Heather A. Reed Named Executive Director at Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum
T
he New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) named Heather A. Reed as the new executive director of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. She replaces Mark Santiago, who retired from the position in July 2020. Reed will assume the directorship on November 2, 2020. “We are excited to have Ms. Reed as Executive Director of the Farm & Ranch Museum, which stewards a unique and important aspect of our state’s history, and vital part of our economy,” stated Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. “Her appreciation for history, agriculture, and education, as well as her considerable experience with organizational management, will enable her to advance the museum’s mission and programs.” As executive director at Farm & Ranch,
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Reed will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the museum and its programs, as well as establishing a long-term strategic vision. With a staff of 25, she will oversee the development of exhibits, educational programs, and public events. Reporting to the DCA Cabinet Secretary, Reed will work with the Governor-appointed board as well as Friends of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, coordinating policy and fundraising initiatives. Opened in 1998, the Farm & Ranch Museum brings to life the 4,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico, across a campus that spans 47 acres. The museum connects the present generation to the history of farming and ranching in New Mexico, inspiring a deeper appreciation and understanding of the state’s rich heritage. The museum accomplishes this by providing exhibitions and programs that enable its users to understand and learn from the past in ways that enrich their present lives and help them shape a better future. The Museum’s main building contains more than 24,000 square feet of exhibit space, along with an area for meetings and events, a mercantile, and a theater. Extensive outdoor exhibits include sheep, goats, and cattle barns, a greenhouse, and historic farming and ranching machinery. “I’m absolutely thrilled about the opportunity to join the team at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum,” said Reed, who has 16 years of experience working with museums and historic sites. “I’m excited to get started and immerse myself in the New Mexico culture, engage the community, and learn what makes the museum staff passionate about what they do.” Reed previously served as the first Director of Museum and Education at the South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston. In this position, she created and implemented founding operational documents and procedures, leading the museum from opening through its first two years of exhibits, educational programs, open houses, and tours. She oversaw the development and management of goals, budgets, and efficient use of resources. Prior to this, Reed spent seven years working at the Taylor County History Center in Buffalo Gap, Texas, where she held the positions of Executive Director, Executive Vice President, Site Manager, and Curator. At the Taylor County History Center, she used her knowledge of state academic standards to create a dozen interactive programs in multi-disciplinary topics as
