Liddie Martinez Garners Multiple Ribbons At 2023 State Fair

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 11, 2023
- 5:15 pm

Liddie Martinez, Los Alamos Region President of Enterprise Bank, with dahlias she grew in her garden and for the first time entered in the State Fair Wednesday in Albuquerque. The judges awarded all seven of the flowers she entered with either blue or red ribbons. Photo by Rick Martinez

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

After years of urging from friends, Liddie Martinez finally took the plunge last week and entered her dahlias in seven categories at the 2023 New Mexico State Fair – and walked away with seven ribbons.

“I was shocked that all my entries placed first or second,” Martinez said. “It is such an honor to show with all of these dahlia enthusiasts. Their flowers were all gorgeous!”

Martinez admitted to feeling nervous about the Fair. She and her husband Rick Martinez own the Chile Line Farm in the Española Valley.

“I’d read through the rules but still felt uneasy as you can’t plan to take specific varieties; you have to take the best blooms you have available on the day of the event,” she said. “I started marking the contenders about four days before and my husband Rick gave them a heavy flooding with the acequia three days prior.”

Martinez has about 50 dahlias from minis to dinnerplates but most of her contenders were midrange. She described what went on behind the scenes the day of the competition.

“We set the alarm for 4 a.m. and I was out of bed and dressed in minutes and outside with a flashlight cutting the dahlias I had marked,” she said. “The stalks were all at least 16″ tall and had at least two sets of leaves. I cut them at a 45 degree angle and hot water processed them for the two hours it took to get to the fair. Placing dahlias in a few inches of hot water (not boiling) sets the blooms so they will last longer. After 2 hours you can place them in vases with tepid water. I took seven varieties t the Fair.”

Martinez said she felt a bit lost when first arriving at the fair, but then an older gentlemen walked her to the processing room and showed her the set up.

“Vases of varying sizes were already filled with water and waiting,” she recalled. “He showed me how to wrap and set the flowers and fill out the labels. I had already brought a spreadsheet with all the information required in class, color, variety, size and name, so he and Rick helped me fill out the tags. Members of the Albuquerque Flower Club were all exceeding friendly and helpful sharing tips and suggestions.”

Martinez said her day at the Fair was a wonderful experience she will always cherish.

2023 New Mexico State Fair Blue Ribbon winner grown by Liddie Martinez. Photo by Rick Martinez