What the Chaves County Fair Is
The Chaves County 4-H and FFA Fair is the county's youth showcase, held at the Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Roswell. In 2026 it ran Friday, July 24 through Saturday, August 1. Members bring everything from baked goods and welding projects to market steers, with indoor exhibits judged first and the livestock shows following through the week, ending with the Junior Livestock Sale.
Who Can Enter
Exhibitors must be bona fide Chaves County 4-H or FFA members, enrolled for the current year and in good standing. Members join 4-H or FFA by March 31 and enroll in the specific project by May 1. Age is figured as of January 1, 2026.
| Division | Ages |
|---|---|
| Cloverbud/Booster | 5 to 8 (show among themselves, no premiums) |
| Novice | 9 to 11 |
| Junior | 12 to 13 |
| Senior | 14 to 18 |
How It Works: The Timeline
- July 1: entries and fees due at the Extension Office, 1610 SE Main, Roswell. Checks are payable to Chaves County 4-H and FFA Fair Inc.
- Friday, July 24: home economics and general exhibits due 7:30 to 11:00 a.m., judging at 12:30 p.m.; ag mechanics due.
- Saturday, July 25: horse show, 5:00 p.m., Bob Crosby Arena.
- Sunday, July 26: all livestock, rabbits and poultry due on the grounds 7:00 a.m. to noon; weigh-in at noon (swine, then lambs and meat goats, then steers).
- Monday, July 27: rabbit show 8:00 a.m., dairy goats 2:00 p.m., pet show and dog show 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 28: swine show 8:00 a.m., meat goats 1:30 p.m., rodeo 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 29: breeding sheep and market lambs 8:00 a.m., poultry 2:00 p.m., dairy heifers 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, July 30: heifer show then steer show 8:00 a.m., wool lead and fashion extravaganza, awards program 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, July 31: Junior Livestock Sale, 6:30 p.m., Sale Ring at the fairgrounds.
- Saturday, August 1: animals released 8:00 a.m., inside exhibits released 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., all animals off the grounds by 1:00 p.m.
Fees
- Market beef and dairy heifers: $14 per head
- Hogs, sheep, goats and breeding stock: $10 per head (breeding heifers $20)
- Dairy goats: $6 per head
- Rabbit meat pens and broiler poultry: $4
- Horse show and rodeo: $5 per class or event (Boosters free)
- Late entries: $25 per family
Livestock Requirements
Market beef must be owned by April 1; market hogs, lambs, dairy heifers and meat goats by June 1. Minimum weights are 190 pounds for pigs (maximum 290), 80 pounds for lambs and 40 pounds for meat goats; check the fair book for the steer minimum. Market lambs must be slick shorn. Only cedar fiber or wood pellets may be used for bedding, and no professional fitting help or adult help in the ring is allowed.
Awards and the Sale
Market beef, lamb, swine and dairy heifer shows award Grand and Reserve Grand Champion trophies, 3rd to 5th overall banners, and $75 showmanship awards for Senior, Junior and Novice. Breeding heifers pay $65 for first down to $25 for fifth, and the Supreme Heifer earns $250.
At the Junior Livestock Sale each exhibitor may sell up to 2 animals, only one of which can be a steer or dairy heifer. Maximum paid weights are 1,300 pounds for steers, 290 for swine and 130 for lambs. A 5 percent commission comes off the sale price, and animals that sold in a premium sale cannot sell at the county fair. Checks go out after thank-you notes and pictures are delivered, which are due with cashed checks by December 31.
The Fair Board also offers a scholarship to a high school junior or older who is a 4-H or FFA member, weighted 50 percent on fair participation; the deadline was July 1.
Where
Eastern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, Roswell (horse show in Bob Crosby Arena, general exhibits in Hobson Hall). Entries and mail go to the Extension Office at 1610 SE Main, Roswell, NM 88203.
Official Links
- 2026 Chaves County Fair Book: schedule, rules, fees and sale terms
New Mexico County Fairs: The Essentials
New Mexico county fairs are run through local NMSU Cooperative Extension offices, and every county publishes its own fair book. Check yours before buying an animal, because rules differ.
2026 dates
Chaves County ran July 24 to August 1, Eastern Navajo held its show July 23 and 24, Curry County ran August 10 to 15 and Socorro County ran August 31 to September 6, per their fair books.
What varies
Minimum market steer weights range from 800 pounds in Chaves to 950 in Curry County. Ownership deadlines, tagging, health papers and entry fees also differ, and Curry requires YQCA for production steers.
Sale and state fair
Each fair holds a junior livestock sale; Curry caps slots at 102 and lets each exhibitor sell one animal. Blue ribbon winners and qualifying livestock exhibitors can go on to the New Mexico State Fair at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque. Entry deadlines run from mid-June to August 1, so mark them early. Ask your Extension office for next year's fair book and deadlines.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Chaves County 4-H and FFA Fair
Nine-day youth fair in Roswell with junior livestock shows, indoor exhibits in Hobson Hall, a 4-H rodeo and a Friday night junior livestock sale. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 24 to August 1, 2026.
2500 SE Main St, Roswell, NM 88203 | 575-343-9075 | Organizer: Chaves County Extension Office Official event details - Chaves County Fair Rabbit Show
Rabbit classes open the livestock week at the Chaves County fair, with showmanship following the breed judging. Held each year; the most recent show was Monday, July 27, 2026.
Roswell, NM | Organizer: Chaves County Extension Office Official event details - Chaves County Fair Pet and Dog Show
Monday evening pet show followed by a dog show, organized with local kennel club directors during the Chaves County fair. Held each year; the most recent show was July 27, 2026.
Roswell, NM | Organizer: Chaves County Extension Office Official event details - Chaves County Fair Market Swine Show
Market swine are weighed 190 to 290 pounds on Sunday, then shown Tuesday morning after the prospect pig class at the Chaves County fair in Roswell. Held each year; the most recent show was July 28, 2026.
Roswell, NM | Organizer: Chaves County Extension Office Official event details - Chaves County Fair Meat Goat Show
Youth meat goat classes at the Chaves County fair, with a 40 pound minimum weight and weigh-in the Sunday before. Held each year; the most recent show was July 28, 2026, a day after the dairy goat show.
Roswell, NM | Organizer: Chaves County Extension Office Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.