90 Years of Los Poblanos: The Lord & Burnham Greenhouse

Ninety years ago, Los Poblanos was a model experimental farm and the original headquarters of the 800-acre ranch owned by congress members Albert Simms and Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms. Home to the original Creamland Dairies, it boasted one of the finest purebred herds of Guernsey and Holstein cows in the Southwest. Sugar beets, alfalfa, oats, corn and barley were all grown on the property and purebred rams were raised with the intention of helping sheep herders of the state improve their flocks. In 1934, a Lord & Burnham greenhouse was constructed and utilized by Ruth, an active garden club member who experimented with growing new varieties of roses and chrysanthemums to sell commercially. 

Chef Chris Bethoney recognized as James Beard Awards semifinalist

We are incredibly proud of our Head Chef Chris Bethoney for his recognition as a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for the 2024 Best Chef in the Southwest award.  

Chris has played an integral role in shaping Campo’s Rio Grande Valley Cuisine alongside a dynamic team of chefs, farmers and gardeners. He is a skilled collaborator, working with our butchery, bakery and craft distillery, artisan product development team, farmers and gardeners, and building relationships with growers and herders across New Mexico – all while leading and mentoring his team on a daily basis to deliver an incredible dining experience.

Chris was the opening Sous Chef of Los Poblanos’ onside restaurant, Campo, in 2017 and has been the Head Chef since 2022.  He and his team do things the hard way, the slow way – from cutting handmade pasta with guitar strings to mentoring anyone who wants to grind and nixtamalize corn – sous chefs, line cooks and dishwashers – to committing to an entire harvest of blackberries from a small local farm.

The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards recognize talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

We are honored to have our culinary team included on this list of exceptional individuals (including six in New Mexico!) from across the country. Learn more about our culinary team.