PREWITT, N.M. – Blue ribbons filled the exhibit halls and livestock barns in Prewitt over Labor Day weekend as the 57th Annual Cibola-McKinley Bi-County Fair celebrated youth agriculture, community tradition and what organizers described as a record number of 4-H entries.
The fair, held Sept. 3-7, brought young exhibitors into the show ring with cattle, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry, while the exhibit building showcased photography, horticulture, food preservation, arts and crafts and other projects.
Behind each award was work that often began months before fair week.
Event Coordinator Francie Lee spoke with the Cibola Citizen about the importance of continuing agricultural traditions at a time when the number of farmers and ranchers across the country is declining. For young people participating in the fair, livestock projects teach more than how to prepare an animal for competition: exhibitors learn responsibility, animal care and the agricultural knowledge needed to understand the animals they raise.
That work was particularly evident during the showmanship awards, which recognize exhibitors for their ability to handle their animals and demonstrate their knowledge before judges.
Among this year’s showmanship winners, the younger Francie Lee earned senior and overall Grand Champion Beef Showman honors.
Ezra Scarborough was named Grand Champion Swine Showman.
Harry Lee III earned Grand Champion Rabbit Showman honors.
Other livestock results included Jagger Begay, who received Reserve Grand Champion Steer, and Brady Hanson, who received Reserve Grand Champion Swine.
Kale Spencer earned recognition in the rabbit Pen of Three competition, while Harry Lee III was also recognized in the county-bred rabbit division.
In the poultry barn, Edea Graham was among those receiving Best in Show recognition.
Canned vegetables, jams, jellies, pickles and produce lined the exhibit building. Marlene Henry received first place for canned beets, while James Braithwaite received first-place honors for peach jam, another jelly entry and cucumber dill pickles. Karyssa Cook received first place for canned green beans.
John Lozano collected several first-place ribbons in the agricultural exhibits, including pumpkin, melons, sweet corn and heritage blue Indian corn.
Photography was another strong part of the exhibit hall.
Skye Walker received first place in black-andwhite animal photography.
Troy Sarracino earned first place and a Grand Award for a black-and-white photograph featuring a Ferris wheel.
Patricia Largo received first place for a color photograph of a flower with a ladybug.
The patriotic theme carried into the awards themselves. Winners received special red, white and blue belt buckles commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, complementing this year’s fair theme, “Red Hearts, White Lights, Blue Ribbons.”
Food trucks, vendors, livestock shows and activities brought families through the grounds throughout the weekend, but the young exhibitors remained at the center of the fair.