Annual Valencia County Fair in Belen Showcases Agriculture, Family Events

The Valencia County Fair returned to the Valencia County Fairgrounds on the I-25 Bypass in Belen Aug. 17–24, 2025, offering a week of agriculture-focused competitions, vendor booths, indoor exhibits and family entertainment. Organizers identified the Valencia County Fair Board as the host and emphasized the event’s role as a countywide showcase: "The Valencia County Fair (hosted at the Valencia County Fairgrounds in Belen) is the county’s annual multi-day community fair celebrating agriculture, livestock exhibits, vendor booths, entertainment, and family events."

The fair’s parade ran at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, moving down Main Street from Camino del Llano to Aragon Road. The fairgrounds address was listed as 14 Interstate 25 Bypass, Belen, NM 87002, and calendar information for the opening day showed hours from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

For exhibitors and livestock handlers, the fair posted detailed schedules and rules. Exhibitors and representatives were allowed on the grounds from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Livestock acceptance windows included Dairy Cattle on Monday, Aug. 18, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Rabbits, Poultry and Beef Cattle on Monday, Aug. 18, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Market Goats, Market Lambs and Market Swine on Monday, Aug. 18, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; and Dairy Goats and Pygmy Goats on Thursday, Aug. 21, 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Open indoor exhibits were entered on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17 between noon and 7:00 p.m., with release on Sunday, Aug. 24, 9:00 a.m. to noon. All 4-H indoor entries were entered on Saturday, Aug. 16, between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and released on Sunday, Aug. 24, between 10:00 a.m. and noon.

Health, safety and animal-welfare language underscored public-health implications. The fair’s rules required that "All animals presented for the exhibition shall be free from contagious/infectious diseases and be subject to ex-amination during the fair. Any diseased animal will be removed from the fairgrounds." The fair also retained the right to employ security and stated it assumed no liability for personal injury, loss or damage from theft, fire, weather or other causes.

Production steer competitors faced strict grooming limits: "The Production Steer Class is a 'Slick Show'." Exhibitors were told that "All production show steers must be sheared to a hair length of no more than 1/4 inch including ears and tail head," that hair may be left 10 inches from the bottom of the tail, and that "Any clippings will need to be properly disposed of or a $50.00 clean up charge will be imposed." Organizers required that "All indoor and livestock exhibitors must be checked out with the Department Superintendent." The posted rule "NO PETS ALLOWED!" applied to the grounds.

Technology and logistics featured in the event’s promotion. Generated site copy highlighted a "free mobile app" for participants to access schedules, submit entries and receive judging notifications, and it noted an online livestock entry system that allows milk-cow entries in the open division. Event listings also showed parking deals and suggested ride-hailing options such as Lyft and Uber. These tools can streamline participation but also raise equity concerns for residents with limited internet access or smart-device availability.

The fair matters to Valencia County families and small producers: it is a market for local vendors, a showcase for 4-H youth, and a focal point for agricultural education and community celebration. For readers planning to attend future editions, note the parade route and the specific livestock and indoor-exhibit entry and release times, and check with the Valencia County Fair Board for the most current schedules, ticketing and participant requirements.