Meet the board members of Los Amigos del Rancho Los Luceros, passionate individuals dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the ranch. Each board member brings a unique set of skills and experiences, contributing to the organization’s mission through their commitment and leadership. Together, they work collaboratively to enhance community engagement and ensure the historical significance of Rancho Los Luceros is celebrated and sustained for future generations.
Jamie Aragon
Jamie grew up in Los Luceros and has returned to her family home. She cares deeply for the land, her place of origin and maintaining the familial purpose of the Hacienda. Her interests lie in art, herbs, medicine, the natural order, and believes learning never ends and when it does you die.
She attended college at CNM in ABQ, UNM in Los Alamos, and Northern New Mexico Community College in Espanola but never graduated with a degree. She is a Novice in the Dominican Tertiary and has had experience in a wide variety of jobs. She has been self-employed as an artist and a Licensed Massage Therapist, employed by a tax accountant, in a bank, with contractors, in customer service, secretarial duties and in restaurants. She has also volunteered with Ambercare and received bereavement training.
She has dedicated the last 11 years of her life to raising her 3 children. She is a homeschool mom and looks forward to sharing memories of the Hacienda with her children while allowing them to enjoy the land and its stories as she did as a child.
David Archuleta
David was born and raised in Alcalde, a few miles south of Los Luceros. He graduated from Espanola High School. He has worked for over 35 years at the New Mexico State University Sustainable Agriculture Science Center in Alcalde where he is currently the Farm Operations Manager. In this position, he facilitates research on many of the crops grown in northern New Mexico using a skill set that takes advantage of his previous job experiences and training in farming, construction, and mechanics. He also farms in Alcalde, growing Espanola Improved Chile and vegetables, producing traditional herbal tinctures, oils and salves, and making various fruit wines. He has been a leader in many community activities, including as Chief of the Alcalde Fire Department, as a member of the Alcalde Acequia Board of Commissioners, and as Director and Secretary of the Alcalde Domestic Water Association. He has been an active member of the New Mexico Referee Officials Association for over 30 years.
Don Bustos
Don is a family farmer from Northern New Mexico, farming land that has been in his family since the Spanish Land Grant of 1598. He was one of the first farmers in New Mexico to receive organic certification and has been certified for over 20 years. In addition to farming his family land, Don was co-director of the American Friends Service Committee’s New Mexico program, where he focused on training beginning farmers and developing farmer networks throughout the state. Don is serving on board of the New Mexico Acequia Association, a New Mexico based organization that addresses water and land issues to preserve their use for future generations, and, since 2008, has served on the USDA’s Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE) board, which makes grants to farmers in the Western U.S. He was chair of the Western SARE board from 2011-13. He has also served on the boards of the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture and was one of its founding members of the National Immigrant Farmers Initiative (NIFI). He has received numerous awards including the New Mexico Farmer of the Year in 2006, the New Mexico Organic Farmer of the Year in 2012, New Mexico State University’s Leyendecker Agriculturalist of Distinction and the James Beard Award for leadership in 2015. Don played a lead role in developing the vision and raising the funds for the Santa Fe Farmers Market complex, considered one of the top farmer’s markets in the country and he has helped establish several food networks across the state of New Mexico.
David Hampton
David is a long-time resident of Los Alamos County, retiring from LANL in 2017. His passion for community has led him to serve on many Los Alamos County Boards and Commissions, as well as several non-profits. While his primary focus currently is on regional housing, transportation, behavioral health, and economic development issues, he has recently become involved in various cultural and historic preservation efforts including Los Amigos del Rancho Los Luceros and the Los Alamos Arts Council.
Michael Kahn
Michael was born and raised in Santa Fe, left New Mexico for an academic career, then retired to Alcalde where he now has appointments with New Mexico State University and Northern New Mexico College. His family came to New Mexico in the late 1800s and early 1900s and were merchants in Pena Blanca, Gallup, Albuquerque, Tererro, and Santa Fe. The idea of people trying to change their fortunes in the wild land of northern New Mexico appeals to me, as does the shade and solitude of the Los Luceros Historical Site. This is a place that feels like New Mexico should feel.
