The Chronicles Of Grant County

Cliff, New Mexico
Part Two

A historical photo of activities at the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair. (This photograph was provided courtesy of the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair.)

Each year for more than 70 years, Cliff has been the scene of an annual fair that celebrates agricultural pursuits in the area. Except for 2020, people from throughout the region have been invited to attend the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair. There was no rodeo and no carnival in 2020 due to COVID-19 Pandemic; attendance at the Fair was restricted to participants.

"The first Cliff-Gila Fair was held on a Saturday in the fall of 1948," according to a statement from the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair. "It was originally going to be held in Silver City near where the race track was built in Arenas Valley…Enthusiasm for this idea waned and a partnership developed to have a county fair in Cliff sponsored by the Farm Bureau, Cliff School, and the County Extension Service."

"The Great Rock Wall at the Cliff School became the center piece for the first gathering of the fair," the statement from the Fair continued. "Here, temporary livestock pens were set up as well as 4-H exhibits. The women from the Farm Bureau and women in the valley provided lunch, which was served on the rock wall. In later years, fair-goers used the rock wall for seating after purchasing a barbeque lunch made by the Lions Club of Silver City."

The statement noted that "As the years passed, a livestock barn was built. This barn originally housed the swine, sheep, cattle, the show/sales ring, and under the bleachers, pens for rabbits and poultry. The Cliff School gym and several other rooms were used for the other exhibits."

"The fair continued to grow and the old rodeo arena was torn down and a new one was constructed in its present location," the statement continued. "The rabbit and poultry barn [were] added at the south end of the livestock barn. After the rabbit/poultry barn, the steer barn and sales ring were added followed by the dance slab, RV park and the new exhibit building. In 2012, a mini tornado severely damaged the livestock barn and it was torn down and replaced with the new livestock barn. This now houses the rabbits, poultry, swine and steers."

Ty Bays, Chairman of the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair, explained that the Fair "serves the entire county. We welcome participants from throughout Grant County. Our fair was started by farmers and ranchers in the area to celebrate all aspects of agriculture. We continue that tradition. It's a great family event."

In addition to livestock activities, the Fair included exhibits of "…art, photography, crafts, baking, home canning, flowers and potted plants, garden produce, sewing, needlecraft, and any other handcrafted item." In 2021, for example, there were Giant Sunflower and Pumpkin Contests for young children. Dances were held on three nights of the Fair in 2021.

A participant at the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the Cliff-Gila Grant County Far.)

Exhibits at a previous Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair. (The photograph was provided by the Cliff-Gila Grant County Fair.)

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© 2021 Richard McDonough