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Silent Voices No More: Memories of the Workers’ who Toiled the Orchards at Stahmann Farms

Sat, October 15, 3:00 to 4:00pm, Renaissance Long Beach, Farrell's Lounge

Abstract

Stahmann Farms in Southern New Mexico, has over 3,000 acres and thousands of pecan trees that line both sides of old Highway 28. Stretching north and south, it is a tradition to drive through the colossal oasis where stories have unfolded with mythic proportion. Much is known about the Stahmann family, yet, its workers who toiled in the largest orchard in the world have been largely ignored. A working hacienda in its heyday with its hierarchy of foremen and workers, at least ten ranchos sprouted deep within the orchard. Rich, vibrant lives were lived and like the trees themselves were nurtured. Largely of Mexican descent, they led fulfilling lives with future generations making their way from the farm to the city. Four of us, two with deep familial roots in Stahmann Farms, are gathering oral histories of the Stahmann Farms workers by interviewing and chronicling experiences living at the farm.

Our poster will depict pictorial archival data along with four balanced sections: methodological processes with interview questions, selected participants’ insights, and pedagogical and curricular implications. Another section will fill the gaps of past histories about Stahmann Farms creating a living curriculum to share with local schools about the rich historical stories never to be forgotten accentuating the lives of people who lived and worked at Stahmann. Once oral histories are collected, the final poster section will feature a proposed community event depicting the viewing of the Digital Oral Histories co-produced with the participants as oral historians.

Authors