New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum

Culture Series: Before Billy the Kid
2022-12-08 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
What made Billy the Kid tick? Author Melody Groves will discuss the answer to that question and many more during the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum’s next Culture Series presentation.
The lecture, “Before Billy the Kid: The Boy Behind the Legendary Outlaw,” is at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 in the Museum’s Theater. This presentation is organized and hosted by the Friends of the Museum and admission is free. It is being held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibit: Riding Herd with Billy the Kid: The Rise of the Cattle Industry in New Mexico.
Groves will have copies of her books, including Before Billy the Kid, to sign and sell at the event.
An easy life was not in the cards for William Henry McCarty. Born around 1861, the boy who grew to become Billy the Kid sang and danced his way into the hearts of almost everyone around him. What do we really know about this Southwestern icon? Many stories throughout the 150 years since his untimely death have transformed a polite, friendly, personable young man into something he was not. Orphaned at 13, Billy fought his way through life only to be betrayed time after time.
In this talk, Groves will discuss Billy’s personality, his desires, his loves, and his ultimate demise. What made Billy the Kid tick? What you learn may surprise you.
Las Cruces native Melody Groves loves anything Western. She has authored non-fiction books: Ropes, Reins, and Rawhide: All About Rodeo; Historic Bars of the Southwest; Butterfield’s Byways; When Outlaws Wore Badges; and Before Billy the Kid. Her fiction includes: The Colton Brothers Series: Border Ambush, Sonoran Rage, Arizona War, Kansas Bleeds, Black Range Revenge, and Trail to Tin Town. Also Maud Overstreet Series: She Was Sheriff and Lady of the Law. In addition, she writes for Western and regional magazines. Vice President of Western Writers of America, she also plays rhythm guitar in an Albuquerque band. She currently lives in Albuquerque.

HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market
2022-11-20 09:00 - 15:00, 2022-11-19 09:00 - 16:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market returns for the eighth year at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
HomeGrown will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 per vehicle, and the first 100 vehicles at the event each day will receive a free shopping bag.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture again will be partnering with the Museum to co-host the show.
With the holiday season right around the corner, HomeGrown is a great opportunity to sample and shop for New Mexico award-winning food products.
Attendees can expect about 60 vendors, the majority representing a variety of food and beverage companies from around the state, many of which are New Mexico —Taste the Tradition® and Grown with Tradition® members. Each booth will offer locally produced products, such as salsas, nuts, candy, and wine for attendees to sample and purchase. The show also features handmade art and crafts made from agricultural resources.
For more information, please call (575) 522-4100.

Culture Series: Coexisting with local wildlife
2022-11-10 19:00 - 20:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Local wildlife and how to coexist with these species are the focus of the next Culture Series presentation at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.
Colleen Payne, Public Information Specialist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, is the speaker. The program begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10 in the Museum’s theater and admission is free. The Friends of the Museum organize and host this monthly series.
The desert Southwest is home to many iconic species such as mule deer, javelina, coyotes, bobcats, and rattlesnakes. Learning about these species, their behavior, and what to do if you encounter one will help keep both you and the animal safe.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish oversees all hunting and fishing across the state. With hunting season in full swing, this is also a great opportunity to bring any questions you may have about that. Colleen will be available to answer any questions about hunter education programs, Operation Game Thief, how to obtain a fishing or hunting license, and potential career opportunities in the Department.
Colleen Payne is a lifelong resident of New Mexico and has nearly 25 years of experience in the outdoors, primarily hunting and fishing. After graduating from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in animal science, she dedicated her career to wildlife conservation and education. Mentoring new hunters and educating the public on the positive impacts of hunting and fishing are her highlights of the job.

