Farm and Ranch Museum

Sat April 18: By now almost everyone is here. Cindy has everyone registered, they have their horses settled in stalls and their trailers parked. We've been getting acquainted with each other and things are falling into place.

The Bureau of Tourism in Las Cruces arranged a complimentary continental breakfast and tour at the 4 year old Farm and Ranch Museum. The breakfast was served on an open air terrace with beautiful rose bushes. The brickwork in the terrace displayed prominent old New Mexico brands. Our tour guide showed us his brand as we walked past into the inside displays.

He showed us cowboy artwork donated by the family of an "eccentric" painter, whom he said shot up his paintings in drunken stupors at night. Actually the pieces he pointed out looked intentionally shot at to bring to life the battlefield in the painting. The artwork was nice, but his family wasn't interested in any of them so donated the pieces to the museum. The guide also showed us an extensive gun collection with guns of all shapes and sizes.

Outside, the museum normally would have many types of cattle to display but they were all away at other exhibitions, except 2 Longhorn steers which our guide happened to have donated from his own herd. Dairy is a very big industry in this area. Interestingly, the white Charlois, brought from France to Canada, were finally imported to New Mexico because the harsh winters caused infection in the cow's utters. They like NM much better. The two barns were Midwestern design, one hip-roof, the other single story with a porch, because of architech's choice. All in all, the guide was very proud of the museum, as well he should be, it was a beautiful museum.