A cow with a window into its stomach might not be the first thing visitors expect to find beneath the Organ Mountains.
It will be one of many attractions Oct. 24, when the Bureau of Land Management hosts the Organ Mountains Jubilee at Dripping Springs Natural Area, bringing live music, guided hikes, food and hands-on programs to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
The free, ticketed event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and serve as BLM New Mexico’s premier event commemorating the agency’s 80th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of American independence. Dripping Springs was selected from recreation areas across New Mexico to host the statewide celebration. A BLM spokesperson said its setting provides an opportunity for people to experience the monument while learning more about the public lands surrounding Las Cruces.
“With the backdrop of the Organ Mountains, you couldn’t ask for a better venue to actually come out and get closer to learning about your public lands,” the spokesperson said.
The day will feature programs exploring the monument’s natural and human history, from wildlife and native plants to geology, ethnobotany and the mining history of Fillmore Canyon. Living-history interpreters will also lead visitors toward Van Patten Mountain Camp, introducing participants to characters from Dripping Springs’ past.
And then there’s Elsie.
Elsie the Canulated Cow will offer one of the day’s more unusual experiences, giving visitors a window into bovine digestion and the science of ranching. The program will run from 9 to 10:30 a.m., adding a hands-on look at ranching to a day built around the many ways people have interacted with the landscape.
Organizers wanted those educational programs to complement the entertainment rather than make the Jubilee solely a concert or outdoor festival.
“We wanted to reach out and tell the past, the present and the future,” the spokesperson said, “and actually deepen the understanding of these relationships that people have with public lands.”
About 25 recreation and community partners are expected to participate, including Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, Doña Ana County Search and Rescue, the National Park Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Doña Ana County Historical Society and local government organizations.
“All of these partners that are coming together are to help give a very authentic and unique experience,” the spokesperson said. “So, people can come out and learn more about their public lands.”
Music will begin at 11 a.m. with local rock tribute band Flat Blak, which will perform until noon. Country music artist Chuck Wimer will follow from noon to 2:30 p.m., before Flat Blak returns for a second set from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Away from the stage, food trucks and outdoor recreation groups will be set up throughout the event, while the City of Las Cruces will host a kids fun zone with activities including cornhole and an obstacle course.
The Jubilee comes during a milestone year for the BLM. The agency is marking its 80th anniversary alongside nationwide commemorations of 250 years of American independence, giving organizers an opportunity to connect those anniversaries with the history preserved across public lands.
“This is an opportunity to reflect on our history, particularly here in southern New Mexico, the collective legacy that will hopefully inspire future generations,” the spokesperson said. “We want to celebrate all these efforts that will actually shape us and allow us to remember that your story is our story because it is your public lands.”
That connection also extends to residents who have yet to explore the monument. The spokesperson said that even after five years in Las Cruces, he remains surprised by the number of people he meets who live in the area but have never visited it.
Organizers hope the Jubilee gives those residents another reason to make the trip while offering longtime visitors a different way to experience a familiar landscape. The spokesperson described the celebration as a “once-in-a-lifetime event” and said its broader purpose is to leave visitors with a stronger understanding of both the monument and the BLM’s role in managing public lands.
“These are American treasures,” the spokesperson said. “So, that’s what we want to do is try to make people become custodians of America’s landscape.”
Because space at Dripping Springs is limited, admission will require a free ticket. Advance tickets are available in Las Cruces at the BLM Las Cruces District Office, A.B. Cox Visitor Center, New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum and Visit Las Cruces office, as well as at JVH Media Connect in Alamogordo. A limited number will also be available on the day of the event.
Dripping Springs Natural Area will be closed to non-event traffic for the day. Attendees should park at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, where free RoadRUNNER Transit shuttles will carry visitors to and from the event.
The spokesperson said buses are expected to run about every 15 minutes beginning at 9 a.m., with the final shuttle to Dripping Springs leaving at 2:30 p.m. Guided hikes and strolls will also have limited capacity, and visitors who want to participate will need to sign up at the welcome table after arriving.
Visitors are encouraged to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the terrain and weather and bring sun protection and water. Water refill stations will be available, and the spokesperson recommended carrying some cash for food purchases because internet service at Dripping Springs can be unreliable.
For organizers, everything from the hikes and history to the music and food ultimately comes back to getting people onto the landscape and giving them a reason to care about what surrounds them.
“Come on out and help us commemorate this stuff,” the spokesperson said. “It’s a good opportunity to come out and enjoy some good food and learn some history and hear some great music.”
