Cristina Benitez, is a first-year master’s student at New Mexico State University, where she is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Communications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education and Extension, and is passionate about connecting people with the knowledge and resources they need to help agriculture and rural communities thrive.

Born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and raised in Berino, she is proud of her roots in the Southwest. Her background has shaped her passion for educating and engaging my community on the importance of sustainable agriculture, mental health in farming, and agricultural outreach throughout the Southwest region. She believes that a stronger agricultural community starts with sharing knowledge, raising awareness, and creating meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities farmers face.

When she is not busy with school or agricultural outreach, you can often find her training for a marathon, hitting the road for a long-distance run, or capturing the beauty of the world through her camera lens. 

At the heart of everything she does is a love for her community, a passion for agriculture, and a desire to make a positive impact. Her goal is to use agricultural communications to bridge the gap between agriculture and the public, one conversation, one story, and one connection at a time.