What the Baca County Fair and Rodeo Is
The Baca County Fair and Rodeo is a week-long community event at the Baca County Fairgrounds in Springfield, built around 4-H and FFA projects, a junior livestock sale, KPRA/CPRA and ranch rodeo action and a long weekend of free community events. The 2026 fair ran July 25 to August 1, and it is held each year around the first weekend in August.
The Week at a Glance (2026)
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Sat, July 25 | 7 p.m. Baca County Pageant |
| Sun, July 26 | 8 a.m. county shoot (all disciplines) at Cat Creek Shooting Range; 6 p.m. team roping |
| Mon, July 27 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. interview judging; 6:30 p.m. Style Revue |
| Tue, July 28 | 8 a.m. 4-H Horse Show; livestock stalled 5 to 9 p.m.; weigh-ins (rabbit and poultry 5:30, swine 6:00, sheep 7:00, beef 7:30 p.m.) |
| Wed, July 29 | Rabbit Show 8 a.m.; goat weigh-in 8 to 9 a.m.; Poultry Show 1 p.m.; Sheep Show 6:30 p.m.; Swine Show 7:30 p.m. |
| Thu, July 30 | Beef Show 8 a.m.; Goat Show 10 a.m.; Muttin' Bustin' 6 p.m.; KPRA/CPRA Rodeo 7 p.m.; carnival rides 6 to 10 p.m. |
| Fri, July 31 | Round Robin showmanship; Junior Livestock Premium Sale 5 p.m.; Dry Creeks Ranch Rodeo and Calf Scramble 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Aug 1 | 10 a.m. parade; free community BBQ 11:30 a.m.; Touch a Truck; antique tractor pull; Demolition Derby 7 p.m. |
Entry Deadlines
- Open class and FFA exhibits: Wednesday, July 29, 8 to 11:30 a.m.
- Open class crop and vegetable exhibits: Thursday, July 30, 8 to 11 a.m.
- Open class floriculture: Friday, July 31, 8 to 9:30 a.m.
- Junior Premium Sale sign-up: Thursday, July 30, 2 p.m.
- Muttin' Bustin' sign-up: Thursday, July 30, 4:30 to 5 p.m.
- Chicken sorting sign-up: Saturday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.; antique tractor pull sign-up 1:30 p.m.
Open class and FFA judging begins at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Animals are released at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and exhibits are released from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Minnick Building.
The Junior Livestock Premium Sale
Youth exhibitors sell their market animals on Friday at 5 p.m. A Fair Sponsors and Premium Sale Buyer Meet and Greet runs from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Bernard's Barnyard. Sale sign-up closes Thursday at 2 p.m. Large and small animal Round Robin showmanship contests run Friday morning (small animals at 9 a.m., large animals at 10 a.m.).
Rodeo and Family Events
Thursday night brings the KPRA/CPRA rodeo, with Muttin' Bustin' for young riders first. Friday night is the Dry Creeks Ranch Rodeo and Calf Scramble, with a Calcutta at the arena grandstands at 6:30 p.m. Saturday finishes with the free community BBQ, an Old Settler's Picnic at noon at the Resource Center, a cornhole tournament, a pedal tractor pull for kids at 4 p.m. and the Demolition Derby. Live music plays at Bernard's Barnyard most evenings, and Lions Club breakfasts run Thursday and Friday mornings from 6 to 9 a.m.
Where
Baca County Fairgrounds, 1164 W 8th Ave, Springfield, Colorado.
Questions
Is any of it free?
The Saturday community BBQ is free, and Touch a Truck runs Saturday afternoon on the south side of the fence.
What time are the 4-H weigh-ins?
Tuesday evening: rabbit and poultry 5:30 to 6 p.m., swine 6 to 7 p.m., sheep 7 to 7:30 p.m., beef 7:30 to 8 p.m. Goats weigh in Wednesday from 8 to 9 a.m.
When does the fair end for exhibitors?
Animals are released at 3 p.m. Saturday and exhibits between 6 and 7 p.m.
Official Links
Colorado County Fairs: The Essentials
Colorado county fairs run through local CSU Extension offices, so every county sets its own dates and deadlines. In 2026 they ran from San Miguel's July 10-19 fair through Delta County's August 1-9.
Deadlines
Garfield County required fair entries on FairEntry.com by July 1 at 5:00 pm with no late entries. Delta County's pre-entry forms were due June 26 at 4:30 PM. Market animals are tagged at spring weigh-in.
Rules
Counties often require Meat Quality Assurance training for new exhibitors and set weight ranges. Washington County's market hogs run 220-300 lbs and lambs 100-170 lbs.
The junior sale
Garfield sells only blue and red ribbon animals. Delta requires two buyer invitations per exhibitor and a 5 percent consignment fee. Thank-you notes are expected. Confirm 2027 dates with your Extension office.
More to know
Elbert County's fair ran July 25 to August 2 in Kiowa, and Washington County's fair week began July 20. The Colorado State Fair is in Pueblo. Interview judging for general 4-H projects happens just before fair, and record books are often due soon after.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Colorado Cattlemen's Association Mid-Winter Conference
Winter policy conference of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association at the Denver Marriott West in Golden, set for Dec. 14-15, 2026.
- National Western Stock Show
Sixteen-day stock show and rodeo at the National Western Complex in Denver, with open breed shows, an auction of junior livestock champions, pro rodeos and horse shows. The 2027 dates are posted.
- Colorado State Fair & Rodeo
Eleven-day state fair and rodeo at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo. Fair organizers have announced Aug. 27 to Sept. 6, 2027; the 2026 fair ran Aug. 28 to Sept. 7.
- Western National Roundup
Four-day 4-H and FFA event in Denver with livestock and horse judging, quiz bowl, public speaking and parliamentary procedure contests. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 7-10, 2026.
- National Western Stock Dog Trials
Cattle and sheepdog competition during the opening days of the Denver stock show. Held each year; the most recent dates were Jan. 10-13, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.