2025 Magical New Mexico State Fair

4: Letter from Dan Mourning

4: General Information

6: Fair Food Gone Wild

6: Main Street Theme Days

7: Valentine’s Visit Led Raina Bailey to

Career She Loves

10: The Ultimate Green Chile Cheeseburger

Showdown

10: Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge

Participants

11: Welcome to the 2025 New Mexico

State Fair!

11: Live Horse Racing Schedule

12: From Classroom to Cook-Off: Students

Compete in Green Chile Stew Challenge

16: State Fair Hopes to Break Records

While Showcasing Young Talent

INDEX

17: Spectaculars

18: Fresh Brew Brings Oktoberfest to the Fair

20: Fair Promotes Local Musicians with

Inaugural Soundwave Music Festival

20: Finalists For The 2025 Unique Foods

Contest

21: Sandia Pueblo’s Bien Mur Indian Market

Center Celebrates 50 Years

23: Discover Socorro in 2025

24: New Mexico State Fair Sponsors

25: Rodeo and Concert Series Schedule

28: State Fair Map

29: Home & Creative Arts Events

29: Horse Show Schedule

30: Matt Sena: The Tech Behind the Fair

Photo credit to Nathaniel Paolinelli for all fair photography.

EDITOR

AUTUMN GRAY

ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC

DESIGNERS

ASHLEY CONNER

DANA BENJAMIN

WRITERS

ANA DICKERSON

AUTUMN GRAY

SANDY VAILLANCOURT

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented

in this guide. The publisher does not take responsibility for the accuracy or

legitimacy of the advertisers’ messages or that of the guest writers/columnists

or any aspect of the business operation or conduct of the advertisers in the

magazine.

www. ExpoNM. com

from left: Jar, Acoma Pueblo or Laguna Pueblo, ca. 1910, gift of Juan Olivas, MIAC

12024/12, photograph by Addison Doty. Image courtesy of Baila! Baila! Dance

Academy and Lozoya Studios. Jaguar mask, ca. 1960, Mexico, gift of the

Girard Foundation Collection (A.1979.17.768), Museum of International

Folk Art. Jurrasic exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History

& Science, photograph by Tira Howard.

ENCOUNTERCULTURE

Explore

DCA Museums

and Historic Sites

nmculture.org

2025 NM State Fair presented by Chevron | www.exponm.com

3

Dear Visitors,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 New Mexico State Fair. The New Mexico State Fair has

been a cherished tradition for generations, bringing together families and friends to experience the very

best food, culture and entertainment our state has to offer. Whether it’s your first State Fair or your 50th,

we are thrilled to have you join us! We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable event for all our

visitors and are confident you will have a fantastic time.

This year, we proudly present an outstanding rodeo-concert schedule representing one of the best

entertainment lineups in our fair’s history. Before you head to the rodeo or after attending the Wynonna,

Cypress Hill, Grupo Marca Registrada or Clay Walker concerts in Tingley Coliseum, make sure to head

to one of our other stages to enjoy free live music from the talented musicians who call our great state

home. This year, we are also planning a brand new, first-of-its-kind music festival inside Tingley Coliseum

on Sunday, Sept. 7. Soundwave NM is set to feature some of the top New Mexico-based artists in a music

festival format, giving them a chance to rock out inside Tingley.

In addition to our exceptional musical performances, the New Mexico State Fair offers a wide array of

attractions and activities to enjoy. From thrilling carnival rides, to food vendors offering a taste of New

Mexico's unique flavors, there is something for everyone. Our agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, and arts and crafts displays are a testament

to the rich traditions and talents of New Mexicans.

As you explore the fairgrounds, I encourage you to take in all the sights and sounds that make this event special. Whether you're cheering on

a rodeo competitor, experiencing cultural performances at Villa Hispana or Indian Village, or simply enjoying a funnel cake with friends, the

New Mexico State Fair is an opportunity to create lasting memories.

Thank you for being part of the 2025 New Mexico State Fair. We look forward to celebrating with you and sharing in the joy and excitement

that this iconic annual event brings. I always like to say that the State Fair is New Mexico’s Disneyland, and we can’t wait for you to experience

the magic of the 2025 New Mexico State Fair. Here's to another year of great music, culture, delicious food, thrilling rides and unforgettable

moments!

Yours truly,

State Fair

Special Events

Battle of the Salsas

► Sept. 6th | 1 - 3 p.m.

A Taste of

New Mexico

Stop by the Agriculture Building during the

State Fair to choose from a large selection of

New Mexico products to support our farmers,

ranchers, and agribusinesses.

Dan Mourning

General Manager

2025 New Mexico State Fair, September 4 - 14 - General Information

Fair Hours

Sunday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

General Admission

Online:

Adult: $15 + fee

Child 6-12: $10 + fee

Senior 65+: $10 + fee

Onsite Only:

Adult: $20

Child 6-12: $15

Senior 65+: $15

Parking Check website for pricing.

Bike Valet Free Bike Valet: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily.

Located just south of Villa Hispana (via Gate 4, enter from

San Pedro between Copper & Lomas)

Midway Hours

Monday – Friday: Open at 2 p.m.

Saturdays & Sundays: Open at 10 a.m.

Kiddie Land

Monday – Friday: Open at 12 p.m.

Saturdays & Sundays: Open at 10 a.m.

Wheelchair & Stroller Rentals

Rentals available at Gates 1 and 8. All rentals require a valid

driver’s license and a fee.

Sensory Station

The Sensory Station provides a safe space for our special needs

Fair guests to de-escalate, and provides low-key and helpful

sensory input activities. The Sensory Station is located inside the

Youth Hall and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Park and Ride

Pick Up from Coronado Mall:

Bus Only Ticket: $10

Bus + Adult Admission: $25

Bus + Child Admission: $20

Bus + Senior Admission: $20

Children 5 and under: FREE

From Coronado Center to State Fair:

Saturdays – 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sundays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

From State Fair to Coronado Center:

Saturdays –10 a.m. – midnight

Sundays – 10 a.m. - midnight

The Original Green Chile

Cheeseburger Challenge

► Sept. 8th | Noon Setup

Judging will begin around 1 p.m

followed by People’s Choice

Enjoy a cold

New Mexico Beer or Wine

during Happy Hour

► 3 - 7 p.m. | Every day!

This November,

keep an eye out for

the 2025 Taste the

Tradition Holiday

Lookbook, filled with

New Mexico gift

ideas for the entire

family.

Have a NM-made product ready to hit the shelves?

