McIntosh Gift Honors Family's Commitment to Agriculture
When Kent and Anne McIntosh decided to retire after 45 years of farming in Kentucky, they checked out several locations but none of them felt "comfortable."
Anne, who grew up in Tularosa, suggested that they visit Las Cruces. New Mexico was familiar ground for Kent, who was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in the 1960s.
The city had changed in the intervening years, but it met several of their criteria: mild climate, opportunities to play golf almost every day and a welcoming atmosphere. An added bonus was the presence of New Mexico State University with its strong agricultural program. Agriculture had been their life and they realized how difficult it was for someone just starting out in the field to be successful without a college education. With that in mind, they established the Michael G. Gaines Family Endowed Scholarship to support students entering an ag-related field.
Their gift is a combination of a multi-year pledge now and a portion of their estate down the road, making them eligible for membership in The 1888 Society. They named the scholarship in honor of their nephew, Michael '80, '87, and his family to recognize his commitment to teaching vocational agriculture at the high school level in Mescalero, Ruidoso, Carrizozo and now, Socorro.
"Mike and his wife, Melody '92, are dedicated educators who have gone the extra mile in helping students in the classroom, as well as numerous extracurricular and community activities," Anne says. "They have been very instrumental in preparing students to meet the challenges of agricultural-related careers or other life situations. They have contributed so much to young people in New Mexico."
Kent adds, "We saw farming evolve from a mostly manual operation to an extremely high-tech profession. We were excited by, but sometimes challenged, to keep up with the technology, information and resources required to make our farming operation successful. It has been rewarding to see more young people interested in agriculture and the diverse agriculturerelated careers. We are pleased to participate in helping young people pursue their education in this field."