Jim grew up on the east side of New Mexico in Roswell after his father retired from his Army career to assume the job of Assistant Commandant at NMMI in 1965. His upbringing included many summer jobs repairing pasture fence and bucking hay for ag producers in the Roswell area.  He graduated from high school at NMMI in 1977 and NMSU in 1981. Jim began his career with the Federal Land Bank in Roswell in 1981. Transferring to Albuquerque in 1982, he worked as a loan officer and appraiser until 1990 when he choose to focus on the appraisal side of the bank now known as Farm Credit of New Mexico. He was awarded his ARA designation in 1990. Jim retired from Farm Credit of NM December 31, 2014, ending his career as the Chief Appraisal Officer for the company; a position he held for 10 years. He and 12 awesome staff members provided quality valuation services to lending personnel serving the customers of the largest and most profitable ag lender in NM.  He was responsible to the Board of Directors to assure regulatory compliance with all Federal, State, and appraisal organizations affecting valuation operations.

Jim has served on various committees in the New Mexico Chapter of the ASFMRA and served as President of the Chapter in the late 80’s into the early 90’s. He served years on the Experience Review Committee for the newly formed NM State Appraisal Board in the early 90’s. Jim is a general certified appraiser and is licensed in both New Mexico and Colorado. He is a member of the NM and Colorado Chapters of the ASFMRA and an Associate member of the Rio Grande Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.

Jim has had the privilege to view and appraise many of New Mexico’s vast real estate holdings whether farms or ranches over his career. Jim also served as the Farm Credit representative to the Landowner-Sportsman Coalition in NM. His big game hunting experiences in New Mexico allowed he and his wife Kelly to start a small hunting business in the early 90’s. This business grew quickly, and they are now looking to pass the baton on to a qualified NM Outfitter.

Jim passed the New Mexico Associate Brokers exam in December 2013. He was offered and quickly accepted the privilege of working with Sam and Charlie Middleton of Chas. S. Middleton and Son marketing ranches in NM. Jim enjoys the challenges of passing on real estate to new owners and his career with Sam, Charlie, and Dwain.

He and Kelly live in far NE Albuquerque. They have raised two daughters. Michelle, who passed on to Heaven in 2020 and Clara, who is the STEM Program Manager at the NMSU Engineering College. Right now, Jim and Kelly have grand dogs….  which is just fine at this point in life.