There was a time when New Mexico didn’t have any businesses, no corner markets, restaurants, dry goods stores, nothing at all other than an individual here or there might barter. Today we have lots of businesses. When did New Mexico commerce begin and what kinds of businesses were they? I have some good stories to tell about how those first businesses came to be.

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As youngsters we played Cowboys and Outlaws. As the Outlaw we shouted, “You got me" and fell to the ground. Cowboys always got the outlaws. I think of Old West writer Eugene Rhodes who was asked why in 1895 he let outlaws stay at his ranch in Southern New Mexico. First it isn’t healthy to refuse armed men and more importantly, he said, Outlaws are more interesting than in-laws. Let's talk about some of New Mexico's Old West outlaws.

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One day I was asked about the Carson National Forest in Northern New Mexico. “I thought Johnny Carson from the Tonight Show was from Nebraska." Yes, Johnny Carson was from Nebraska. However, The Carson National Forest in Northern New Mexico is named for Christopher Houston Carson, better known as Kit Carson, frontiersman, fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent and lastly U. S. Army Officer in the Civil War, part of which was fought in New Mexico. Let me tell you about Kit Carson.

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Southern New Mexico has proudly been in movies but there is one movie that local film people have not mentioned. It is a 1991 Mexican film directed by Nicolas Echevarria call Cabeza de Vaca. It is based on a real person. In 1535 Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, and three companions were the first Europeans to travel through Southern New Mexico. Let’s talk about those tourists.

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Later this year, when you bite into some delicious Hatch Valley grown chile, think back to the first week in April of 2025. This week starts the chile planting season which features many innovations in the process of commercial Hatch red and green chile production. Let’s talk about the incredible innovations that provide outstandingly wonderful Southern New Mexico red and green chile.

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This is an odd question for New Mexicans: did you realize that Billy the Kid made you some money this last year? I mean how could he since he died a hundred forty years ago? Well, my friends Billy the Kid, the Old West outlaw did make people in New Mexico richer long after his death by Lincoln County Sherriff Pat Garrett. Let me tell you how this happens for you and I to get money about them.

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We in New Mexico live completely differently than in the 1880s though there is a similarity that I want to talk about today. We travel without much effort all over the state and if we need to travel to Albuquerque from anywhere in the state it is just hours away. The change in New Mexico started with trains and that is the topic today. Trains were the change agent.

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We all enjoy gold, yes, real gold. In New Mexico there are several ways to get yourself some gold. Buy it – costs money, trade something for it or, find it. Yes, in New Mexico you can find it either by prospecting in a stream with a pan, cold work or even better would be to find some gold that has been hidden for at least a century. Let’s do that. New Mexico has some hidden gold for you to find.

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