Join our Logo Program to elevate your marketing.

Learn more at elevateNMag.com

4 www.exponm.com | 2025 NM State Fair presented by Chevron

2025 NM State Fair presented by Chevron | www.exponm.com 5

Fair Food Gone Wild

Pickle pizza, bacon donuts, and green chile everything – see who’s cooking up the craziest creations

By Autumn Gray

For a New Mexico State Fair concessionaire, the Food Court

is prime real estate. Vendors located there can expect to move

thousands of pounds of turkey legs, corn dogs, and green chile

cheeseburgers within the event’s 11 days – but there’s a catch.

Anyone who wants to secure one of 15 coveted spots in the

section must apply to participate in the Unique Foods Contest,

and for some, that’s a tall order.

“Everyone wants to be in the Food Court,” said concessions

and commercial exhibit manager Ben Lucero, who oversees

the contest. “We feel it’s an honor to be in there. So, those

concessionaires have to put in a level of productivity that’s far

more than the normal restaurant by coming up with something

they don’t normally cook.”

Examples of foods that have won past contests include a green

chile pepperoni funnel cake, a pickle pizza, green chile maple

bacon mini donuts, a chicken stir fry served in a hollowed-out

pineapple half, and a Conductor Dog, which was a corn dog

loaded with jalapeño cheese sauce, bacon, fried cheese curds,

Hatch green chile, and pickle aioli.

“The fair is all about food, and the crazier and more unique

that it is, the better,” Lucero said. “People are always looking at

what other people are carrying.”

The fair typically hosts about 70 concessionaires (vendors

selling a direct consumable) each year. About half apply to be

in the Food Court via the Unique Foods Contest application

though only the most extraordinary will be selected.

To be considered, vendors first and foremost need to create an

exceptionally different food.

“It’s got to be creative and most importantly, portable –

something that you can walk around the fair with,” said the

fair’s general manager, Dan Mourning. “We never know which

food vendor is going to come up with the winning recipe, but I

can guarantee the food is going to be delicious and decadent

and definitely not diet-approved.”

Should they take the big prize, participating vendors must be

prepared for heightened attention and an onslaught of fast

and furious food orders.

“If you are the winner, you have to be able to have that as a

menu item for the duration of the fair,” Lucero said. “You can

do a burger and fries all day, but now, all of a sudden, you’ve

got to do a unique food in addition. It can be hard to keep up

with demand when it’s not something they usually cook.”

The Unique Foods Contest is held on the first day of the fair

(Sept. 4 this year) so that even early fair attendees can sample

the goods upon their arrival. Soon after the judges make their

decision, it’s customary for the winner to display a huge banner

stating, “2025 Unique Food Contest Winner.”

Scoring for the Unique Food Contest is based on four criteria:

best tasting, most creative, best presentation, and best overall.

Media personalities serve on the adjudication panel, with

general manager Mourning acting as an emcee.

“Vendors that are coming from out of state are trying to appeal

to New Mexicans, so they always try to use green chile as an

ingredient and then fry whatever they have,” Lucero said.

“The creativity is unmatched,” Mourning added. “When you

hear what these folks have put together, your first thought may

be that it doesn’t make sense, but then you try it, and you say,

‘Where has this been all my life?’”

September 4

Law Enforcement Day

September 5

Firefighters Day, Smokey Bear Day

September 8

Senior Day

September 9

Military and Veteran

Appreciation Day

September 10

Pathway to College and Career Day

September 11

Gathering of Counties Day,

NM True Day

September 12

Science and Technology Day,

Environment Appreciation Day

Valentine’s Visit Led Raina Bailey to Career She Loves

Interview with State Fair booking manager includes sneak peek at new acts and entertainment

By Autumn Gray

It had not been too long since Raina Bailey graduated

from Western Washington University when she returned to

Albuquerque to visit her sister. The high desert weather was

unusually warm that year for Valentine’s Day, and the winter

balminess made Bailey miss New Mexico. Surprising even

herself, she made a snap decision to leave the bank she worked

for in Washington and move home, never dreaming that she

would soon embark on a love affair of sorts that would last

more than 20 years and counting.

Whether it’s working with sea lions, dogs, ducks, dancers or

dairy farmers, Bailey finds great satisfaction in her work as

booking manager for EXPO New Mexico. This includes booking

Spectaculars (aka Special Entertainment) for the annual New

Mexico State Fair.

“When I book these acts, and they’re a huge hit with the crowds

and I can see how much they enjoy the acts that we bring, that’s

the most rewarding,” Bailey said. “Not one day is boring or dull.

There’s so many things going on dealing with the events. It’s

ever-changing.”

Bailey worked her first fair in 2002, after a friend of a friend

suggested she look into an assistant position in the Sponsorship

Department. The next year, she was an assistant in concessions

and commercial exhibits. By 2010, she had risen to manager of

that office. In 2023, Bailey became booking manager.

For the 2025 fair, Bailey has booked 23 Spectaculars* – a

typical amount, she said. Throughout the year, Bailey books

almost 200 non-fair events and acts, including home shows,

concerts, and private affairs like weddings.

While Spectaculars will include some usual crowd favorites,

like the Great American Pig Races, the Great American Petting

Farm, the Stilt Circus and the Sea Lion Splash (so popular that

it’s appearing for the ninth consecutive year), fairgoers can look

forward to at least five new shows this September. Some acts,

known as roamers, will pop up to perform at myriad locations

on the fairgrounds, while stage acts will take place in specified

venues. The new 2025 acts are:

1) RoboCars. Two operators will transform brightly colored,

innovative vehicle costumes into driving machines, similar

to Transformers. For 45 minutes, three times each day of

the fair, the RoboCars will perform along Main Street, in

the Food Court and “pretty much wherever they want,”

interacting with the public along the way, Bailey said.

2) Off Axis Stunt Show: This Las Vegas-based high energy

thrill features death-defying entertainment including

trampwall (trampoline + wall) acrobatics, BMX bikes, Parkour

routines, and stunt-performing skateboarders in three

25-minute shows daily at the fairgrounds’ Adventure Alley.

3) Break-A-Boyz: A street dancing/break dancing group will

blend aerobic flips and urban dance moves with raw humor,

inviting audience members to join in.

4) Buckets N Boards: The Main Street Stage will host this

hilarious high energy show of percussion, tap dancing, and

inventive instrumentation several times daily.

5) Jump! The Ultimate Dog Show: Trained dogs will perform

all kinds of stunts on land and in water at Adventure Alley

multiple times per day.

