer with New Mexico Cattle Growers and you know being here, being connected to uh what's going on in the industry, and and uh most importantly, thank you for the work you do to feed the world. It's our pleasure. Thank you. Thank you. Behind the burger is a podcast produced by the New Mexico Beef Council with the goal of telling the stories of the cattlemen and cattle women of the New Mexico beef industry. Thank you for joining us for today's episode. If you would like more information, please visit nmbeef.com. Whether it be a burger, a steak, or another beef dish, we hope you are enjoying beef at your next meal.
