ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Grants resident has been crowned the 2027 New Mexico State Fair Queen.
Micaela Hidalgo, 21, received the title Saturday, Sept. 19, during a coronation ceremony at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, according to an announcement from the New Mexico State Fair.
Hidalgo is a Valencia County native who now calls Grants home and competed for the title representing Rodeo de Santa Fe, according to the State Fair.
The organization said Hidalgo has been involved in 4-H and FFA throughout her life, with a background in showing livestock, horsemanship and agriculture. She grew up attending and participating in fairs and livestock shows, experiences the State Fair said helped shape her connection to agriculture and New Mexico’s Western traditions.
Hidalgo is also a 2025 graduate of the University of New Mexico, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in chemistry, according to the State Fair. She is currently applying to pharmacy school and hopes to pursue a career in emergency medicine pharmacy.
During her reign, Hidalgo plans to promote agriculture, youth involvement, education, horsemanship and the traditions associated with the New Mexico State Fair. According to the announcement, she is particularly interested in encouraging young people to become involved in agriculture and pursue their goals.
The State Fair describes its queen as an official representative and ambassador to the public. Contest guidelines state that the queen should be knowledgeable about the State Fair, New Mexico, rodeo, the state’s agriculture industry, Western heritage and its diverse cultures.
Contestants are evaluated on horsemanship, public speaking and personal interviews, according to the State Fair. A three-member judging panel scores each contestant, with the contestant receiving the highest average score selected as queen.
In announcing Hidalgo’s selection, the State Fair said she credited her family with supporting her throughout her journey and said she looks forward to representing New Mexico during her reign.