“It’s a fun place to work,” said Bailey, who gets to watch

and assess potential acts by attending other fairs across the

(continued on Page 12)

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The Ultimate Green Chile Cheeseburger Showdown

By Autumn Gray

Often imitated but never duplicated, the Original Green

Chile Cheeseburger Challenge has called the New Mexico

State Fair home since 2009, when 24 restaurants gathered at

EXPO New Mexico and fired up their grills for the first onsite

competition.

However, the idea for what has become the fair’s longest

continuous culinary contest didn’t catch fire in Albuquerque; it

all started a few months earlier in 2009, in rural San Antonio,

N.M., population around 60.

The town’s Buckhorn Tavern had challenged New York celebrity

chef Bobby Flay to come to New Mexico for a green chile

cheeseburger contest for his cable TV show Throwdown with

Bobby Flay. The hit series pitted the foodie superstar against

cooks renowned for a signature dish. Flay lost to the Buckhorn,

giving the restaurant nationwide exposure as a culinary

destination. The stunning upset and resulting attention so

thrilled then-Gov. Bill Richardson that it inspired him to contact

State Fair officials, demanding a similar contest be held at the

fair.

“To this day, when Bobby Flay does his shows, he always talks

about chile from New Mexico,” said fair general manager Dan

Mourning. “It showcases how important that agricultural crop

is to New Mexicans, and now it’s something we share with the

rest of the country.”

Though for many years the challenge involved more than 20

restaurants, today it is limited to eight. There are only two

requirements: Contestants must have a brick-and-mortar

location, and the burger made for the contest must either

already be on the restaurant’s menu or can easily be added to

the menu as a regular offering after the contest.

“This event gives them great exposure and can put New Mexico

restaurants on the map,” Mourning said.

“Whether they’re located in Albuquerque or Carlsbad or

Farmington or Tucumcari or wherever, we want people to go

to those towns and visit those restaurants, and it’s worked

like gangbusters,” said Main Street Theme Days and special

projects coordinator Craig Vencill, who has coordinated the

challenge since its inception. “Even if they don’t win an award,

it really is promoting them and their town.”

Here’s how the contest works: A committee at the fair

draws names from a hat to determine which restaurants will

participate. Each contestant must cook two identical burgers

using any green chile they desire, as long as it was grown in

New Mexico. The two burgers are then divided among two sets

of four judges who rate the burgers blindly. Judges are often

media celebrities, local chefs, military commanders, politicians,

signature fair sponsors, or other notable people in the state.

Restaurants get assigned a time slot between noon and 1

p.m. for their burgers to be served to the judges the day of the

challenge. This year it is set for September 8, coinciding with

Healthy Living & Senior Day.


Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge (Sponsored by NM Gas Co.)

Participants

Isleta Grill – Isleta Pueblo

Craft Republic – Bernalillo County

Laguna Burger – Laguna Pueblo

Sparky’s Burgers, BBQ and Espresso – Dona Ana County

Grill at the Monte Carlo – Taos County

Fuego 505 – Bernalillo County

ABQ Grille @ The Sheraton Uptown – Bernalillo County

Owl Café – ABQ

Larry Chavez, Sr.

Albuquerque

Benny Roybal

Secretary-Treasurer

Española

Welcome To The 2025

New Mexico State Fair!

Governor

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Walter Adams

Las Vegas

Julian Baca

Albuquerque

Eric Serna

Chairman, NM State Fair Commission

Santa Fe

September 4 - 7

September 10 - 14

All post times are

at 1:30 p.m.

Dr. Carol Cloer

Bloomfield



From Classroom to Cook-Off: Students Compete

in Green Chile Stew Challenge

By Autumn Gray

The New Mexico State Fair’s Green Chile Cheeseburger

Challenge, one of the fair’s most iconic annual contests, may

now have hot competition of its own - and it doesn’t even involve

beef. (Gasp!) Or cheese. (Horrors!) It’s all about the chile. The

Green Chile Stew High School Competition will return for its

second consecutive year after its inaugural showing proved

popular with both participating schools and food-frenzied

fairgoers.

The student chef cook-off is scheduled for September 10, which

is also Higher Education Day at the fair.

“Green chile is a theme, and it’s something that’s highly

recognizable as a New Mexico thing,” said Kathleen Mansmann,

community outreach coordinator for EXPO New Mexico, which

hosts the fair. She is also the creator and organizer behind the

high school contest.

Indeed, chile peppers – alongside pinto beans – have been New

Mexico’s official state vegetables since 1965. In March 2023,

Gov. Michelle Lujan New Mexico designated the smell of green

chiles roasting in the fall as the official state aroma, making

ours the first state in the nation to have an official aroma. Plus,

part of the fair’s primary mission is to represent and showcase

the best of the state’s agriculture and livestock.

So, it’s not surprising that each year the fair features not only

more chile but also more unusual recipes and concoctions for

which chile is an ingredient: Wine. Beer. Corn dogs. Deep fried

cheese curds. A grilled cheese sandwich dressed up as a taco.

However, the Green Chile Stew High School Competition is

about much more than just another new event or tasty diversion

along a vendor row.

“It’s part of getting more people involved with the fair that

have not been traditionally involved, and it helps to support a

viable career path that’s an alternative to college,” Mansmann

said. “It also feeds into the country’s mania with chefs and

celebrities.”

As for the stew itself, last year the fair asked competing schools

to incorporate pork in their recipes. This year, they have been

asked to use chicken. The recipes will be authentic team

creations. Primary ingredients will be provided by the State Fair

on the day of the competition so that the fair retains control

over food safety. The judging panel will consist largely of

representatives from the local culinary industry, and scoring will

be based on kitchen organization, knife skills, food presentation

and taste.

“For kids to produce something in an hour and a half on little

gas burners means they have to work really, really closely

together,” Mansmann said, emphasizing that there’s more to

winning than making a stew everyone loves.

This year’s competition kicks off in the morning, with winners

announced at 1 p.m. Similar to the green chile cheeseburger

12

www.exponm.com | 2025 NM State Fair presented by Chevron

challenge, fairgoers can get in on the action with schools

distributing stew samples and homemade tortillas to onlookers.

The first place team will receive $5,000, while second place will

be awarded $3,000, and third place will receive a $2,000 prize.

All teams receive $250 for participating.

The New Mexico Gas Company, the competition’s primary

sponsor thanks to a three-year partnership commitment, is


Valentine’s Visit Led Raina

Bailey to Career She Loves

(continued from Page 7)

country, as well as annual conventions like those held by the

International Association of Fairs and Expos and the Western

Fairs Association.

