All things farming and ranching will be featured at the Four States Agricultural Expo March 25-27 at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.
The event in its 39th year has a full slate of vendors, horse demonstrations, educational forums, children’s activities, farm products and live music.
Like all big events, the expo is recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizer Cindy Clare said Thursday. Last year, the expo was rescheduled for fall, and attendance declined.
“We’re seeing a lot more interest this year, and a lot of our vendors are coming back,” Clare said.
So far, she said 45 vendors have signed up, and there is room for more.
A new event is the San Juan Mounted Archers demonstration at the outdoor arena. The audience will be entertained by archers on horseback who shoot arrows at targets.
The expo features many equine education programs and demonstrations, according to the schedule.
There will be clinics for loading horses into trailers, how to shoe them and training tips. Horseman Dave Harwood of Prairie Fire Percherons will showcase harnessing and log skidding techniques. Megan Print, of the Carson National Forest Wild Horse Program, will demonstrate how to gentle wild horses. West Taylor will show how using science can help a traumatized horse recover and calm nervous horses.
“There is also a big focus on fun events for kids and families,” Clare said.
There will be daily chicken chase events, and kids can learn crosscut branding on pieces of aspen. Face painting stations will be set up as well, and there will be an ice cream-eating contest.
There will be live music throughout the event, including Donny Johnson, Lynne Belle Lewis, Nolan King, Ruth Wilson Francisco and Nancy Thomas, and Country Feedback. Featured authors include Susan Carpenter Noble and Lowell F. Volk.
Some events were canceled because of the pandemic, including the Children’s Agricultural Learning Facility, 4-H and FFA livestock judging events, and Ag-ceptional Rodeo for youths with disabilities.
Attendees are asked to follow pandemic protocols of social distancing, mask wearing and regular hand-washing.
For the complete Ag Expo schedule, visit fourstatesagexpo.com For more information or to set up a vendor booth, call (970) 529-3486.