NMSU Agricultural Youth Competitions


New Mexico State University College of ACES, working collaboratively with the wider agricultural industry, is proud to provide contests to help New Mexico youth learn about agriculture, consumer, and environmental sciences. These contests develop workforce and career skills important to the agricultural and natural resource industries.

This page provides the resources necessary for students to compete in the Agricultural Public Speaking contests, the Agri-Science Contests, and the New Mexico Flowers and Finances Contest, all held in conjunction with our state and regional fairs.

Contest Rules and Registration

New Mexico State Fair (NMSF)

Public Speaking and AgriScience

Date/Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 8 AM
Entry Deadline: Friday, Aug. 22
Location: African American Performing Arts Center
300 San Pedro NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108

Register Now!
NMSF

NMSF Flowers and Finances Contest

Date/Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 | 3:30 PM
Entry Deadline: Friday, Aug. 25
Location: New Mexico Expo Fairgrounds, Youth Hall
300 San Pedro NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108

Flowers & Finance
Register Now!

Southern New Mexico State Fair (SNMSF)

Date/Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 8 AM
Entry Deadline: Monday, Sep. 8
Location: New Mexico State University, Gerald Thomas Hall
940 College Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88003

Register Now!
SNMSF

Eastern New Mexico State Fair (ENMSF)

Date/Time: Friday, October 3, 2025 | 8 AM
Entry Deadline: Monday, Sep. 23
Location: Fairgrounds
2055 SE Main Street
Roswell, NM 88203

Register Now!
ENMSF

Required Forms

In addition to uploading through the registration link, please complete and email the completed form to nmyouth@nmsu.edu. This will serve as a backup entry system.

Project Development Assistance

One of the goals of these youth programs is to support New Mexico students in their career development, including support for higher education. To this end, we are holding “office hours” every Tuesday afternoon from 5:00 – 5:30 pm through July and August. These sessions are a forum for asking questions, brainstorming project ideas, and helping to suggest other faculty contacts that might help with project research.

Tuesdays 5:00 – 5:30 on Zoom at https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/82508824088

Prizes Awarded

Senior Division, Agri-Science & Public Speaking

  • Grand - $1,000 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle
  • Reserve - $500 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle

Junior Division, Agri-Science & Public Speaking

  • Grand - $500 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle
  • Reserve - $250 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle

Novice Division, Agri-Science & Public Speaking

  • Grand - $500 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle
  • Reserve - $250 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle

Floral contest

  • Grand Team - $500 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle each team member
  • Reserve Team - $250 NMSU ACES scholarship & buckle each team member

Contest Sponsorship

The contest was created through work at NMSU Agricultural Economics & Agricultural Business Department with the support of the Cooperative Extension Service. All divisions were generously sponsored by AgTrust Farm Credit. Please let them know you appreciate their support of our amazing New Mexico youth!

AgTrust Logo

AgTrust Farm Credit, 5600 Clearfork Main Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Contact

Frannie Miller
Assistant Professor Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business
Email: franniem@nmsu.edu
Cell Phone: 575-636-9305
Office Phone: 575-646-1162