While some communities canceled their county or state fairs because of the coronavirus pandemic, La Plata County’s approach was to focus on 4-H and Future Farmers of America livestock shows, and the Junior Auction.
Annabel Carithers, 14, competes in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Maryann Fassett, 11, left, who won the grand champion, and her sister Emma Fassett, 8, won reserve champion, both in the grand champion drive market sheep class, hug their mom Kali Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Blaine Gillen, 2, walks around the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Wednesday with his rope as family members compete during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Paige Porter, 16, left, with Clyde, Maryann Fassett, 11, center, with Sammy, and Madison Mortimer, 18, with Mojo, compete in sheep market class as judge Daniel Melendrez looks them over during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Judge Daniel Melendrez looks over sheep in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Buckles and ribbons during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors fill the arena for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members watch the sheep competition during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
La Plata County Fair royalty presented awards during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Madison Mortimer, 18, left, congratulates Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Fassett, 8, who won the reserve grand champion ribbon in her division gets a hug from her dad Brad Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class hug their mom Kali as dad Brad looks on during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Laura Pargin, superintendent of the home ec entires, and Jared Carrillo, a judge of the cake decorating category, look over the entries during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Leighton Engle won the grand champion ribbon in the food preservation category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Katalina Lopez, 7, and her brother Zane, 4, hang out with her lamb Zeke, that she will show in the breeding and catch-it project during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Katalina caught a lamb last year in the catch-it contest and then bred it and will now show the ewe and lamb together. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Payton Martinez won the grand champion ribbon in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Denise King-Stovall judges the horseless horse catagory in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Sydney Flores won the grand champion ribbon in the knitting category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members cheer on contestants while they show their cattle Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Brad Pontine trims the back of Baloo, a steer that his daughter, Kylee Pontine, 13, will show showed during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category Thursday a the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Laura Witt, 16, blow dries Danny, a Hereford that she showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gary Wright, 15, blow dries Red, which he showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cole Swanemyr washes Shamus, which his daughter Mackenzie will show in market beef during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Annabel Carithers, 14, competes in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Maryann Fassett, 11, left, who won the grand champion, and her sister Emma Fassett, 8, won reserve champion, both in the grand champion drive market sheep class, hug their mom Kali Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Blaine Gillen, 2, walks around the La Plata County Fairgrounds Pavilion on Wednesday with his rope as family members compete during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Paige Porter, 16, left, with Clyde, Maryann Fassett, 11, center, with Sammy, and Madison Mortimer, 18, with Mojo, compete in sheep market class as judge Daniel Melendrez looks them over during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Judge Daniel Melendrez looks over sheep in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Buckles and ribbons during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors line up for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors fill the arena for the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members watch the sheep competition during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
La Plata County Fair royalty presented awards during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Madison Mortimer, 18, left, congratulates Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Fassett, 8, who won the reserve grand champion ribbon in her division gets a hug from her dad Brad Fassett during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Emma Fassett, 8, who won reserve grand champion, and her sister Maryann Fassett, 11, winning the grand champion in the grand champion drive market class hug their mom Kali as dad Brad looks on during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Laura Pargin, superintendent of the home ec entires, and Jared Carrillo, a judge of the cake decorating category, look over the entries during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Entries in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Leighton Engle won the grand champion ribbon in the food preservation category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Katalina Lopez, 7, and her brother Zane, 4, hang out with her lamb Zeke, that she will show in the breeding and catch-it project during the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the pavilion at the fairgrounds. Katalina caught a lamb last year in the catch-it contest and then bred it and will now show the ewe and lamb together. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Payton Martinez won the grand champion ribbon in the cake decorating category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Denise King-Stovall judges the horseless horse catagory in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Sydney Flores won the grand champion ribbon in the knitting category in the La Plata County Fair on Wednesday in the Exhibit Hall at the fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Competitors keep their eyes on the judge while competing in showmanship Thursday at the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members cheer on contestants while they show their cattle Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Brad Pontine trims the back of Baloo, a steer that his daughter, Kylee Pontine, 13, will show showed during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category Thursday a the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Laura Witt, 16, blow dries Danny, a Hereford that she showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Gary Wright, 15, blow dries Red, which he showed Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Matt Fuher holds his son Bodie, 2, on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cole Swanemyr washes Shamus, which his daughter Mackenzie will show in market beef during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Cattle had their day on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bailey Smith, 14, shows Alice in the catch-it project category on Thursday during the La Plata County Fair. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
