Marshall Mecham
Bailey Trujillo has worked all year to get her livestock ready for the 2026 Eddy County Fair, set for July 21-25.
Back in the ring
Trujillo, 17, an incoming high school senior, will compete in yearling, market sheep, and market goat shows.
It will be her ninth year at the fair. She said she plans to return next summer for one final year.
She has seven sheep, five goats, and one yearling. Her sheep are Koala, Louie, Honey, Wendy, Duffy, Eskimo and Rebel. Her goats are Millie, Molly, Goliath, Bean and Big Time. Her yearling is Stewy.
Artesia student Bailey Trujillo is seen getting ready for the Eddy County Fair in June.
Shows before fair week
Trujillo has competed in events to get ready for the fair, including a jackpot show on June 13 in Capitan, where she showed sheep and goats. Jackpot shows give youth exhibitors a chance to show their animals for cash prizes and awards.
Trujillo said she did well, though she still has work ahead.
“I did pretty well, as I had a few second- and third-place finishes in some classes,” Trujillo said. “I could’ve done better, but my goats and sheep aren’t ready because they’re still preparing for the fair.”
Trujillo will be in Roswell for the New Mexico Bred Show on Friday, June 26, and the Market Show on Saturday, June 27. She will bring only her sheep to those shows. She also plans to take her sheep and goats to the Fourth of July Show in Portales.
Evening work
Trujillo said she works with her animals in the evening, when she is in the right mindset and the animals have more energy.
Trujillo is also on the dance team at Artesia High School, making livestock work time-consuming. She said she is thankful her parents, Tabatha and Jesus, help care for the animals when she is busy.
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.