Plenty of primping and prepping took place around the Santa Maria Fairpark’s junior livestock barns Monday as youths from 4-H clubs, FFA chapters and grange groups readied their animal projects for a busy week ahead.
The five-day Santa Barbara County Fair opens Wednesday with the theme of “Dance to Your Own Beat” at the Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St.
However, the action typically begins days earlier as animals arrive at the fairpark to get settled, weighed and paraded in the show ring before the Junior Livestock Auction.
This year marks the return of the Cuyama Valley High School’s FFA Chapter after approximately two decades of not taking animal projects to the fair.
The students from the northeast corner of the county brought sheep, goats, rabbits and plenty of pigs, according to agriculture teacher and advisor Carlos Diaz, as he guided the teens completing last-minute grooming on a sheep and goat.
Despite the Madre Fire-related closure, the Cuyama Valley contingent was able to travel Highway 166 to get the animals and humans to the fairpark.
It meant they avoided a lengthy detour that could have added to the stress of the trek for both two-legged and four-legged participants.
“We got them here. We’re bringing our own water from town so they’re not having the shock of going from our town water to city water and rejecting it,” Diaz said.
“They’ve been pretty calm this morning. We’ve watered and fed them. They’re mellow. They’re not stressed at least so far — fingers crossed. We try to get everything line up to minimize the street on the animals and the kids.”
While the Cuyama FFA program focused on crops and other agriculture-related topics, students eagerly jumped at the chance raise animal projects, aided by their primary advisor, Angel Cannon.
Some members attended an event in San Jose to help animals and handlers get familiar with preparing and participating in a show.
“They took to it like a duck to water, so now they’re super excited,” Diaz added.
Outside a different barn, recent St. Joseph High School graduate Dylan Fleming marks his 10th and final fair raising a heifer, named Lemon, a role he credited with teaching him responsibility.
Jazmine Rodriguez of the Pioneer Valley FFA agreed that her project carried lessons about responsibility. She also gained patience “and a lot of strength,” she said of raising a large animal.
Across the fairpark, food vendors and carnival rides will be set up in anticipation of the fair’s opening Wednesday afternoon.
Nightly concerts will include Queen tribute band Queen Nation on Wednesday, Texican rock ’n’ roll trio Los Lonely Boys on Thursday, country musician Larry Fleet on Friday, country-pop singer Russell Dickerson on Saturday and La Septima Banda on Sunday.
The Minetti Arena gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with the shows starting at 6:30 p.m.
Separate tickets, with varied prices based on seating, must be purchased for the concerts along with paid admission to the fair.
To buy a ticket for a specific concert or fair admission, click here.
The fair’s gates will be open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The carnival may stay open later.
Admission tickets cost $17 for ages 12 to 61, and $15 for senior citizens age 62 or older and youths ages 6 to 11. A season pass for all ages is $55. Children age 5 or younger will be admitted for free.
Discount days are $6 admission for all tickets purchased at the gate until 6 p.m. Wednesday. On Thursday, seniors age 62 or older can pay $6 for admission until 6 p.m.
All day Friday, the fair will provide free admission for youths ages 6 to 11. The Saturday discount day will focus on free admission for military and law enforcement members with a valid identification.
Helm & Sons Amusements will provide the carnival rides with options for people of all ages along with games. Carnival tickets can be purchased here.
For more information and a schedule of events, go to santanmariafairpark.com.