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
Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Washington's fair season runs from spring youth fairs to the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima, September 25 to October 4 in 2026, per a fair calendar. The Washington State Fair in Puyallup ran September 4 to 27.
Who can show
The state 4-H handbook requires members to be eight by October 1 to compete in livestock shows or sales. Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, cannot compete.
Rules to know
Animals sold at a junior livestock auction cannot be leased. Market steers must be polled or dehorned. Washington 4-H recommends YQCA training. Ownership dates vary: San Juan County's 2026 auction guide lists beef by April 15 and swine, lamb and goat by June 14.
Next steps
Ask your county WSU Extension office for your fair book. Dates, weights and sale rules change, so confirm with the organizer.
Read the full guide: Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- San Juan County Showmanship Clinic and Spring Weigh-In
Showmanship clinics for livestock and small animals, a butchering careers talk and an early weigh-in with ear tags for fair auction animals. Held each year; the most recent date was May 30, 2026.
849 Argyle Ave, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 | Organizer: Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee Official event details - San Juan County 4-H Livestock Auction
Saturday fair auction in the 4-H Arena for beef, goat, lamb, swine, market poultry, hens and eggs; registration at noon, bidding at 1:00 pm. Held each year; the most recent date was August 15, 2026.
Friday Harbor, WA | Organizer: 4-H Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee Official event details - Washington Cattlemen and Cattlewomen Annual Convention and Tradeshow
Held each year; the most recent dates verified were November 12-14, 2025, the 100th convention, at the Wenatchee Convention Center.
Wenatchee, WA | Organizer: Washington Cattlemen's Association Official event details - Kittitas Beef Pre-Show, Weigh-In and Judging Contest
Spring day where 4-H, FFA and Grange members weigh and tag fair steers (1,150 lb minimum), compete in a beef judging contest and show heifers. Most recent date: March 21, 2026.
Ellensburg, WA | Organizer: Kittitas County 4-H Official event details - Washington State Spring Fair
Held each year in Puyallup over two spring weekends; the most recent dates were April 9-12 and April 16-19, 2026.
Puyallup, WA Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.