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
South Dakota County Fairs: The Essentials
South Dakota county fairs combine a community fair with a 4-H show, often called Achievement Days, run by your local SDSU Extension office. Fairs cluster from late July through August; Turner County's fair in Parker has run every year since 1880.
Entering
Many counties use FairEntry. Codington County's 2026 entries were due July 22, with a separate form for each display exhibit. Use the State Fair Book, since only items listed in it are eligible.
Livestock
Animals must be individually identified in 4-H Online. Market beef, goats, sheep and swine headed to the State Fair need a DNA sample at the county office by June 1, and every livestock exhibitor needs an approved Youth Livestock Literacy program by July 1.
State fair
A display exhibit needs a ribbon placing at a county event to qualify. State Fair registration closes August 1, and South Dakota 4-H says missed deadlines have no exceptions. The 2027 fair in Huron runs September 1 to 6.
Counties set their own premium, sale and pet rules, so read your county packet and ask the Extension office when something is unclear. Pick up the State Fair Book early.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- South Dakota Farm Bureau Annual Convention
The 109th convention, Nov. 20-21, 2026, at The Box Events Center in Box Elder, brings farmers and ranchers together to set policy and honor members; Flint Rasmussen entertains at the banquet.
Box Elder, SD | 1-605-353-8054 | Organizer: South Dakota Farm Bureau Official event details - South Dakota Ag Expo
Agribusiness trade show at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, Jan. 13-14, 2027: 8:30 AM to 6 PM Wednesday and 8 AM to noon Thursday.
Sioux Falls, SD Official event details - Lake City Racing Pigeon Show
Racing pigeon show on the Extension Complex calendar in Watertown for Jan. 16, 2027.
1910 West Kemp Avenue, Watertown, SD 57201 | Organizer: Lake City Racing Pigeon Club Official event details - South Dakota Corn Conference
The 41st annual conference on Jan. 16, 2027, offers free weather and market sessions with lunch, then an evening banquet with Corn Yield Contest awards and a CornPAC auction.
Sioux Falls, SD | 605-334-0100 | Organizer: South Dakota Corn Growers Association Official event details - Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo
Western heritage event in Rapid City with livestock shows, PRCA rodeo performances and Western entertainment, drawing more than 330,000 visitors; the next run is Jan. 29 to Feb. 6, 2027.
All South Dakota events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.