The Dairy Spot Grand Opening
2022-10-29 10:00 - 14:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The dairy barn at the Museum has a new look, a new name, and lots of fun, new activities and exhibits.
The Dairy Spot: Discovery Center opens to the public with a special celebration on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Caliche’s Frozen Custard will be on site to provide a free 5-ounce serving to the first 500 visitors, and guests are invited to make their own ice cream using Ziplock bags. Milking and other demonstrations also are part of the fun. Regular admission applies ($5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $3 for children 4 to 17), and it includes all the Museum’s regular offerings.
With this renovation, The Dairy Spot: Discovery Center will continue to share New Mexico’s dairy history but will be more child-friendly and have more interactive exhibits. This brighter, livelier venue includes a multi-use public space that can be used for everything from demonstrations to children’s birthday parties.
The Southwest Dairy Farmers’ $30,000 donation to the Museum last year made the renovation possible.
Visitors to The Dairy Spot will enjoy videos of ice cream making, the process of pasteurization, and farm to table. Some of the topics featured in The Dairy Spot are the breeds of dairy cattle, sources of milk from around the world, a cow’s anatomy, nutrition, cheese, ice cream, butter, and lots of fun facts. Among the interactives are a butter churn, a cheese fridge, and an “I spy” activity featuring a house with various dairy products.

Culture Series: Big Cats of New Mexico
2022-10-13 19:00 - 20:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Mountain lion research in New Mexico is the subject of the next Culture Series at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.

The “Big Cats of New Mexico” presentation at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 is organized and hosted by the Friends of the Museum. Admission is free.

Dr. Travis Perry, a biology professor at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., will talk about his New Mexico mountain lion research, meaningful outdoor education, and creating a field station in the Gila National Forest. In 2021, Dr. Perry founded Natural Curiosity, a nonprofit based in Hillsboro, N.M. that created the station for hands-on education, back-country skills, and conservation research in the Gila.

As a community ecologist, Dr. Perry’s interests are quite broad as reflected in his research with Furman students on species as diverse as the bunched arrowhead (endangered plant) to spotted salamanders to meadow voles to desert bighorn sheep.

Dr. Perry thrives on engaged teaching, giving students first-hand experience in the subject matter. He believes that these are the academic experiences, more than any others, that change lives. He has introduced students to the wilderness of New Mexico, the South African bush, the tropical forests of Costa Rica, and the natural environments of South Carolina. Perry feels his greatest professional achievement as an educator has been the design and implementation of Furman University’s Wild Semester, a conservation biology study-away program.

Culture Series: Write What You Know, with Carol Potenza
2022-09-08 19:00 - 20:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
New Mexico author Carol Potenza is the speaker for the Sept. 8 Culture Series presentation at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
The lecture, hosted by the Friends of the Museum, begins at 7 p.m. and admission is free. The title of Carol’s talk is: Write What You Know: Creating Mysteries in a Historically Rich and Culturally Diverse State.
New Mexico, with its scenic beauty, depth of history, and culturally diverse people, provides a fertile field for writers, from Fabiola Cabeza de Baca to Tony Hillerman to Rudolfo Anaya. Writing—whether fiction or nonfiction, novels or newspaper articles—takes hard work and dedication. Authors spend countless hours on research, character creation, plots, editing, marketing, and publishing their work.
Carol will talk about her process, the ghost stories woven through her novels, how her scientific background shapes her stories, and the unwritten rules that can have a profound effect on a writing career. Please join her for what she hopes will be a lively discussion on the content of her books and how New Mexico has shaped her writing career.
Carol taught biochemistry at New Mexico State University before transitioning to a full-time mystery writer. Her first book was the Tony Hillerman Prize winner, Hearts of the Missing, followed by The Third Warrior and Spirit Daughters, the second and third book in the Nicky Matthews mystery. Unmasked is the first book in her De-extinct Zoo mysteries.
Carol loves the combination of strong women sleuths, paranormal and murder mystery, mixed with science or, as she likes to call it—BiocheMystery. She sets all her books in the beautiful state of New Mexico, where she lives with her husband, Leos, and her extremely grumpy chihuahua, Hermès. You can visit her at www.carolpotenza.com and on Instagram and Facebook at @carolpotenzaauthor.

Community Appreciation Day
2022-08-27 10:00 - 16:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The Farm & Ranch Museum’s annual Community Appreciation Day is Aug. 27. There is free admission for everyone on this day and the fun is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Demonstrations will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pony rides are tentatively planned for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. ($5). There will also be a plant sale.
Visitor may enjoy all of the Museum’s regular offerings, including the indoor and outdoor exhibits, and tours to see the livestock.
For more information, call (575) 522-4100.

