Regulation book for Bi-County Fair also available online

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GALLUP — The 2006 version of the Bi-County Fair Book is available, with a major change this year, primarily only on-line, said Kathy Landers, New Mexico State University cooperative extension agent for McKinley County.

The book is available if individuals do not have access to the Internet, she said. The annual fair is set for Aug. 31-Sept. 4 this year at the fairgrounds in Prewitt.

"Call us here and we will print one out for you," Landers said.

The book is available in hard copy at the cooperative extension office in Grants, at 551 Washington Ave., in the Future Foundations Family Center, said Barbara Baca.

For those with Internet access, the on-line address is: www.bi-countyfair.com, Landers said.

The fair book lists all the regulations, entry guidelines, hours and times for events through the five day event.

Those who need to pick up a fair book in hard copy versions may go to one of the two cooperative extension offices between 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The McKinley County office is at 5002 W. Historic Route 66.

Telephone numbers for both locations are: Cibola, (505) 287-9266; McKinley, (505) 863-3432.

Entries are doing well in the animals categories with dozens of steers and pigs this year.

"There are too many rabbits and chicken entries to count," she said.

A number of Clover Bud youth (pre-4-H clubs) have become old enough this year to enter 4-H as full members, she said. She did not know how many that is, but she said it is quite a few in both counties.

There is no cooperative extension agent in Cibola County at this time. Landers said she did not know if one would be hired in time for this year's fair. Usually the two cooperative extension agents work jointly, with the Bi-County Fair board of directors to sponsor and work the fair.

"A lot of these young 4-H members have realized you don't have to have a steer or pig to participate in the fair," she said.

Steers and pigs are the most costly and time-consuming animals to purchase and raise.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: tiffin.independent@yahoo.com.