Workshops and Training

The East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District conducts workshops and training for District residents, landowners, and organizations. Past topics have included the following:

• Tree Planting/Windbreak Workshop - Topics include irrigation, site preparation, pest control, species selection, maintenance, layout, and design.
• Crop Production Workshop - Topics include an overview of biotechnology; pesticide laws and regulations; FSA and NRCS programs; herbicides for field crops; clarification and review of New Mexico noxious weeds; and alfalfa, bean, and corn threats and herbicides.

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Publications and Materials

• Soil Stewardship Week Activity Books
• Weed Management Placemat (web resolution - for the original scale and resolution, please contact us)

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Rolling River

The trailer-mounted, portable Rolling River watershed model provides an opportunity for young people to observe the connections among all the various components of a watershed - soil, water, vegetation, animals, and humans, including land use. Learners can set up various components and then see changes as variables are adjusted to simulate flooding, drought, or long periods of stable development.

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School Support Programs

• State Forestry Arbor Day Program - Support for the 5th graders' written contest. Along with talking to 5th grade teachers, presentations are given to local Head Start and kindergarten classes. After the presentation on trees, each child receives a tree to take home and plant with a loved one.

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Field Trip Programs

The District conducts field trip programs focusing on resource conservation and watershead health. For example, in 2007 the East Torrance Water Conservation District hosted an Earth Day event with volunteers from NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Services), and the Forest Service. A field trip to a local landowners place for a great learning experience for Estancia’s 6th grade class was scheduled. The event spotlighted a PowerPoint presentation to the class 4 days before the outdoor activities which highlighted five areas of conservation: Forest Health, Noxious Weeds, Erosion, Riparian Restoration, and Wildlife. The kids were given a presentation in each area, and then handed a shovel, rock, hoe, straw bale, or plant to implement a simple conservation practice. Wildlife West highlighted a presentation on wildlife and its importance in maintaining a healthy watershed and our role in recognizing what we can do to maintain a balance with the environment around us.

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Kids, Kows and More

Kids, Kows and More is an event sponsored by the Santa Fe and Torrance County Extension Services; East Torrance, Edgewood, and Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Texas A&M Extension Services; The NM Beef Growers' Association; The Honey Bee Producers; Dairy Producers, and many more for the 4th grade students in Moriarty, Estancia, and Mountainair. Crop and dairy production, water conservation, and being involved in a farmers' market are the main topics of the event.

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Event Exhibits and Activities

• Old Timers' Day - Estancia, NM (July)
• Punkin Chunkin' Festival - Estancia, NM (October)
• Torrance County Fair - Estancia, NM - corn shucking contest, stick horse race, and banana split eating contest.

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