With exhibits, jams and a boy carrying a falcon, the La Plata County Fair was coming alive Thursday afternoon.
Fair attendees experienced fun in sun while admiring the hard work of La Plata County’s youths. In the Extensions Office, 4-H projects such as leathercrafting, home economics, archery mythology and rifle care were presented to see who would take home first-place prizes. In the Exhibit Hall, events such as canning and baked goods heated up while judges indulged to find the county’s best jam and pastry.
4-H Home Economics Superintendent Tracy Smith was proud of the 4-H students in both blue ribbon and red ribbon classes. She was amazed at how great the projects were, especially coming from kids who were from 5 to 7 years old.
She said judges follow a rubric contained in a book distributed to the kids so they understand what is expected.
“It’s great. I love how the kids do their things. And they come in and they’re so nervous and excited,” Smith said.
She said the judges will often base their leathercraft decisions on the type of dye or style used. Blue ribbon groups and red ribbon groups are determined by how closely the kids followed project guidelines.
If students did not meet the criteria required in their book, such as not having the recipe for a baked good, they are placed in the red ribbon group.
“It’s fun to watch them and they’re very respectful. It’s kind of the cream of the crop when it comes to kids,” Smith said.
In the baked goods competition, judges were pleased by a lemon balm and oatmeal muffins submitted. Judges Evangeline Begay and Angie Martinez of Farmington were impressed by the lemon balm submitted by a contestant in the junior group.
Baked goods are judged on flavor, presentation and texture. Begay admitted she was biased toward junior class submissions because it is an impressive talent for kids to have.
“If you get a little one that makes a good one, that’s impressive because you don’t get a lot of little ones baking,” she said.
At the canning competition, judges from northern New Mexico evaluated the county’s top jam and how it was canned. Judges said they evaluate jams based on their texture, taste and sometimes creativity.
“If it didn’t look jammy – it looks more like preservatives – we critique that and then we look at your water level,” said Canning Judge James Smith.
Watery jams do not do well, the judges said. Jam should have a smooth thickness that is not too runny or stiff. The judges said jam and jelly differentiate in the boiling process and the temperature it is heated at.
Creativity is considered when judging jams. The judges said one of their favorites was tomato jam with a touch of spice. It was considered a jam because tomatoes are considered fruits.
“We went ahead and gave it fourth place because it was different,” Smith said.
While poultry was scheduled to be judged at 9 a.m., there were no birds to be found because of an uptick in avian influenza. The highly pathogenic illness prevented poultry from being shown in-person to protect flocks. Instead, contestants previously presented through Zoom and took photos of their birds.
In the pavilion, 13-year-old Mackenzie Swanemyr of Ignacio was blow drying her cow, CJ, in preparation for Friday’s cattle showing. Mackenzie has been showing cows for five years and has had CJ for a little over a year. Earlier in the day, she finished second place in her class showing swine.
“My favorite part is going into a showing and being able show off this animal that you’ve spent so much time working on,” she said.
Also in the pavilion was 16-year-old Billy Greer from Hesperus. He garnered much attention from passersby because he had a falcon perched on his index finger. Wearing a T-shirt that read: “Falconry, it’s not my hobby, it’s my calling,” He answered questions from fair attendees about his falcon.
He trapped the falcon in June and has been taking care of it since. He said the process of making the bird feel comfortable with humans takes time.
“You get them to accept food from you and that creates a bond,” he said. “Right now, I’m getting her used to people.”
Billy said the falcon’s longest free flight has been 135 yards before returning to him.
“Some birds never accept people, like my red tail hated people,” he said. “But this one is pretty docile around people. She’s not necessarily flipping out right now.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
9 a.m.-8 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.
9 a.m.: Judging 4-H/FFA rabbits.
10 a.m.: 4-H/FFA breeding beef, beef showmanship.
1 p.m.: 4-H/FFA market beef, grand champion and reserve grand champion market beef, champion selection.
2 p.m.: Dairy cattle, all classes.
3:15 p.m.: Pee wee showmanship.
4 p.m.: 4-H/FFA livestock round robin, all-around showmanship.
7 p.m.: Asleep at the Wheel concert.
7 p.m.: Livestock sale verification rabbit and beef cards due.
9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.
9 a.m.: 4-H dog show.
9 a.m.: Judging open class beef all classes.
10 a.m.: Rooster crowing contest.
10 a.m.: FFA showmanship.
11 a.m.: Open class dairy cattle, all classes.
Noon: Demolition Derby.
12-4 p.m.: Community 4-H barbecue cook off (senior center lawn).
2 p.m.: Rabbit costume contest.
2 p.m.: Poultry costume contest.
5 p.m.: Silver steaks, silver loin and silver chop award presentation.
5:45 p.m.: Fair Royalty crowning.
6 p.m.: Junior livestock sale pavilion.
9 p.m.-midnight: Fair family dance.
8 a.m.: Cowboy church.
8 a.m.: Carcass animals loaded.
9 a.m.- 2 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.
1:30 p.m.: 4-H/FFA Catch-It contest.
2-3 p.m.: Payment of premiums.
2-3 p.m.: Exhibits released in all departments.
2-5 p.m.: Booths taken down.
2-5 p.m.: Poultry and rabbit exhibits released.
2 p.m.: Animals released.
Beer garden is open through Saturday.
