29th Annual
CAPE @ the Capitol
Thursday, February 5, 2026
9 am – 1 pm
The Roundhouse
490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Registration is open now – scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up!
Speaker: Mitch Hibbard
Mitch Hibbard is a Christian homeschool father of ten who, alongside his wife Kelly, is dedicated to raising their family in faith and pursuing an education rooted in purpose and character.
Connected to rural New Mexico, Mitch is a strong advocate for parental rights, educational freedom, and the values that strengthen families and communities.
In his professional role, he works to expand rural broadband, ensuring that families across New Mexico have the connectivity and resources needed in today’s world.
At home and at the New Mexico Legislature, Mitch strives to serve his community with integrity and a Christ‑centered heart.
Speaker: TJ Schmidt
Tj was homeschooled starting in the 2nd grade through high school graduation. For much of that time, his family served as missionaries in Haiti.
He earned his juris doctor from Oak Brook College of Law while serving as a legal assistant at HSLDA. Now, as an HSLDA staff attorney, Tj assists members across the country with legal questions and challenges to their homeschool freedom.
Tj and his wife, Susan, homeschool their nine children: Josiah, Suzanna, Ella, Makenna, Jonah, Annika, Ezra, Sadie, and Henry.
2026 Schedule
9 am – Check-in Begins
Please meet on the 3rd floor of the Roundhouse.
We will have helpers stationed at elevators and staircases with signs directing you to our check-in stations.
Once you have checked in, you choose what to do next:
Visit your lawmakers
Sit in on a committee meeting
Watch the House Session
Participate in a scavenger hunt
View artwork
Simply appreciate the energy of a Legislative Session
11:30 – Meet in Mayberry Hall at the PED Building
(across the street from the Capitol).
Hear from our speakers, and get information, advice, and encouragement for NM politics and your homeschooling journey.
What is it?
An event that builds and maintains the foundations that keep homeschooling free in New Mexico.
A morning in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, the oldest capital city in the United States.
A chance to meet your lawmakers and other homeschoolers.
A field trip to introduce your children to the legislative process.
An opportunity to show decision-makers what homeschoolers are really like.
How can I get involved?
Join us in Santa Fe on the first Thursday of February.
Registration is open now and continues until the Monday before CAPE @ the Capitol.
Email Erin at erin.ffr@cape-nm.org with questions, ideas, or donations.
REGISTRATION OPEN CLICK HERE OR SCROLL DOWN