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Laughing Sheep Farm
by Lyn Kidder Photography by Frederic Moras
 Sally Canning’s animals only have one bad day, ever. And it isn’t today. The cows and sheep are in the pasture; the pigs nose around the pond. The chickens and turkeys are foraging in their two-acre enclosure, and visitors from El Paso, Las Cruces and Roswell are enjoying the country air and homemade tamales while they learn about life on the modern family farm.
“My family has been farming and ranching for centuries,” Sally says. “I’m following in their footsteps, raising fine quality livestock, fruits and vegetables right here.”
Canning bought the sixty-acre property outside the little town of Lincoln (Billy the Kid’s old stomping grounds) in 1981. She originally planned to raise sheep, but now raises just about everything that can be grown in New Mexico, and her customers love it.
“These animals have a little bit of human contact every day,” she says, giving one porker a vigorous back scratch. “Our livestock are raised with plenty of room, fresh air and proper diet. Nutrition and low stress make healthy animals.” Cows graze in one pasture, black-faced sheep in another.
 “I enjoy the challenge of raising different animals on the same piece of land,” she says. “I like to watch the interactions. The sheep didn’t like the pigs at first. Now they tolerate them, but they don’t socialize. The cows tend to herd the pigs around.” Sally points to one of the sheep. “That’s Helen, who’s blind. But she’s a great mother, so we just tie bells to her lambs so she can find them,” she says. Most of the animals have names. “I grew up on a big ranch where animals were just numbers. I swore I’d never do that,” she adds.
Meanwhile, back at the cozy and welcoming store, customers browse the freezer for lamb, beef and pork. “We make nearly everything we offer in the store,” Sally’s sister Nancy says. “Our own pineapple, maple and pepper cured bacon, empanadas (Mexican fruit pies) made with our own fruit, homemade breads, tamales from our pork, and sausages made from our grandfather’s recipes.” They’ve developed a variety of glazes and marinades for cooking their grass-fed meats.
“Cooking with lean meat is different,” Sally says. “You have to keep the moisture in. There’s no need to salt it to draw out the fat.” Leaner meat can also mean smaller portions. “Our meats are so lean, there is no extra weight in the form of water, so a quarter pound portion is adequate.”
Barbecue sandwiches, huge tamales, buffalo and lamb burger and garden produce are available for lunch.
“Some things, like our home made Ricotta and cottage cheese, are new to our customers,” Nancy said. “This way they can try it, and they usually end up taking some home.”
Next to the patio, customers cruise around the raised beds and Quonset-style greenhouse, picking lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes and marveling over the exotic artichoke plants. The farm’s meats and produce are available at The Wild Herb in Ruidoso, and a wholesale distributor buys their squash and vine-ripened tomatoes.
 “Most of our customers are older, well educated and well off,” Sally says. “But you know, they might drive up here in a Mercedes, but they probably started out on their daddy’s tractor. Now they want the best part of their farm and ranch background, and that’s the good, clean food.”
Folks who want to spend a little time down on the farm can stay in the recently opened B&B, the property’s original adobe home. Breakfast can include fresh eggs, home made sausage and hot cinnamon rolls.
“People wonder why farmers and ranchers live such long lives,” Sally says. “It comes down to no idle time, plenty of exercise (we sleep very well!), and good, clean food.”
For more information visit Laughing Sheep Farm
located 1.2 miles west of Lincoln on Highway 380,
call (505) 653-4041 or visit
www.laughingsheepfarm.com.
Our region features a number of roadside produce stands and u-pick farms. While many along Highway 28 south of Mesilla, NM advertise with small homemade signs, others offer a range of services to plan an entire day around. Agritainment is a great way to spend some time in the country. There are also a number of markets that feature homegrown products and produce. Be sure to call ahead. Here are some places you should check out:
Lavender Spring Ranch
45 miles northwest of Ruidoso on NM 368.
Open: June to October
Featuring:Veggies, fruits and berries.
Call: 505-653-4992
San Patricio Berry Farm
17 miles east of Ruidoso on Hwy 70
Featuring: Pick your own berries and fruit.
Call: 505-653-4502 for hours
Serendip Orchard
1.2 miles west of Lincoln on Hwy. 380 at mile
marker 96
Featuring: Berries and vegetables.
Call: 505-653-4666
Wild Herb Market
1715 Sudderth Dr/ Ruidoso, NM
Featuring: Local products
Call: 505-257-0138
Truck Farm
940 North Valley Drive, Las Cruces
Featuring: Local products
Call: 505-523-1447
Mountain View Market
1300 El Paseo Road, Las Cruces
Featuring: Organic produce
Call: 505-523-0436
Blue Sage Supermarkets
Multiple El Paso Locations
Featuring: Organic grocery products
Call: 915-760-6590
Ristramann Chile Company
2531 Avenida de Mesilla, Las Cruces
Featuring: NM grown beans, chile, peppers,
onions and spices.
Call: 505-526-8667
Toucan Market
1701 East University Ave., Las Cruces
Featuring: Organic grocery products
Call: 505-521-3003
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