The Recount of an Agricultural

The Recount of an Agricultural

Two promotoras recount their experience from their interview with an agricultural worker and PBS.

Amalia Baltazar and Amanda Alanis

August 2021

Delanee Taylor

Anonymous Agricultural Worker

Agricultural Worker

Alamosa County, San Luis Valley

This story was shared by promotoras Amalia Baltazar and Amanda Alanis who work in the San Luis Valley region of Colorado. On August 11th, Amalia and Amanda were interviewing an agricultural worker from Alamosa County along with a film crew from PBS. The worker lived in a small place with no central air conditioning, and it only had the essentials, such as an old couch that had fabric falling off it, one table with two chairs, a small tv, and a very thin rug. The worker told the promotoras and PBS crew though that he was very grateful for what he had, and that he did not care about his own living conditions. Instead, he was entirely focused on working and sending money home to his family, and he said that he was okay with living with what he needed rather than with what he wanted. He did not request any help from the Amalia and Amanda, but they shared his story because it shines a spotlight on the living conditions that many agricultural workers accept when they come to the U.S. for work. The worker was extremely forthcoming and candid about his experience and his journey, which the PBS crew was grateful for. They kept thanking both Amalia and Amanda as well as the worker for sharing his story, and they emphasized how crucial they felt it was for his story to be shared.