Calling all crafters, canners, artists and especially farmers and flower growers: participation is needed at next year’s San Miguel Basin Fair, specially for the Open Fair. Superintendent for the Open Fair Becky Hannigan told the Forum it’s true that entires could be better for 2026.
For Category 100, Farm Products, there were no entries this year.
In Category 200, Horticulture, the grand champion was Jason Baker for German White Garlic, and the reserve champion was the Baker Family for Candy Corn Pumpkin.
In Category 300, Floriculture, there were also no entries this year.
For Category 400, Culinary, the grand champion was LeeAnn Staats for pumpkin bread.
In Category, 500, Preserving and Canning, it was Bernice White as grand champion with for apricot-pineapple jam. Reserve champion was LeeAnn Staats for strawberry jam.
For Category 600, Fiber Arts, Tammy Gillaspy was grand champion with her embroidered tea towel, which featured an owl. Gillaspy is no stranger to the San Miguel Basin Fair. She’s taken the title of grand champion professional pie the last few years in the dessert contest and has the aprons to prove it. She told the Forum she didn’t have much competition in the Open Fair. While she’s happy to take a blue ribbon, she’d like to see others enter the fiber arts category next year.
She makes around 15-20 tea towels a year. It’s something she does at night, after her granddaughter goes to bed. She watches a show and stitches. She admitted embroidery takes patience, but it’s also enjoyable.
“I’ve played with it off and on,” she said over the weekend. “I’ve done it through the years. I’ve gotten more with it the last few years.”
Reserve champion in fiber arts was Lexi Bray for “Terry the Green Turtle,” which was crocheted.
In Category 700, Arts and Crafts, grand champion was Holli Johnson for the custom, wooden, four-lane, round cribbage board; Reserve champion was Saige Shepardson with a custom burnt-wood vanity with antique mirror.
In Category 800, Fine Arts, grand champion was Abby Atlshaler for “Sajuin's Calf,” which was a pastel art; Reserve champion was Abby Atlshaler for “Mountain Watercolor Goat.”
In Category 900, Communication Arts, grand champion was Cynthia Sampson for “Leopard Kruger South Africa,” which was a photograph, and reserve champion was Joey Zikor for “Albuquerque Balloon Festival on the Field,” also a photograph.
For Category 1000, Betty Ragsdale Creative Expressions, grand champion was Averie Previtena for “Blue Button, Butterfly, Bee,” a wall hanging. Reserve champion was Jedehiah Crawford for Baby Simba Lego.
Gillaspy said she agreed it wasn’t just fiber arts; all entries seemed to be down a bit in the Open Fair. It’s true that some years have seen very large numbers, however.
Now is the time for people to be thinking about it. Entries for 2026 can be created now that the 2025 San Miguel Basin Fair is complete and can be made until next year’s fair begins.
The Forum pledges to do reminders next year in the spring, or even winter, since the cold season could make for some opportunity to work on arts and crafts projects.
Hannigan said she definitely wants to see more participation, in general, for next year’s Open Fair. Still, she appreciates this year’s entries and the guests who attended.
“I’m grateful for the community members that came to the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Annex to look at all the creative entries we had,” she said. “I also want to thank the Sheriff’s Annex for letting us use their facility again this year.”
