[vc_column]The Old West gets Wild 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 its 20th year of fun family entertainment. Admission is $5 for everyone 5 and older.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 for everyone 5 and older.[minti_spacer][minti_image img="21422"][minti_spacer height="50"][minti_image img="19188"]
Things are just wilder in the west
[minti_spacer height="10"]Cowboy Days is the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum’s annual tribute to the state’s rich ranching heritage that brings together riders, musicians, cooks, and performers to do demonstrations, living history activities, and other specialty programs. Grab your boots, your cowboy hat, and saddle up—here are the 19 + 1 reasons you need to check out the 20th Annual Cowboy Days this March:1. Experience the Old Western Melodramas & Stories
“Old West Melodramas” will take place in the museum’s Theater twice each day. The titles of these skits are: “Evil Banker,” “Frontier Mortician,” “Pecos Bill and a Matter of Mistaken Identity,” and “Billy the Kid.” This group of volunteers also will share cowboy and western short stories.
2. Horsing Around
Catch two horseshoeing demonstrations each day to see how these loyal companions are cared for.
3. Old Wagon Cooking
Get hungry seeing how they used to do things! This chuck wagon cooking demonstration will be bringing the expertise from the Museum’s chuck wagon as well as the Lonely Goat Ranch near Roswell.
4. Parade of Breeds
One of the most popular activities is the Parade of Breeds which involves a parade of seven different breeds of beef cattle struttin’ their stuff on the round. Guests will learn about the different breed characteristics and origin and get to see the animals up close.
5. Shooting Demonstration
Cowboy mounted shooting takes place in the Roping Arena with a morning and afternoon session each day. The Back Country Horsemen of America’s local chapter will also be on hand.
6. From Sheep to Shawl
Ever wonder how sheep are sheared? The sheep shawl is your chance to see how it’s done up close! The program begins with the shearing of one of the museum’s Debouillet sheep. The wool will be carded, and then spun by several demonstrators. A weaver or knitter will then use the yarn from the wool to create a shawl that will be raffled. The entire process should take about six hours and the activity will take place inside the Sheep & Goat Barn.
7. Pony Rides
Pony rides for little ones are only $5 and bring home the full experience of the Wild West! For those a little bolder, try your hand at riding the mechanical bull! ($3)
8. Take the Train
For just $3 the kids can ride a kid-sized train!
[minti_spacer height="30"][minti_image img="21421" img_size="large"]9. Hop on the Stage Coach!
Stagecoach rides by Frontier Adventures (donation) are offered both days.
10. Crafts for Kids
There are also free children’s craft activities and games, including some provided by New Mexico Historic Sites.
11. Good Ol’ Fashioned Gun Fight
Old West Thunder performs a gunfight re-enactment each day at noon. The shows portray both historical events and dime novel drama. Enchantment Historical Productions also produces The American Fashion Show, illustrating the evolution of fashion from colonial times through the 20th Century, and, “Big Camp Revival Meeting.” These programs will be in the museum’s Theater each day.
12. Old Western Grooves
The cowboy musical performers include Kenny Arroyos, Voz Vaqueros, the Ramblin’ Rangers, and Tom Foster Morris & Friends. Ollie Reed, Carol Potenza and Jim Jones of the Western Writers of America also will be on hand to talk about their books and sell and sign copies.
13. Chili Cook-Off
The Cowboy Days CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) Chili Cook-Off, which debuted two years ago, will return for both days. Tasting for the public is from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, and from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday (or until the chili runs out), and the cost for the samples is $5. The money raised on Saturday will benefit the Friends of the Museum, and the funds raised on Sunday benefit ACTion program for animals.
14. Arts & Crafts & BBQ Dozens of arts and crafts vendors from as far away as Santa Fe will be selling their items, and some new food vendors have been added this year, including Native American food from Santa Fe and BBQ from the Ruidoso area.
15. Calling All Green Thumbs
A plant sale from the museum’s Greenhouse also is part of the festival.
16. Iron & Steel & Wood
Catch an old-fashioned blacksmithing demonstration by the by the museum’s blacksmith and woodcarving by the Dona Ana Woodcarvers.
17. Square Dancing
Each day, the activities conclude with a square dancing demonstrations in the Courtyard by Live Lively Square Dance. The public is invited to participate.
18. Saddle Up!
Catch the exhibit “Saddle Makers of the Southwest.” The exhibit is inside the Horse & Cattle Barn and features four legendary saddle makers and goes into detail about how saddles are made.
