Peter Stein/News-Sun LOVINGTON – Bradi Good lived up to her last name at Saturday night’s ladies breakaway round in the Lea County Rodeo at Lovington’s Jake McClure Arena. Good’s 3.2 score was the fastest performance time in Saturday’s round, earning her television and newspaper interviews for her troubles. Good was fairly certain that her score would not be good enough …

LOVINGTON — A Eunice youth took top honors Thursday in the annual Market Beef Show at the Lea County Fair while a Hobbs girl earned her a reserve champion banner on her first time in the show ring. Jaylee Porter, 14, of Eunice, was named grand champion with her steer, Gunsmoke, while Lilly Spearman, 9, of Hobbs and her steer, …

11-year-old Conner Davis win swine contest his first time out LOVINGTON — Conner Davis will have a hard time besting himself next year. Conner, the 11-year old High Lonesome 4-H Club member, brought home the grand champion banner Tuesday with his 244-pound pig, Chubbs. It was Conner’s first year of showing in the Market Swine competition at the 85th Annual …

The New Mexico High School Rodeo Association and the New Mexico Junior High School Rodeo Association are coming to Lea County. For the NMJHSRA, it is a return after several years in Gallup and Las Cruces. As for the NMHSRA, this will be the first time the finals have been held in Lea County. “In years past, when I was …

When it comes to poultry Ethan Kneese and Cadi Godwin know their stuff — at least in the eyes of judge Floyd Starkey who decided Kneese and Godwin were this year’s junior and senior showmanship winners. The Lea County Junior Stock Show poultry competition gives out the same awards as all the other shows. However, winning showmanship requires a bit …

LOVINGTON — As of now, the fair and rodeo is on. The 2020 Lea County 85th Annual Fair and PRCA Rodeo heads this way, set for July 31-Aug. 8. “The fair board, the commissioners and I are planning the 2020 Lea County 85th Fair and Rodeo,” said Jim Kemp, fairgrounds general manager. “As of right now, that’s the direction we’re …

Showing steers at the annual Lea County Fair and Rodeo is a Wheeler family tradition. For 57 straight years, a young Wheeler has shown steers at the annual fair, and 12-year-old Tripp Wheeler of the Tatum 4-H club is ready this year with three hairy steers and a heifer. “My papaw showed steers a long, long time ago,” said Tripp, who …

LOVINGTON — The Lea County Commission on Thursday approved concert contracts recommended by the Lea County Fair Board for six nights of excitement between Aug. 2 and 10 at the 2019 county fair and rodeo. On the bill is the headliner band Los Huracanes del Norte with Grupo Laberinto and Revancha Nortena set to start the fair with Hispanic Heritage …

Fair, rodeo event draws 20,000 more attendees Sale of Champions up 30 percent Net cost to county down 13 percent CURTIS C. WYNNE NEWS-SUN LOVINGTON — Lea County’s biggest event of the year continues to grow as its net cost to the taxpayers drops, according to data presented to the county commission Thursday. Fairgrounds Manager Jim Kemp recapped expenses and …

LOVINGTON — If the county commission agrees, as expected, gate admission fees and times for the 2019 Lea County Fair and Rodeo will stay the same, including free Wednesday entry. Fair and Rodeo Board Chairman Larry Wheeler pointed out at Tuesday’s board meeting the county changed the time for this year’s fair to start charging a gate fee from 1 …