FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Media Contact: Jenny Green
Public Affairs Specialist
jgreen@nmda.nmsu.edu | 575-202-4249

Aug. 20, 2026

Country Store returns to 2026 New Mexico State Fair

Daily happy hours and local shopping including free samples

ALBUQUERQUE – Get ready to savor the best of New Mexico agriculture at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, featuring the return of the Country Store, daily Reds, Whites and Brews Happy Hours, and interactive exhibits throughout the Agriculture Building.

Person pouring red wine from a bottle into tasting glasses lined up on a bar counter at a winery tasting room. — Get ready to savor the best of New Mexico agriculture at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, featuring the return of the Country Store, daily Reds, Whites and Brews Happy Hours, and interactive exhibits throughout the Agriculture Building. (Photo courtesy of New Mexico Department of Agriculture)

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is partnering with New Mexico Wine to host daily happy hours from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Agriculture Building courtyard. Fairgoers can expect New Mexico-made wines and brews from Downshift Brewing Company, Canteen Brewhouse, Quarter Celtic Brewpub and Steel Bender Brewyard.

“The Country Store and courtyard offer a one-of-a-kind space to celebrate local flavors and agricultural education,” said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. “Come sip, shop and explore what makes New Mexico agriculture so special.”

Close-up of a beer tap pouring golden draft beer into a clear plastic cup held by someone wearing a smartwatch. — Get ready to savor the best of New Mexico agriculture at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, featuring the return of the Country Store, daily Reds, Whites and Brews Happy Hours, and interactive exhibits throughout the Agriculture Building. (Photo courtesy of New Mexico Department of Agriculture)

Presented in partnership with What’s In Store, a retail company specializing in locally sourced products, the Country Store will feature local goods, root beer floats and merchandise including T-shirts and hats. The store will be open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the duration of the fair.

Inside the south wing of the Agriculture Building, fairgoers can also enjoy gameshow-style trivia and explore a new New Mexico wine display.

Store entrance with a blue-framed glass door and an “Open New Mexico Taste the Tradition Country Store” neon sign glowing above the windows, showing shelves of products inside. — Get ready to savor the best of New Mexico agriculture at the 2026 New Mexico State Fair, featuring the return of the Country Store, daily Reds, Whites and Brews Happy Hours, and interactive exhibits throughout the Agriculture Building. (Photo courtesy of New Mexico Department of Agriculture)

For more information, visit the New Mexico State Fair webpage or call the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s Marketing and Development Division at 575-646-4929.

###

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture benefits the public by promoting the viability and advancement of New Mexico agriculture and affiliated industries. The agency promotes a fair marketplace, food safety, marketing, and economic development; supports the beneficial use and conservation of natural resources; and works cooperatively with the public and private sectors.

Find us at:
NMDeptAg.nmsu.edu
Facebook, X, Instagram: @NMDeptAg
YouTube: NMDeptAg | LinkedIn: New Mexico Department of Agriculture

News:

Events:

Country Store returns to 2026 New Mexico State Fair