WATSONVILLE — Ahead of the fair’s upcoming 2022 season opener, the Santa Cruz County Fair Board of Directors voted this week to permanently shutter two 67-year-old small livestock barns.

Mullet is openly proud of the small livestock farmers in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri who bring high-quality prime beef into his arena every week. “We sell the best cattle in the U.S.,” he stated.

Critter Barn earlier in October celebrated the grand opening of its new small animals barn, capping the first phase of development for the nonprofit’s 36-acre farm at 2950 80th Ave. in Zeeland.