The Old West becomes new again each spring at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.

Cowboy Days, the museum’s biggest event of the year, returns for the 17th year on March 5-6. The fun is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 for everyone 5 and older. For those who want to come early and save, the first 100 carloads each day will be admitted for $10 each.

Cowboy Days brings to life New Mexico’s ranching traditions through demonstrations, food, living history activities, and other programs. While learning about history is important, having fun is paramount.

Enchantment Historical Productions has a knack for making history fun. The group has three programs planned each day:
• “Old West Thunder” is a gunfight re-enactment program set in an Old West saloon, featuring authentic firearms with blanks. The scripted gunfights portray both historical events and conflicts inspired by dime novels.
• “The 19th Century Fashion Show” is hosted by Andrea Severson, a PhD candidate in history at UTEP, and includes fabulous costumes that illustrate the evolution of fashion in the American West.
• “The Big Camp Revival Meeting” is a living history performance that takes place in 1880 and includes music, mischief and a genuine antique pump organ that dates back to the Civil War.

In addition to these programs, costumed museum volunteers will be at various sites around the 47-acre facility portraying characters from the Old West and interacting with festival-goers.

The Borderland Pistoleros Mounted Shooting group returns to Cowboy Days and will demonstrate their skills of shooting from horseback in the museum’s roping arena twice each day. The museum’s livestock staff hosts the popular Parade of Breeds program twice each day, as well. Each of the museum’s seven different breeds of beef cattle will be brought into the round pen individually where each breed’s unique characteristics and history will be discussed.

Cowboy Days also features chuck wagon cooking and other demonstrations, including blacksmithing, dowsing, wool spinning, and wood carving. There are many children’s activities planned, including the popular Sheriff’s School, and rides that feature ponies, the mechanical bull, the stagecoach, and new this year – a miniature train.

Music also is a big part of the event and featured performers include Voz Vaqueros, Bruce Carlson, Washtub Jerry, Glenn Moreland, Eddy Harrison, James Michael, and Kenny Arroyos.

Western Writers of America authors Melody Groves, Linda Jacobs, Ralph Estes and Ollie Reed will sign books and tell stories. The Back Country Horsemen will perform packing demonstrations, and there will also be a plant sale and food, arts and crafts vendors. Pat Howard’s working dogs will do herding demonstrations on Sunday.

The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces. For more information, call (575) 522-4100 or visit www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org

Cowboy Days Schedule
Saturday, March 5

Ongoing activities: Stagecoach rides, arts and crafts vendors, living history, wood carving, blacksmithing, dowsing, wool spinning, chuck wagon cooking, children’s activities, plant sale, and Back Country Horsemen.

10:00 to 10:30: Washtub Jerry performs in the Courtyard with Kenny Arroyos.
10:00 to 10:30: Author Melody Groves in the Theater.
10:00 to 11:00: Pony rides ($5) on the South 20.
10:30-11:15: Old West Thunder gunfight in front of the Bruce King Building.
10:45-11:15: Sheriff’s School activity for children in the Amphitheater.
11:00-3:00: Train rides and mechanical bull rides ($5) at the Pavilion.
11:00-11:45: Glenn Moreland performs in the Courtyard.
11:00-12:00: Borderland Pistoleros Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
11:00-12:00: Voz Vaqueros singers near the food vendors.
11:00-11:30: Author Ralph Estes in the Theater.
11:30-12:30: 19th Century Fashion Show in Theather.
12:00-1:00: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
12:00-4:00: Pony rides ($5) on the South 20.
12:00-12:45: Bruce Carlson performs in the Courtyard.
12:30-1:15: Sheriff’s School in the Ampthitheater.
1:00-1:45: Kenny Arroyos performs in the Courtyard.
1:00-1:30: Author Linda Jacobs in the Theater.
1:30-2:30: The Big Camp Revival Meeting in the Theater.
2:00-2:45: Eddy Harrison performs in the Courtyard.
3:00-4:00: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
3:00-4:00: Old West Thunder gunfight in front of the Bruce King Building.
3:00-3:45: Washtub Jerry performs in the Courtyard with Kenny Arroyos.
4:00-5:00: Borderland Pistoleros Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
4:00-4:30: Glenn Moreland performs in the Courtyard.
4:15-4:45: Sheriff’s School activity for children in the Amphitheater.

Sunday, March 6

Ongoing activities: Working dogs, stagecoach rides, arts and crafts vendors, living history, wood carving, blacksmithing, dowsing, wool spinning, chuck wagon cooking, children’s activities, plant sale, and Back Country Horsemen.

10:00-10:45:.Sheriff’s School for children in the Amphitheater.
10:00-11:00: Pony rides ($5) on the South 20.
10:00-10:45: Glenn Moreland performs in the Courtyard.
10:30-11:00: Author Melody Groves in the Theater.
11:00-12:00: Borderland Pistoleros Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
11:00-11:45: Washtub Jerry performs in the Theater with Kenny Arroyos.
11:00-12:00: Old West Thunder gunfights in front of the Bruce King Building.
11:00-12:00: Voz Vaqueros singers perform near the food vendors.
11:00-3:00: Train rides and mechanical bull rides ($5) at the Pavilion.
12:00-1:00: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
12:00-12:30: Bruce Carlson performs in the Courtyard.
12:00-12:45: 19th Century Fashion Show in the Theater.
12:00-1:00: Voz Vaqueros singers near the food vendors.
12:00-2:00: Pony rides ($5) on the South 20.
12:00-12:45: Bruce Carlson performs in the Courtyard.
1:00-1:30: Sheriff’s School activity for children in the Amphitheater.
1:00-1:45: Kenny Arroyos performs in the Courtyard.
1:00-1:30: Author Linda Jacobs in the Theater.
2:00-3:00: Borderland Pistoleros Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
2:00-2:45:. The Big Camp Revival Meeting in the Theater.
2:00-2:45: Glenn Moreland performs in the Courtyard.
3:00-3:30: Washtub Jerry performs in the Courtyard with Kenny Arroyos.
3:00-3:30: Author Ralph Estes in the Theater.
3:00-4:00: Old West Thunder gunfights in front of the Bruce King Building.
3:00-4:00: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
3:00-4:00: Pony rides ($5) on the South 20.