Dr. Peter Kopp, Director of the Department of Public History at New Mexico State University, presents a lecture on Replanting the Mesilla Valley: Fabian Garcia’s Horticultural Legacy in a Global Context on Thursday, July 11 from 1pm to 2pm at the Branigan Cultural Center. The program is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Who was Fabian Garcia and how do his accomplishments affect us 65 years after his death? Without this renowned horticulturist, the chile industry would not be what it is now. Today, 28 tons of red and green – mild and hot – peppers are produced here annually but, without Garcia’s work, the mass cultivation that led to innovations in the processing and canning of chile peppers would not have been possible. This autumn, as the aroma of roasting chiles fills the air, give thanks to Fabian Garcia.
As the Director of Public history, Dr. Peter Kopp is “…committed to training the next generation of public historians for a variety of settings and broadening connections between the university and the community.” He is a historian of the American West and is the author of Hoptopia: Agriculture, Beer, and Place in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a book that encompasses his specific interests. He earned doctorate in environmental history and public history from University of Nevada. Join us as we get a taste of Dr. Kopp’s knowledge of the life and achievements of Fabian Garcia.
The Branigan Cultural Center is located at 501 N. Main Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm. For more information, contact the Branigan Cultural Center at (575) 541-2154 or visit the Center’s web site at las-cruces.org/museums.
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