The dairy barn at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces 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.
The Southwest Dairy Farmers’ $30,000 donation to the Museum last year made the renovation possible.
“Our long-standing partnership with the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum continues to build on our objectives to educate young and old alike about the dairy industry and the good, nutritional, and wholesome products produced by New Mexico and American dairy farmers,” said Jim Hill, CEO of Southwest Dairy Farmers. “The Southwest Dairy Farmers are proud to be a part of this project.”
“We are thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with Southwest Dairy that began 25 years ago,” said the Museum’s Executive Director, Heather Reed. “Together, we produced an innovative and immersive exhibit that showcases the depth of our history and explores the present-day advances in agriculture.”
The dairy industry plays an important role in the story of New Mexico agriculture. The first cattle were brought into this region by the Spanish in 1598, so dairy farming has a long, rich history in this region.