HM 27 — "GRANT COUNTY DAY"

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 27DECLARING 57THJANUARY LEGISLATURE-28, STATE2026 OFTHE NEWMEXICOFIFTIETH -ANNUAL SECOND"GRANT SESSION,COUNTY 2026DAY" INTRODUCEDIN BYTHE LuisHOUSE M.OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Terrazas5 andWHEREAS, GabrielGrant Ramoscounty andis Crystalknown Brantleyfor 6its 8mining, 10ranching Aand MEMORIALart DECLARINGcommunities; JANUARY 28, 2026 THE FIFTIETH ANNUAL "GRANT COUNTY DAY" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

14 WHEREAS, Grant county is known for its mining, ranching and art communities;

blue skies with three hundred sixty days of e t 17 sunshine per year;

and small-town w l n d 18 atmosphere;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, Grant county is the gateway to the vast Gila i a e r 20 wilderness;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, Grant county's largest city and county seat, d r e 22 Silver City, is the only municipality in New Mexico still c e s k 23 operating under the territorial charter issued by the e a n b 24 legislative assembly of the territory of New Mexico in 1878;

u [ and .233222.1 WHEREAS, Grant county is the richest county for mining in New Mexico, producing numerous precious metals, including copper, an essential element of green energy and electric vehicles, which is mined from the third-largest open-pit copper mine in the world;

and WHEREAS, western New Mexico university leads the state HM 27 Page 1 in designing education and training programs specific to the evolving needs of a globalized economy, and as one of the original Hispanic-serving institutions in the United States, western New Mexico university is the southwest's hub of Hispanic traditions, languages and music, while providing life-changing education and training opportunities to Hispanic students from across the globe;

and e t 17 WHEREAS, the nationally recognized university ensemble, w l n d 18 mariachi plata de western New Mexico university, is celebrating = = 19 a l its tenth anniversary in 2026;

and i a e r 20 WHEREAS, Grant county is known for its true west history a t m m 21 that includes prehistoric Native Americans;

the Chiricahua d r e 22 Apache, including Geronimo and Victorio, two famous Apache c e s k 23 leaders;

and iconic wild west figures such as Billy the Kid, e a n b 24 lawman Dan Tucker and Madam Millie;

and u [ WHEREAS, Grant county is where, in 1866, company B of the .233222.1 - 2 - one hundred twenty-fifth United States colored infantry regiment, known as the buffalo soldiers, was established at Fort Bayard;

and WHEREAS, Grant county straddles the Continental Divide HM 27 Page 2 national scenic trail at six thousand to seven thousand feet, providing cool summers, as well as uninterrupted views of the Mexican border to the south;

and e t 17 WHEREAS, Grant county is home to significant outdoor w l n d 18 recreation areas, including the Catwalk recreation area, City = = 19 a l of Rocks state park, the trail of the Mountain Spirits national i a e r 20 scenic byway, Bear Canyon reservoir and lake Roberts;

and a t m m 21 WHEREAS, Grant county has many well-known festivals, d r e 22 including the blues festival, clay festival, tamal fiesta y c e s k 23 mas, festival of the written word and southwest print fiesta;

e a n b 24 and u [ WHEREAS, the Grant county prospectors honor and recognize .233222.1 - 3 - the longtime mayor of Hurley, Joseph Edward "Ed" Stevens, who died on December 8, 2025;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 28, 2026 be declared the fiftieth annual "Grant County Day" in HM 27 Page 3 the house of representatives;

-HM 427 -Page e4 t9 1725 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .233222.1