The dedication of a sheep and goat barn may not be a typical event for a AAA inspector, but I didn’t want to miss it. It was held at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum (NMF&RHM) in Las Cruces -- a very special place for me as I grew up on a nearby farm and worked there for several years.
The museum recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and I’ve watched it grow from scrub land to a beautiful, award-winning 90,000-square-foot building. The new Sheep and Goat Barn was years in the making by a team of hardworking staff and volunteers.  This was my first visit in almost three years and I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the changes and additions to the 47-acre campus, one of the largest agriculture museums in the U.S.  When I worked at the museum I had seen the sketches and read comprehensive plans, but to see many of the ideas come to fruition made me incredibly happy and proud. 

The basic mission of the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is to teach where food comes from before it gets to the grocery store or restaurant. With plenty of hands-on activities and daily demonstrations the museum is enjoyable for all ages. If you visit, plan to spend at least two hours exploring the main building with several in-depth permanent exhibits such as “Generations,” which features the 3,000 year history of New Mexico agriculture and changing exhibits like “The Dust Bowl: Dark Times in New Mexico,” an eye-opening environmental lesson for me. On some days, there are demonstrations of sewing, quilting and weaving within the building, plus the friendly and knowledgeable docents are available to guide you or to answer questions.

Newly constructed trails outside lead to many of the most popular exhibits, including live farm animals. The first stop on your outside journey must include a visit with Billy in the blacksmith shop.  A talented artisan and knowledgeable historian, he will fascinate you with many interesting facts during his demonstrations, and you may get to leave with a hand-forged nail in your pocket. Past the historic Green Bridge, make your way to the “South 20,” a large living exhibit that features the Dairy Barn with twice-daily milking demonstrations. There’s also the Horse & Cattle Barn that showcase six breeds of cattle plus horses, mules and donkeys and the newly opened Sheep & Goat Barn. There are many gardens featuring native plants, shade areas, picnic tables and children’s playgrounds throughout the 47 acres.

If walking the acreage seems daunting, museum volunteers can transport you over the entire area with an in-depth and humorous guided tour on the people “MOOver.” At the end of your visit don’t forget to visit the great museum gift shop for a snack or souvenir, including New Mexico pistachios and other food products. The museum holds many special events throughout the year in addition to its year round schedule of lectures, classes and demonstrations. A fun time of year to visit is spring when there are lots of baby animals. Please refer to their website  for a complete list of all exhibits, activities and events.

The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum is rated a GEM® attraction by AAA and it is. 

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The AAA GEM® Designation - While AAA does not rate attractions, we do evaluate them for AAA Approval. The inspectors that perform the evaluations may recommend a GEM designation for attractions of exceptional interest that greatly exceed requirements. A AAA GEM® attraction offers a Great Experience for Members. See AAA GEM attraction information in AAA TourBook guides or view a list of AAA GEM attractions by state.