Socorro County Fair returns with full week of family fun

From corgis to cake, salsa to chainsaws, roses to rodeo, the Socorro County Fair will “Meet Ewe There” beginning Monday, August 25 through Sunday, August 31.

“We’ve really spread the fair out across the week,” said Fair Board President Tommy Rosales. “It all starts Tuesday with cake judging, fine arts, and photography. From there, we roll into livestock, vendors, the rodeo, and of course, some of our crowd favorites like the Corgi races and the chainsaw contest.”

Rosales said the board works to keep traditions alive while adding new attractions each year. The mutton bustin’ for kids remains a staple, while the Corgi races have become a signature event. This year’s Grand Marshals are Travis and Carlina Harris, of San Antonio.

“We do our best to pick people that have really helped the community or have helped out the fair,” Rosales said. “The Harris’ have been involved in the community for years and years, as long as I can remember.”

The Fiber Arts Guild of Socorro County will have a large display of patriotic quilts at the Convention Center, in addition to the ones entered for competition.

The chainsaw contest also draws a crowd. “It’s double elimination, head-to-head,” Rosales said. “They’ve got to cut one slab down and one up. The winner takes home a brand-new chainsaw, but prizes have included everything from hay bales to livestock.”

Behind the scenes, the fair relies on about 50 volunteers. “We have 18 board members, plus spouses and family who all pitch in,” Rosales said. “It takes a team. Nobody gets paid—it’s all for the kids and the community.”

For Rosales, that’s what makes the fair more than just an end-of-summer tradition. “The fair brings town kids and country kids together,” he said. “You see the hard work these kids put into their animals all year. It’s not just fun and games—it’s teaching responsibility, agriculture, and community pride.”

The fair is also an opportunity to buy livestock directly from the youth contestants, whether through bidding on a winner or through a direct buy with a non-placing animal, providing much needed funds to get the contestant set up for the next year’s competition.

Socorro County Fair Schedule

Monday, Aug. 25

5 p.m.–7 p.m. – Enter 4-H Indoor Exhibits at Zimmerman Hall

Tuesday, Aug. 26

7 a.m.–9 a.m. – Enter 4-H Sale Ring Cake at Zimmerman Hall

4 p.m.–7 p.m. – Enter Open Fine Arts & Photography at Administration Building

Wednesday, Aug. 27

8 a.m.–12 p.m. – Enter 4-H/FFA Small Stock & Open Small Stock at Rabbit & Poultry Barn

8 a.m. – Outdoor Vendor Set-Up

9 a.m. – Market Animal Weigh-In at Greenwood Barn

3 p.m.–5 p.m. – Enter 4-H/FFA & Open Small Stock at Rabbit & Poultry Barn

3 p.m.–6 p.m. – Enter Open Division Arts & Crafts, Baked Goods & Candy, Agriculture, Preserved Food, School Arts, Sewing, Fancy Work, Professional Bakers at Zimmerman Hall; Quilting at Convention Center

3 p.m.–8 p.m. – Indoor Vendor Set-Up at Kelly Hall and at Zimmerman Hall

6 p.m. – Judge Fine Arts & Photography at Administration Building

6 p.m. – Market Goat Show at Greenwood Barn, followed by Booster Goat Show & County Bred Goats

Thursday, Aug. 28

7 a.m.–9 a.m. – Enter Open Division Arts & Crafts, Baked Goods & Candy, Agriculture, Preserved Food, School Arts, Sewing, Fancy Work, Professional Bakers & Salsa at Zimmerman Hall; Quilting at Convention Center

7:30 a.m.–9 a.m. – Enter Flowers at Administration Building

9 a.m. – Market Lamb Show at Greenwood Barn, followed by Booster Lamb Show & County Bred Lambs

9 a.m. – Kelly Hall Opens

10 a.m. – Judge Open Division at Zimmerman Hall

10 a.m. – Judge Flowers at Administration Building

12 p.m. – Judging Small Stock at Greenwood Barn

3 p.m. – Zimmerman Hall, Admin Bldg. & Convention Center Open

5 p.m. – Breeding & Dairy Heifer Show at Greenwood Barn

6 p.m. – Market Steer Show at Greenwood Barn, followed by Booster Cattle Show

6 p.m. – Kelly Hall, Zimmerman Hall, Admin Bldg. & Convention Center Close

Friday, Aug. 29

7 a.m. – Market Swine Show at Greenwood Barn, followed by Booster Swine Show & County Bred Swine Show

9 a.m. – Kelly Hall, Zimmerman Hall, Admin Bldg. & Convention Center Open

11 a.m. – Round Robin Showmanship at Greenwood Barn

6 p.m. – Kelly Hall, Zimmerman Hall, Admin Bldg. & Convention Center Close

7 p.m. – PRCA Rodeo at City of Socorro Sports Complex

Saturday, Aug. 30

7 a.m.–9 a.m. – Shooting Sports Pancake Breakfast at Finch Pavilion

9 a.m. – Parade Line-Up at Sedillo Park

10 a.m. – Parade Begins

10 a.m. – Zimmerman Hall, Kelly Hall, & Admin Bldg. Open

10 a.m. – Chainsaw Contest Registration - North of Kelly Hall

11:30 a.m. – Chainsaw Contest Begins

3 p.m. – 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction

4 p.m. – Kelly Hall Closes

6 p.m. – Zimmerman Hall, Admin Bldg. & Convention Center Close

7 p.m. – PRCA Rodeo at City of Socorro Sports Complex

Sunday, Aug. 31

8 a.m.–10 a.m. – Release Open Division Exhibits

9 a.m. – Pet Parade at Greenwood Barn

9 a.m. – Kelly Hall Opens

10 a.m. – Pee Wee Rodeo at Greenwood Barn

12 p.m. – Kelly Hall Closes