A day of demonstrations, children’s activities, rides, and special programs wraps up a week commemorating the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum’s 20th Anniversary.

May 19 is 20th Anniversary Celebration Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A reduced admission rate of only $5 per carload will be in place for this day only. Food vendors will be on site and all of the museum’s regular offerings are included.

The Parade of Breeds cattle program is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Livestock Manager Greg Ball will bring examples of each of the Museum’s seven breeds of beef cattle into the Round Pen to talk about their origin and characteristics. Visitors can watch from the shaded bleachers.

Pony rides for children begin about 11:30 a.m. and will continue into the afternoon. The cost for a ride is $5. There will also be free games for the children.

The New Mexico Vintage Iron tractor club will have antique tractors on display, as well as lawn tractors, hit-and-miss engines, a grist mill and rope making. They also will have lawn and garden tractor sled pulls, as well as parades and barrel rides.

Demonstrations on May 19 include the milking demonstration at 10 a.m., blacksmithing, and woodcarving. The Museum also will have its greenhouse plants on sale, including herbs, tomato plants, succulents, trees, ice plants, and more.

In the afternoon, costumed characters will have living history activities at the Dairy Barn from 12:30-1:30 and from 2:30-3:30.

The museum held its grand opening on May 17, 1998 and has welcomed visitors from all over the world. The 47-acre, New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs museum has 12,000 artifacts, livestock, barns, corrals, greenhouse, the Historic Green Bridge, and the Heart of the Desert Gift Shop and Snack Bar.

The events leading up to May 19 include:

• May 15 – Blessing of the Fields from 10-11 a.m. Free.
• May 17 – Brown Bag History Talk about Billy the Kid (12-1 p.m.) Free.
• May 18 – New Mexico Vintage Iron tractor demos and rides. All day. Regular admission.
• May 18 – Presentation of the Luis Jimenez sculpture, “Sodbuster, San Isidro.” Reception with appetizers and a cash bar, and lecture. 5-7 p.m. Free.

The museum is at 4100 Dripping Springs Road. For more information, call (575) 522-4100 or visit www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org