Thursday September 28, 2006 9:00 a.m., a beautiful sunny morning was great for our “Mobile Matanza” (MLSU) Ribbon Cutting and unveiling ceremony.  Over 100 people gathered under a tent at the TCEDC lawn to witness the unveiling.  Among the attendees were local farmers and ranchers, people from throughout the state and the nation.  Everyone was very excited with the arrival of a “Mobile Matanza” into our communities.  The first of its kind in the State of New Mexico and one of only three in the Nation, the “Mobile Matanza” is TCEDC’s latest tool and will complement the Taos Food Center in providing opportunity for livestock growers to increase income through commercial sale of meat. The Mobile Matanza project will offer inspection at every stage of animal processing as well as information and educational trainings designed by local livestock growers through the Livestock Sector Opportunity Program™.
Thanks to the efforts of  Governor Bill Richardson, the New Mexico State Legislature, the New Mexico Economic Development Department, Taos County Commissioners and the New Mexico Livestock Board the Mobile Matanza will start scheduling this winter.
“Bringing the Best of the Past into the Future” Forum Conference held at the TCEDC complex on Friday September 29, 2006 was also a huge success.  The conference welcomed more than 30 people from all over the nation.
TCEDC in partnership with USDA’s Risk Management Agency, First Nations Development Institute, Oxfam America and Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders hosted the Forum Conference.  This Elder/Youth conference’s focus this year was three sessions on “Creating Community”.
We would like to thank everyone, old friends and new, for making the journey to join us and share in the Circle of Community created through this Forum Conference.