Once she determines which shows she’s interested in bringing

to New Mexico, Bailey speaks with their agents, learns more

about the logistics required for their acts, and determines if

those needs align with any of the fairground’s available venues.

When visiting other fairs in states such as California, Arizona

and Florida, Bailey said, “I look for something different than

what we’ve offered but also how it entertains the fairgoer. Does

it draw people in? Is it popular?

“We all like to see stuff that we haven’t seen before. It gives

them a reason to come back year after year.”

* The lineup of the New Mexico State Fair’s

2025 Spectaculars are as follows:

Break-A-Boyz

Buckets N Boards

Duke City Championship Wrestling

Euro Bungee

Foam Zone

Giant Snakes Educational Exhibit

Great American Duck Races

Great American Petting Farm

Great American Pig Races

Great American Pony Rides

JUMP! The Ultimate Stunt Dog Show

Lorikeet Encounter

Megamorph the Transforming Car

Monkey Hut Educational Exhibit

New Mexico State Fair Ambassadogs

Off Axis Stunt Show

RoboCars

Salsa Steel Drum Band

Sea Lion Splash

Sir-Loin Mechanical Bull

Sling Shot

Southwest Dairy Farmers

Stilt Circus

The Ultimate Green Chile Cheeseburger Showdown


Judges rank the burgers on a scale of 1-10, using the same

criteria they’ve used since 2009:

• Balance: Are the meat, bun, chile and other toppings

proportionate to one another?

• Green chile: Does the chile have a distinct flavor and

enhance the overall taste of the burger? (This category is

also used as a tie-breaker. If two restaurants tie when the

scores are tallied, then whichever scored highest in this

category is declared the winner.)

• Presentation: Is it visually appealing without being “over

the top?”

• Burger: Is the meat skillfully cooked?

The best of the best often score within a point or two of each

other, Vencill said. It’s so cutthroat and taken so seriously that

the fair employs someone from its accounting department

to keep track of the scoring on a spreadsheet. “This is not

something we’re cavalier about at all,” Vencill said.

The top scoring restaurant receives a trophy or plaque for

the winning burger, designating it as the best green chile

cheeseburger in the state for that year.

After the blind judging portion, a People’s Choice contest is

held in which 100 fairgoers are provided ballots to mark their

From Classroom to Cook-Off: Students Compete in Green

Chile Stew Challenge


donating the winnings, which go to support the schools’ culinary

programs.

“We consider are ourselves the unofficial sponsor of the official

aroma of New Mexico,” said Clair Anderson, the gas company’s

state and community relations coordinator. “Since natural gas

plays a role in the harvesting and processing of green chile,

and industrial roasters powered by natural gas are used for

large-scale roasting, it was a natural tie-in for us and a fun way

to connect with our audience in New Mexico around something

that is so traditional and valued in our state.”

Anderson added that the utility has three priority areas, one

of which is a youth initiative called Fueling Futures, focused

on investing in young people in the communities the company

serves across the state.

“A lot of (high school) culinary programs have to work within

guidelines of the school, which usually have approved vendors

from which they have to buy food and are restricted in budget,”

Mansmann said. “That restricts what they can cook in class. So,

this money … allows them to go outside of that and spend the

money on higher-end consumables and ingredients to boost

their experience and the recipes. The more exotic ingredients

you have, the more intricate your recipes will be.”

According to Amanda Hale, Carlsbad High School’s culinary

director, the school used the $5,000 it won in 2024 to

favorite. So many people want to be a part of it that in the past

the fair has asked State Police officers to hand out the ballots.

“It’s so popular, a lot of people come to the fair just to sample

these burgers,” Vencill said. “People can get downright pushy.

I can’t even tell you what kind of a mob we get out here to be

a tester.”

Vencill said that to make the People’s Choice tasting as fair

as possible, this year the Department of Agriculture will be

handing out envelopes that will either contain a ballot or a

coupon for use at the fair, “so everyone gets something.”

Also, to ensure restaurants get a fair shot at winning and to

encourage diversity among contestants, there is now a rule

that requires any vendors with two consecutive wins to take a

break from participating.

Oso Grill from Capitan is sitting out this year’s competition,

having dominated the challenge in recent years, winning both

the Judges’ Choice and the People’s Choice awards six times.

Sparky’s in Hatch and Laguna Burger in Albuquerque have also

won multiple times.

Last year, the Judges’ Choice Award went to Isleta Grill of

Isleta Pueblo. Craft Republic, of Albuquerque, took the People’s

Choice Award.

enhance its culinary labs with the purchase of new equipment,

ingredients and uniforms. Second place winner Albuquerque

High combined its winnings with grant money to purchase six

new stoves. Taos High School, which also used funds to improve

its culinary programs, came in third.

All three schools are set to return this year, alongside former

competitor Volcano Vista High School and new entrants

Chaparral and Peñasco high schools. More schools are

expected to sign up before the official deadline.

“We want to have our reach be as broad as we can in the

state,” Mansmann said.

Other competition sponsors include the New Mexico Restaurant

Association Educational Foundation, which operates the state’s

ProStart program. ProStart is a nationwide two-year industrybacked

high school program that provides culinary and

restaurant management training.

“Even if the kids don’t do anything professionally with it, the

experience just opens up so much,” said Mansmann, whose

previous career was as a professionally trained chef in

Washington D.C. “You’re more willing to try things and get out

of the narrow scope of what daily life is.”

Dreams take flight.

AlamogordoNMTrue.com



State Fair Hopes to Break Records While

Showcasing Young Talent

By Ana Dickerson

The Junior Livestock Show and Sale rides back into town at the

New Mexico State Fair from September 4-14 at the EXPO New

Mexico fairgrounds in Albuquerque. This premier showcase for

the state’s finest livestock features more than 1,000 animals,

both large (cattle, swine, goats, sheep) and small (poultry,

rabbits, cavy), attracting about 500 young exhibitors from

across the Land of Enchantment.

The Livestock Show is the final event for student champions

from around the state who raise animals through New Mexico

Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H. It represents

months, if not years, of effort spent breeding, raising, training,

and grooming their show animals. Judges not only evaluate

the animals on muscle mass, overall appearance, and health,

but also assess the child’s showmanship, attentiveness to the

animal, and interaction with the judges.

