New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum

With a mission of connecting the present generation to the history of farming and ranching in New Mexico, the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum aspires to embed a deeper appreciation and understanding of the state's heritage. Through educational exhibitions, events and hands-on programs, visitors are able to understand and learn from the past and to help shape a better future. 

The Museum has more than 600,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibits, including the Bruce King Building, where long-term exhibits on New Mexico's agricultural heritage are displayed. The building also has the Temporary Gallery and the north, south, and central corridors, each featuring rotating exhibits.

One of the long-term exhibits on display is the Antique Equipment Park—machines, hay racks, cultivators, planters, tractors and more. See the equipment that farmers used hundreds of years ago. Then, check out the Watering Place—a sculpture by Armando Alvarez shaped like a water tank with cut-out figures of a farm and ranch scene. This sculpture is 80,000 pounds of one-inch steel and reaches 16’8” tall. 

Also, the Farm Life in New Mexico: Then and Now exhibit is a must see when visiting the Museum. Located in the main Gallery, this exhibit is like stepping into a time warp and experiencing farm life of the past. The “Home Sweet Home” area of this exhibit has antique home furnishings, kitchen accommodations and decorations to enjoy. 

The Museum offers several major events each year; include the Harvest Festival in September, Cowboy Days in March and Ghosts of the Past in October. There are several demonstrations and activities to experience each day including cow milking, livestock tours, barn tours and strolling through the gardens—cactus, wildflower and the Discovery Garden. Also, visit the orchards galore including apple, pecan and pistachio. 

Visitors can also enjoy live demonstrations at the Blacksmith Shop anytime Friday-Sunday to see how metals are forged into tools and other items. There is a regular schedule of events and live demonstrations available on the Museum’s website. These events include cooking classes, film premieres, garden sales and more.

Guided tours are the best way to get around and explore the bulk of the Museum and learn about the history of Farming. Tours are offered Monday-Saturday and run about 90 minutes. The cost is $2 per person and must be scheduled in advance. In addition, the museum offers a daily scheduled cart tour of livestock areas. Self-guided tours are also an option—tour booklets can be purchased for $2 each.

In the summer, the Museum offers several summer camp options for kids with topics including historic games and crafts, photography, cowboy life, rural cooking and living history. Each topic session has varying dates and times and pricing ranges from $30-$75 each. Visit the Museum website for a complete listing of summer camp opportunities.

- by Jennifer Pruett, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.