Livestock, food, fun and more at the 2025 Valencia County Fair

BELEN — It’s fair time again in Valencia County and that means the community has the opportunity to turn out and support the myriad of local youth participating in agriculture and livestock events.

Charli Rivera, Valencia County Fair Board member, said while the vision of the fair for most people is food and rides, the core really is the youth.

“The kids get to show their animals and have a fun competition. They get to highlight what they worked for all summer,” Rivera said. “They have a lot more responsibility than a lot of kids who are not involved in agriculture-related things. Getting the animals ready, it’s months and months of early mornings, late nights and missing time with their friends for these kids.”

The Valencia County Fair is nine days — from Saturday, Aug. 16, to Sunday, Aug. 24 — with the majority of the activities centered around the kids and the animals they are showing. With the exception of the Valencia County Fair Parade, all events take place at the fair grounds, 14 I-25 Bypass, Belen.

Everything from rabbits to poultry to goats, heifers and lambs will be shown and judged, culminating in the Junior Livestock Sale at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23, in the main show ring.

“That’s something the public gets to see from a different perspective. They get to come and maybe see animals they don’t have access to,” she said. “The fair is the highlight for a lot of agriculturally centered people but it’s also where the public really has a chance to come in and see that part of agriculture.”

In addition to the animals, there will be a wide array of crafts and agriculture-focused projects on display during the fair. Rivera said members of the public will be treated to the expected indoor exhibits of baked goods, quilts and canning, but can also expect bigger displays, such as projects from local FFA members.

“They are doing agricultural mechanics, where they build things like trailers,” she said. “This is a multi-faceted way for people to learn more about agriculture and enjoying their day and, maybe, eat a sweet treat.”

A 35-year alumni of the fair board, Debbie Thompson also encourages the public to come to the fair during the week to see the variety of livestock being shown as well as the sale.

“That’s really why we put on the county fairs. Somebody wants to win grand champion and then they want to sell (the animal) in the sale, which draws quite the crowd,” Thompson said. “I think that’s one aspect the public tends to miss and I think it’s something they would learn something from and enjoy. It’s quite competitive.”

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Every day at the fair features different livestock being shown, such as rabbits and poultry on Monday, Aug. 18; ranch, dairy and market beef heifers on Tuesday, Aug. 19; and the dairy and pygmy goats on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Thursday features goats and lambs.

As things head into the second weekend, there will be a cornhole tournament on Friday, Aug. 22, as well as live music by the Boss Hog Band and the Keith Brewer Band, and a dance in the evening.

Saturday, Aug. 23, kicks off with the fair parade at 10 a.m. down Main Street in Belen, and an arm wrestling tournament at the fair grounds. There will be a Kidz Zone, stick horse race, chile contest, fruit race, hay stacking contest, karate demos, frog and turtle races, a mechanical bull and more throughout the day.

Fair board president Lincoln Hill said this year’s fair theme, “No Place Like Home,” resonates with everyone involved with putting together the event.

“We’re the longest consecutive running county fair in the state, and we’ve been at this location since 1946,” Hill said. “We’re here for not only the kids, but to remind us all that there’s no place like home.”