Exhibit Opening: The Color of Dreams: Photography by Wayne Suggs
2022-08-20 13:30 - 15:30 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Wayne Suggs says “landscape photography is magical to me.” The renowned New Mexico photographer will share some of that magic with the Farm & Ranch Museum.
The opening for his show, “The Color of Dreams,” is Saturday, Aug. 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The public is invited to meet Suggs and enjoy refreshments at the free opening reception in the Museum’s Arts Corridor. Regular admission is required to see the rest of the Museum: $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $3 for children 4 to 17.
The Color of Dreams exhibit features 25 of Suggs’ most-recent photographs that are included in his book of the same title. His images capture the beautiful, rugged landscape of New Mexico. Whether the composition includes night skies, cacti, petroglyphs, boulders, or abandoned structures, Suggs’ photographs have a distinct feel and look.
“For 47 years, I’ve held a camera in my hand,” said Suggs, who has lived his whole life in Las Cruces. “My love and passion for the art of photography has continued to grow with each passing year. To return in my mind to that moment in time, and to remember the joy I felt when I pressed the shutter has made the photographs a part of who I am. I’m not in love with my photographs, I’m in love with all the experiences, the friends I’ve made, and most of all, being out in nature.”
The 2015 New Mexico Magazine Photographer of the Year has won numerous awards, including The Oliver Award for his work in night photography with petroglyphs. His work can be seen in national, state, and local publications such as New Mexico Magazine, The Reflector Astronomy Magazine, New Mexico Travelers Guide, and the Wilderness Society publications. He currently teaches photography for Muench Workshops.
“These days, teaching photography is a big part of my life,” he said. “I get just as much joy from teaching someone how to capture an image as I do in taking my own. I still crave the solitude of the wild places, but with my camera, I feel I am sharing a small glimpse of the reverence I feel in the wild.”
The art show will be on display through Dec. 3, 2022.

Culture Series: Victorio Peak
2022-08-11 19:00 - 20:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The monthly Culture Series returns to the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in August and the first lecture focuses on one of the enduring mysteries in the region.
Historian Jim Eckles’ talk at 7 p.m. on Aug. 11 is called: “Victorio Peak: One Hundred Tons of Gold or Just One Hundred Tall Tales.” The presentation, hosted by the Friends of the Museum, will be in the Museum’s theater and admission is free, although donations will be accepted.
Milton Noss claimed he descended into Victorio Peak in Dona Ana County in 1937 and discovered a huge tunnel. At the end of the tunnel were rooms with skeletons chained to the floor and gold bars stacked like firewood – the math led to claims of 100 tons of gold. In 1939, he collapsed the entrance when it was dynamited to make it larger. Since then, Noss himself, various family members, and a horde of others tried to regain access to the fabulous treasure. Newspaper accounts talk about billions of dollars in gold hidden there.
These searchers and claimants have been prevented from simply leveling Victorio Peak because, after World War II, the tiny mountain became part of White Sands Missile Range. Although the missile range considers treasure hunters as trespassers, the Army has allowed four different searches at the peak. During the last one, Noss descendants were there for several years.
Eckles will detail the legend and some of the efforts to find the gold and explain why they haven’t found anything. Eckles is a retiree from the missile range where he worked in the Public Affairs Office for 30 years. One of the most popular questions he received while conducting tours of the missile range was, “Can we see Victorio Peak?” Because of the persistence of the 100-tons of gold legend, Eckles included a whole chapter to it in his book “Pocketful of Rockets: History and Stories Behind White Sands Missile Range.”
Eckles has been on and inside Victorio Peak and dealt with many of the treasure claimants. He says it was a nice break from explaining Trinity Site or why there are roadblocks during missile tests.

Summertime on the Farm
2022-07-16 10:00 - 14:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Enjoy a day of family fun at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Admission is $10 per carload.

Summertime on the Farm is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, and features activities, games, food trucks, and music. The day begins with a bicycle parade for children (12 and under) beginning at 10 a.m. The parade across the bridge and around the South 20 portion of the Museum campus includes prizes. Registration for the parade begins at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, call (575) 522-4100.

