2022 County Fair: “Cowboy Boots & Country Roots”

If there is one thing that brings people together, it’s the Socorro County Fair, when folks from all over the county converge on the fairgrounds with entries ranging from livestock and poultry to home-baked pies and flower arranging to everything imaginable in between.

Cowboy Boots & Country Roots

The theme of the 2022 Socorro County Fair and PRCA Rodeo is aptly named “Cowboy Boots & Country Roots.”

And this year organizers are honoring two individuals to posthumously share the title of the parade Grand Marshals: Marleen Greenwood and Reighlyn Rosales, both of whom tragically died in a December 2021 traffic accident.

“They had the fancy cowboy boots and their country roots ran very deep,” fair organizers state. “Their impact on so many people, our community and Socorro County Fair will not be forgotten.”

Marleen, an active member of the Socorro County Fair and Rodeo Association for the past 20 years, had served as a board member, and officer and served on the livestock and Sale Committee. She was also the Socorro and Magdalena FFA advisor in that time.

A statement by the fair board said, “The fair was her love and her passion. From showtime to sale and all the preparation in between, she was involved with her sons, nephews and nieces and her ‘kids’ and the community of exhibitors she helped statewide.

“Her county fair experiences as an exhibitor and member of the fair board spanned 40 years where she lived this and tried to share it with others.”

Marleen Greenwood was a third-generation Socorro County Fair participant.

This year would have been the first year for Reighlyn, a fifth-generation fair participant, to show.

“She had participated in the pet shows previously and was in Marleen’s shadow many times,” stated a Memoriam in the fair booklet. “Rynni had already become determined to be a champion. At her young age, she knew what hard work was and knew if you want something, you work for it.

“Rynni was that spark that touched so many lives. Her personality shined. She thought of others and was caring and very intuitive; when someone needed something, she was going to get it for them.”

Showcasing Local Talent

As with every year, the fair features FFA/4-H’s Junior Livestock Auction, the sanctioned PRCA rodeos, arts and crafts exhibitions, the parade down California Street, and dozens of activities over the Labor Day weekend.

According to the fair board, the main reason for having the fair is to highlight the many accomplishments of area 4-H and FFA youth with the livestock show and indoor projects in Zimmerman Hall.

The talents of local residents are showcased in the open division. Beginning on Thursday and throughout the run of the fair, visitors are welcome to stroll through the Admin Building, Zimmerman Hall and the Convention Center at the Sports Complex to view all the winning entries in the open division.

Perhaps the most highly anticipated event is the Junior Livestock Auction, which gives 4-H/FFA members the chance to gain knowledge and experience in livestock production and management practices.

The auction’s main goal is to provide an opportunity for these members to train and produce a marketable animal that meets quality meat grading standards to sell to members of the community and/or local businesses. Buyers’ purchases in the auction not only recognize these members for their time, expense, and effort put into raising their animals but also recognize local businesses for their help with the fair.

All proceeds from the sale benefit 4-H/FFA youth exhibitors selling their animals.

Livestock judging, including poultry, rabbits, goats and swine, take up Thursday’s schedule.

Friday will see the judging of market steers and other livestock in Greenwood Barn. Generally, a steer entered at the fair will weigh 1,000-3,000 pounds.

Fair Royalty

The crowning of Socorro County Fair Queen is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at the City of Socorro’s rodeo arena. The purpose of the Queen and Princess Pageant is to select young ladies as official representatives of the Socorro County Fair and Rodeo Association.

The Queens, along with their courts, serve as ambassadors of the SCFRA to the general public, exhibiting excelled sportsmanship, and high moral and ethical standards. Contestants should be able to speak intelligently, with authority, and with knowledge of the fair and the county.

The winning contestants must score well in horsemanship and speech, impromptu questions, an interview and a written test, along with modeling. Both the Fair and Rodeo Queens will go on to represent Socorro County at the New Mexico State Fair in September.

Following the crowning will be the always popular Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo, beginning at 7 p.m. The caliber of the contestants and stock make this event a must-see.

The after-rodeo dance will feature music by Austin Van.

Chain Saw Competition and More

Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast from 7-9:30 a.m. at the Finch Pavilion, sponsored by Tumbleweeds 4-H Club.

The popular Socorro County Fair Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Francisco de Avondo and California. Rosette ribbons will be awarded for first and second place in all categories. A sweepstakes trophy is awarded to the parade entry that best depicts the theme.

The judging stand will be on the corner of Bullock and California.

Following the parade, the Chain Saw Contest returns at 11:30 a.m. at the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. Participants are allowed to make only two cuts — one cut down and then one cut up.

