On Sunday, August 18, 2024, at 2 pm, TV Reporter and New Mexico State Fair Historian Rodger Beimer will tell stories and capsulize the colorful history of the New Mexico State Fair. The program will be held at the Albuquerque Museum at 2000 Mountain Rd. NW in Old Town. Parking is free in the lot south of the Museum. Admission to the Museum and the AHS program is also free.
The New Mexico State Fair has a long history, beginning in October 1881 as the territorial fair, and becoming a state fair in 1911 in preparation for New Mexico’s statehood. The fair was originally held at Traction Park, southwest of Old Town Plaza, and the Albuquerque Streetcar Company promoted the area as a year-round destination to increase ridership. However, the fair was canceled in 1917 and didn’t take place for several years due to World War I and financial difficulties. The fairgrounds opened at their current location in 1937 and has been a popular gathering place for New Mexicans to celebrate their culture, food, and agricultural heritage since then.
Rodger Beimer was born and raised in Taos where, in high school, he entered the broadcasting business as a disc jockey and newscaster for Taos’ KKIT Radio. During his University of New Mexico years as a journalism major, he worked weekends as a reporter-photographer for KOAT-TV. He went on to a New Mexico television and broadcasting career, both on-air and administratively at KOAT-TV, KOB-TV, KZIA and KOB Radio.
For many years, the New Mexico State Fair was one of Rodger’s assignments when working at KOAT-TV-7. He produced feature stories, interviewed celebrities and stars, including the winner of the annual rooster crowing contest.
As Marketing Director at the Fair, he organized and promoted the national championship of lady jockeys to the New Mexico State Fair horse race meet – an event telecast live on network TV. For eight years, he was Deputy Manager overseeing events, marketing and publicity.
He’s traveled this country visiting fairs, from a little county fair in suburban Lincoln, Nebraska, to the country’s largest county fair in San Diego. He’s tasted one of 2,000,000 chocolate chip cookies sold at the Minnesota State Fair and has just returned from a visit to the 2024 Iowa State Fair.
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