2nd Ranch Day

Family members of all ages can enjoy a day at the ranch during the 53rd Annual Ranch Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at the National Ranching Heritage Center, 3121 Fourth St.

The annual event is a crowd-pleaser for both the young and young at heart as horses, cowboys, cattle, ranch wildlife, a magic show, and a chuck wagon greet visitors. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 per family.

Steak Express, kettle corn and lemonade will be available to purchase by cash or card for those who want refreshments while they visit.

“Hands-on activities and demonstrations will focus on ranch skills and the history and science of ranching,” said Julie Hodges, Helen DeVitt Jones Endowed Director of Education.

“Children will have an opportunity to churn butter, participate in a stick horse rodeo, see wildlife, and ride a horse. They also can learn about beef science, entomology, anthropology, forensic science, ranch wildlife and more.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet cowboys from the Four Sixes Ranch while they give horse-gentling demonstrations in the round pen throughout the day.

Visitors can also see an old-time “Snake Oil” magic show by magician Barry Moffi tt at 10:30 a.m. and 1

Funding by Newby Family

“Back in the Saddle"

Listening over Lecturing

John Culberson, M. D. Geriatric Medicine TexasTechUniversity Health Sciences Center

Tuesday, April 12 at Noon 6630 S Quaker Ave., Suite G in person and also on ZOOM https://ttuhsc.zoom.us/j/93712419544

Available by computer, tablet or phone

- Photo by John Weast

Ranch Host Lewis Neely fi res up the forge in the blacksmith shop in preparation for Ranch Day.

p.m. in the 1909 Four Sixes Barn.

Horseback rides will be provided by the Texas Tech Therapeutic Riding Center, and members of the Lubbock County 4-H will provide a stick horse rodeo for children while the Tech Agricultural Law Association will introduce children to the art of paint branding.

Cabela’s Outpost will provide a safe shooting environment for children to shoot BB guns at targets placed inside an infl atable range, and Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens will discuss wildlife ID, conservation and hunting laws. The South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will have live birds of prey for visitors to view while they learn about ranch wildlife.

Hodges said children also can become ranch hands and receive work cards to earn wages for a hard day’s work.

Ranch hands who complete six “work” activities can go to the 1880 Matador Offi ce to collect their wages (reproduction of 1869 currency) and buy special items at the 1870s Waggoner Ranch Commissary.

More than 150 volunteers, Ranch Hosts, student organizations and ranch-related organizations come together to make Ranch Day happen.

Not sure where this “parent should control what is taught in schools because they are our kids” is originating, but parents do have the option to send their kids to a handselected private school. The purpose of a public education in a public school is not to teach kids only what parents want them to be taught. It is to teach them what society needs them to know. The client of the public school is not the parent, but the entire community, the public.