19. Become a Cowboy Art Connoisseur
The Cowboy Way: The Western Drawings of Robert “Shoofly” Shufelt.” Mr. Shufelt is one of the outstanding artists in the region and specializes in pencil drawings of ranch scenes. This exhibit is in our Heritage Gallery.[minti_image img="19186"][minti_spacer height="20"]
Plan your day with the hour-to-hour breakdown:
Saturday, March 2 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ongoing activities: Chuck wagon cooking, the CASI Chili Cook-Off, children’s activities, food & craft vendors, plant sale, blacksmith demonstrations, wood-carving demonstrations, Western Writers of America, and the Back Country Horsemen of America.
9-10 a.m.: Pony rides on the South 20 ($5).
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Miniature train rides on the South 20 ($3).
9:30-10:30 a.m.: Western Writers of America in the Theater.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Sheep to Shawl program in the Sheep & Goat Barn.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Mechanical bull rides at the Pavilion on the South 20 ($3).
10-11 a.m.: Musician Kenny Arroyos performs in the Courtyard.
10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Stagecoach rides in front of the Bruce King Building (donations).
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Old West Melodramas in the Theater.
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Ramblin’ Rangers sing in the Courtyard.
11-11:30 a.m.: Horseshoeing demonstration near the Horse & Cattle Barn.
12-12:30 p.m.: Old West Thunder gunfight re-enactment in the Heritage Garden.
12-1 p.m.: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
12-2 p.m.: Musician Tom Foster Morris & Friends in the Courtyard.
12-3 p.m.: Pony rides on the South 20 ($5).
12:30-1:30 p.m.: The American Fashion Show in the Theater.
1:45-2:45 p.m.: Western Writers of America in the Theater.
2-3 p.m.: Parade of Breeds in the Round Pen.
2-3 p.m.: CASI Chili Cook-Off tasting for the public ($5).
2-3 p.m.: Voz Vaqueros singers in the Courtyard.
3-5 p.m.: Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
3-4 p.m.: Old West Melodramas in the Theater.
3-4 p.m.: Musician Kenny Arroyos in the Courtyard.
3:30-4 p.m.: Horseshoeing demonstration near the Horse & Cattle Barn.
4-5 p.m.: Big Camp Revival in the Theater.
4-5 p.m.: Live Lively Square Dance demonstration in the Courtyard.
Sunday, March 3 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ongoing activities: Chuck wagon cooking, children’s activities, the CASI Chili Cook-Off, food & craft vendors, plant sale, blacksmith demonstrations, wood-carving demonstrations, Western Writers of America, and the Back Country Horsemen of America.
10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: Western Writers of America in the Theater.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m..: Pony rides near the Horse & Cattle Barn ($5).
10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Miniature train rides on the South 20 ($3).
10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m..: Singer Kenny Arroyos in the Courtyard.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Mechanical bull rides at the Pavilion on the South 20 ($3).
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Stagecoach rides in front of the Bruce King Building (donations).
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Old West Melodramas in the Theater.
11-11:30 a.m.: Horseshoeing demonstration near the Horse & Cattle Barn.
11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Ramblin’ Rangers perform in the Courtyard.
12-12:30 p.m.: Old West Thunder gunfight re-enactments in the Heritage Garden.
12-1 p.m.: Parade of Breeds at the Round Pen.
12-2 p.m.: Musician Tom Foster Morris & Friends perform in the Courtyard.
12-1:30 p.m.: Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
12:30-1:30 p.m.: The American Fashion Show in the Theater.
1-2 p.m.: CASI Chili Cook-Off tasting for the public ($5).
1:30-3 p.m.: Pony rides near the Horse & Cattle Barn ($5).
1:45-2:45 p.m.: Big Camp Revival Meeting in the Theater.
2-3 p.m.: Parade of Breeds at the Round Pen.
2-3 p.m.: Voz Vaqueros singers in the Courtyard.
3-4 p.m.: Cowboy Mounted Shooting in the Roping Arena.
3-4 p.m.: Old West Melodramas in the Theater.
3-4 p.m.: Live Lively Square Dance demonstration in the Courtyard.
3:30-4 p.m.: Horseshoeing demonstration near the Horse & Cattle Barn.
Schedule is subject to change
[minti_spacer]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.[minti_spacer][minti_bloglist categories="history, things to do, family travel" layout="horizontal"][minti_spacer]