Fiber Extravaganza
2022-06-18 10:00 - 14:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Come enjoy seeing and learning about the beautiful creations that are produced locally by fiber artists on June 18 at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.
The Fiber Extravaganza is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular Museum admission applies: $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $3 for children 4 to 17.
Demonstrations are a big part of the event, with the following planned: Natural dye, Colcha embroidery, quilting, twining, sewing, weaving, triangle loom weaving, embroidery, basket weaving, and rigid heddle weaving. The High Canyon Weavers & Spinners Guild will be here to offer demonstrations of wool carding, inkle loom weaving, and table loom weaving.
Guests can try table loom weaving and there will be a limited number of tiny looms and yarn to distribute. The Bureau of Land Management will have a yucca bracelet making activity, and the Oveja Project will have interns demonstrating wool spinning.
Tye Lightfoot of the United States Department of Agriculture will be in the Museum’s theater to talk about cotton processes.
The weekly education program for children – All Aboard the Ag Wagon – will feature a fiber arts craft activity from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Other groups with booths at the Fiber Extravaganza include: The Las Cruces Knitting Guild, Njoy Beads, Threadbear, My Place Jewell, Weaving for Justice, and the Dona Ana Arts Council.
The Farm & Ranch Museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces. For more information, call (575) 522-4100.

Blessing of the Fields
2022-05-13 10:00 - 11:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum will celebrate an old tradition with the annual Blessing of the Fields procession on Friday, May 13.
At 10 a.m., the colorful procession around the Museum grounds begins with the blessing the animals, plants, and acequia. Visitors who come to the Museum to participate in the procession from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. will not be charged admission.

The event begins with the Prayer of the Four Directions, led by Patrick Narvaez, and Cacique of Corporacion de los Indigines de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Tortugas and Tortugas Pueblo.
Leading the procession will be Most Reverend Peter Baldacchino, Bishop of the Las Cruces Diocese. Students from Las Cruces Catholic Schools will be among the participants.
The bulto carried during the procession was created by Las Cruces artist Virginia Maria Romero. Other Museum art and objects related to San Ysidro and the Blessing of the Fields tradition from the Museum’s collection will be on display, including a large wooden statue of San Ysidro.
The Museum will also have a plant sale as part of the festivities. Vegetables, flowers and desert plants grown in the Museum’s greenhouse will be featured in the sale.
This marks the 22nd year that the Museum has held this program, which focuses on a long and rich history.

Artist's Reception: Seasons of Enchantment: Painting the New Mexico Farm & Ranch
2022-04-23 12:00 - 14:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The talent of the New Mexico Watercolor Society will be on display in a new art show at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
“Seasons of Enchantment: Painting the New Mexico Farm and Ranch” features 28 works of art by members of the society. An opening reception is planned for 12 to 2 p.m. on April 23.
These watercolor paintings celebrate the daily life of New Mexico farmers and ranchers and their families, evoking a sense of time and place. They elevate the ordinary to extraordinary and reflect the wonder of the landscape and its people.
The paintings include rural landscapes, livestock, farming and ranching scenes, and wildlife.
Watercolors from members of both the Albuquerque and Las Cruces chapters of the New Mexico Watercolor Society have been selected by Juror Lynn McLain, AWS, NWS. The Society honors and celebrates the medium of watercolor through the support of highest aesthetic standards, education of the public, promotion of community engagement, and facilitation of member development. The Albuquerque chapter began in 1969 and the Southern Chapter celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The show features paintings by John Glass, Laurel Weathersbee, Barbara McGuire, Susan Davis, Patricia Black, Jay Leutwyler, Junko Nakao, Robert Highsmith, Richard Harris, Penny Thomas Simpson, Tina Little, Dorian Clouser, Tom Cassidy, Mark Cirzan, Dave Cook, Tina Stallard, Rachel Murphree, Bonnie Deming, Rebecca A. Johnson, and Nancy Frost Begin.
The show will be on display in the Museum’s Arts Corridor through July 30, 2022.