Branson Willoughby, now a nine-year veteran, is familiar with

the effort and the sacrifices that are necessary to compete

successfully in the Livestock Show. “You fit it into your schedule,”

the 17-year-old from Clovis, N.M., said. “I go to football practice

from 7-10 a.m. every day, then I schedule my day around the

three hours that I need to spend taking care of my pigs. My

family plays a huge role. We all work together. My 7-year-old

sister helps every day, and she does it with a happy heart.”

This year’s theme, Legends Inspire Youth, highlights the

enduring legacy of the Livestock Show, which stretches back

through generations of New Mexico families.

Toni Pendergrass, of Farmington, N.M., whose three kids have

all participated in the Livestock Show, said, “My dad won the

Grand Pig Award in 1952. This sport has taught my whole

family the value of dedication and hard work, and perhaps

most importantly, that you can’t always win.”

Top exhibitors go on to the Junior Livestock Auction, which gives

the young participants an opportunity to practice their public

speaking skills by auctioning off their own animals in front of

a boisterous audience. Last year’s sale set a new record, with

$744,000 in gross sales, up 5% from the previous record set

in 2023, continuing a string of strong sales growth. The best

animals can earn tens of thousands of dollars from bidders

ranging from large agricultural corporations to individual

farmers and ranchers.

Much of the cash goes directly into the pockets of these

budding ranchers, teaching crucial business skills as they weigh

the costs of rearing next year’s livestock entries versus setting

money aside to save for education or big purchases. When he

started as a competitor, 13-year-old Cade Gardner of Yesa,

N.M., was helped by family to buy all his pigs and feed and

immediately went on to win Grand Champion Market Swine

in his first county fair. Now in his fifth year, Gardner enjoys

“travelling to the fair to go on the rides and eat good food with

my family,” while helping to support his younger sister, 10-yearold

Laney, as she competes in the swine and heifer categories.

The public is invited to experience this year’s show at the

Pattern Energy Junior Livestock Pavilion on the north end of the

fairgrounds and in the beef and swine barns. Notable events

will include the Parade of Champions in Tingley Coliseum the

evening of September 11 and the live auction in the Big R

Horse Complex starting at noon September 12. A full schedule

of events can be found on the State Fair website.

Dan Mourning, general manager of EXPO New Mexico, said,

“The fair’s long been a place where people in the ag community

— whether it’s crops or cattle — come from across New Mexico

to reconnect. Having these kids here means everything to us.

Most folks don’t realize the kind of grit and hard work it takes

for them to make it to this point.”

Beyond the animals, the Livestock Show also promotes

other life skills for its young participants, including a Public

Speaking Contest and Agriculture Science Fair to be held at

the African American Performing Arts Center, the morning of

September 6. Additional special exhibitions will include milking

demonstrations, “Sheep to Shawl” shearing and wool-making,

the 4-H dog show, and a rooster crowing contest.

Laura Riley, a long-time volunteer at the Livestock Show, said,

“Everything we do is about the kids; we’re teaching work ethic,

responsibility, how to care for another being, and leadership.

They learn how to speak in public, how to effectively tell their

story, how to share and educate, and how to budget. The best

part is that this is a family affair. These families do chores

together, care for the animals together, and attend events

together.”

Southwest Dairy Farmers

Jr. Livestock Building

9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Great American Duck Races

Youth Hall Courtyard

10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m., *7:00 p.m.

(Fri & Sat Only)

Buckets N Boards

Main Street Stage

3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m., *8:00 p.m. (Fri & Sat Only)

Break-A-Boyz

North Main Street

4:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., *8:45 p.m. (Fri & Sat Only)

UNM Truman Health Services

HIV & HEP C Testing- Box Car Lawn

Everyday 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Great American Pig Races

Box Car Lawn

10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m.

JUMP! The Ultimate Stunt Dog Show

Adventure Alley

11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., *8:00 p.m. (Fri & Sat Only)

Off Axis Stunt Show

Adventure Alley

12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Foam Zone

Heritage Ave

12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m.

Salsa Steel Drum Band

Entry Gate Act

11:00 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m.

Sea Lion Splash

Kiddie Lot

11:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:00 p.m., *9:15 p.m.

(Fri & Sat Only)

Duke City Championship Wrestling

Gate 1

2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., *8:00 p.m.

(Wed, Fri, Sat Only)

MegaMorph

Gate 1

1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 5:30

p.m., 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Spectaculars

New Mexico State Fair Ambassadogs

Strolling Act

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

*7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Fri & Sat Only)

ROBOCARS

Strolling Act

1:15 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:45 p.m.

Stilt Circus

Strolling Act

2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.

Giant Snake Educational Exhibit

Main Street

10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Sun-Thurs), 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

(Fri & Sat) $5.00 (cash) $6.00 (credit card)

Lorikeets Encounter

Main Street



Monkey Hut Educational Exhibit

Main Street



Great American Petting Zoo

Box Car Lawn


(Fri & Sat) Free entry, $5.00 per cup of food, $8.00

two cups, or $1.00 with coin machine

Great American Pony Rides

Box Car Lawn


(Fri & Sat) $10.00, 4x6 photo $13.00

Sir Loin The Mechanical Bull

Adventure Alley


(Fri & Sat) $10.00 (cash), $12.00 (credit card)

Slingshot

Adventure Alley


(Fri & Sat) $35.00

Kid’s Bungy Jump

Adventure Alley


(Fri & Sat) $10.00



Fresh Brew Brings Oktoberfest to the Fair

By Ana Dickerson

The New Mexico State Fair has an atmosphere of music

and festivity much like the world-famous Oktoberfest, and for

the first time, the fair will feature a custom-made beer in the

Oktoberfest style that celebrates the state’s rich agricultural

heritage.

Midway Märzen, from Corrales-based Ex Novo Brewing

Company, is an amber-colored lager with a toasted, maltforward

flavor designed to be light and easy to drink on sunny

afternoons. Ex Novo will also be returning with its popular

Dusty Spur American pilsner, another refreshing summertime

brew with a crisp finish and touch of bitterness. It debuted at

the State Fair in 2023.

Dan Mourning, general manager of EXPO New Mexico, said,

“If you are a fan of craft beer, you live for Oktoberfest. So, we

are proud to feature a local microbrew that continues a global

tradition, while highlighting New Mexico’s craft industry.”

“Keep in mind that Midway Märzen will only be available while

supplies last at the 2025 State Fair,” he said, “so check it out

at our beer stands and speakeasy to make sure you have a

chance to enjoy it before it’s gone.”