Marie Markesteyn
Marie moved to New Mexico in 1978. She visited Grace Valdez with a friend in 1979. Grace lived next to a dirt road and told Marie she had something to show her if she’d would like to take a walk. They walked down the dirt road next to Grace’s house to find it led to this historic place. Grace had actually lived for 25 years in the Victorian house. Vandals were stealing and breaking things there. Marie contacted the owner and moved into the Casa Grande as a caretaker and lived there for 3 years. She has been involved with Historic Los Luceros ever since.
Alfredo Montoya
Alfredo Montoya has lived all of his life in Alcalde, New Mexico. He is married to Mae Montoya, who is originally from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, for 48 years and together they have two adult sons, one daughter, and six grandchildren. He retired after having worked for 25 years for Northern New Mexico College, initially as a Director of Financial Aid and as the Dean of Student Services his last five years. Previously, he worked for twelve years for the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council in the capacity of Director of Social Services. Earlier, he worked for the First Judicial District Attorney in Santa Fe as a case analyst and researcher. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University and later completed a Master’s Degree Program in Policy, Planning and Administration, also from New Mexico Highlands University.
He has been very active in public service. He was an Espanola Public Schools School Board Member from 1987-1999 and served on the Rio Arriba County Commission from 1992-2002 and from 2006-2014. He also served on the New Mexico Game and Fish Commission from 2003-2010. While working for Northern New Mexico College and as a School Board Member, County Commissioner, and Game and Fish Commissioner, he represented these groups on numerous federal and state boards, committees, and task forces. Locally, he has been an Acequia de Alcalde Commissioner for thirty-five years and before that he assisted his father as a bookkeeper for ten years while his father served as Treasurer on the Commission. He has also served on the Alcalde Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association as its president for twenty-five years. In May 2024, he was appointed to the NM Acequia Commission by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. He is currently president of the Las Nueve Acequia Association and serves as Vice President of the NM Acequia Association. For many years he participated in the Matachine Dance and Comanche Drama Play during the yearly function (feast days). In a spiritual capacity I have been a member of the Morada de San Antonio in Alcalde since 1977.
“All of my life I have been a farmer and rancher growing corn, fruit, vegetables and hay. We also raise horses, sheep, and cattle. The horses are for riding and racing; the sheep and cattle are for domestic use and for sale. My interests are farming, ranching, hunting and following our local sports teams. In my spare time I enjoy reading and researching local history. I don’t consider myself a historian but I thoroughly enjoy reading and researching the history of our villages, state and region. Recently, I have been conducting interviews of local elders and integrating their knowledge of our villages with archival research. I have always had an interest in the fascinating history of the Hacienda de Los Luceros and its surrounding villages. I have also recently taken to writing and I’m hoping to someday complete a book on the history of Alcalde.”
Armando M. Rendon
Armando is a lifelong resident of Northern New Mexico who is very interested in the history of the Lucero Estate. Originally from Velarde, his first talent was farming, he enjoys the outdoors, hunting and fishing. After attending Great Southwest Industrial College in Texas, he began work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for 38 years as a Senior Prototype Mechanical Technician. He retired from the University of California in 2005. Currently, he is a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He served as the Columbus Club President for five years and a total of nine years on the Board of Directors. He also served as Church Director for the Knights of Columbus Council #3314 for three years. Along with being involved in serving other organizations, he continues to support community originations with the preservation of the rich history and cultures of Northern New Mexico.
Lennett Rendon
Lennett is a lifelong resident of Northern New Mexico is actively involved with preserving its history. She served as the Executive Director and Curator of The Bond House Museum in Espanola for over ten years. She also was the President of the San Gabriel Historical Society where she provided oversight of tours, displays/exhibits, and field trips. She also scheduled work by volunteers on financial management, docent duties and archiving of the museum artifacts. Lennett fostered partnerships with other non-profits who work to record and preserve artifacts, images and documents of the rich history of the Española Valley. She retired from the University of California at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she worked over 30 years, last serving as Risk Manager and as a project manager of the Laboratory Directed Research Development program, with a budget of $160 million per year. Lennett enjoys reading, visiting museums, gardening and visiting tearooms throughout the country. She is devoted to educating anyone about the history that highlights the culture and beautiful treasures of Northern New Mexico.