Nancy Frost Begin

Cowboy Days
2022-03-05 09:00 - 16:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Demonstrations, living history, and family fun are the focus as Cowboy Days returns to the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces for the 22nd year.
The event is Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5. The Museum is closed on Sunday. The Friday activities begin with members of the Museum’s living history group interacting with guests in the galleries. The historical characters will share their stories in exhibits around the Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some of the characters include Buckshot Roberts from the Lincoln County War, Fray Lorenzo, rancher Charles Martin, mercantile proprietors Cal and Mrs. LaPoint, and Nellie, who will share a day in the life of a rancher’s wife.
Following the living history program on Friday, Las Cruces author and historian David G. Thomas will give a presentation called “The Trial of Billy the Kid” in the Museum’s Theater at 2 p.m. Thomas, who authored a book with the same title, will share rarely reported details of the Kid’s trial in Mesilla. The presentation is being held in conjunction with the opening of the Museum’s new exhibit, “Riding Herd with Billy the Kid: The Rise of the Cattle Industry in New Mexico.”
Regular Museum admission applies to Friday’s activities: $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens (60 and over), and $3 for children 4 to 17.
A variety of family activities are planned for Saturday, March 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for Saturday is $10 per carload and includes all the Museum’s standard offerings.
Saturday’s activities begin with demonstrations from 9 a.m. to noon, including Colcha embroidery, weaving, sewing, twining, wool spinning, and chair caning. The blacksmith shop will be open for demonstrations all day, and visitors can take a chuck wagon tour in the Museum’s new exhibit, “Riding Herd with Billy the Kid.”
Horseshoeing is another popular demonstration and it takes place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on the South 20 portion of the Museum’s campus. The Southwest Dairy Farmers’ Mobile Dairy will be on site to do milking demonstrations and a dairy program at 9:30, 10:30, 1:30 and 3:00. Sheep shearing in the Sheep & Goat Barn will take place throughout the day, and the Back Country Horsemen will be stationed near the Historic Green Bridge. Also near the bridge will be Museum living history characters giving a talk on branding.
The Parade of Breeds cattle program is a staple of Cowboy Days. Livestock Manager Greg Ball brings each breed into the Round Pen to discusses their history and characteristics. The Museum has seven different breeds of beef cattle. This popular program is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Linda McDaniel of Alamogordo will be at the Museum with her herding dogs and they’ll demonstrate sheep herding at 10 a.m., noon and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Music and activities will create a lively atmosphere throughout the Museum’s Courtyard on Saturday. Singer/musician Kenny Arroyos will perform from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., while the Ramblin’ Rangers will perform from 11 a.m. to noon, and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. At noon, there will be a line dancing demonstration by Sol Ballroom in the Courtyard. The Art of the Historical Fashion Show will follow from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Courtyard activities include games and crafts for children, as well as informational booths. There will be bandana making and farming-in-a-glove kits, and New Mexico Ag in the Classroom will be doing butter-making demonstrations. Other organizations providing activities include Branigan Library, 4-H, New Mexico Meats, High Noon Leather, Master Gardeners, New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico Cattle Growers, Asombro, Cowbelles, and the New Mexico Chile Pepper Institute.
Due to Covid restrictions and staffing issues, there will be no stagecoach, pony, or train rides this year. Pets are not allowed. For more information, please call (575) 522-4100. A division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces.
Friday, March 4

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Living history characters in the Museum’s galleries.
2 p.m.: Author and historian David Thomas presents “The Trial of Billy the Kid.”
Saturday, March 5

All day: Museum exhibits. Children’s games and activities in the Courtyard. Food trucks south of the Bruce King Building. Blacksmith demonstration at the Blacksmith Shop. Sheep shearing demonstration at the Sheep & Goat Barn. Branding talk near the bridge. Back Country Horsemen near the bridge.
9 a.m. to noon.: Demonstrations, including butter making, twining, sewing, wool spinning, and chair caning in the Organ View Terrace.
9:30 a.m.: Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy milking program on the South 20.
10-11 a.m.: Kenny Arroyos performs in the Courtyard.
10-10:30 a.m.: Horseshoeing demonstration on the South 20.
10 a.m.: Sheep-herding dogs demonstration on the South 20.
10:30 a.m.: Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy milking program on the South 20.
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Ramblin’ Rangers perform in the Courtyard.
12 p.m.: Sheep-herding dogs demonstration on the South 20.
12-1 p.m.: Line dancing by Sol Ballroom in the courtyard.
1-1:30 p.m.: Horseshoeing demonstration on the South 20.
1 p.m.: The Art of the Historical Fashion Show in the Courtyard.
1:30 p.m.: Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy milking program on the South 20.
2-3 p.m.: Kenny Arroyos performs in the Courtyard.
2-3 p.m.: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
3 p.m.: Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy milking program on the South 20.
3-4 p.m.: Ramblin’ Rangers perform in the Courtyard.

The Trial of Billy the Kid
2022-03-04 14:00 - 15:00 | NM
Las Cruces author and historian David G. Thomas will talk about his book, “The Trial of Billy the Kid,” at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 4. This book is about Billy the Kid’s trial for murder in Mesilla, and the events leading up to that trial. The result of Billy’s trial helped seal his fate, and yet Billy’s trial is one of the least-known events of his adult life. This presentation in the Museum’s Theater is being held in conjunction with the new exhibit, “Riding Herd with Billy the Kid: The Rise of the Cattle Industry in New Mexico.” Before the presentation, members of the Museum’s living history group will be in and around the Museum’s exhibits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 4. Guests are invited to see the exhibits and interact with some of our historic characters. Regular admission applies: $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, and $3 for children 4 to 17.These activities kick off Cowboy Days, which continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. The Museum is closed on Sundays.

The Museum ROCKS! Gem & Mineral Show
2022-02-20 10:00 - 17:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The Museum ROCKS! Gem & Mineral Show brings together wholesale and resale dealers of both cut and uncut gemstones, rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry, and jewelry-making supplies. Educational information also is part of the show. The event is hosted by the Friends of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, sponsored by Frank Parrish, and organized by Las Cruces Event Planning. Admission, which includes all of the Museum’s regular offerings, is $7 for ages 12 and older, $4 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under.For more information about this event, please call Las Cruces Event Planning at (575) 522-1232.

The Museum ROCKS! Gem & Mineral Show
2022-02-19 09:00 - 17:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
The Museum ROCKS! Gem & Mineral Show brings together wholesale and resale dealers of both cut and uncut gemstones, rocks, minerals, fossils, jewelry, and jewelry-making supplies. Educational information also is part of the show. The event is hosted by the Friends of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, sponsored by Frank Parrish, and organized by Las Cruces Event Planning. Admission, which includes all of the Museum’s regular offerings, is $7 for ages 12 and older, $4 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under. For more information about this event, please call Las Cruces Event Planning at (575) 522-1232.

Exhibit Opening: An Enchanted Vision
2021-12-18 13:30 - 15:30 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
A deep appreciation of farm and ranch life in New Mexico is the impetus behind an upcoming art show at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.

“An Enchanted Vision: The Artistic Celebration of Farming and Ranching in New Mexico” features the artwork of artist Sue Nichols. Her artwork is on display in the Museum’s Arts Corridor, beginning with a reception on Dec. 18 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The 30 creations in Nichols’ show are mostly oil paintings, but there are also stained glass and watercolor works in the show.

As a native New Mexican and member of a fifth-generation farm and ranch family, Nichols’ artistic inspiration stems from the rich cultural, historical, and geographical landscape of the Borderland region. The varied aspects of New Mexico, from sunsets, abandoned adobes, and stark plains, all combine to tell the story of this unique area.

Nichols’ art portrays a historical reflection of agrarian and indigenous New Mexico, ranging from depictions of past generations and days gone by to present-day youth engaged in agricultural endeavors. Sue’s artistic work incorporates multiple mediums and inspires a desire to preserve all of the unique enchanting charms that make New Mexico so special.

The show will be on display through March 2022.

HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market
2021-11-21 09:00 - 15:00 | NM
HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market returns for the seventh year at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
HomeGrown will take place on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 per vehicle, and the first 100 vehicles at the event each day will receive a free burlap shopping bag.
With the holiday season is right around the corner, HomeGrown is a great opportunity to sample and shop for New Mexico award-winning food products. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture again will be partnering with the Museum to co-host the show.
The majority of vendors will be representing a variety of food companies from around the state and all of which are New Mexico —Taste the Tradition® and Grown with Tradition® members. Each booth will offer locally produced products, such as award-winning salsas and wine, for attendees to sample and purchase. The show also features crafts made from agriculture resources and hand-made art.
Admission includes all of the regular Museum offerings.

BUY TICKETS

HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market (2025)
2021-11-20 09:00 - 16:00 | NM
HomeGrown: A New Mexico Food Show & Gift Market returns for the eleventh year (2025) at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
HomeGrown will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 per vehicle, and the first 100 vehicles at the event each day will receive a free shopping bag.
With the holiday season is right around the corner, HomeGrown is a great opportunity to sample and shop for New Mexico award-winning food products. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture again will be partnering with the Museum to co-host the show.
The majority of vendors will be representing a variety of food companies from around the state and all of which are New Mexico —Taste the Tradition® and Grown with Tradition® members. Each booth will offer locally produced products, such as award-winning salsas and wine, for attendees to sample and purchase. The show also features crafts made from agriculture resources and hand-made art.
Admission ($10 per vehicle) includes all of the regular Museum offerings.

Meet the Artist - Ken & Betty Krebbs
2021-08-21 14:00 - 16:00 | New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM, 88011, United States
Our featured art show, “O Fair New Mexico,” by Ken and Betty Krebbs, opens Saturday, Aug. 20 and will run till Dec. 5, 2021.
Come to the Farm and Ranch Museum Saturday, August 21 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m..
Ken and Betty will be at the museum for a special “Meet the Artist.”
The Farm & Ranch Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Throughout 50 years of marriage, a shared love for art and for New Mexico has patterned Ken’s and Betty’s life and work. Both worked in the Popular Dry Good’s display department in El Paso, Texas. After marrying and starting a family, they established “The Ink Well,” a silk-screening business. Later, Ken became ”The Village Cabinetmaker” in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Betty began teaching and integrated art into her curriculum. Now retired, they devote much of their time to creating art. Ken paints in oil, while Betty enjoys pastels, watercolor, and fiber arts.

Ken, from Texas and Betty, a New Yorker, made the “Land of Enchantment” their home and are deeply connected to its history, culture, and natural beauty. For this reason, Ken and Betty now present their art in “O Fair New Mexico.”

Community Appreciation Day
2020-08-22 09:00 - 16:00 | NM
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Museum offers free admission on this day each year to thank the community for its support. Demonstrations are a big part of the day, as well as the Parade of Breeds cattle program, pony rides, children’s games, living history, food vendors, a plant sale, and more.

Ice Cream Sunday
2020-07-19 12:00 - 16:00 | NM
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
America’s favorite summer treat is the star of this popular annual event. Come and enjoy making and eating homemade ice cream, enter the ice cream sandwich eating contest and play old-fashioned games. Regular admission applies.

Culture Series: The New Mexico Cattle Frontier
2020-04-16 12:30 - 13:30 | NM
CANCELLED – 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
In this Culture Series presentation in the Museum’s theater, range historian Stephen Zimmer of Cimarron, N.M., will survey the rise of New Mexico’s cattle frontier of the 1880s and ’90s. Admission is free.
Sheep grazed the mountains and plains along the Rio Grande for more than two centuries after they were first introduced by Spanish colonists in 1598. But once New Mexico became of Territory of the United States, Americans began grazing beef cattle on the nutritious grama grass that covered much of the area. John S. Chisum and Lucien Maxwell were among the first American cattle raisers, and they grazed vast herds that they sold to the federal government to feed soldiers at various Army forts and Indians on reservations in the Territory.
Conditions for raising cattle changed dramatically, however, when the Santa Fe Railroad laid tracks over Raton Pass and into the Territory in 1879. The rail line ran south to Albuquerque and eventually to Deming where it intersected the Southern Pacific. Once established, the Santa Fe provided the means to ship cattle to slaughterhouses in Kansas City and Chicago that processed beef for the burgeoning population of the eastern seaboard. As a result, large herds of Texas longhorns were driven onto New Mexico’s public domain and a period of open range ranching that extended for the next 20 years.
Zimmer will include excerpts from memoirs of several participants of the era including Eugene Manlove Rhodes, Agnes Morley Cleaveland, Jack Thorp, and Col. Jack “Lead Steer” Potter.

