This past weekend’s busy list of events included the Potash Open, an annual golf charity tournament co-hosted by Mosaic and Intrepid. Thank you to both mines for the invitation to say a few words at the evening dinner Saturday.
While Carlsbad gets a lot of press for our critical role in the oil and gas industry, with WIPP and through tourism, our potash mines remain the backbone of this community. Those who worked in the mines often feel like they are part of a family – a brotherhood or sisterhood that lasts for a lifetime. No matter where you wind up a few decades later, you’ll always remember working with someone at the mines.
Mosaic and Intrepid have long been two of our most generous community partners. Just ask the United Way or many other local charities. This year, Intrepid received the Business Diversification Award at the Carlsbad Department of Development banquet. One of Mosaic’s most recent donations was in support of the beautiful new gazebo behind the Pecos River Village Conference Center. Beyond what the companies do, however, the employees of the potash mines often develop especially strong ties to the community. Our potash workers have developed deep roots in Carlsbad – they are often baseball and softball coaches, and church elders.
There are many examples of three or four generations of families who have worked in the potash mines around Carlsbad. Many of Carlsbad’s World War II Veterans, the greatest generation, spent their entire careers in potash. Their jobs in the mines enabled them to raise their families and live a good life. Carlsbad’s potash industry has been a force of consistency and stability in this community.
A little bit of history – there’s a historical marker on the Hobbs Highway celebrating geologist Vachel Harry McNutt and his discovery of potash in the area. Eddy County still contains the nation’s largest known reserves of potash. The economic impact of the potash industry on Carlsbad was so significant that the town’s minor league baseball franchise was even known as the “Carlsbad Potashers.” Finally, if you are ever looking for a few examples of equipment from the potash industry, they are on display outside of the Pecos River Village Conference Center, and a potash museum is in the future.
Thank you to Mosaic and Intrepid for their ongoing and considerable contribution to our local community – but, mostly, thank you to the men and women who work in our local potash industry who represent what is so special about Carlsbad.
On a different note: we want to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Dean McAlister, who passed away a few months ago. McAlister was a minister in Carlsbad for several decades and was a wonderful person who did a lot of good work in Carlsbad.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway