About Northern Navajo Fair
The Northern Navajo Fair is the Oldest and Most Traditional of the Navajo Fairs, held each fall in the Navajo Land where the Navajo people of the Four Corners come to celebrate the year’s harvest with a community celebration, in Shiprock NM
New Fairboard Members Bring Enthusiasm
ARTICLE BY ROBERTA JOHN
New enthusiasm.
That’s what the new Northern Navajo Fair Board is bringing to the table for the 113th Annual Northern Navajo Fair.
With just days to go before the Northern Navajo Fair, fairboard members are rolling up their sleeves so to speak and working with many new event coordinators to help launch the prestigious Oldest and Most Traditional Navajo Nation Fair in Shiprock, New Mexico.
The 113th Northern Navajo Fair will be held on October 1-4, 2026 here in northwest New Mexico.
The theme for this year’s fair is “Rooted in Tradition, We Rise Together in K’e.
The new fair board members were elected by community members within their respective chapters. They represent 20 different chapters in the Shiprock Agency, which include the following chapters:
Aneth Chapter - Lucille Cody-John
Beclabito Chapter - Renita Anderson
Cove Chapter - Not Yet Filled
Gadii’ahi/To’koi Chapter - Lynda Hayes
Mexican Water Chapter - Not Yet Filled
Nenahnezad - Andrea Lope
Newcomb Chapter - Herman Gleason
Red Mesa Chapter - Not Yet Filled
Red Valley Chapter - Ella Frazier Alternate - Jerald Begay
Rock Point Chapter - Not Yet Filled
San Juan Chapter - Angelita Benally Alternate - Deidra Cly
Shiprock - Debra Yazzie Alternate - Sara Denetclaw-Begaye
Teecnospos Chapter - Daron Yellowhorse Alternate - Verma Francisco
Tiis Tsoh Sikaad - Harrison Lamone Alternate - Nancy Begay
Toadlena/Two Grey Hills Chapter - Lolita Spencer
Tolikan/Sweetwater Chapter - Not Yet Filled
Tooh Haltsooi Chapter - Not Yet Filled
Tse Al Naozti Chapter - Jourdan Washburn-Moore
Tse Daa Kaan Chapter - Jerald Tsosie
Upper Fruitland Chapter - Lisa Byrd
Many of the new board members are elected officials within their respective chapters. Some board members have full-time jobs such as being a full-time parent to working at the chapter house to be a full-time rancher to working as school board members to working at various businesses on and off the Navajo Nation.
The Northern Navajo Fair differs from other Navajo tribal fairs because it has a fair board that consists of a representative from 20 different chapters. Suffice to say, they know the importance of working together as a team.
Although that can present challenges, the new fair board is filled with enthusiasm.
With steadfast determination and excitement, the new fair board would like to invite everyone to the 113th Annual Northern Navajo Fair.
Due to their recent appointments and a very short timeline, they are nevertheless doing their best to help produce a grand celebration for the Navajo people.
Accordingly, the theme this year is quite fitting. The Navajo people know how to adapt and adapt quickly. They are creative and know how to work hard. Using the wisdom of Navajo elders, the entire Northern Navajo Fair team is ready for this challenge.
See you all a the Northern Navajo Fair!
Pray and let’s all have a safe and wonderful time at the 113th Northern Navajo Fair!