Below is information about  some of the 2008 Quay County Fair departments.

Sewing
The Sewing Department has been moved next to the girl scouts.  In addition to clothing other sewn items can be entered in this department with added classes for home décor and accessories. There is a spot for everyone to enter their sewing creations.  Anything made in the past year is eligible, including garments made for other contests.  Garments will be released to contestants to wear in the Shepherd’s Lead Contest, so you can make one outfit and enter it twice.  There are categories for youth to enter their creations as well as adults and professionals.  Show off your garments and help this department grow!  Shepherd’s Lead Contest garments will once again be displayed in a special display by the clothing department.  Come check out this beautiful work.  The clothing superintendent is Christine Steig.
 
New Department: Artistic Food Display
   Have you ever seen a goldfish made from a Brussels Sprout or and apple that was turned into a swan.  This will be our second year for the “Artistic Food Display” Department.  There was a lot of interest in this department last year, so it has been expanded.  The department will be located next to the baking department and Pat Wallace will serve as the superintendent..  The items in this department will be very unique and interesting.  The rules are simple:  Displays must be made of all edible items.  Toothpicks or matchsticks may be used for anchoring.  There have been new classes added this year for all fruit, all vegetable, sweets, or combination creations..  Under each class are lots for animals, Centerpieces, Garnishes, and Other.   Stop by and check out these creations or better yet let your imagination go wild next time you pick up a zucchini and turn it into a dachshund
or something.
 
Junior Livestock Shows
   For the FFA and 4-H Youth the Livestock Shows are the highlight of their year.  This is where they show off the months of hard work of caring for their animals.  The large animal shows will have a slightly different schedule this year.  Each show will begin with a booster show (except for steers and heifers).  This show is for youngsters who are not old enough to be in 4-H or FFA. They will all receive a ribbon.  A new show will be the First Year Feeders show for that species.  This show will be open to any youth who has not shown at a county level before in the particular species.  They youth will be competing for a cash award.  This show is supported by anonymous donors. 
 
Then we will have the regular show with the animals divided in their species or classes.  The winners of each class will compete for breed champion and or grand champion.  Then all of the animals of that species that were raised by breeders in Quay County will show in the county bred show.  These youth will be competing for a county bred champion belt buckle.  The buckles for the county bred show are sponsored by the FFA chapters and the 4-H Council.  Following the county bred show, there will be a special showmanship show, where the judge will judge the youth on their showing skills and not the animal on its confirmation.  These youth will also be competing for a buckle.
Show schedule will be:
Wednesday at 6 p.m. – Swine Show
Thursday at 10 a.m. – Goat Show, Thursday at 6 p.m. – Lamb Show, Friday at 4:30 p.m. – Heifer Show and Friday at 6:00 p.m. – Steer Show
 
Free Breakfast Wednesday Morning
Join the Tucumcari Baptist Association for a free breakfast on Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 a.m. They will be serving up the Southwest’s favorite breakfast for those on the go, a breakfast burrito.  Look for them at the tables on the South end of the fair building and enjoy some good fellowship with breakfast.
 
Home Arts Sweepstakes award
   Last year, the total number of entries and the minimum number of departments required for qualifying for this award were lower to entice more people to try out for this award.  And it worked.  We had several people try for the award.  The winner in 2007 was Corinne Hayes.  The winner of the Annual Home Arts Sweepstakes Award Contest. will receive cash, gift certificates, nice gifts and other prizes.  Some of his/her entries will be displayed together in a special booth. “Some changes have been made to this contest at the request of several participants.  We hope the changes will create new interest in the award”, says Brenda Bishop, Extension Home Economist.  The Extension Association of Quay County sponsors the award with a cash prize and other prizes are donated by area businesses.
  Terry White and Corinne Hayes are the superintendents of this contest.  Forms may be picked up and turned in to the information booth during the fair.  Contestants must be at least 18 years of age and enter no less than 12 items in at least three of the following departments: canning, baking, clothing, quilts, needlework, crafts and hobbies, fine arts, flower show, and agriculture products. 
   The form is to be submitted to the contest superintendent by noon on Tuesday with department, class, lot and description completed.
  Points will be assigned by the superintendent, counting three points for each first place ribbon down to one point for each third place ribbon on all items entered.   Any ties will be broken by a blue ribbon count.  Additional points are awarded to Extension Club members, 4-H leaders and Fair Superintendents because they are busy getting ready for the fair and putting on the fair.
  For more information, refer to your fair book, or contact Brenda Bishop at 461 0562.  Previous winners include Maxine Wallace, Pat Wallace, Marie Sims, Mary Jane Oldham, Bernice Cosner, Shirley Bruhn, Dianne Meeks, Evelyn Coughenour, Dellia Sue Winnett, Hope Garrett, Betty Bason, Laura Baker, Terry White and Corinne Hayes.
 
