4-H Family: Chavez clan carries on tradition of farming

It’s a cool, wet morning at Chavez Farms in Los Lunas. The sun has been up for a couple hours and the four Chavez kids are up and about, tending to their 4-H animals.

Torrential rains the afternoon before have left behind puddles and soft ground, but that just means old shoes are needed to navigate the pens behind their house.

An array of chickens meander in their enclosure, while two kittens romp around with them. One manages to climb the wire fencing and get out, but the other needs to be rescued by Uriah, 11.

The kitten is placid and warm in his hands, willing to accept head scratches from anyone. The kittens and their mother keep pests in check in the Chavez’s hay barn, as well as providing companionship.

The family — Matthew and Leandra, married for 15 years; and children Sophia, 14, Mateo, 12, Uriah, 11, and David, 9 — are carrying on the tradition of agriculture in Valencia County as sixth and seventh generation farmers, respectively.

Matthew, who says he learned everything he knows about farming from his dad, David Chavez, was born and raised in Los Lunas and continues to call the village home.

From Belen, Leandra says on an Instagram post for the farm — ChavezFarms505 — that she always wanted to “have a bunch of kids ... a hard working and God-loving husband,” which she found in Matthew.

Together, the Chavez grow chile, alfalfa and other produce as well as raising grass-fed beef, which is dry aged and free of hormones. The produce they grow and sell is also free of pesticides.

“As a mom, I wanted my kids to always have the best,” Leandra wrote on Instagram. “That’s where the beef came into play and I wanted to give that back too other moms out in our community and to be able to have the best access to quality beef.”

During the summer months, in addition to helping on the farm, the Chavez children are also responsible for feeding, caring for and working with the slew of animals they show as part of the local 4-H program — chickens, goats and pigs make up the roster now, but rabbits might be in the mix next year, they say.

A breeding pair of bunnies roam the hay barn, “having babies somewhere,” as is the nature of farm life.

Being in 4-H helps the children develop a good work ethic, said Matthew, with Leandra adding in that it teaches them responsibility.

“Not a lot people get to experience this and they want to,” Matthew said. “By seeing them with the animals, it gets people interested in agriculture. A lot of people’s roots come from agriculture and farming and this brings them back in.”

The farm is kind of hidden in plain sight, a short ways south of Main Street in Los Lunas and surrounded by mostly residential properties. With neighbors all around, Matthew said it’s interesting when Mateo works with one of the pigs getting ready to show the animal a the fair.

“He’s just walking down the road and people are staring in awe at the way he controls it,” he said. “People sometimes think livestock is wild and just runs around. The way they handle them shows the time the spend with them.”

That’s seen as Uriah is able to easily pick up any of the chickens he’s raised since they were hatchlings. He holds a mini Old English bantam, which is barely big enough to fill both of the 11-year-olds hands.

The tiny chicken, completely unruffled, is placid and calm as it is petted and stroked, much like the kitten.

“It shows the hard work they put into the animals,” Leandra said. “They’ve been handling them since they were born.”

All four children began showing animals when they were 8 years old, the earliest they can be a compete in 4-H. Sophia’s first foray was a market goat that didn’t make sale, so she was kept for breeding.

Selling the animals they raise to show each year is the goal for all four children. The ultimate goal is to continue the family tradition of farming and carry it on as the seventh generation, with all four agreeing the rural life is one they see in their future.

Last year, Mateo, won reserve champion novice chicken showmanship in 2024 at the Valencia County Fair with one of the mini chickens. With tiny chickens come tiny eggs, so it takes awhile to gather enough for a good breakfast scramble, but they are a favorite of Uriah.

Wearing a T-shirt that declares him to be “just a boy who loves chickens,” Uriah is more than willing to demonstrate his love and knowledge of chickens.

With his arms draped over the wire fencing of the chicken pen he points out and names breeds with ease — Cochins with the feathered feet, Plymouth Rocks, Speckledys and more. Some lay black or blue eggs, which have a different taste than the typical brown and white ones, he says.

“The yolk is darker yellow, orange, because it has more nutrients,” Uriah explained. “So they taste different.”

Last spring, Uriah was asked to donate fertile eggs to Belen Consolidated Schools for ag in the classroom programs. He was able to share his knowledge and passion for chickens with his peers and hatch 50 eggs with local students.

Whether it’s coaxing a recalcitrant goat into the proper stance or getting the pig to trot around a ring, all four agree they’re having fun and enjoying their time with the animals and at the fairs.

“The fun part is showing at the fair,” said Sophia.

“And the candy,” added David.