Bi-County Fair Officials gearing up

By Jim Tiffin
Staff Writer

GRANTS — It is less than four weeks to the Bi-County Fair Aug. 30-Sept. 3 and hogs, goats and steer are already being brushed and cleaned up for the upcoming competition.

Kathy Landers, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Agent for McKinley County, said entries from the county are up slightly overall. Jimmy Plane, the cooperative agent for Cibola County said entries from here are down.

The fair is held at the Prewitt fairgrounds between Grants and Prewitt each year on old U.S. Highway 66.

Entries into the open division, the division that allows anyone to enter in such categories as field crops, fruits and vegetables, canned foods, and arts and crafts, are always being sought because of declining entries every year for the past few years, said Dee Anne Leyba, president of the Bi-County Fair Board.

Landers said Tina Robinson, superintendent of the hobbies and crafts category, in the Open Division, visited area senior centers last year to generate interest and it worked.

The fair board intends to continue visiting senior centers to develop entries in the Open Division, Landers said.

2007 Bi-County Fair schedule:

Thursday, Aug. 30

• All market and breeding livestock entries, followed by rabbit and poultry entries, noon to 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 31

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - 4-H indoor exhibits will be accepted. (Judging will be done that evening).
• Open indoor exhibits will be accepted
• 1 p.m. - Market lamb and breeding sheep show starts, followed immediately by the market goat show.

Saturday, Sept. 1

• 9 a.m. - Open indoor exhibit judging begins, building doors open at noon.
• 9 a.m. - Market swine and breeding swine show starts.
• 1 p.m. - Market steer and breeding cattle show starts
• 4 p.m. - Public speaking contest. This contest starts 30 minutes to one hour following the breeding cattle show.

Sunday, Sept. 2

• 8:30 a.m. - Pet show
• 10 a.m. - Horseshoe pitching contest
• 11 a.m. - Buyers luncheon
• 11:30 a.m. - Awards presentation
• 1 p.m. - Junior livestock sale

Monday, Sept. 3

• 9 a.m. - Fiddlers contest
• 10 a.m. - Animal paperwork due
• Noon-1:30 a.m. - Exhibits released

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call 287-2197 or e-mail: jtiffin,independent@yahoo.com.