What the Union County Fair Is
The Union County Fair in Clayton, in the far northeast corner of New Mexico, is a four-day fair for Union County 4-H and FFA youth built around junior livestock shows, a production cattle contest, a Junior Livestock Sale and a Tin Barn full of 4-H and open indoor exhibits. The 2026 fair ran August 5 to 8. Ribbons, buckles, banners and showmanship awards are handed out at each show, and winners are listed on a running slideshow in the eating area.
Divisions and Contests
- Cattle, including junior market steers, breeding cattle and dairy, plus a Union County Bred division
- Market swine, breeding and market sheep, and meat goats
- Meat pen and individual rabbits and poultry, including waterfowl
- Horse show and showmanship
- Production Cattle Test and Visual Judging, with weigh and scan of production steers
- Bucket Calf Contest for youth ages 4 to 8, Junior Pet Show, Ranch Management Contest and Queen Contest
- 4-H and open indoor exhibits in the Tin Barn, and a Peddlers Market
Who Can Enter and Rules
- All junior livestock contestants must be 4-H or FFA members in Union County for the current year.
- Animals must be owned or managed by the exhibitor at least 75 percent of the time. Members should accompany, care for and show their own animals.
- Livestock must be in place by 8 a.m. Wednesday, and rabbits and poultry by 10 a.m. All animals must arrive clipped and show ready; touch-ups only outside the barn.
- All market animals are weighed and must meet weight requirements. A quality check sift at the scales removes animals that do not make it.
- Every market and breeding exhibitor signs the Youth Meat Quality Assurance (Wholesome Meat Act) form before the sale, and treatment records should be kept.
- Horse exhibitors must have a horse certificate at the Extension office by April 15.
- Animals must be declared as sale, packer or home no later than one hour after the steer show on Friday.
- Pellets are encouraged over shavings, and exhibitors who use shavings must clean their pens after the sale or sale checks are withheld.
Fees
| Entry | Fee |
|---|---|
| Cattle | $35 per head |
| Production cattle (add-on) | $15 per head |
| Horse and swine | $30 per head |
| Sheep and goat | $25 per head |
| Individual rabbit or poultry | $10 per entry |
| Rabbit or poultry meat pen | $20 per pen |
| Tin Barn indoor exhibits | $5 per entry |
| Bucket Calf | No fee |
Fair entries close July 26. Mail forms and a check or cash, postmarked by July 26, to Union County Fair Board Association, PO Box 29, Clayton, NM 88415.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Wednesday, August 5 Barn opens 6 a.m., weigh and classify at 8:15 a.m. starting with cattle, indoor exhibit check-in 8 to 10 a.m., production cattle test at 1 p.m., horse show at 4 p.m.
- Thursday, August 6 Meat pen rabbits at 9 a.m., poultry at 10 a.m., market swine at 6 p.m.
- Friday, August 7 Sheep at 9 a.m., meat goats at 11 a.m., Ranch Management Contest at 1 p.m., Bucket Calf at 4 p.m., breeding cattle and dairy at 5:30 p.m., market beef at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, August 8 Queen Contest 9 a.m., Junior Pet Show 1 p.m., buyers meal 4 p.m., 4-H indoor awards program 5:45 p.m., Junior Livestock Sale 6 p.m.
- Sunday, August 9 Tear down and 4-H indoor exhibit checkout from 9 a.m.
The Junior Livestock Sale
The sale is Saturday at 6 p.m. in the fairground sale ring, managed by 5 States Livestock Auction. Up to 32 market calves sell, and in swine, lamb and goat divisions up to 50 percent of entries up to 32, so a slot is not guaranteed. Exhibitors may sell combinations such as one beef plus one swine, lamb or goat, or two lambs, goats or swine. A 5 percent commission is withheld, plus $30 for the buyer's gift. Animals sell by the head, except meat pens.
Grand and reserve champions in each species may instead choose the Continual Fair Scholarship: they declare a regional or state fair, show the animal there, and send thank you cards by September 15 to receive the money.
Bucket Calf Contest
Open to youth ages 4 to 8 who are not in a 4-H project other than Cloverbuds. Calves must be born April 1 to July 1, halter broken and on the bucket or bottle. Entries are due July 24 and winners receive ribbons only.
Where and Who to Call
The fair is held in Clayton at the fairgrounds Fair Barn and Tin Barn. Union County Cooperative Extension Service, 100 Court Street, Clayton, NM 88415, phone 575-374-9361.
Official Links
- Union County Fair page
- 2026 Fair Schedule
- Junior Livestock General Rules
- Junior Livestock Sale Rules
- Bucket Calf Contest
- Continual Fair Scholarship
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
- Union County Fair Queens Contest
Pre-fair queens contest with interviews and speeches at the Extension Office, followed by the riding portion at the rodeo arena. Held each year; the most recent date was July 26, 2026.
Clayton, NM | Organizer: Union County Fair Official event details - Union County Fair Horse Show
Opening-day horse show at the Clayton fairgrounds, held after livestock weigh-in and the production cattle judging. Held each year; the most recent date was August 5, 2026.
Clayton, NM | Organizer: Union County Fair Official event details - Union County Fair Market Swine Judging
Thursday-evening market swine judging at the Fair Barn. Held each year; the most recent date was August 6, 2026.
Clayton, NM | Organizer: Union County Fair Official event details - Union County Fair Breeding and Market Sheep Judging
Friday-morning judging of breeding and market sheep, with the meat goat show scheduled an hour later. Held each year; the most recent date was August 7, 2026.
Clayton, NM | Organizer: Union County Fair Official event details - Union County Fair Meat Goat Judging
Meat goat judging that starts about one hour after the sheep show on Friday of fair week. Held each year; the most recent date was August 7, 2026.
Clayton, NM | Organizer: Union County Fair Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.