The 2023 Grant County Fair 2023, as always, featured students who had spent many hours and days over the past year feeding, grooming and keeping their animals and birds healthy. It took place from Wednesday, Sept 20 through Sunday, Sept. 24.
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Three turkeys
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Colton Bloomfield holding a chicken
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Big black rabbit
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Sleeping pig
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Nosy pigs
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Relaxed pig
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Cale Golden washing his pig Peppa
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"I'm a mess."
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Resting steer
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"Not our best sides"
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Roman Burchett and Riley Vermillion wash their steers, including Winnie the Moo, in front.
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More bovines
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Goats posing
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"Aren't I pretty?"
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Whatcha need?
Whatcha need?
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Defintitely a nosy goat
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Raely Mounyo with Buttercup, her grand champion sheep. "I also got a showmanship award and I'm only 8!"
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Corn dogs, Yum!
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Overview of vendors in one direction
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Overview of vendors the other direction
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The 4-H exhibit inside the Exhibit Hall
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4-H exhibit winners
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Kay Wood looking for her niece's work
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Some of the student artwork
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More student artwork
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Indoor sweepstake winners
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The not yet open carnival behind the exhibit hall
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Copper Cowbelle Vivian Myers sold the most license plates
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An appropriate T-shirt for the day worn by a Cowbelle
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Winning pumpkins
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Visitors peruse the indoor exhibits
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A winning art piece
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Winning hand created knives and handles
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Another student artwork - El Grito Headstart Classroom #6
Jude Casco and Jackie Gallagher, two of the creators of Quilts of Valor they present to veterans
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Jace Guerrero, 3, toots the horn of the passing train pointed out by his dad Josh Guerrero
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Don Fell promotes the Silver City, NM Gila Gobblers of the National Wild Turkey Federation
The awards for their efforts took place early afternoon on its penultimate day, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, right before the sale of the winning animals. Awards range from the obvious grand and reserve champions of each category, but they also include ones such as showmanship, which is a skill itself and practical ones such as clean barn, that is taking care of where your animal sleeps and eats during the fair. Several individuals also received recognition. The Beat doesn't want to leave any out, but one of note recognized Dr. John Wenzel for 30 years of announcing at the Grant County Fair.
The Fair is not all hard work, although a lot of hard work culminates there. A carnival was on site, rodeos took place, and the Yarbrough Band brought everybody together Friday and Saturday evenings.
