Roosevelt County Fair getting set

PORTALES — Getting ready for the Roosevelt County Fair is no doubt taxing work. But it’s work organizers want to do, especially after the one-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s like it always is,” Fair Board President Sheila Hays said Friday. “We’re chasing our tail to make sure we have everything ready for Tuesday.”

Friday was a busy day, with just a weekend standing between fair preparation and fair operation. The fair is scheduled to run Monday through Sunday, though Monday is largely a setup and event judging day and the 6 a.m. Tuesday 4-H Pork Chop Breakfast feels like the kick-off event.

“Everybody is super excited,” Hays said. “They can’t wait to get out and enjoy themselves, get some fair food and see the animals and the entries. Everyone I talked to has said, ‘I can’t wait to get to the fair,’ and they’re really glad we’re having it.”

New events include a barbecue cookoff set for Friday and Saturday, and Hays said the nightly concerts on the slab feature new performers. None of the performers are based in Roosevelt County, but many are from the surrounding area and familiar to locals.

Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children 5-17 and free for children 4 and under with a half-price gate on Wednesday. Week passes are $25 for adults, $15 for children and $5 for youth exhibitors. The Sun Valley Rides Carnival will go from Wednesday through Sunday. Thursday and Sunday will include specials for $20 armbands for unlimited rides or a 60-ticket family pack for $30.

The fair will have most of its usual staples, between the carnival, the Friday junior livestock sale, the Saturday Kiwanis Pet Show and the nightly concerts on the slab. The fair will also feature a Wednesday praise and worship night hosted by local churches, and Sunday will be a fiesta day with the Del Norte Band.

Tuesday

• 6 a.m.-10 a.m.: 4-H Pork Chop Breakfast, Jake Lopez Building

• 10 a.m.: Poultry judging

• Noon: Flower show judging

• 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.: Registration for greased pig chase

• 4 p.m.: Swine show

• 5 p.m.-10 p.m.: Exhibit buildings open, voting open for fair board elections (home arts building)

Wednesday

• 10 a.m.: Steer and breeding beef weighing

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Home arts and youth building open

• 1 p.m.: Goat show

• 5 p.m.-7 p.m.: Praise and worship, Jake Lopez Building

• 5 p.m.-10 p.m.: Merchants building open

• 2 p.m.-midnight: Sun Valley Rides Carnival

• 5 p.m.: Lamb show, events center

• 5:30 p.m.: Jett Sharp Team Roping, outdoor arena

• 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m.: Justin Kemp Band, slab

Thursday

• 8 a.m.-2 p.m.: Free admission for senior citizens

• 8 a.m.: Antique tractor show, pavilion

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Pioneer luncheon, Jake Lopez Building

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Home arts and youth buildings open

• Noon-8 p.m.: Fine arts building open

• 1:30 p.m.: Dairy heifer show, events center

• 3 p.m.-10 p.m.: Merchants building open

• 5 p.m.-midnight: Children of military personnel free admission when adult presents military ID

• 2 p.m.-midnight: Sun Valley Rides Carnival

• 6 p.m.: Breeding beef heifer show, steer show, events center

• 6 p.m.-8 p.m.: Antique tractor games, outdoor arena

• 6 p.m.-10 p.m.: Clovis Area Train Society model railroad display, youth building

• 8 p.m-11:30 p.m.: Stateline Band, slab

Friday

• 8:30 a.m.: Supreme livestock showmanship contest, events center

• 10 a.m.: Shepard, sheep and wool contest, Jake Lopez Building

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Clovis Area Train Society model railroad display, youth building

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Home arts and youth buildings open

• 2 p.m.-midnight: Sun Valley Rides Carnival

• 3 p.m.-10 p.m.: Merchants building open

• 3:30 p.m.: Cotton Extravaganza, Jake Lopez Building

• 4 p.m.-8 p.m.: Fine arts building open

• 5 p.m.: Home arts, supreme showmanship, poultry and rabbit awards presentation, show arena

• 6:30 p.m.: Junior livestock sale, show arena; meal follows in Jake Lopez Building

• 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.: Chad Cooke Band, slab

• 10 p.m.-11:30 p.m.: TexWestus Band, slab

Saturday

• 10 a.m.: Kiwanis pet show, pavilion (registration 9 a.m.), stick horse race, turtle race, dummy roping, greased pig chase

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Home arts and youth buildings open

• 10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Clovis Area Train Society model railroad display, youth building

• 2 p.m.-midnight: Sun Valley Rides Carnival

• 4 p.m.-8 p.m.: Fine arts building open

• 7 p.m.: Fair board election closes, home arts building

• 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.: Joe Trevino Band, slab

Sunday

• 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m.: Gates open, Sun Valley Rides Carnival

• 7 p.m.-11:30 p.m.: Del Norte Band, slab