SW New Mexico News

Michael Barnes serves as the farm ranch manager at the Clayton Livestock Research Center, a part of the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station. Originally from Boise City, Oklahoma, Barnes holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture education with minors in animal science, agronomy, natural sciences, and industrial arts from Oklahoma Panhandle State University.

Barnes has been affiliated with NMSU for six and a half years. He is actively engaged in several research projects at the center, including one that evaluates perennial versus annual forage production as a sustainable strategy in the southwestern United States.

Before joining NMSU, Barnes taught agriculture in Rifle, Colorado; Vici, Oklahoma; and Clayton. In Clayton, he also taught welding, junior high school science, tech education, and drivers' education. Over 18 years of raising show steers, many of his calves made sales in Texas and Oklahoma. Notably, he raised the Grand Champion Steer at the Oklahoma Youth Exposition in 2014.

In addition to his role at NMSU, Barnes is vice president of the Clayton Municipal Schools Board of Education and is involved with Union County Youth Supporters. He lives with his wife Katherine and their three children who participate in various sports. His daughters are also active in 4-H and showing goats.

For more information about the Clayton Livestock Research Center, visit https://claytonsc.nmsu.edu/.