Illinois Agricultural Education

Hello Agricultural Educators,

I hope you had a restful Christmas break and are looking forward to a spring semester full of fun and changing lives! I would love to tell you about the 2026 Tour of Southwest Agriculture coming up on July 13-17, 2026. This tour will provide professional development to agricultural education teachers from across the nation on how food is produced in the southwestern U.S. This tour will begin in Las Cruces, NM, which is uniquely situated 45 minutes from the U.S./Mexico border. This area of New Mexico has many unique agricultural practices, considering it only receives an average of 9-10 inches of rain and 300+ days of sunshine annually. Despite the dry climate, Dona Ana County is the nation's leading pecan producer and is home to the world-famous “Hatch Green Chile” brand, with Hatch, NM, located only 30 minutes from Las Cruces. This area of southern NM also has a great deal of historical significance, with it being the crossroads of the Gadsden Purchase, the Mexican-American war, Poncho Villa’s attack on Columbus, and it was the home of Billy the Kid (have you watched Young Guns?). We also plan to tour New Mexico State University (NMSU), which is the premier land grant institution in the state. This tour of southwest agriculture is sure to be fun, educational, and inspiring, with trips planned to local agricultural education programs, agricultural production facilities, White Sands National Park, Puerto Palamos, Mexico, and many other sites. I have attached last years’ agenda for your review (2025 New Mexico). The agenda 2026 will change from last year, but it gives you an idea of the trip’s schedule. I have listed some frequently asked questions below. If you have any additional questions, feel free to email me at wnorris1@nmsu.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register?

• Use this link- https://tourswag26.ezregister.

  com

What are the dates for the trip?

• The trip will be July 13-17, 2026. We are asking everyone to fly into El Paso International airport on Sunday July 12^th, and fly out on Saturday, July 18^th.

How much does it cost to attend?

• The cost of the trip is $750 per person for a double occupancy room or $1100 for a single occupancy room.

What expenses does my registration cover and what does it not cover?

• The registration covers your travel once you arrive in El Paso until you leave El Paso. It also covers your accommodations from when you arrive on Sunday, July 12^nd, to when you leave on Saturday, July 18^th and entry fees for events. It does not cover your flight to and from El Paso, your food on the trip, or any spending outside of the scheduled events (e.g., souvenirs, rental car if you stay longer/arrive early, etc.)   

Where is the best place to arrive by flight?

• El Paso International Airport is the closest and most budget-friendly option.

Will there be a way to get to/from the airport?

• Yes, I plan to operate a shuttle to and from the airport on July 12^th and July 18^th.

How will we be transported from location to location?

• The plan is to take 15-passenger vans from location to location.

Do I need a passport to go to Mexico?

• No, as long as you are a U.S. citizen with no active warrants, you should have no problem crossing the border with only a valid driver’s license.

When is the deadline to register?

• The deadline to register is May 15^th, 2026, or when we sell 45 seats. The seats will be sold on a ‘first come-first served’ based on who pays their registration.

Can I bring my spouse, mother, brother, etc?

• Absolutely! The double occupancy registration fee is $750 per person including family.

Will I be staying with someone in the hotel room?

• Yes, if you bring family, we will make sure you are paired with them for accommodations. If you are alone, you will be paired with another person in the hotel room unless you purchase a single-occupancy registration.

Can I pay with a debit card, credit card, check, etc?

• Yes, you can pay with a card using the registration link above, or you can mail a check to ATTN: William Norris PO Box 30003 MSC 3501 Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 by May 30^th.

Can I get a W9 from NMSU?

• Yes, just email me at wnorris1@nmsu.edu.

Can I get an invoice for my payment?

• Yes, just email me at wnorris1@nmsu.edu, and I will send you an invoice.

Can I get graduate credit for attending the trip?

• Absolutely! We can enroll you in a 3-hour special topics course (AXED 5996), and you can transfer it to your institution of choice, or we can get you enrolled at NMSU (some of the cheapest graduate tuition in the country)!

If I attended the tour of southwest agriculture in the past, can I attend again?

·         Absolutely! We are always happy to have repeat travelers! If I have any repeats, I plan to make the trip different enough from past years that everyone is entertained!

If you have any further questions, please let me know through email at wnorris1@nmsu.edu or my cell phone at (334) 531-7762. We look forward to seeing you in Las Cruces this summer!

Sincerely,