This year’s offerings from Ex Novo extend a practice pioneered

by the State Fair in 2015, when it first partnered with local

breweries to create

exclusive co-branded

beers on a custom label.

Over the years, the fair

has featured a cream ale

from La Cumbre Brewing

Company, a hazy pale

ale from Marble Brewery,

and even an “angry

mule” made with red

chile from Tumbleroot

Brewery & Distillery in

2021.

This effort has earned

the New Mexico State

Fair several awards and

industry recognition since it began the tradition a decade

ago. Such honors include last year’s Barrel Racer Blonde

Ale, produced by Ex Novo, being named in the Souvenirs

and Commemorative Items category at the International

Association of Fairs & Expositions.

EXPO New Mexico has continued an exclusive partnership with

Ex Novo dating back to 2023, citing high demand for its beers

in the past and a positive working relationship with the Ex Novo

team.

(continued on next page)

Fresh Brew Brings

Oktoberfest to the Fair

(continued from previous page)

Ex Novo Brewing Company was founded by brothers Joel

and James Gregory in Portland in 2014, but was relocated

to their hometown of Corrales in 2019. Ex Novo has a nowiconic

location featuring a brewery, indoor taproom, and

an expansive beer garden filled with families on any given

summer weekend.

“The Gregory brothers have been extraordinary to work

with, so we jumped at the opportunity to work with Ex Novo

for another fair season,” Mourning said. “The Dusty Spur

pilsner was amazing, and it was so well-received that we are

thrilled it’s back.”

Earlier this year, Ex Novo opened a new 11,000-square-foot

location in the historic Firestone Building along downtown

Albuquerque’s Route 66. It features a full restaurant

downstairs, a speakeasy-styled bar upstairs, an outdoor

patio, and a deli. James Gregory said, “Ex Novo Downtown

has something for everyone. You can start your day with

coffee and sandwiches at Sammy’s, hang out on the patio

with 18 taps and a full bar, then head upstairs to The Bitter

Nun for craft cocktails Thursday through Sunday.”

Ex Novo received a $75,000 grant from the City of

Albuquerque in 2023 to fund renovations on the vacant

Firestone tire shop. “It’s a great old historic building that

sat vacant for many years, so we wanted to reactivate

the space and get Central Avenue bustling again,” James

Gregory said.

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Fair Promotes Local Musicians with Inaugural

Soundwave Music Festival

By Sandy Vaillancourt

New Mexicans will get to hear a lot of local music as part

of the New Mexico State Fair this year thanks to the new

Soundwave Music Festival, which debuts at Tingley Coliseum

on September 7. The event is included with fair admission at no

additional cost.

“With well over half a million people attending the fair over

11 days, we want to give everyone the live music experience

and show they deserve,” said State Fair general manager Dan

Mourning, adding that the fair’s goal has always been to keep

the event affordable and accessible to all.

The stellar festival lineup includes Sister Baby, Slums of Harvard,

Isaac Aragon & the Healing, Hooks and Huckleberries, Charlie

Overbey, Def-i and Ryan McGarvey. All musicians are from

New Mexico, mostly based in Albuquerque, though a few hail

from Madrid and Shiprock. The goal is to expand the reach next

year, Mourning said. Music genres will run the gamut - a bit

of country, some indie music, new punk, pop rock, as well as

Native American Rap and hip hop.

“There are six stages at the fair,” Mourning said, “and our

technology and social media presence will help expand the

audience for New Mexico’s musicians. So, when our team

suggested we organize our own local music festival, I knew we

had to make it happen. The State Fair embraces the opportunity

to elevate New Mexico musicians and provide a platform for

their music and help them reach a global audience.”

Josh Bratton, one of festival’s main organizers and founding

band member of the Hooks and Huckleberries, has arranged

for Jam in the Van to come to the festival and set up a portable

recording studio.

“It's a backstage area for musicians in the lineup,” said Jack

Higgins, creative director of Jam in the Van, who compared

Jam in the Van to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk video concert series.

“Musicians play some music, talk about their music, and we

project the recordings on a large screen for all fair goers to

experience.”

Performances will be shared live with more than 500,000

followers on Jam in the Van’s YouTube channel. Seating will be


Finalists For The 2025 Unique Foods Contest

Fried Alligator w/ Boudin Balls

Crispy, fried, and perfectly seasoned alligator

served with deep-fried, seasoned, bite-sized

Boudin balls. Boudin balls are crunchy on the

outside with a smooth, flavorful interior. Served

with melted cheese.

Concessionaire: Seafood Cajun Café – Food Court

Sweet and Spicy Spam Fries

Spam strips are battered and deep-fried to extra

crispy before being glazed with sweet syrup and

topped with a spicy aioli. This treat is served in

an original Spam can.

Concessionaire: B&B Concessions – Food Court

Dubai Funnel Cake

A piping hot funnel cake is sprinkled with

powdered sugar and topped with Dubai

pistachio cream. The funnel cake is then

drizzled with chocolate and topped with

whipped cream.

Concessionaire: Popn’ Mama – Racetrack Avenue

Green Chile Sriracha Funnel Cake

A piping hot funnel cake is topped with fresh

New Mexico-grown green chile before a sriracha

sauce drizzle tops it all off.

Concessionaire: R&J – Food Court

Cinnaburger

A hand-formed beef patty is grilled to perfection

and served between two fresh-baked cinnamon

rolls. It’s then piled high with pickles, lettuce,

tomato, cheese and green chile. The burger is

then topped with vanilla frosting and dusted with

powdered sugar.

Concessionaire: Rex’s – South of Natural

Resources Building

Sausage S’more Skewer

Skewers piled high with chunks of perfectly

smoked sausage and toasted marshmallow are

drizzled with chocolate syrup and topped with

graham cracker crumbles.

Concessionaire: Top Notch – Heritage

20


Discover Socorro in 2025

Nestled in the heart of New Mexico, Socorro is

a charming town rich in history, natural beauty, and

vibrant community spirit. Its name, meaning "help" in

Spanish, dates back to 1598, when the Piro Indians

aided Spanish settlers led by Juan de Oñate as they

emerged from the arid Jornada del Muerto. Today,

Socorro remains a welcoming destination known for

its scenic landscapes, outdoor adventures, and worldclass

research institutions like the New Mexico Institute

of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) and the National

Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).

Visitors can explore Socorro’s breathtaking outdoors,

from the rugged beauty of Box Canyon and San

Lorenzo Canyon, to the serene trails of Water Canyon

and the Magdalena Mountains. The iconic 'M' on the

mountain west of town signals that you’ve arrived

at a place where history and adventure intertwine.

Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, history buff, or

festival-goer, Socorro offers something for everyone.

Come experience Socorro’s small-town charm, rich

heritage, and exciting events. Stay in one of the cozy

hotels, charming B&Bs, or RV parks, and immerse

yourself in the warmth and hospitality that make

this town a true hidden gem. Plan your visit today at

socorronm.org.

ANNUAL EVENTS

ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

JULY 4th

SOCORRO RODEO & SPORTS COMPLEX

SOCORRO CHILE HARVEST TRIATHLON

AUGUST

CITY OF SOCORRO & NEW MEXICO TECH

SOCORRO COUNTY FAIR & PRCA RODEO

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

SOCORRO COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS &


SOCORROFEST

OCTOBER

SOCORRO’S HISTORIC PLAZA

THE GREAT NM CHILE TASTE-OFF

OCTOBER


49ERS ALUMNI CELEBRATION

OCTOBER

NEW MEXICO TECH

TRINITY SITE OPEN HOUSE

OCTOBER

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE

FESTIVAL OF THE CRANES

DECEMBER

BOSQUE DEL APACHE WILDLIFE REFUGE

HOLIDAY ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE

ART & MUSIC STROLL

LUMINARIAS ON THE PLAZA &

SFD MATANZA

DECEMBER

SOCORRO'S HISTORIC PLAZA

loslunasnm.org

(505) 839-3840

S O C O R R O N M . O R G

V I S I T S O C O R R O

V I S I T S O C O R R O N M

Visit Socorro

2025 NM State Fair presented by Chevron | www.exponm.com

23

2025 State Fair Sponsors

Chevron

Mattress Firm

New Mexico Gas Company

Pacific Office Automation

Premier Distributing

Sysco

Affirmative Solutions

Creamland Dairy

Drop-Dead Pest Control

PG Enterprises

Rachel's Best Soaps

Just Squeezed

Johnny Boards

One Easy Marketing /GVD Club

Melloy Dodge

Ramada By Wynhdam

Houston Auto

Native Café

NM Synthetic Turf

Melloy Nissan

Greentree Inn

SEPTEMBER 4 - 14, 2025

Bring this ad for

10% off

your entire purchase.

The New Mexico State Fair Would Like

to Thank Our Valued Sponsors

Law Giant

B & R Construction

Southwest Safety Services

Bloom Haven Behavioral Health

Pattern Energy

Pace Audio

Pine Gate Renewables

American Home Furniture

Lesman's Pro Audio

Big R Stores

United Energy Workers Healthcare

Parnall Law Firm

Best Western

Husband & Wife Law Team

New Mexico Music Commission

Sheraton Uptown

The Sun Bus

Franks Supply Co

Holiday Inn & Suites

Ramona's Mexican Café

Marriott Albuquerque

PRESENTED BY:

Sunbelt Rentals

Zia Graphics

Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North

Cabela's

Hotel 505

Comfort Inn and Suites Alameda

Days Inn and Suites

UNM Truman Health Services

The Querque Hotel

Crowne Plaza Albuquerque

Crystal Springs Bottled Water

Justin Brands

Wrangler

Batter Up Mini Donuts

Downs Racetrack of Albuquerque

US Army

Tesla

Rancho Centenario

AAMCO

Rudy's

Cecilia's Café

2025 Media Partners

KOAT-TV

KOB 4

KRQE

Fox NM

CW

My50 TV

Moon Dog Publishing

Starline Printing

Albuquerque Journal

Bands of Enchantment

Entravision

American General Media:

KIOT - Coyote 102.5

KABG - Big 98.5

KKSS - 97.3 Kiss FM

KLVO - Radio Lobo

KKRG - Mix 105.1

KJFA - Fuego 102.9

Cumulus:

KRST - 92.5

KDRF - 103.3 ED FM

KOBQ – The Q 93.3 FM

KMGA - Magic 99.5 FM

iHeart Media:

KPEK - 100.3 The Peak

KBQI - Big 107.9

KBQI HD - 98.1 The Bull

KABQFM - Hot 95.1

KEDG - 104.1 The Edge

KANW New Mexico Public Media

September 5

Wynonna w/Chevron

PRCA Xtreme Bulls

Box seat $100

Premium Chairback - $90

Preferred Chairback - $80

Floor (no rodeo

admission) - $40

September 11

Chevron

PRCA Rodeo

Box Seat - $40



Rodeo Concert Series

at Tingley Coliseum

Tickets available online at www.exponm.com

September 6

Cypress Hill w/Chevron

PRCA Xtreme Bulls

Box seat $100



Floor (no rodeo

admission) - $40

September 12

Grupo Marca Registrada

w/Chevron PRCA Rodeo

Box seat $100



Floor (no rodeo

admission) - $40

September 9

NMBRA

Barrel Racing

Free w/ Admission

September 13

Clay Walker

w/Chevron PRCA Rodeo

Box seat $100



Floor (no rodeo

admission) - $40

September 10

Chevron

PRCA Rodeo

Box Seat - $40



September 14

Chevron

PRCA Rodeo

Box Seat - $40

Premium Chair back - $25

Preferred Chair back - $15



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Home Arts

September 4: Candy Contest, 1:30 p.m.

September 5: Chile Contest, 1:30 p.m.

September 7: Fashion Style Show, 2:00 p.m.

September 8: Bread Contest, 1:30 p.m.

September 9: International Food Contest, 1:30 p.m.

September 11: Cake Contest, 1:30 p.m.

September 12: Cookie Contest, 1:30 p.m.

September 13: Junior Baking, 1:30 p.m.

September 14: Pie Contest, 1:30 p.m.

Home & Creative Arts Events

Creative Arts

September 3, 6 - 8 p.m.

Preview of the arts, all Art Galleries

September 13, 1 - 3 p.m.

Lego Competition

September 6 - 7 & 13 - 14, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Roger Martinez

Horse Show Schedule

August 29

Sorting Competition/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

August 30

WDAA Western Dressage Show/Indoor/

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

August 31

USDF Dressage Show/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Western Dressage Clinic/Outdoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 1

Working Equitation Clinic/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 2

Working Equitation Clinic/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 3

Working Equitation Show/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 4

Arabian Show/Indoor/8am-5pm

Buckles & Belles Drill Team Demo/Indoor/6 p.m.

September 5

Arabian Show/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Draft Pull/Indoor/7 p.m.

