LOVINGTON, N.M. – The primary beneficiary of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo has always been youth.
From the time the fair’s gates open Friday, Aug. 2, until they close Saturday, Aug. 10, there are plenty of activities to give back to the next generation of county residents that hope to follow in the footsteps of those that led the way for them. The most identifiable aspect of the fairgrounds in Lovington isn’t the concert series or even the rodeo; it’s the livestock shows that allow so many young people the chance to mature and gain experiences through their raising of animals.
“Our livestock show is going to be huge,” said Kris Allen, president of the Lea County Fair Board. “It just keeps getting bigger. Our sale went over $1 million last year, and that’s one of the key things we’re focusing on. Lea County businesses and ranches have stepped up so much over the years, and they’re giving back to our youth.”
Amber Groves has been involved with the livestock shows most of her life. She is a member of the fair board, chairwoman of the livestock show committee and a livestock superintendent. In her youth, she showed animals and got into livestock judging. That paved the way for her to attend college at New Mexico State University.
“I went to my first fair when I was an infant,” said Groves, now in her second year on the fair board. “My family has always been involved. My grandparents were involved in the very first buyers’ breakfast. I showed lambs, goats and horses.”
The lessons she gained as a youngster continue to help her as an adult. When Lea County Commissioner Dean Jackson approached her about joining the fair board, Groves not only took to the role but found a way to build on her lifetime of experiences.
“Showing livestock teaches youth so many lessons in life,” she said. “It teaches responsibility, money management and helps make for more well-rounded individuals. It creates comradery for people. Going to the fair and having fair friends is like having another family.
“After the county fair, it’s the state fair and the eastern fair. When I was showing, I had friends from all over the state.”
Each phase of showing is vital. Children work with untrained animals and help them be comfortable with all aspects necessary to show well. There are many hours that are involved, with handing the animals correctly to cleaning their pens to keeping them fresh and in the best possible showing shape.
“I do credit showing with how I’m able to handle myself at my job and how I handle certain situations,” Groves said. “I’m definitely more humbled because of it, and I know how to manage my money, how to budget from it.
“You can work hard, and you’re not always a winner, so you can learn by losing,” she said. “My life was very much involved in agriculture. Judging and showing got me through college and got me the resources to live fairly comfortably doing so. I got an education from judging, which made me choose my degree field, entomology. I work in the oilfield now, but that science degree got me here.”