Marshall Mecham
Background information
Samuel Fodge has worked hard year-round to prepare his livestock for the 2026 Eddy County Fair, which runs Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 25.
Fodge, 17, an incoming high school senior, will participate in the Market Steer and Yearling shows.
This will be his ninth year participating in the fair, and he said he will take part next summer as well, which will be his last.
Fodge has two steers, two yearlings and a 2-year-old gelding horse. His steers’ names are Money Man and Shaq. His yearlings’ names are Pet and Stewy, and his gelding horse’s name is Brock.
Fair preparation
Fodge has participated in events to get ready for the fair, including the APHA World Show in Fort Worth, Texas, June 20-22, where he showed his yearling Pet. He took part in Fitting and Handling, Longeing and Hand Trail events. He earned reserve champion in Fitting and Handling, fourth place in Longeing and eighth place in Hand Trail. This is the third straight year he was in the show.
Fodge said he loves his yearlings and steers. He also said he must wake up early to wash his steers.
“For my steers, I get up at 5 in the morning to wash them, and then I wash them in the evening also,” Fodge said. “This is because it’s cooler these times of the day and their hair grows better in that temperature.”
Appreciation
Fodge said it is a process to do what he does but is thankful to have a great support system, including his mother, Sally.
“It’s a lot of commitment,” Fodge said. “I am very committed to my show animals, and I work hard. My mom helps me out a lot with the process, and I’m also very grateful to have good family friends who feed my animals when I’m not available.”
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall
Mecham is serving with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship Program, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across New Mexico. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.