Sandoval County Fair to promote youth leadership in Cuba

Local youth clubs will display their exhibits at the Sandoval County Fair in Cuba starting in the first week of August.

The Sandoval County Head, Heart, Hands, and Health (4-H) Clubs offer leadership opportunities for youth community members.

4-H Youth have been working on exhibits and livestock projects all year, which will be displayed at the Junior Livestock Shows at the fair. The program is inviting area youth to see the value in 4-H and join one of the most dynamic educational programs in the country, according to a press release.

4-H is America’s largest youth development organization with nearly 6 million young people involved throughout the country, including 3oo in Sandoval County.

There are seven of these clubs in Sandoval County, which are offered through schools and special interest groups.

“From animals to natural resources, nutrition to fitness, arts to woodworking, robots to genealogy, and electronics to cake decorating, 4-H offers it all,” reads the release.

The program’s participation in the fair follows a trip to Washington, D.C., for the National 4-H Conference in April. Five 4-H’ers from Sandoval County were selected as scholarship recipients and delegates to represent New Mexico. They were accompanied by several adult leaders, including Sandoval County Program Director Steve Lucero.

A Cleveland High School graduate and incoming freshman at Yale University named Allie attended the conference.

“Being surrounded by such empowered youth seeking ways to better our world was motivating beyond words,” she said.

4-H exhibits at the fair will include a variety of displays from arts and crafts to shooting sports. The first-place winner from each category will be invited to compete at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque in September.

The Sandoval County Fair will take place Aug. 2-6 at the Sandoval County Fairgrounds, and the 4-H junior livestock auction will take place on Aug. 5 at the Leeson Arena within the fairgrounds.

“We encourage residents to come join the fun, bid on livestock or perhaps share with a group, and purchase county-bred livestock,” said Lucero.