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.
John Boydstun
After retiring from the math faculty at Central New Mexico Community College, John furthered his education by obtaining a graduate degree in Architecture with a focus on Historic Preservation. His deep interest in preserving New Mexico’s architectural heritage has led to his membership on the Board of Directors for Amigos del Rancho Los Luceros, where he continues to advocate for the conservation of one of New Mexico’s architectural treasures.”
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.
Claudette DuBois
Claudette is a retired educator, union organizer, writer and political activist with a deep sense of history and great interest in preservation of cultures and architecture. Los Luceros is an exceptional example of the northern New Mexico heritage and being a member of the Amigos allows me to be an active participant in the continual protection of this Historical Site.
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.
Kathe Maclaren
Almost all of Kathe’s life has been shaped by the arts. She has been an artist, photographer, potter, a gallery owner, an arts manager, and a Native American and Hispanic history researcher. She originated the Socorro Womens’ History Trail with Theresa Apodaca and, for 20 years, created and taught a course in the schools entitled the Cultural Traditions of New Mexico. To her, visiting Los Luceros is an aesthetic experience, literally a step back in time. As an Amigo, I can continue my passion for the Arts and Architecture of New Mexico.
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.
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.
Randy Sanches
Randy was born and raised in New Mexico, where he grew up in the communities of Dixon and Tierra Amarilla. He began a career in public safety in his teens, starting out as an EMT working for Rio Arriba County Ambulance. After moving to Denver to obtain his paramedic license, Randy returned home and attended the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, which helped set him up for a position with the Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office. As Major Sanches, Randy ran the administrative side of the Sheriff’s office and was also the Public Information Officer before retirement. Randy serves on the boards of Luciente as Vice President. Still active in the community, Randy is Chair of the Rio Arriba County DWI Planning Council and the Vice President of the Rio Arriba Health Council. Randy lives in Chili, where he spends time along the Chama River. When not working on movie sets as a paramedic, Randy can be found fly fishing in and around northern New Mexico or driving his classic C-4 Corvette. An avid Star Wars fan, Randy is the Command Advisor of the local chapter of the 501st Legion, a nonprofit costume group, where Randy is a Storm Trooper as well as the legendary Darth Vader. On occasion, Randy can be seen on Discovery Channel’s “Naked and Afraid,” providing medical care to cast members on the show.
Andres V. Romero
Andres was a lifelong resident of New Mexico and was passionate about Southwestern Culture, History and Genealogy. Along with his many talents, he was an amateur documentarian, photographer, historian and writer whose coming of age stories have been published in Anthologies of Northern New Mexico. After he retired from NM State government in 1998, he was a member and served as an officer in 7 non-profit organizations. In 2012 Andres wanted to help preserve what is now the Los Luceros Historical Site. He brought his idea to locals from the area. He then created Los Amigos del Rancho Los Luceros and served as President until he passed on August 7, 2023. One of his projects that he was passionate about was to grow wine grapes at Los Luceros to use in creating wine with a Historic Los Luceros label. In 2009 he was knighted a Caballero del Camino de Santiago in Spain. Andres was very connected to his Spanish Heritage, and he felt that connection to the early settlers of Los Luceros. Although the Capilla was given to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe by Mr. Ortiz sometime around 1900, Andres devoted many volunteer hours in time and energy to take care of it.