Abigail McSween, right, of Corralitos 4-H Club won Best of Breed with the rabbit shown here at the Youth Small Animal Expo in Albuquerque last weekend. Courtesy of Desiree McSween

Aiden Ashbrook of Corralitos 4-H Club won Best of Breed with the chicken he’s holding at the Youth Small Animal Expo in Albuquerque last weekend. Courtesy of Desiree McSween

Sandoval County Extension report

When the New Mexico State Fair cancelled the small animal shows because of the vaccine mandate, a small group of volunteers stepped up to help the New Mexico State University Sandoval County extension agents organize and host the Youth Small Animal Expo.

The expo was held this past weekend at the 4-H Center in Albuquerque, with over 240 rabbit and poultry entries by youth from all parts of the state. The expo offered an opportunity for the youth to complete their 4-H projects they worked on all year.

From Sandoval County, there were several exhibitors. Anna Jacobson of the Jemez Mountain Stallions 4-H Club won the Trio Best of Show.

Abigail McSween won Rabbit Special Fur Best of Show, and Aiden Ashbrook won Poultry Best of Breed. Abigail and Aiden are with the Corralitos 4-H Club.

Winners received a banner and $400. The Healy Foundation and Sandia Well Service sponsored the premiums, ribbons and entry fees.

Anna Jacobson, second from right, of the Jemez Mountain Stallions 4-H Club, has help in showing her “Trio Best of Show” award-winning chickens at the Youth Small Animal Expo in Albuquerque last weekend. Courtesy of Desiree McSween