What the Quay County Fair Is
The Quay County Fair is a three-day county fair in Tucumcari built around the Junior Livestock Show and Sale, with indoor 4-H and open exhibits, a flower show, home arts, a catch-a-calf scramble and a Family Day on Saturday. The 2026 fair ran August 6 to 8 at the Quay County Fair Grounds. Admission is free: the grounds and exhibit buildings are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
Ways to Enter
The Junior Livestock Show is open to FFA, 4-H and youth ages 6 to 19 who are supervised by a Vo-Ag teacher, county agent or fair board member. Competition is open to residents of Quay County and Conchas Dam. Exhibitors may show in only one county fair. Classes include:
- Junior steer show, commercial heifers, county breed and first-year feeder classes
- Junior swine, sheep and goat shows, each with booster, county breed and first-year feeder divisions
- Rabbit and poultry shows, including meat pens, baker rabbits, egg layers and chicken trios
- Showmanship in each species (ages 6-13 junior, 14-19 senior)
- Catch-A-Calf contest, plus an Itty Bitty Rodeo, Pet Parade and Ag Olympics on Saturday
Fees
| Entry | Fee |
|---|---|
| Steers and heifers | $15.00 |
| Swine, sheep and goats | $6.00 |
| Rabbits and poultry, singles | $1.00 |
| Market class, chicken trios | $3.00 |
| Large animal showmanship | $5.00 per species |
| Poultry showmanship | $3.00 |
| Catch-It-Calf | $15.00 |
Showmanship needs three entries to make a class, and the fee is refunded if it does not. Heifer premiums are $50 for first, $40 for second and $30 for third, with buckles for the grand and reserve champion heifers.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Entries due Monday, July 27, 5 p.m. Livestock entries and payment go to the Extension Office. Late entries carry a $50 per animal fee, and nothing is accepted after 5 p.m. on August 1.
- Thursday, August 6, 8 to 9 a.m. Weigh-in runs swine, sheep, goats, then cattle, followed by a mandatory exhibitors meeting. All junior entries must be in place by 9 a.m. The rabbit and poultry shows start at 10 a.m., and the swine show begins at 6 p.m.
- Friday, August 7 The Catch-A-Calf show and heifer and steer shows start at 10 a.m., with the goat show at 6 p.m. and lamb show about 30 minutes later. A sale meeting 30 minutes after the lamb show requires every sale exhibitor to be present.
- Saturday, August 8 Playday at 8 a.m., buyer's meal at 4 p.m. in the Travis Nelson Building, and the Junior Livestock Sale at 6 p.m. in the Show Arena. Exhibits are removed and premiums awarded at 9 p.m.
Rules That Matter
- Market animals are weighed on official fair scales, with one weigh-back allowed.
- Steers must weigh at least 1,000 pounds, and 1,400 pounds is the maximum pay weight at the sale. Steers and commercial heifers must be owned and cared for by April 1 and are shown blow and show.
- Exhibitors must be actively involved in fitting and grooming, and provide their own feed, water and shavings for swine and cattle.
- Dogs and horses are not allowed in the barn.
- Violations mean forfeiting premiums and sale money.
The Junior Livestock Sale
Each large animal exhibitor may sell one animal, with a maximum of 45 large animal slots plus a broiler pen, meat rabbit pen, egg layer pen and baker rabbit when minimums are met. Grand and reserve champion goat, lamb, swine and steer qualify to sell, and the grand champion of each species picks the first sale slot. Two percent is withheld from sale animals and $5 from packer animals for sale promotion. Packer animals must be signed up by 3 p.m. Saturday.
Catch-A-Calf
Three members per 4-H club or FFA chapter may apply by 5 p.m. on July 27 with a $15 entry fee, refunded if no calf is caught. Members must be at least 12 (or 11 and in sixth grade) and not past their junior year of high school. Up to eight calves are awarded, and winners keep records and show the calf at the next fair. The overall winner receives a jacket, and two $250 scholarships go to graduating participants.
Where
Quay County Fair Grounds, Tucumcari, New Mexico. The buyer's meal is in the Travis Nelson Building, and the sale and Playday are in the Show Arena and Rodeo Arena.
Questions
Can I enter more than one fair?
No. Junior livestock exhibitors may show in only one county fair.
Is there an admission charge?
No. The fair is free to attend.
Who do I call?
The Quay County Extension Office at 575-461-0562.
When must I be at the sale meeting?
Thirty minutes after the lamb show on Friday. Missing it can forfeit the sale slot.
Official Links
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
- Southeast District 4-H Contests
Held each year in Tucumcari; the most recent dates were June 16-18, 2026. Shooting sports are at the Quay County Fairgrounds and other contests use Mesalands Community College and other sites.
1100 S. Camino Del Coronado, Tucumcari, NM | Organizer: NMSU Cooperative Extension Official event details - Quay County 4-H Rodeo
Held each year at the fairgrounds rodeo arena; the most recent dates were July 24-25, 2026. Past editions drew about 72 4-H youth competing in goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing and roping for buckles and saddles.
Tucumcari, NM | Organizer: Quay County Extension Service Official event details - Quay County Fair Swine Show
Booster, junior, county-breed and first-year feeder swine classes plus swine showmanship open the Thursday evening program at the Quay County Fair; the most recent show was Aug. 6, 2026.
Tucumcari, NM Official event details - Quay County Fair Catch-A-Calf Scramble
Youth chase and catch calves in the Thursday evening scramble at the Quay County Fair in Tucumcari; the most recent was Aug. 6, 2026. The Catch-A-Calf show itself follows Friday morning.
Tucumcari, NM Official event details - Quay County Fair Rabbit and Poultry Show
Rabbit show and poultry show held Thursday morning at the Quay County Fair in Tucumcari; the most recent date was Aug. 6, 2026, with entries handled through the Extension Office.
Tucumcari, NM Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.