Roots in the Community: From Smoke & Soil to Steak & Sustainability

There’s a story in every bite of that dry-aged, locally raised steak. It’s a story written by the land—a story that now increasingly includes the scent of smoke on the wind. As wildfire seasons intensify, we're learning more about the impacts of smoke on both livestock and human health. But how does that subtle, environmental stressor translate to the taste and quality on our plates? It’s a complex question that connects our ranchers' management to our collective experience of place.

Imagine discussing this over a perfectly caramelized crème brûlée. The conversation can flow as easily from the 2020 smoke-taint impacts in Oregon Pinot Noirs to the finer points of post-fire hydrophobicity and how it threatens our water supply. Or, we could pivot to solutions, like how applying for NMED’s 319 grants could help our high school Envirothon/MESA teams design community-wide composting systems, diverting waste from schools and hospitals to build the very soil that grows resilient feed.

This is the new face of conservation. It’s understanding that the supply chain affecting the cocktail in your hand, the egg whites in your pavlova , and the health of our watershed are all part of the same cycle. It’s about recognizing that the future of our local beef industry and the quality of our air and water depend on the same thing: the health of our soils.

And thank God for Borracho’s for being the perfect place where all these worlds—rancher, restaurateur, scientist, and citizen—can convene to untangle these challenges together.

This Thursday, that connection is being celebrated. You are invited to a Watershed Social at Borracho's, hosted by the Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance. Let’s talk about the real-world impacts on our community and the innovative solutions we can build together.

Let's connect the dots from the pasture to the plate.

What: Watershed Social

When: This Thursday, 5-7 PM

Where: Borracho's

131 Bridge St.

Las Vegas, NM 87701

Why: To discuss, connect, and build a more resilient future for our food, our water, and our community.