Meet Jake Finch, Bosque del Apache Facilities Maintenance Work Leader
A belated welcome to Jake Finch as the Bosque del Apache Facilities Maintenance Work Leader. Jake has been in his leadership role at the refuge since March 2023, and says that he loves that his job involves constant change and variety, which he fully enjoys. In his role, Jake runs big equipment like tractors, skidsteers, and backhoes, and is about to be certified in others like excavators, loaders, forklifts, dozers and graders. He also operates the refuge’s waste water treatment plant, repairs various things around the site, helps in the Friends pollinator project, and oversees the farm program. Further, he is the key refuge contact on the Friends-Bosque del Apache five-year Regenerative Agriculture/BEAM project, which you read about in our January 2024 Bosque Watch e-newsletter.
Of course, it takes a crew to support all this Facilities Maintenance work, and Jake has five talented staff members on his team: Brice Rosales, tractor operator; John Vote, senior equipment operator; Josh Lawhorn, tractor operator and staff member; and Lori Rauls and Isaac Lopez, facilities maintenance staff members. We’ll spotlight other crew members in upcoming Bosque Watch articles.
What prepared Jake for his position? His past experience in Socorro County includes being a ditch rider for Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, delivering water to farmers; doing maintenance work for the Village of Magdalena; working with municipal water systems for eight years; and serving as a water operator at White Sands Missile Range. Further, Jake mentioned during our interview that he has worked in the mines near Silver City where he was a haul truck operator, in Truth or Consequences where he helped build the road to the Spaceport, and in San Marcial where his crew removed salt cedar trees. Right out of high school, Jake worked as a farrier; and in high school, he made it to nationals in 4-H as a wildlife judge (and had also done range plant judging in Future Farmers of America (FFA)).
Jake and his wife Sammie have three children: an eleven year old daughter, and nine and seven year old sons. His family loves spending time outdoors camping, fishing, and hunting. They have three horses and three mules and enjoy horseback riding in the summer. Jake also helps his father with packing hunters’ gear in and out of the Gila Wilderness during hunting season and helping them pack out their meat as well when they have a successful hunt. In his very limited spare time, Jake is working on building a new house on his property, with the help of his family.
In both his personal and professional lives, it’s evident that Jake loves the outdoors and getting his hands dirty. While his job at Bosque del Apache does involve some “paper pushing,” Jake excels at and loves hands-on tasks and planning. He enjoys planting, irrigating, and operating equipment; he also enjoys gathering information, planning and working with his crew members, whom he likes and respects. Jake says that he loves that his job is “not monotonous and allows him a constant change of scenery.”
Of course, every job has its challenges. Despite the best-laid plans, equipment breaks down and that derails schedules, especially since Bosque del Apache no longer has an on-site mechanic, so most equipment failures or maintenance needs an outside expert. And, there are always budget shortfalls and unexpected needs. Jake is grateful that Friends has been able to fund some of the gaps. He also worries about resources and needing skilled staff. As the “baby boomers” are retiring, there are not necessarily people trained to fill positions. Another challenge that concerns Jake is ensuring a successful refuge farm, such that wildlife does not depredate the crops of surrounding farmers. Being a steward of the public lands, while also being a good community member, ensures the future of the refuge and people’s commitment to it.
In closing, Jake shared that he feels lucky to work in a beautiful place like Bosque del Apache. “Where else around here can you hike or drive around a tour loop and see so many types of wildlife – mammals like mountain lions, elk, javelina and bobcats? Where else can you go nearby and hear such amazing birdsong and enjoy such diversity? Where else can you have such a majestic landscape where mountains, the valley and wetlands meet?” Jake hopes that Bosque del Apache continues to be around for his children and future generations to enjoy; he wants to do his part to ensure that it is. Friends hope that Jake will be at Bosque del Apache for years to come too – we are fortunate to have a person with such a varied skillset, great attitude and such a strong teamwork and community ethic.