South Santa Clara County students in 4-H and FFA will have a new opportunity to show off their livestock this summer as the inaugural South Valley Ag Fair kicks off July 27-28, with an auction to follow Aug. 1.
The first event, a two-day “jackpot” show at Thorson’s Arena in San Martin, provides an opportunity for students from Santa Clara County schools and the wider region to showcase their cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses and poultry with a chance to win prizes for their showmanship ranging from custom buckles to banners and ribbons. A swine and sheep show runs July 27, with cattle and goats showing July 28.
Board member Kris Friebel said the new event grew out of a scheduling gap with the Santa Clara County Fair, which moved its dates this year to overlap with the start of the school year. The fair is organized by South Valley Ag Fair, a newly formed nonprofit run largely by volunteer parents, teachers and community supporters across South County.
“We had students that weren’t going to be able to attend [the county fair],” Friebel said. “So we thought, let’s keep it the same week we’re used to and see what we can build ourselves.”
Rather than compete with the county fair, Friebel said the new event complements it, giving South County FFA and 4-H students an additional chance to show their animals before classes resume. Students who still want to participate in the county fair are welcome to do both, she said.
“This is all about the kids,” Friebel said. “We don’t want to take away from anything already in place, but we’re giving them a bigger opportunity, more opportunity.”
Entries remain open through July 22. While final participation numbers are not yet available, Friebel said turnout at a recent exhibitors’ meeting was strong.
“The room was packed,” she said. “We’re very excited that we have given the kids this opportunity.”
The fair opened to entries from beyond Santa Clara County through a lottery system, drawing interest from students in neighboring counties as well. The event is free and open to the public and will include vendors, food trucks and other attractions alongside the livestock shows.
The auction, set for Aug. 1 at Rancher’s Choice Stockyard in Aromas, will give local businesses and community members the chance to purchase market animals directly from student exhibitors. Friebel said the process doubles as a real-world lesson for the students, many of whom will write buyer letters and market themselves and their animals ahead of the sale.
“It’s a great experience for kids to write letters, take pictures, and do some marketing,” Friebel said. “You might not get that in a normal environment in high school.”
The fair has drawn support from local sponsors, including the Santa Clara County Cattlemen’s Association and the Morgan Hill Fish and Game, which Friebel said has helped fund awards and event costs.
Friebel, a parent and grandparent of 4-H and FFA participants, said the fair reflects strong support for agricultural education across South County, home to FFA chapters at Gilroy High School and Morgan Hill Unified’s Sobrato and Live Oak high schools.
“There are so many good things to do with agriculture,” Friebel said. “It’s a great leadership program, starting from 4-H on up. It’s just a great thing for them to learn and thrive from.”
More information, including sign-up details, is available at southvalleyagfair.com.
