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The dairy barn at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum (NMFRHM), 4100 Dripping Springs Road, has a new look, a new name and lots of fun, new activities and exhibits, the museum said in a news release.
The Dairy Spot: Discovery Center opens to the public with a special celebration 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, the museum said.
Caliche’s Frozen Custard will provide free servings to the first 500 visitors, and guests are invited to make their own ice cream using Ziploc bags. Milking and other demonstrations also are part of the fun.
Regular museum admission applies, $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and $3 for children ages 4-17.
With this renovation, The Dairy Spot will continue to share New Mexico’s dairy history but will be more child-friendly and have more interactive exhibits, NMFRHM said. This brighter, livelier venue includes a multi-use public space that can be used for everything from demonstrations to children’s birthday parties.
The Southwest Dairy Farmers’ (SWDF) $30,000 donation to NMFRHM last year made the renovation possible.
“Our long-standing partnership with NMFRHM 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 SWDR CEO Jim Hill. “SDF 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 NMFRHM 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.”
Visitors to The Dairy Spot will enjoy videos of ice cream making, the process of pasteurization and farm to table, the museum said. Some of the topics featured in The Dairy Spot are the breeds of dairy cattle, sources of milk from around the world, a cow’s anatomy, nutrition, cheese, ice cream, butter and lots of fun facts. Among the interactives are a butter churn, a cheese fridge and an “I spy” activity featuring a house with various dairy products.
The dairy industry plays an important role in the story of New Mexico agriculture,
reflected in the national statistics as the state ranks ninth in milk production and fifth in cheese production.
