Miguel Santistevan has achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Science degree in Ecology from the University of California, Davis. His research interests are in the adaptation of crops and traditional acequia-irrigated and dryland agricultural systems of the Upper Rio Grande and Sangre de Cristo mountains. Miguel is certified in Permaculture and ZERI Design and has directed several youth-in-agriculture programs for different organizations over the years. He has produced a public radio program called "¡Que Vivan las Acequias!" with the New Mexico Acequia Association and Cultural Energy in addition to a video about food and seed sovereignty in New Mexico (www.youtube.com/GrowFarmers). He maintains a conservation farm with his wife and daughter in Taos called Sol Feliz where many visitors have participated in educational presentations, tours, and hands-on workshops (www.solfelizfarm.org). His farm is the venue for much of his research and is connected to the Acequia Madre del Sur del Río don Fernando de Taos of which he is a parciante and has served as past Mayordomo and President. Miguel also serves as the founder, President, and Executive Director for the non-profit organization Agriculture Implementation, Research, & Education (www.growfarmers.org). Miguel is currently under contract with the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District to produce a video about an acequia-mapping project completed in the Summer of 2016 in the Town of Taos with the Youth Conservation Corp.
