Wagner family named one of the NM Farm and Ranch Families of the Year

Published October 15th, 2024 at 10:40 am

A family with a long history in Corrales has been named one of the 2024 New Mexico Farm and Ranch of Families of the Year.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico State Fair announced the Families of the Year on Sept. 12 at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. The Wagner and Major families were honored in person at the fairgrounds.

According to a press release, the Wagner family has been established in Corrales for over a century.

Augustin Wagner Sr. started farming in Corrales in 1910, with 55 acres of farmland growing green chile, alfalfa and a small variety of fruits and vegetables.

Augustin Sr. went on to start the first commercial winery in Corrales and just the fifth commercial winery in New Mexico. Where the family now operates an apple orchard, Augustin established a 20-acre vineyard, which laid the foundation for the Wagners’ reputation as a well-known wine producer in the state.

The release said Augustin’s son Gus operated the farm for nearly 60 years, from 1955 to 2014, proving to be both a careful steward of the land and an inspirational keeper of wisdom among the community in Corrales. Gus died in 2020, leaving a legacy of one-of-a-kind work ethic and a robust tradition of family farming. 

The Wagner family, which today is led by Augustin’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren, now farms over 300 acres in Corrales and Socorro, plus runs a farm store, restaurant, corn maze and hay rides, and hosts an annual apple festival.

Randell and Lynn Major, owner-operators of a commercial cattle operation across three ranches in Socorro and Catron counties, have been named Ranch Family of the Year. The Major family has ranching roots that date back to 1886, when Randell’s great-grandfather drove a herd of cattle from Colorado to a ranch just north of Magdalena.

Over the years, Randell has served on several committees, including the New Mexico Federal Lands Council, and has served as Southwest regional vice president and president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association.

“Both the Major family and the Wagner family have roots in agriculture that predate New Mexico’s statehood, which is profound in and of itself.  When we say that the culture of New Mexico is agriculture, which spans centuries, we’re really talking about families like these,” New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said. “We definitely have these families to thank for trailblazing the agriculture industry, as well as for what’s to come, as they continue to pass down the tradition of farming and ranching.”