September 6

4-H Horse Show/Indoor/8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sport Horse IH Show/Outdoor/9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Noodle Ponies/Indoor Foyer/11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Pro/AM Costume Challenge/Indoor/4 p.m.

Jumper Schooling/Indoor/5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Sport Horse U/S/Outdoor/2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

September 7

Hunter/Jumper Show/Indoor/8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

AB Dressage/WD/Outdoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

AHA Trail/WW/Outdoor/1 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Gambler’s Choice Jumping/Indoor/6 p.m.

September 8

Exceptional Show/Indoor/Outdoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 9

Mules, Donkeys, Minis/Indoor/8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Coon Jumping/Indoor/6 p.m.

September 10

Buckaroo Balance Clinic/Indoor/8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 12

Livestock Sale/Indoor/All Day

AQHA, All Breed, Color Breeds/Outdoor/

8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Ranch Pleasure Stakes/Outdoor/7 p.m.

September 13

Versatility Ranch Horse/Indoor/8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

AQHA, All Breed, Color Breeds/Indoor/

12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Feedbag Fashion Show/Indoor Foyer /

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Freestyle Reining Stakes/Indoor/7 p.m.

September 14

Versatility Ranch Horse/Outdoor/8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Vaulting Show/Indoor/8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Youth Gymkhana/Indoor/12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

View Live Results & Schedules

NMStateFair.Horsespot.net

28



Matt Sena: The Tech Behind the Fair

By Autumn Gray

When the New Mexico State Fair opens on September 4,

visitors will experience the usual sights and sounds of Main Street,

the Midway, food vendors and the livestock shows, just to name

a few. Behind the scenes, however, cyber techies and digital

analysts will be hard at work ensuring everything runs safely and

smoothly. While the fair event combines traditional activities that

date back to the early days of the state's settlement, it depends

heavily on the use of modern technology, such as cameras and

digital screens, to operate at its full capacity.

Indeed, the annual fair is one of New Mexico’s largest events

that relies on both the state’s oldest and largest industry –

ranching/farming – and one of the newest and fastest growing,

cybersecurity. EXPO New Mexico’s IT director, Matt Sena, has

been the wizard behind the tech curtain for the last 25 years.

The work he leads ensures fairgoers’ credit card information is

safe, that lost children are reunited with their families quickly,

that crimes are prevented, and that customers never have to

wait in excessively long lines. This level of efficiency and security is

made possible by a high-tech network that includes point of sale

(POS) software systems, a fiber optic network, metal detectors,

and cameras that act more like computers than picture-takers.

“We’re one of the safest fairs in the country because of the

infrastructure we’ve invested in,” Sena said.

For example, the fair has in place:

• Metal detectors that can detect weapons within crowds.

• Camera analytics that identify issues and help solve common

crowd-related problems. “We can find lost children, which is a

really big one for us,” Sena said.

• Payment card industry (PCI) data security to safeguard personal

financial information.

Fair Promotes Local Musicians with Inaugural Soundwave

Music Festival


available for those who want to watch the live screen near the

mobile van.

Bratton, who has many years of experience with band touring

and songwriting, said he understands the risk involved with

trying something new. However, without the risk, he said, there

can be no growth. His goal is to make Soundwave an annual

event.

“Jam in the Van will be a new way to showcase original music

and songwriting in New Mexico and help career growth,” Bratton

said. “There are not always clear pathways for musicians and

songwriters to grow their career nationally, like in some cities

such as Memphis, Austin, or L.A., so I wanted to help use my

experience to help the younger generation of musicians.”

The Jam in the Van event also held an online “battle of the

bands” voting opportunity in August that served as a fundraiser

benefitting local nonprofit Casa Q. The organization provides

housing and other services to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults

in Albuquerque.

Smaller format areas for fair attendees to enjoy live music

include the Songwriters Stage and the Speakeasy. The

Songwriters Stage will be located in the Main Street Beer

Garden. It's a casual area where people can enjoy music by


Sena and his very small team manage EXPO New Mexico’s

networks, fiber optics, cameras, telecom systems, IP phones,

and anything else tied to IT. With assistance from the State

Department of Information Technology, they routinely conduct

testing to uncover and address vulnerabilities.

“If anybody sat with us for six months and watched what it takes

to be put on a state fair, they’d be amazed,” he said, describing

the fair as a “small city,” with almost every trade represented -

groundskeepers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, and

mechanics. “Our goal is to make things as seamless as possible.”

Sena graduated from the University of New Mexico’s Anderson

School of Business with a management information systems

degree in the mid-90s. He worked at an engineering firm and for

a hotel management company before applying for his current

position at EXPO New Mexico. The level of tech utilized today is

almost unrecognizable as compared to when he first started at

the fair in 2000.

His first day was on Day 2 of the fair that year. “It was a learning

experience,” he said. “Back then their tech was behind the

times. Users had a keyboard and a terminal on their desktop

– an IBM AS/400 mainframe and two gigantic printers in the

administration building. I started buying computers and servers

and moving us forward.”

After a quarter of a century of implementing significant changes

that have contributed to the New Mexico State Fair’s status for

which it ranks among the best in the nation, the 2025 fair will be

Sena’s last. He is retiring to take care of family.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. We sit on 236 acres. The campus

is beautiful. Every day is different,” Sena said. “It’s a place where

I’m excited to be every day. I will definitely miss it when I’m gone.”

local songwriters. The Speakeasy will feature relaxed jazz from

Burque Bandits and EQNX Jazztet, plus classic country by The

Rosewells, offering an adult sensory experience. The Speakeasy

will be in Lujan C, the northern most part of the complex.

Local musician McGarvey, who will be performing at the fair

at 6 p.m. on September 7, said he believes live music is a

luxury: “It’s something that’s not just created by a computer

or algorithm (like so many of our experiences), but it’s actually

humans creating something beautiful with instruments that

they actually had to study to know how to do what they are

doing - for you!”

Plus, music provides the time and space for people to forget

about their daily cares and worries, Mourning said.

“Supporting the New Mexico music scene is one of my passions,”

he said. “Live music has sort of dried up here in the desert, and

we are looking for ways to cultivate the next big artist. Who

knows when and where the next big band will catch on — why

not have it be a New Mexico-based talent?”

The New Mexico Music Commission and Bands of Enchantment

provided support and guidance for the festival.

Visit www.statefair.exponm.com for event info and discount

days.

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Learn more at Chevron.com/EnergyInProgress

Chevron is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2025 New Mexico State Fair.

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2025 Magical New Mexico State Fair

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