LOVINGTON, N.M. – Cynthia Hawley is one of four new faces on the Lea County Fair Board, but she’s hardly a stranger to the exposition.

“I’m a Lea County native, born and raised,” said Hawley, whose appointment came from Gary Eidson, the Lea County District 3 commissioner, and was made official in February. “I’ve been here my whole life, and the county fair has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, whether it was just going to experience it as a kid or getting into the stock show myself.

“Being part of the fair board is something that falls right into the things I’m passionate about. I’ve seen the fair as an exhibitor, a parent, a supporter and, now, I want to contribute as a board member to help ensure it stays strong for the next generation.”

The bulk of activities for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo will take place the first full week of August, but there are plenty of activities that begin before that. The local team roping kicks off the competitions July 27, but the nine-day exposition will start in full swing Friday, Aug. 1. It’s the perfect time of year to bring a community together and celebrate its history.

“I’m excited to step into this new role and gain a behind-the-scenes perspective,´ said Hawley, who lives in rural Lea County with her husband, Jim, and their sons, Cooper, 17, and Cayson, 14.  “There’s so much that goes into making the Lea County Fair a success, and I look forward to working alongside a dynamic and diverse group of board members to help enhance the experience for our community. There’s a lot that goes into making an event like this take place, so I’m learning a lot.”

She and the other newbies have hit the ground running, but that’s what it takes to produce a fair of this magnitude. It’s not just for folks in the southeast corner of New Mexico; the Lea County Fair attracts thousands of visitors from around the region. Hawley has seen it grow and prosper, and now she is one of the decision-makers who helps that process continue.

“When I was growing up, the fair was just a highlight for so many people in the community, including myself,” she said. “It was one of the biggest events of the year, something I always look forward to.”

A professed “city girl” who was raised in Hobbs, she had always longed to live in the country. She had friends who were more rural, and one thing led to another. When she was 9 and old enough to join 4H, she did. She began showing and by the time she reached high-school age, she was involved in FFA.

“I think everything triggered from there,” Hawley said. “I’ve always wanted to be part of the agriculture industry. It didn’t happen overnight, but now we have a small farm where we raise our own beef, pork, and chickens – providing a true farm-to-table lifestyle for our family.”

After graduating from Hobbs High School, Hawley attended Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas, and was part of the livestock judging team. She earned a degree in animal science and returned to Lea County. It wasn’t long before she was working in the oil fields, where she held a post in a midstream gas business for 15 years.

She met Jim, another Hobbs High alumnus, and marriage followed. In addition to their small farm between Hobbs and Lovington, they also operate H&R Enterprises. If that weren’t enough, they’re active with their church and the Hobbs FFA alumni group and just about everything else they’re asked to do. When Cooper was old enough to join 4H, the Hawleys were fully engrossed in it with him. Cayson has joined in the mix since then.

“Cooper started out doing horses, because that’s something my husband did and that my mother-in-law’s really involved in, so that’s where we started out,” Cynthia Hawley said. “He decided he wanted to show an animal the next year, and he chose pigs. Now, we’re eight years into it, and his younger brother has since started showing pigs. We’ve raised chickens for show as well, but now primarily focus on pigs.”

It’s natural, then, that the stock show side of the fair is her favorite aspect of the expo. Of course, she loves the rodeo, concerts, vendors and all other extras that come with a fair ticket, but the stock show will always be her passion.

“I love to see the kids out there with their projects,” she said. “I know how hard they work all year. Those kids are amazing, and to see the friendships they have built is also incredible. They may not see each other all year long, but when they get back to the fair, it’s like they never left off. They’re running around, supporting each other.

“We may have one group of kids helping everybody with sheep one minute, then the next thing you know they’re all over there working with everybody’s pigs. The comradery that it brings and the hard work that comes out of it is going to take these kids far in life.”

 Work ethic is a powerful tool, and Hawley has seen how it builds minds and frames while also contributing to excellence in and out of the show ring. She’s lived it and felt it, but most of all, she has the passion to see it continue.