The fastest chain-sawer receives the grand prize of a new chain saw donated by Acosta Equipment Inc. Second prize is a lamb, and the third-prize winner receives 25 bales of hay.

Following that, one of the most popular events is the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction, which begins at 3 p.m. in the Greenwood Barn arena.

Saturday night features more PRCA-sanctioned rodeo action beginning at 7 p.m., followed by the Saturday night dance with music from Austin Van.

For the younger set, on Sunday is the Pet Parade (any animal except horses, ponies, or snakes) for children 3-8 years old at 9 a.m. in Greenwood Barn. Categories are Cutest/Most Handsome, Best Behaved, Worst Behaved, Best Trick, Best Costume, Most Unusual, Queen’s Court Favorite, Princess’s Favorite, and Sweetheart Favorite.

The Pet Parade is followed by the Pee Wee Rodeo at 10 a.m. also in the Greenwood Barn when kids 3-8 years old on stick horses show off their skills at Barrel Racing, Flag Race, Bucking Horse, and Goat Ribbon Pull. Some stick horses will be provided but feel free to bring your own, especially if it is a fast one.

Queen’s Contestants will judge. First place ribbons will be awarded in each category. All participants will receive a ribbon they can take home as a memento of the event.

Some of the exhibiting will be held in the Convention Center at the Socorro County Rodeo Complex.

Tuesday, Aug. 30

3 p.m. Steer and Heifer check-in (Greenwood Barn)

4-6 p.m. Enter Open Fine Arts and  Photography (Admin Building)

5-7 p.m. Entry of 4-H Indoor Exhibits (Zimmerman Hall)

Wednesday, Aug. 31

7-9 a.m. Enter 4-H Indoor Exhibits (Zimmerman Hall)

Enter Sale Ring Cake (Zimmerman Hall)

9:30 a.m. Judge 4-H Indoor Exhibits

Judge Sale Ring Cake (Zimmerman Hall)

10 a.m. Breeding/Dairy Heifer Show (Greenwood Barn)

Noon – Market Steer Show (Greenwood Barn)

Followed by County Bred Steer Show (Greenwood Barn)

3-6 p.m. Enter Open Division Arts & Crafts, Baked Goods & Candy, Horticulture,

Preserved Food, School Arts, Sewing (Zimmerman Hall)

Fancy Work, Quilting (Convention Center)

8 p.m. Goat and Lamb check-in (Greenwood Barn)

 

Thursday, Sept. 1

7–9 a.m. Enter Open Division Arts and Crafts, Baked Goods and Candy, Fancy Work, Horticulture, Preserved Foods, School Art, Sewing, Quilting, and Fancy Work

7:30-9 a.m. Enter Flowers

8 a.m. Market Swine check-in

8 a.m.-noon Enter 4-H/FFA Small Stock

Enter Open Small Stock

9 a.m.-noon Kelly Hall vendor setup

9 a.m. Judge Fine Arts and Photography

10 a.m. Judge Open Division

10 a.m. Judge Flowers

1 p.m. Kelly Hall opens

3 p.m. Zimmerman Hall, Admin building, and Convention Center open

3 p.m. Market Goat Show, followed by the County-bred Goats

Market Lamb Show immediately following Goat show Bred Lambs

 

Friday, Sept. 2

7 a.m. Market Swine Show (Greenwood Barn) Followed by County-bred Swine

10 a.m. Kelly Hall, Zimmerman Hall, Admin Building and Convention Center Open

1 p.m. Judging of Small Stock (Greenwood Barn) Booster Rabbits

Followed by Fancy Rabbits, Meat Pen Rabbits, Booster Chickens, Fancy Chickens, Meat Pen Chickens

Followed by Open Rabbits and Chickens

4 p.m. Round Robin Showmanship

7 p.m. PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo Complex) Dance after rodeo featuring Austin Van

 

Saturday, Sept. 3

7-9:30 a.m. Tumbleweeds 4-H Pancake Breakfast (Finch Pavillion)

9 a.m. Parade Line-Up (Sedillo Park)

10 a.m. Parade Begins

10 a.m. Zimmerman Hall, Admin Building and Convention Center open

10 a.m. Chainsaw Contest registration (North of Kelly Hall)

11:30 a.m. Chainsaw Contest begins

3 p.m. 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction

7 p.m. Kelly Hall, Zimmerman Hall, Admin. Building and Convention Center Close

7 p.m. Release of Kelly Hall Vendors

7 p.m. PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo Complex) Dance after rodeo featuring Austin Van

 

Sunday, Sept. 5

9 a.m. Pet Parade

10 a.m. Pee Wee Rodeo

2 p.m. PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo Complex)