JOHN AUGUSTINE

In Memoriam--John Augustine "Mr. Farm Bureau"

John Augustine, the first executive vice president of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, passed away October 9, 2006 in Las Cruces, N.M. Mr. Augustine is a true legend in the annals of New Mexico agriculture where he started as county extension agent and went on to build one of the nation's premier agricultural organizations. In 1987he was presented with the Distinguished Service Citation by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the nation's highest agricultural honor. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for the NMSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics in 1975.

John was born in El Paso, Texas August 29, 1914 to John L. Augustine and Myrtle Smith Augustine. El Paso was the closest hospital to where his family lived in Lordsburg, N.M. where his father worked as a copper and silver miner and his mother was a homemaker. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute and the New Mexico College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts, now New Mexico State University, in 1937. He taught vocational agriculture in Farmington, N.M. 1937-38. In 1938 he moved to Las Cruces and was named Dona Ana County Extension Agent.

Mr. Augustine built the foundation for a county 4-H program and was also involved for many years with the FFA. In those days the extension service and Farm Bureau were affiliated organizations on the county level. In 1946 he accepted the position of Executive Secretary of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, a post he held until January 1, 1980. Upon taking the helm of Farm Bureau he formed "The 100 Club" an organization of farmers and ranchers who would put up $100 each in seed money to fund the new agricultural organization. He built the New Mexico Farm Bureau from 500 members to 9,000 family-members statewide prior to his retirement. Following his retirement he then served as a consultant for the organization until 1994. He and his protégé, Bob Porter, would build the organization to 10,000 members making it the state's largest and most influential agricultural organization. Porter went on to serve as Farm Bureau's Executive Vice President following Augustine's retirement. Today statewide Farm Bureau membership tops 17,000 families, businesses and organizations.

Mr. Augustine also served as secretary-treasurer of Western Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, serving both Arizona and New Mexico, and was active as a nominal editor of New Mexico Farm and Ranch Magazine, from 1947-1985. Mr. Augustine was very active in many civic endeavors including: The Rotary Club, Masonic Lodge, Lions Club and as chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. He was always active in the local, state and national Republican Party serving as precinct chairman, member of the county central committee and the state central committee.

According to the achieves at the NMSU College of Agriculture, Augustine was "tremendously effective in securing adequate funding for the Cooperative Extension Service, the N.M. Department of Agriculture and NMSU....year after year." Mr. Augustine was instrumental in bringing Roger Corbett, executive secretary of the American Farm Bureau Federation, to serve as president of NMSU.

Augustine served two terms on the New Mexico Racing Commission and bred and raced quarter horses. He was a long time cotton farmer in the Mesilla Valley and a member of the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Posse. He and his late wife Elise formed and coached the Thunderbirds a square dance team on horseback performing at fairs and rodeos all over New Mexico. After his retirement, Mr. Augustine went right on building and promoting the Farm Bureau by founding N.M. Farm Bureau Prime Timers, an organization of retired farmers and ranchers which thrives to this day.

John Augustine was a master motivator and a quiet, behind-the-scenes leader of men and women. Part of his legacy are the thousands of young people he helped develop into leaders in agriculture across New Mexico. State history will remember Augustine's influence on the careers of numerous political leaders including the late Governor Ed Mecham and Congressman Joe Skeen. He was the driving force behind elevating the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau to a potent political force in New Mexico and across the nation. Most of the good things in agriculture in New Mexico have John Augustine's guiding hand upon them though he always made sure his students, Farm Bureau volunteers and staff took the credit. He never missed the chance to praise the virtues of the Farm Bureau organization and its grassroots structure and his lessons to young staff people and volunteers are legendary.

He leaves a network of friends and family across the Land of Enchantment that would fill Aggie Memorial Stadium, all of them better off for knowing the man who earned the title "Mr. Farm Bureau." Those folks will also treasure the memories of his fine-tuned, yet subtle sense of humor and friendly mischief.

He is survived by his children Peggy (Doug) Bogart, Las Cruces; John (Diana) Augustine, Poway, CA; grandchildren Sherry (Joe) Galemore, Los Lunas, N.M., Annette Augustine, Debbie Schatzle and Amanda Augustine all of Poway, CA; great grandchildren, Traci Galemore and Chris Galemore of Los Lunas, N.M. His parents and his wife Elise preceded him in death.

Pallbearers are Bob Porter, Chub Foreman, Keller Davis, Jim McMullan, John Bigbee and Erik L. Ness. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the N.M. Farm Bureau Prime Timers.

A memorial service is set for 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 16, 2006 at Graham's Mortuary Chapel, 555 West Amador Ave., Las Cruces, N.M. E.G. Smokey Blanton will officiate the services at the chapel and at the burial to follow at the Masonic Cemetery. A reception will be held in Mr. Augustine's honor at noon at the New Mexico Farm Bureau Center, 2220 N. Telshor.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the John Augustine Scholarship Fund in care of the N.M. Farm and Livestock Bureau P.O Box 20004, Las Cruces, N.M. 88004.