Cibola High School Photography Students Design 2026 Yuma County Fair Cover

Fernando Camacho, Alberto Fraijo, Alexia Meza, and Yulieth Yanez didn't just study photography this year — they produced the cover of the 2026 Yuma County Fair Premium Book, the official entry guide distributed to participants across Yuma County.

The four students, enrolled in Level 2 and advanced photography courses at Cibola High School under teacher Mr. Richard Fontanes, were selected by Yuma County Fair, Inc. to design the front cover of the publication for the 74th Annual Yuma County Fair. Their work reached fairgoers when the event opened March 31 at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, and the fair continues through April 5.

This year's fair carries the theme "America the Beautiful: Celebrating 250 Years," honoring the U.S. semiquincentennial. The Premium Book is available online now, with hard copies being distributed at the Fair Office during the event.

For Fontanes' class at Cibola High School, 4100 W. 20th Street, the project represented a direct line between classroom instruction and professional publication. The collaboration with fair organizers gave Camacho, Fraijo, Meza, and Yanez real-world design and production experience that few student photographers get before graduation.

The recognition fits a broader pattern of creative achievement at Cibola. The school's 2025 yearbook, "El Conquistador," earned a bronze distinction in the 2026 Jostens "Look Book," a national showcase of excellence in yearbook design, underscoring a depth of visual arts talent on the 20th Street campus that extends well beyond any single classroom.