Quay Count Fair Home Arts entries
  The Home Arts Departments are located in the Northend of the fair building and consist of Baking, Canning, Clothing, Needlework, Quilts, Fine Arts, Crafts & Hobbies, Ceramics, Dolls, Girl Scouts, 4-H Educational, Agricultural Products, Club, Educational, and Commercial Booths and the Flower Show.  All entries including the Flower Show will be accepted on Monday, from 5  p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday  8 a.m. until noon.
   To enter, all you have to do is take your items to the appropriate department.  The superintendents will help you fill out the entry form and tag your exhibit.  Entries in these departments are open to any resident of Quay County and Conchas, and there are no entry fees.  Each department will have junior and adult divisions, with professionals being judged separately from amateurs.
  All winners receive premium money in addition to ribbons.  Exhibits may be picked up at the fair grounds after 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16th or after noon on Monday, August 18th at the Extension Office.  Please do not bring items out to enter in the fair that you need before 9:00 p.m. on Saturday.  No matter what the excuse, Items Will notT Be Released Early!
   The Home Arts Superintendent is Brenda Bishop, and questions may be directed to her at 461-0562.  Remember the fair is not just Animals.
 
Quilters have special place
  Attention quilters: show off your masterpieces in the Quilt Department at the Quay County Fair.  There are categories for pieced, appliqued, painted, unquilted, baby and bedspread quilts.
   Quilts quilted by machine, hand, and professional will be judged in separate categories.  Quilts which have been pieced by the exhibitor, but quilted by someone else will be judged only on the piecing.
  Quilts which were pieced and quilted by the exhibitor will be judged separately.  If you don’t see a category for your quilt in the fair book, bring it anyway and we will find a place to enter it.  We are excited about this department and are looking forward to seeing it grow.   Stop by and check out the beautiful quilts displayed in the stage area.  The members of the Forrest Extension Club coordinate this department.

Girls Scouts
  Don’t miss the Girl Scout Department.  This department has many unique and creative things entered each year.  The department was created for all the great things the girl scouts have been making this year and is limited to youth involved in the Girl Scout program.  Classes have been developed to correspond with the projects the girls have been doing and the badges they have earned.  Each Girl Scout may bring two items she made during the year for each lot in the fair book.  For details, look for the Girl Scout Department in the fairbook.  There are classes for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadets and Seniors. Girl Scouts, go through your closet and find all of the great items you made, and bring them to the fair before noon on Tuesday.  Come out and view one of the largest departments of the fair.
 
Do you like to bake?
   Quay County is known for having some of the best cooks around, so we are bound to have an excellent representation in our Baked Products Department at the Quay County Fair.  If you want to see your name up there with the best cooks in the county, don’t forget to get your entries in!  The baking department is open to all ages.  There are categories for yeast and quick breads, cakes, pies, cobblers, cookies and candies.  Items entered as whole loaves, cakes, pies or cobblers may be picked up after judging Tuesday evening or Wednesday Morning.  A single piece will be exhibited at the Fair, and the exhibitor can take the rest home so the family can enjoy some of the masterpiece. 
 This year, once again, Wilton will sponsor the decorated cake award.  Prizes will be given to the two “Best of Class” winners.  Only the decorations will be judged, so cake dummies may be used.  Winners will have their choice of prizes.
   To the two “Best of Class” winners, Wilton will award one (1) Cupcake Fun, (1) Tiered Cakes Book, or (1) Cake Decorating Basics DVD; plus one current Wilton Yearbook and a “Best of Class” certificate.   Wilton will also award one current Wilton Yearbook of Cake Decorating to each 1st place prize winner in all cake decorating classes.  Only one Yearbook will be awarded to an individual.  . Professionals and amateurs will be designated and judged separately. So whip up your favorite recipe and try to beat the best cooks in the county.  There will be new faces in this department as the Tabosa Extension Club will be serving as superintendents this year.

