July 4,2023
Hello Explorers!
The New Mexico Heritage Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum is a quick 35-minute drive from El Paso, Texas, and is a fun family outing. The idea for this museum dates back to 1970, when William P. Stephens, a former Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and Willam P. Stephens wanted to tie education to this project, so he partnered with Gerald Thomas, who was a former President of New Mexico State University. The two men wanted to include education on how farm life impacted today’s world in a hands-on way.
As a family, this is an affordable outing for us as the museum costs $5, and adults and toddlers are free. There is an option for a membership for the year, which costs $30, pays for itself in three visits, and allows you to get discounts in the gift shop and events. The exhibits on the history of New Mexico and Billy the Kid are inside the museum. You can check out the farm animals and learn more about dairy outside the museum. The Ranch offers Saturday morning crafts for kids and special events for Holidays.
There is something for everyone to enjoy during this outing. My husband enjoyed learning about the area’s history and all that was offered at the Ranch. Devon was a huge fan of the indoor farmhouse and used imaginative play when interacting with the toy eggs, tractor, and crops. We used this play time to improve speech by identifying objects and colors and fine motor skills by picking up the crops and eggs. Older kids can work on the classification or counting of different crops. Devon used his gross motor skills to climb up the steps and push the tractor, which provided me with much joy with all the play and learning he was doing.
Devon has also developed a love for El Paso/New Mexico farm animals. He loves naming the animals and the sounds as he explores the outdoors. We love watching him interact with his favorite animal, the cow. He will often say, “Mamma Cow Moo,” when he spots one.
© ExploreEngageLearn LLC July 4,2023