Speaking of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Virginia Maria Romero's bulto, San Ysidro, is now a part of the Museum’s permanent collections. It is used every year during the Blessing of the Fields/San Ysidro Processional on May 15th, when it is carried to the Museum’s fields and animals to bless them for the coming year.
Traditionally held on May 15 in agricultural communities throughout the world, the event honors a devout farmer, born in 1070 in what is now Madrid, Spain. Tradition has it that when he was chastised for missing farm duties to pray and attend Mass, angels were sent to plow the fields in his place.
Romero also has a solo exhibition next year at the Farm & Ranch Museum (April 12 – August 4, 2013): Past-Present-Future: The Artwork of Virginia Maria Romero.
The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance selected New Mexico artist Virginia Maria Romero to design the first Conservation Wolf Stamp sold in the United States. The Mexican wolf is the most endangered wolf in the world, with a total population of less than 50 in the wild in 2009.
The Mexican Wolf Stamp is a conservation project created by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The concept is similar to the Duck Stamp sold by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, except no hunting will be related to the sale of the Mexican Wolf Stamp. Instead it will raise money for the conservation of the Mexican wolf by funding projects in the U.S. and Mexico for Mexican Wolf Recovery. Stamps can be ordered online at http://www.nmwild.org/current-campaigns/conservation-wolf-stamp/
Santa Fe Vineyards has selected St. Francis & His Wild Desert Friends, by Virginia Maria Romero for the label for their New Mexico Merlot - to be released soon. Santa Fe Vineyards is also celebrating this year their 30 year anniversary of winemaking, which they began in 1982.
Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone; 1181/1182-Oct. 3, 1226) was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men’s Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history. On July 16, 1228, he was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX. He is known as the patron saint of animals, the environment and one of the two patrons of Italy (with Catherine of Siena), and it is customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4.
Speaking of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, Virginia Maria Romero's bulto, San Ysidro, is now a part of the Museum’s permanent collections. It is used every year during the Blessing of the Fields/San Ysidro Processional on May 15th, when it is carried to the Museum’s fields and animals to bless them for the coming year. 
Santa Fe Vineyards has selected St. Francis & His Wild Desert Friends, by Virginia Maria Romero for the label for their New Mexico Merlot - to be released soon. Santa Fe Vineyards is also celebrating this year their 30 year anniversary of winemaking, which they began in 1982.