Canning
The Canning Department at the Quay County Fair offers a wide variety of categories to enter.  Anything that has been canned in the last year is eligible, and there is a junior division for our younger canners.  In addition to the ribbons and premiums, the best and second best entries in all of the fruits, vegetables, pickles & relishes, and jams & jellies will receive an award from the Jargin Corporation.  In order to be eligible for this award, the canned goods must be canned in Ball jars with Ball lids or Kerr Jars with Kerr Lids.  The award consists of two Home Canning Product Coupons and a Ball Blue Book Canning Guide.  Take advantage of the farmers market and can up some great produce for next year.
   While you are at it, bring a sample of your work to the fair on Tuesday, August 12th.  Don’t want to deal with a hot kitchen?  Try drying some food for the fair.  Dried food also has categories in the canning department.  We will not be opening jars to judge, so you will be able to take a safe product home.  The members of the Conchas Dam Extension Club perform the duties of department superintendent in canning
 Attention Artists: Lots of new classes in the Fine Arts Department
Department superintendent, Judy Ross, has recruited some of our local amateur artists to assist her with the Fine Arts Department which was totally revamped two years ago.  To find out all of the details, pick up a fair book.   There are still sections for paintings, drawings, sculpture, creative writing, photography and music.   Under each section there is a class for the type of media and then categories for people, animals, flower, landscapes and more. This will give an artist several opportunities to show their work.  In order to protect your masterpieces, all pictures must be framed and ready to hang.  Photographs need to be matted and suitable for hanging, too.  Entries need to be created within the past year.  Amateurs, juniors, and professionals will be judged separately.
 This department also has a special division for pre-juniors who are 0 to 10 years of age.  Entries in this age group do not have to be framed.  So grandmas this is a great opportunity to enter your budding artist’s work. 
  To go along with new technology, there are classes in the fine arts department for Computer Enhanced Photography, and Computer Art.  We look forward to seeing the creativity these new classes will bring in.  As the interest grows, we will update the lots and classes.
 
Crafts and Hobbies
  Crafts and Hobbies is the most popular department at the Quay County Fair. Items include handmade jewelry to handmade furniture, snakeskin belts, tole painted baskets, handmade dolls, and anything else people may be doing as a hobby.  Even if a specific item is not included in the fair book, hobbyists are encouraged to enter their handmade items.  Superintendents of the department will try to find a category in which to enter each item.
   Due to the popularity of this department it has been broken into two departments, a junior and an adult.  These two departments will be run by the Logan Extension Club.  Dellia Sue Winnett will be the lead superintendent.   Each department will have the same classes and lots.  The items for each department will be displayed in different areas and have different sets of judges.  Watch for the signs to make sure you get in the right place to enter.  The only requirements are that you must be a resident of Quay County and the exhibit must have been finished after Aug. 15.
 
Agricultural products
   In 1907 when the Fair began, people came from all around to show off their garden produce and crops.  In keeping with this tradition, the Agricultural Products Department still exhibits the county’s best.  The Agriculture Products Department has been moved to the main building and will be located in the Northeast corner.  Entries are open to everyone.  There are categories for Field Crops, Fruits, Nuts, Vegetables and even Eggs.  Competition is tough as Quay County shows we have some of the best farmers and gardeners in the state.  Ted Peabody and April Barry do a fantastic job as superintendents of this department.
 
