New Mexico State Fair vaccine mandate for youth exhibitors sparks outcry

The vaccine requirement for young exhibitors, announced three weeks before the start of the state fair, is generating harsh criticism against the governor. The New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and a couple of Republican senators are urging Lujan Grisham to reconsider the vaccine requirement for youth, saying it will prevent scores of students from showing their animals or participating in other exhibits at the state fair.

“First and foremost, we do understand the governor’s desire to protect New Mexicans and especially those under 12 against the COVID-19 infection,” said Shelleen Smith, the association’s executive director. “But we also feel that consideration has to be given for exhibitors. They cannot meet the requirements due to this short notice.”

Smith said there are youth who have put a year’s worth of work into their livestock projects and won’t be able to afford to do a project next year if they can’t sell their livestock this year. “We just have concern for our kids,” she said. “They’ve worked so hard for the past year.”

Nora Meyers Sackett, the governor’s press secretary, wrote in an email that the coronavirus pandemic is a life-or-death situation.

“Concerns are warranted when New Mexico hospitals are rapidly approaching crisis standards of care because of unvaccinated New Mexicans spreading a highly infectious and incredibly dangerous virus despite the widespread availability and efficacy of vaccines,” she wrote, referring to the rationing of health care when hospitals are overwhelmed.

“Hundreds of New Mexicans are very seriously ill, and hundreds and thousands more will become very seriously ill, if the virus has the opportunity to continue to spread among unvaccinated populations, particularly at large events,” she added. “This large event is under the state’s authority. Vaccines are required, because anything less is irresponsible and will lead to sickness and potentially death, needless death, and that’s the end of the story.”