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 annual event, brings New Mexico’s ranching traditions to life through live demonstrations, food, music, living history activities, and more.
While the museum is not holding Cowboy Days in 2026, organizers say they’re “hoping to come back bigger and better next year.” Past Cowboy Days celebrations have featured chuck wagon cooking, weaving, embroidery, chair caning, dowsing, wool spinning, and wood carving demonstrations. Visitors have also enjoyed horseshoeing and blacksmithing displays, sheep shearing, herding demonstrations by ranch dogs, and performances by local musicians.
Families have flocked to activities like pony rides, the Parade of Breeds, featuring six types of cattle presented by the museum’s livestock staff, and engaging presentations by Western Writers of America, 4-H, and other organizations tied to New Mexico’s agricultural and ranching heritage.
Even without Cowboy Days this year, the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum still offers plenty to explore. Regular exhibits and programs, including Riding Herd with Billy the Kid: The Rise of the Cattle Industry in New Mexico, continue to bring the state’s rich ranching story to life.
For updates and museum information, visit nmfarmandranchmuseum.org.
Check out the monthly Get to Know Your Museum events at the Friends of the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
Posted by LasCruces.com
