Working Cowboy and Outstanding Ranchers

Working Cowboy J.D. Logan

The 2018 recipient of the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Working Cowboy Award is local Cowboy J.D. Logan.  Born in 1987 in Odessa, Texas to Mike and Yealonda Logan, J.D. grew up in the small town of Goldsmith, Texas.  He notes that he was fortunate that his dad worked for Buster and Mary Cole on a cow/calf and yearling ranch and that he was able to tag along helping out around the ranch. Growing up he shod horses, worked the ranched and started his team roping career by participating in junior rodeos.  He first met Stefanie Smith when he visited the Smith Ranch with a friend in 2003.  They married in 2006 and eventually moved their lives to the Smith Ranch, from Goldsmith in 2009.  Since then they have called Lea County home.  Responsible for the replacement heifers of the Goat Head Ranch in Lea County and the cow/calf operation of the MLS ranch in Eddy County, Logan and his wife Stephanie work the horses and cows of the ranches while raising their young son Jaytin, who is two-years old.  J.D. notes that they are blessed to be working alongside nephews Cason (13), Kyon (8) and Shane (13) while working daily with the rest of the Smith Family. 

Outstanding Ranchers Edwin and Frances Johnston

The 2018 recipients of the Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame Outstanding Ranchers Award are Edwin and Frances Johnston.  William “Ed” Johnston was born July 27, 1934 in Ranger, Texas, the middle child and only son to Ernest and Sarah Johnston. The family moved to Monument, New Mexico when Ed was only 5 years old. Frances was born May 29, 1936 in Pampa, Texas to Claude and Ermine Coffey. Frances along with her parents and her three sisters relocated to Eunice, New Mexico. Ed and Frances met while attending school in Eunice, New Mexico and were high school sweethearts. In 1952, Ed and Frances married and will celebrate 66 years of marriage this November.  In 1962, Ed and Frances moved to Monument, New Mexico to begin their ranching career, where they raised Herefords and later added cross bred cattle and Registered Angus to their operation. Ed and Frances became involved with the New Mexico Angus Association where Frances served as secretary. Ed was also pivotal in bringing the Chianina breed to Lea County. Ed worked for El Paso Natural Gas and Sid Richardson. Frances was a homemaker until her children were grown, then worked as Post Mistress in Monument for 10 years. When the time came to retire, Ed and Frances also collaborated this venture together, by retiring in 1999 on the VERY same day, but continue to ranch to this day.  Ed and Frances have three children, Keith and wife Stacy; DeEtta and husband Mike, Kyle and wife Kimberly “Kimmie”; but their greatest joy is being called “MeMe & Grandad” by their eight grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren and Frances truly believe in the value of 4-H and FFA programs, so together they began their involvement with 4-H as organizational leaders of the Monument 4-H, there they dedicated 37 years together not only guiding their own children and grandchildren through the program, but also offering encouragement and support to many youth of Lea County. During their tenure, they were instrumental in expanding the Monument 4-H chapter to the largest at that time with 50 members. Because of their impact on the youth development and the lives of many 4-H members through their roles as club leaders, they were honored by being inducted into the New Mexico 4-H Hall of Fame in 2003.  Ed served on the Lea County Fair Board for 25 years as a member and chairman. While serving as a 4-H leader, Frances would be up before the sun came up, preparing her “Denver Biscuits” for the Buyer’s breakfast before the Sale of Champions, and did this relentlessly for 30 years. Ed and Frances look forward to the Fair every year. They enjoy visiting with friends, watching the rodeo, but are especially passionate about the Jr livestock shows and Jr livestock auction. They have been instrumental in strengthening the Sale of Champions, knowing the importance of rewarding youth for their hard work and accomplishments by buying their livestock projects and donating them to the New Mexico Children’s Home, an organization that Ed and Frances are also very passionate about.  Ed and Frances are members of the Jefferson Street Church of Christ in Hobbs and avid Hobbs Eagle Basketball fans. Their continued dedication to the youth of Lea County and their mission to support positive youth development can still be seen today at livestock shows, rodeos and auctions with their presence not only at the Lea County Fair, but at New Mexico State Fair and Eastern New Mexico State Fair. Ed and Frances were honored recently by the Lea County Fair & Rodeo Board for their many years of service.