Poultry and Rabbits
   A growing department at the Quay County Fair is the Rabbit and Poultry Department.  This is an excellent place for young children to begin their showing career.  Entries will be taken on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Open Class entry fee is $1.00 per animal.  There are classes for buck and doe rabbits of all ages-baker class, market class, and meat pen class.  In the poultry division, there are classes for pullets, hens, cockerels, cocks, young pen and old pen.  There is also a Youth Broiler Pen Class for 4-Hers and FFAers.  Classes for miscellaneous poultry include ducks, geese, turkey, guineas, and others.  A lot of work has been done to provide new pens for this growing department.  The department superintendents are Lane Bradley and Art White.  Several of our youth are participating in sanctioned shows and going on to the State and Roswell Fairs with their poultry and rabbits.   The show will begin Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.  The added advantage to viewing the rabbits and poultry is that they are housed in the coolest building on the fairgrounds.

Shepherd’s Lead
   The Shepherd’s Lead Contest is probably one of the spectators’ favorite contests.  The contest involves a cute kid, a handmade wool outfit, and a well-groomed lamb.  The Shepherd’s Lead Contest is coordinated by GiGi Parker.   GiGi puts many hours into decorating the show arena and helping the kids get ready for the contest.  Children as young as 2 can enter this contest.  The children lead their lamb around the arena and the lamb is judged on its conditioning, how well it is groomed, and how well it leads.  Then the lamb is held by a contest assistant, while the child models the garment on stage.  The garment is judged on fit and style.  The construction is not judged and the mom does not have to make the outfit.  The outfit must be made of at least 50% wool.  After the modeling, the child is asked a few questions about their outfit and lamb.  If you want a closer look at the garments they will be on display in the Exhibit Hall for the remainder of the fair.  To enter, call GiGi Parker or the Extension Office before the Fair.

Pet Parade
The Pet Parade is a favorite of the young and old alike.  The Parade will be a definite video moment.  Children up to 12 may enter their pet in the parade.  All pets must be on a leash or in a cage.  Pets range from dogs and cats to unusual pets such as turtles and goats.  Children 2 and under may bring their favorite stuffed toy animal to the parade.  Entries will be taken at 12:45 p.m., and the show begins at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, at the Show Arena.  Children will need to know their name and the pet’s name and if the pet does a trick.  Each child will have an opportunity to visit with the emcee about his or her pet.  So bring your video camera and watch the show as the children parade their pets.  The 4-H Council Officers will coordinate this event.
 
Flower Show
The Quay County Fair Flower Show is open to all residents of Quay County.  It is an amateur show and will be judged by qualified flower show judges under the direction of the Nara Visa Garden Club.  Divisions include: Arrangements, Horticulture, Potted Plants, and Junior.  The Junior Division is open to anyone under the age of 15.  They may enter any section under Potted Plants or Horticulture.  The arrangement section has new themes each year.  This year the theme is Voting Days are Here Again.  There are some great theme categories like the “Vote for Me”, “White House”, and “Santa Fe Capitol”.  The Flower Show promises to be spectacular as well as creative.  Just like in the past couple of years, entries will be taken on Tuesday from 8:00 to noon with the other departments.  Judging will take place Tuesday afternoon and will be ready for viewing when the fair opens at 5:00 p.m.  Pick up a fair book and see where you might be able to enter.

Booster Showmanship
   Do you have a youngster who loves animals?  If so we have an opportunity that you won’t want to let your child miss.  Once again, we will be having Booster Showmanship Contests at the Quay County Fair.  These contests are open to all youngsters under the age of nine.  There will be classes for lambs, goats and pigs.  These shows provide young children with experience in handling the animals and preparing them for future showmanship classes when they become old enough to show in 4 H and FFA classes.  But most importantly, the children have a great time.  To enter, the child must borrow an animal, which is already entered in the fair, either from a family member or a friend, and sign up with the Department Superintendent prior to the show.  The Booster Swine Show will be Wednesday, August 13th at 6:00 p.m., the Booster Goat Show will be will be Thursday, August 14th at 10:00 a.m. and the Booster Lamb Show will be Thursday, August 14th at 6:00 p.m.
 