Discovery Morning: Making Sun Prints
2020-03-25 10:00 - 12:00 | NM
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Students are welcome to learn how to make a sun print in celebration of spring. Items such as flowers and leaves will be used to make a print on cotton fabric. Recommended for students ages 8-12. Class fee is $3 and all materials will be provided. Contact LuAnn Kilday at 575-522-4100 or luannr.kilday@state.nm.us to register.

Crafts for Kids
2020-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | NM
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Children are invited to come make a spring craft. Materials will be provided This activity is free with regular admission ($5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for children 4-17). Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Annual Buffalo Roast Fundraiser
2020-03-14 17:00 - 22:00 | NM
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Museum Director Mark Santiago will be the speaker at Human Systems Research’s 9th Annual Buffalo Roast Fundraiser at the Museum.
A cash bar and silent auction begin at 5 p.m., the dinner is at 6 p.m., and the presentation is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 and there are advance ticket sales only. For tickets and information, please call 575-524-9456.
Human Systems Research Inc. is a nonprofit for anthropological research and preservation.
A multi-award winning author, Santiago’s talk is called “Labyrinth of Blood: Apaches and the Spanish Empire.” Over the course of several centuries, the Apache peoples repeatedly confronted and confounded the northern movement of the Spanish Empire into what is now the Southwestern Borderlands. This talk will examine the origins, course and results of this long, bloody struggle.

Reading Roundup
2020-03-14 14:00 - 15:00 | NM
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join us for Reading Roundup in the Museum lobby. Children of all ages are welcome to listen and learn. This activity is free with regular admission ($5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, $3 for children 4-17). Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Culture Series: Paquimé and the Casas Grandes Culture
2020-03-10 12:30 - 13:30 | NM
Culture Series: Paquimé and the Casas Grandes Culture
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Jeff Romney, the director of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, will discuss Paquimé as a ceremonial and trade center within the greater Casas Grandes region. The discussion will also include the cliff dwelling sites at Cuesta Blanca, Cave Valley, and Cuarenta Casas and the petroglyph sites at Anchondo, Arroyo de los Monos, and others. Admission is free.
The Casas Grandes Culture inhabited parts of Chihuahua, Sonora, and New Mexico between 700 AD – 1450 AD. During the Medio Period (1200 AD – 1450 AD), the Casas Grandes Culture reached the height of its prominence and influence in the region. It is during this period that Paquimé was built, eventually becoming an important ceremonial and trade center. The largest cache of shells ever found in an archaeological context in North America was excavated at Paquimé. Exquisite ceramics, beautiful works in stone, copper bells, turquoise, and macaw remains were also found at the site. Paquimé was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Culture Series: Paquimé and the Casas Grandes Culture
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Jeff Romney, the director of the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, will discuss Paquimé as a ceremonial and trade center within the greater Casas Grandes region. The discussion will also include the cliff dwelling sites at Cuesta Blanca, Cave Valley, and Cuarenta Casas and the petroglyph sites at Anchondo, Arroyo de los Monos, and others. Admission is free.
The Casas Grandes Culture inhabited parts of Chihuahua, Sonora, and New Mexico between 700 AD – 1450 AD. During the Medio Period (1200 AD – 1450 AD), the Casas Grandes Culture reached the height of its prominence and influence in the region. It is during this period that Paquimé was built, eventually becoming an important ceremonial and trade center. The largest cache of shells ever found in an archaeological context in North America was excavated at Paquimé. Exquisite ceramics, beautiful works in stone, copper bells, turquoise, and macaw remains were also found at the site. Paquimé was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Romney grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, near Paquimé, which inspired his life-long interest in Southwest Archaeology. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1995 with an emphasis in Southwest Archaeology and Native American Studies. While at BYU, Romney worked at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures as student co-curator, working primarily with the museum’s large collection of Casas Grandes pottery. After graduating from BYU, he accepted the position of Museum Specialist at Wheeler Historic Farm, Salt Lake County’s Parks and Recreation Department. In 2006, Romney joined the El Paso Museum of Art where he served as Head of Development for a decade. He has 21 years of experience in the museums profession. Romney’s research interests include the Pre-Columbian Southwest, Native American cultures, and pottery. When not working, he enjoys collecting Pueblo pottery, gardening, cooking, reading, photography, saltwater coral reef aquariums, and his dog Sadie.
