What the San Juan County Fair Is
The San Juan County Fair and Carnival is the biggest week of the year for 4-H members and livestock exhibitors in northwest New Mexico, held at McGee Park in Farmington and run by the San Juan County Fair Board. The 2026 fair ran August 10 to 15 under the theme "250 Years, Red, White and Blue," with a parade the Friday before and the carnival running through Sunday, August 16.
Ways to Take Part
4-H indoor projects
Indoor entries must be pre-registered; forms come from the San Juan County Extension Office and were due no later than July 23, 2026. Exhibitors must be enrolled in the right 4-H project for each class, the work must be their own and it must be finished within the current 4-H year. Check-in is Saturday, August 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the McGee Park Multi-Purpose Building, and check-out is Sunday, August 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Families or club leaders may drop off for other members. Only 4-H entry staff may place exhibits for judging.
Best of Show Cake
Novice, Junior and Senior members in good standing may enter a cake at the Multi-Purpose Building on the Saturday before fair. Winners receive a buckle and cash. Cakes are judged on taste, decoration, creativity and a required binder with the recipe and a baking story, and may not exceed 8 inches in height. Refrigerated cakes are accepted. This contest does not count toward state fair or high point.
Livestock, rabbits and poultry
Animal check-in runs 7 a.m. to noon, entering off Bloomfield Highway. Bring your market certification (signed by the 4-H agent that day), bill of sale and Form 1 brand inspection. Poultry, market chicken, rabbit and market rabbit entries are made through ShowWorks by July 15. The poultry barn, rabbit barn and riding arena are at McGee Park.
Who Can Join 4-H
Youth ages 5 to 19 may register, and membership is free with over 200 projects. The county has more than 460 youth members, 130 adult volunteers, 17 clubs and special project groups for rabbits, dogs, rifle, archery, shotgun, rodeo and horses.
For Visitors: Admission and Schedule
- Admission: $10 adults, $5 children and seniors. Carnival one-price wristband $30 ($27 online).
- Special days: Kids Day (August 10), kids 12 and under in with two canned food items; Scouts in uniform free (August 11); Senior Citizens and Special Needs Day free (August 12); Lions Day (August 13), kids 12 and under free with an old pair of eyeglasses.
- Hours: fairgrounds 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Convention Center opens 10 a.m.; buildings close 10 p.m.
- August 7: parade, line-up 4:30 p.m. at Butler and Main, parade 6:00 p.m. downtown.
- August 10: Barnyard Olympics 1 p.m.; Outhouse Race 7 p.m.
- August 13: goat and lamb costume contest 7 p.m., pig costume contest, goat milking contest 8 p.m.
- August 14: Skip Ewing 7:30 p.m. and Casey Chesnutt 9:15 p.m.
- August 15: rooster crowing contest 9 a.m., stick horse race 10 a.m., salsa contest 5:30 p.m., Tate Stevens 7:30 p.m., Andy Griggs 9:15 p.m.
Where
McGee Park, 41 Road 5568, Farmington, NM. Entries are submitted to the San Juan County Extension Office, 400 S. Gossett Dr., Aztec, NM 87410.
Questions
Who do I call?
The San Juan County Extension Office at 505-334-9496 for 4-H entries, or the fair board at 505-325-5415.
Do I need to pre-register indoor projects?
Yes. Pre-registration by the deadline is required to exhibit.
Official Links
- San Juan County Fair and Carnival: dates, admission and schedule
- 2026 4-H fair indoor entry rules
- San Juan County 4-H July 2026 newsletter
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
- San Juan County 4-H Poultry Clinic
Pre-fair clinic for 4-H poultry exhibitors in the McGee Park poultry barn; the most recent session was July 8, 2026, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Farmington, NM | 505-334-9496 | Organizer: San Juan County 4-H Official event details - San Juan County 4-H Hop Along Rabbit Fun Day
Rabbit project practice day for 4-H members at the McGee Park rabbit barn before the county fair; the most recent session was July 16, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Farmington, NM | 505-334-9496 | Organizer: San Juan County 4-H Official event details - New Mexico 4-H Rodeo Finals
Statewide finals for 4-H rodeo competitors held in Farmington; the most recent dates were Sept. 4-6, 2026. County qualifying rodeos run through the summer.
Farmington, NM | Organizer: NMSU Cooperative Extension Official event details - Bernalillo County Pressure Canner Testing
Home canners bring pressure canner gauges for testing in a Wednesday afternoon session. Held several times each year; the most recent session was November 11, 2026.
1510 Menaul Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 | (505) 243-1386 | Organizer: Bernalillo County Extension Office Official event details - Successful Weed Control Class
Registration-required Extension class on controlling weeds on small acreages and home landscapes. Held each year; the most recent class was November 14, 2026.
Albuquerque, NM | Organizer: Bernalillo County Extension Office Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.