Bernalillo County, New Mexico is working to preserve agricultural land and expand access to land-based opportunities. The County is partnering with FUSE for the first time to accomplish this goal, where a FUSE Executive Fellow will spend 12 months developing and implementing strategic recommendations to strengthen landowner-grower connections, enhancing public outreach, and supporting inclusive engagement practices within the Assessor’s Office. Ultimately, this partnership will help Bernalillo County protect its agricultural heritage, foster intergenerational land stewardship, and build a more resilient and community-centered local food system.
In this partner spotlight, we interviewed Bernalillo County Assessor Damian R. Lara, about the County’s vision for its agricultural land and how the Preserving Agricultural Land Through Community Engagement project will help build food resilience to sustainably nourish the community.
Lara brings a wealth of experience and perspective to his role as Bernalillo County Assessor. His experience as a young person working the fields in eastern New Mexico and exposure to stark differences in the quality of life among neighboring communities, inspired him to pursue higher education and a career in government. Mr. Lara earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Brown University in 2001 and a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2007.
His public service career began as congressional staffer with the U.S. House of Representatives and includes service as deputy assessor for Bernalillo County and leadership roles with the Assessor’s Affiliate of New Mexico Counties; and deputy director for economic development, City of Albuquerque. Assessor Lara became a certified New Mexico Appraiser in 2015.
Learn more about the partnership and the Office of the County Assessor >>
How does the preservation of agricultural land contribute to the resilience of Bernalillo County’s local food system, and what role do you see the Assessor’s Office playing in fostering this resilience for future generations?
Lara: Bernalillo County has a long and rich history of resilience and local food production. The diversity of lands and foods native and imported grown in the area will allow for sustainable local food systems. These local foods will feed students at our schools, elderly at our senior centers, foodies and shoppers at our farmers markets, and food co-ops. Moreover, they will help feed our neighbors at our local food pantries. The Office of the Assessor will help maximize the land’s capacity to produce agricultural products by linking people willing to work with land capable of producing.
One of the project’s key goals is to strengthen connections between landowners and aspiring growers. What innovative strategies or partnerships are you most excited about to help bridge the gap between those who own land and those who wish to farm it?
Lara: We have several agricultural nonprofits that focus on working with land and excited about those partnerships. We are also very excited about the various farm to table opportunities for food pantries, local school lunches, and senior centers, including Meals On Wheels.
As you look ahead, what does success look like for this initiative, and how will you measure progress in both land preservation and community engagement?
Lara: We have some limited success with ranching and gracing lands. We would like to see how much more local foods are being consumed in our community.
Are you a strategic thinker passionate about local food production and access? Apply now for this FUSE Fellowship opportunity, starting October 2025 >>