Watermelon Feed
  Come join us for a sweet, cool, juicy slice of watermelon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 14th at the Quay County Fair.  The Watermelon Feed is sponsored by the Quay County Fair Board and will be located in the south end of the Fairbarn.  Come out and sit and visit awhile with your friends and neighbors.

 Itty Bitty Rodeo
One of the favorite events at the Quay County Fair is the Itty Bitty Rodeo.   This event is open to all young children.  It will be held Saturday, August 16th, at 10:00 a.m.  Children will be divided into age groups to form several classes.  Little cowpokes bring their own stick horses and compete in several events.  The events change every year.  There may be a barrel race where little cowpokes race their horses around cones.  Or they may grab a flag from a barrel in the Flag Race.  They could touch a mechanical calf in the calf race.  There may even be a surprise event such as Pin the Ear on the Cow, corn shucking or polo.  The members of the Roadrunner 4-H club will coordinate the events in the little bitty rodeo.  All participants receive a ribbon.   The Itty Bitty Rodeo is a fun event for the whole family and the perfect photo opportunity.
 
Horseshoe Pitching Tournament
  The Quay County Farm and Livestock Bureau is sponsoring a Horseshoe Pitching Tournament on Saturday, August 16th at 1:00 p.m. in the permanent Horseshoe Pitching Pits, on the north side of the fairgrounds.  The Tournament is open to all ages and genders.  National Horseshoe Pitching Association Rules will be followed with women and boys under 14 pitching from 30 feet, and men pitching from 40 feet.  Doubles and singles rounds will be played. 
 Entry fees will be $10 for doubles and $5 for singles, and trophies will be awarded.  This event is sponsored by the Farm Bureau, and half of the proceeds will go toward Farm Bureau sponsored and supported events.  Some of the proceeds are used to purchase animals during the Junior Livestock Sale.  To enter this tournament, be at the Horseshoe Pits by 1:00 P.M. on Saturday.  For more information contact Larry Perkins.
 
What do you bid?
  With a rap of the auctioneer’s gavel and his query, “What do you bid for this animal?”, thus begins another Junior Livestock Sale at the Quay County Fair.  The Junior Livestock Sale was created as a learning experience for 4 H and FFA youngsters who have taken on the responsibility of raising and exhibiting animals such as sheep, swine, and cattle.  The exhibitor qualifies to be in the Junior Livestock Sale by having his/her animal place top in its respective class during shows held throughout the week at the Quay County Fair.
  To have an animal in the Sale means more than financial rewards — it’s hard to place a dollar amount on the blood, sweat and tears it takes to get the animal to the sale.  By purchasing an animal at the Sale, the business or individual becomes an active supporter of the 4 H and FFA programs.  This contribution is an investment in the youth’s future. The lessons learned in livestock projects are often hard ones, but the experience and rewards are gratifying.  The pride of ownership, sense of accomplishment, and the understanding of financial responsibility has been the intent of the Quay County Fair and the Junior Livestock Sale since its inception.  The sale will be the final activity of the Quay County Fair.  It will be held Saturday evening, August 18th at 6:00 p.m.  For information on participating as a sale buyer, contact Nick LeCompte at Holiday Gas.
 
 Do you like horses?
 The Quay County 4-H Horse Program is growing by leaps and bounds.  These 4-Hers and FFAers have the opportunity to show what they learned in their projects during the Quay County Fair Horse Show.  The Horse Show will be on Saturday at 8 a.m. in the Rodeo Arena.  Spectators are welcome.  The youth will compete in the usual events including showmanship, western pleasure, western horsemanship, barrel racing, and pole bending.  There will also be Mare and Gelding Classes.  Just for fun is the egg race event.  Come out and see these up and coming stars.
 
4-H Concession Stand
  One of the main fund raisers for the Quay County 4-H Program is the Fair Concession Stand which features hamburgers and frito pies, a fair favorite.  In the mornings breakfast burritos are added to the menu and baked potatoes are added in the evening.  The concession stand is run by shifts of 4-Hers and their parents representing all of the clubs in Quay County.