The San Miguel Basin Fair kicks off July 12 with a week-long schedule of family events, rich in western heritage and West End tradition. The week is jam-packed with fun community contests, numerous junior livestock shows, open fair contests, the junior livestock sale and a community dance.
Fair week will begin with the 4-H shooting sports competition at 9 a.m. at the 10Rings Gun Club in Nucla. This is a newer offering to the local kids and, boy, has it quickly become a favorite. Also on Saturday at 10 a.m., the youth horse show will take place at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds in Norwood. This is still a newer program but has quickly grown into something kids can be proud of.
And, the annual dessert contest, a crowd favorite, happens July 12 too. The event is hosted at the Norwood School’s all-purpose room (APR). Contestants are invited to prepare their best pie, ice cream or cake for judging. Desserts can be dropped off between 2 to 5 p.m. The rest of the community can taste desserts starting around 6 p.m. Fair Board members said this event wouldn’t be successful without superintendent Katie Alexander and all of the volunteers she wrangles.
The San Miguel Basin Fair Board also invites the community to join the community Sunday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds. Board members will be serving pulled pork sandwiches, and all are asked to please bring a covered dish to share.
The rest of the week is dedicated to the livestock shows and open fair show. This year, the junior livestock program has grown quite a bit. Youth will be showcasing their hogs at the swine show on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m. at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds. On Thursday, the small animals — chickens, turkeys, ducks and rabbits — will take the center ring starting at 10 a.m. A highlight of the small animal show is the second annual catch-a-chicken contest. Kids can sign up to catch-a-chicken as they run around the show ring. Their prize? They get to take the cash, or the chicken.
Thursday night, it’s the goat and lambs’ turn to parade around the show ring. Starting at 5 p.m., the community can come check out the hard work kids have put into their projects. The beef show, will take place on Friday, July 18, at 7 p.m. Before both the lamb show and the beef show, the littlest locals will have the chance to get in the ring during the peewee showmanship classes. Those kids will shine up their boots and their bucket animals and show them through the ring. Many know it’s a great introduction into the show ring for kids and is the cutest part of the entire week. Parents can sign their kids up by calling or texting Makayla Gordon, Fair Board President, at 970-417-1976.
While these shows are a precursor to the junior livestock sale, all will also get the chance to see the breeding projects during these shows as well.
“This is one of my favorite parts of 4-H and the fair,” Gordon said. “Some of these kids return with their breeding projects year after year, to showcase multiple years of offspring. These breeding projects have become a starting point for many kids in creating their own cattle, sheep or hog herds”.
Our catch-a-heifer program also contributes to the breeding shows. Local ranchers donate a heifer to this program each year. The kids have to catch their smaller steer during the week and must show their heifer at fair the next year. This program is in its sixth year and has been a great opportunity for kids to get started on a breeding project. “We are incredibly grateful for the generous donations of our local ranchers to keep the tradition of cattle ranching going,” Gordon said.
The open fair will be on display July 18-19 at the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Annex. It’s an opportunity for locals to showcase the toils of their labor, such as garden produce, artwork, photography, canning, baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and so much more. “We are really looking to grow our open fair and art division this year,” said Becky Hannigan, organizer of the open fair, “and to do so, we need more participation from our community. I think that most people don’t realize that almost anything they create can be exhibited. The open fair is for all ages, from children to senior citizens.”
To round out the week and capstone all of the hard work of local youth, the Fair Board invites all to join them Saturday, July 19, for the junior livestock sale. At 11:30 a.m. at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds, ColoradoQ will be serving up a barbeque lunch for the community. Tickets are $20 at the door. Following that will be the 2025 junior livestock sale — open to the public and a great opportunity for people to purchase local, high-quality, home-grown meat.
“We have more animals that will be in the sale this year than previous years. The sale is crucial for kids to be able to pay their expenses for the year and to get started on the next year’s project,” said Gordon.
To close out the week, the community is invited to a party at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds with Sean DeLand performing.
“Our family dance is a great capstone to a week of long days full of hard work,” Gordon said. “The Fair Board invites all to come with their dancing shoes and dance the night away.”
To sign up for certain events or to view the latest schedule, please visit smbcountyfair.org.
