2022 County Fair: “Cowboy Boots and Country Roots”

If there’s one thing that brings people together, it’s the Socorro County Fair, when people from across the county converge on the fairgrounds with entries ranging from cattle and poultry to homemade pies and flower arrangement to everything imaginable in between.

Cowboy boots and country roots

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

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

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

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

A statement from the fair’s board said: ‘The fair was his love and his passion. From showtime to sales 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 across the state.

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

Marleen Greenwood was a third generation attendee at the Socorro County Fair.

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

“She had been in the pet shows before and was often in Marleen’s shadow,” said a Memoriam in the fair’s booklet. “Rynni was already determined to be a champion. At a young age, she knew what hard work was and knew that if you want something, you work for it.

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

Showcasing local talent

Like every year, the fair features the FFA/4-H Junior Livestock Auction, PRCA-sanctioned rodeos, arts and crafts shows, California Street Parade, and dozens of activities during Labor Day weekend.

According to the fair’s board of directors, the primary reason for having the fair is to highlight the many accomplishments of youth in the 4-H region and the FFA with the livestock display and interior projects at Zimmerman Hall.

The talents of local residents are showcased in the open division. Beginning Thursday and throughout the fair, visitors are invited to stroll through the Administration Building, Zimmerman Hall and Sports Complex Convention Center to view all of the Open Division winning entries.

Perhaps the most 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 primary purpose of the auction is to provide an opportunity for these members to train and produce a marketable animal that meets quality meat grading standards for sale to community members and/or local businesses. . Buyers’ purchases at the auction not only recognize these members for their time, expense and effort devoted to raising their animals, but also recognizes local businesses for their assistance at the fair.

All proceeds from the sale benefit young 4-M/FFA exhibitors who sell their animals.

Livestock judging, including poultry, rabbits, goats and pigs, occupies Thursday’s schedule.

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

Just Royalty

The Socorro County Fair Queen coronation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at the Socorro Town Rodeo Arena. The purpose of the Queen and Princess Pageant is to select young women as official representatives of the Socorro County Fair and Rodeo Association.

The Queens, along with their courts, serve as ambassadors for the SCFRA to the general public, displaying excellent sportsmanship and high moral and ethical standards. Applicants must be able to speak intelligently, with authority, and with fair and county knowledge.

Winning candidates must achieve good results in horsemanship and speech, impromptu questions, interview and written test, as well as modeling. The Fair and Rodeo Queens will continue to represent Socorro County at the New Mexico State Fair in September.

After the coronation, the ever-popular Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association-sanctioned rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. The caliber of attendees and stock make this event a must.

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

Chainsaw contest and more

Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast from 7-9:30 a.m. at Finch Pavilion, sponsored by the 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 contest trophy is awarded to the entry to the parade that best represents the theme.

The judges’ stand will be at the corner of Bullock and California.

After the parade, the chainsaw contest returns at 11:30 a.m. to the northwest corner of the fairgrounds. Participants are only allowed to make two cuts – one cut and then one cut.

The fastest chainsaw receives the grand prize of a new chainsaw courtesy of Acosta Equipment Inc. Second prize is a lamb and the third prize winner receives 25 bales of hay.

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

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

For younger kids, Sunday is the Pet Parade (all animals except horses, ponies or snakes) for children ages 3-8 at 9am at Greenwood Barn. The categories are Cutest/Prettiest, Best Behaved, Worst, Best Tricks, Best Costumes, Most Unusual, Queen’s Court Favorite, Princess’ Favorite, and Sweetie’s Favorite .

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

Queen’s contestants will judge. First place ribbons will be awarded in each category. All attendees will receive a ribbon to take home as a souvenir of the event.

A portion of the show will take place at the convention center at the Socorro County Rodeo Complex.

Tuesday August 30

3:00 p.m. Check-in of steers and heifers (Greenwood Barn)

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

5-7 p.m. Admission to 4-H Indoor Exhibits (Zimmerman Hall)

Wednesday August 31

7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Enter the 4-H Indoor Exhibits (Zimmerman Room)

Enter the Sales Ring Cake (Zimmerman Hall)

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

Judge’s Sale Ring Cake (Zimmerman Hall)

10:00 a.m. Livestock/Dairy Heifer Show (Greenwood Barn)

Noon – Market Steer Show (Greenwood Barn)

Followed by County Bred Steer Show (Greenwood Barn)

3-6 p.m. Enter the open Arts and Crafts, Baking and Candy, Horticulture,

Canned Foods, School Arts, Sewing (Zimmerman Hall)

Fancy Work, Quilting (Convention Center)

8 p.m. Check-in of goats and lambs (Greenwood Barn)

Thursday, September 1

7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Enter the Open Division Arts and Crafts, Baking and Candy, Novelty Crafts, Horticulture, Preserved Foods, School Art, Sewing, Quilting and Novelty Crafts

7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Entrance of the flowers

8:00 a.m. Market Swine check-in

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

Enter a small open stock

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Installation of the supplier Kelly Hall

9:00 a.m. Fine Arts and Photography Judge

10 a.m. Judge Open Division

10:00 a.m. Judge Flowers

1:00 p.m. Kelly Hall opens

3 p.m. Zimmerman Hall, administration building and convention center open

3 p.m. Market Goat Show, followed by county goats

Market Lamb Show immediately after Goat show Bred Lambs

Friday, September 2

7:00 a.m. Market Swine Show (Greenwood Barn) followed by County Hogs

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

1:00 p.m. Small Booster Rabbit Judging (Greenwood Barn)

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

Tracked by Open Rabbits and Chickens

4 p.m. Staging Tournament

7:00 p.m. PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo Complex) Post-Rodeo Dance with Austin Van

Saturday September 3

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

9:00 a.m. Line-Up Parade (Sedillo Park)

10:00 a.m. Start of the parade

10:00 a.m. Zimmerman Hall, Administration Building and Convention Center open

10 a.m. Chainsaw contest registration (north of Kelly Hall)

11:30 a.m. Beginning of the chainsaw contest

3:00 p.m. 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction

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

7 p.m. Kelly Hall vendors release

7:00 p.m. PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo Complex) Post-Rodeo Dance with Austin Van

Sunday September 5

9 a.m. Pet Parade

10 a.m. Pee Wee Rodeo

2pm PRCA Rodeo (Rodeo Complex)