The New Mexico State Fair Commission is currently comprised of the following members:
Larry Kennedy, Chairman, Albuquerque
Larry Kennedy was appointed to the State Fair Commission in 2011 and has served as chairman since 2012. Chairman Kennedy is the Vice President of a Civil and Structural Consulting Engineering Firm in Albuquerque. A graduate of Eldorado High School, Chairman Kennedy attended the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute. He served on the Bosque Farms Village Council from 1994 to 1997. He and his wife Renee' have two children.
David "Hossie" Sanchez, Secretary-Treasurer, Belen
Commissioner Sanchez has served on the State Fair Commission since 2009 and also served on the state Gaming Control Board for many years. Commissioner Sanchez is the President/CEO of San Bar Construction Corporation, one of the largest highway specialty contractors in the state, as well as the Co-owner of San Bar Farm and Ranch horse breeding program. He has his roots in the agriculture industry, having been raised on a cow-calf and horse farm in the Santa Rosa area and he now resides in Belen where he is an active member of his community through coaching Youth American Football and Youth League Basketball. Commissioner Sanchez is married and he and his wife Pat have three children.
Bill Lee, Gallup
Commissioner Lee is currently the county manager for McKinley County and a Past Chair of the New Mexico Chamber Executives Association and Past President of the Tourism Association of New Mexico. Commissioner Lee also serves on the Region 1 Tourism Board for the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and has worked on many boards, task forces, and commissions throughout the region. He was recognized as a “Regional Champion” by the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, and as one of the “Top 22 C.E.O.s” of 2013 for the state of New Mexico by Albuquerque Business First. He has additional experience in Business, Facilities, and Non-Profit Management, and spent 30 years as a broadcaster in radio and television. Commissioner Lee is an avid Commercial Hot Air Balloon pilot and is an organizer of the annual Red Rock Balloon Rally. Commissioner Lee is part of the “Cousins” family which has a history in McKinley County for over four generations. He is married and has two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
Xavier Jurado, Las Cruces
A third generation farmer from the Mesilla Valley, Commissioner Jurado is part owner and manager of Jurado, Inc, a family-owner agricultural and chile processing company. He has previously managed several businesses including a cotton gin, apartments, numerous farms and real estate entities. He graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor's of Business Administration degree in Finance and Real Estate from New Mexico State University. Commissioner Jurado has been married to his wife for 26 years and they have two daughters.
Ruth Bitsui
A Navajo Omaha Indian has lived in Corrales, New Mexico for 30 years. Ruth, and her husband Edison are excited to share their lives with the latest additions in their family as son Jeremiah, is now married to Aly "Alexandria" and they have a baby granddaughter named Olivia. Professionally Ruth holds a Master Degree of Business Administration (MBA) from Northern Arizona University and after retiring from Sandia National Laboratories is consulting in organization effectiveness throughout the United States. Ruth favors horse activities and has served leadership roles in all civic associations. Ruth is a music enthusiast and serves on the board for the New Mexico Philharmonic as Vice-President of Operations. Traveling internationally is now a favorite hobby and for many years worked professionally in project management in the middle east and South China seas countries. She finds people are interesting and enjoys diverse cultures and points of view. When you see Ruth at the the fair go up and say hello - she's love that! Chances are she will be with Edison who has traded his horse for a wheel chair.