About the Youth Engineering & Science Fair
The Program
We believe in the power of science to help kids understand their world and help solve today's problems. Literally everything around us is encompassed in science, technology, and engineering. From tiny items like pens and pencils to the clothes we wear, transportation, home construction, modern food production and delivery, to modern medicines - nothing is created, packaged, preserved, or delivered without science, tech, and engineering.
We hope you are as excited about the YES Fair as we are!
DATES of YES Fair 2026
February 23 - 27, 2026
PROJECT CHECK-IN @ our New Location 4251 Enterprise Way, Sierra Vista
Monday Feb. 23 from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday Feb. 24 from 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
NEW LOCATION for all Events
4251 Enterprise Way, Sierra Vista AZ
CONTACT
Project Registration Deadline: Feb. 8th, 2026
Fair Week Info
Location: 4251 Enterprise Way, Sierra Vista AZ
Project Check-In
- Monday Feb. 23 @ 2PM-6PM
- Tuesday Feb. 24 @ 7AM - 1:30PM
Judging Day
- Wednesday Feb. 25 @ 8 AM start time. Students not present.
- Wednesday Feb. 25 @ Noon: High School Interviews. Grades 9-12 students must be at their projects for interviews from noon - 4.
Public Day
- Thursday Feb. 26 @ 8AM - 3PM. Doors open for schools and public viewing.
Project Pick Up
- Feb. 26 @ 3:00 PM immediately after public day closes
- Feb. 27 after the awards ceremony
- If neither option works for your school, SSVEC will deliver projects to your school within two weeks.
Award Ceremony
- Friday Feb. 27th
- Doors open at 5:30 PM. Ceremony starts at 6 PM
About YES Fair
Every year, hundreds of students in Southeastern Arizona look forward to YES Fair. It is the only regional science fair affiliated with ISEF (International Science & Engineering Fair) south of Tucson. This affiliation gives our rural youth the opportunity to compete at the regional, national, and international levels, as well as offers many more chances to win prizes sponsored by local businesses, regional partners, and ISEF affiliated sponsors.
In addition to all the awards in each division, up to six Grand Prize winners (and their mentors) from the High School Division are sponsored on an expenses-paid trip to ISEF.
YES Fair Categories
EARTH & SPACE
PLANTS, ANIMALS & LIFE SCIENCES
HUMAN BIOLOGY & HEALTH
Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology, Astronomy, Climatology, Seismology, Mineralogy, Volcanology, etc.
HUMAN BIOLOGY & HEALTH
PLANTS, ANIMALS & LIFE SCIENCES
HUMAN BIOLOGY & HEALTH
Nutrition & Food, Human Biology, Human Behavior & Psychology, Human Genetics, Human Disease
PLANTS, ANIMALS & LIFE SCIENCES
PLANTS, ANIMALS & LIFE SCIENCES
PLANTS, ANIMALS & LIFE SCIENCES
Ecology & Ecosystems, Life Sciences, Botany, Agriculture, Plant Genetics, Biology, Horticulture, Plant Physiology, Animal Biology & Physiology, Animal Science, Animal Husbandry, Selective Breeding, Veterinary Science
CHEMISTRY
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
PLANTS, ANIMALS & LIFE SCIENCES
All types of Chemistry: Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, etc.
ENERGY & PHYSICS
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
PROJECTS THAT INVESTIGATE SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES OF: Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy, Acoustics, Physics - Electric & Magnetic Fields, Thermodynamics, Optics, Lasers, Aerodynamics, Hydrodynamics. If your project's goal is testing a device that has already been invented, or testing a scientific theory related to energy, it will go in this category.
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING
PROJECTS THAT DESIGN, BUILD, OR OPTIMIZE DEVICES. Could encompass Math, Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Robotics, Computer Sciences, Circuitry, Material Sciences, AI, Renewable Energy. If your project's goal is to build or invent a new product or device, or improve an already existing product or device chances are, it is a Tech & Engineering project.
Frequently Asked questions about YES Fair
Who Can Compete?
What Categories are Available to Compete In?
What Categories are Available to Compete In?
Students in grades 5 through 12 in SSVEC's service area are invited to compete. In addition, students in Bisbee, Douglas, Nogales, and Tombstone are also eligible to compete at YES Fair.
What Categories are Available to Compete In?
What Categories are Available to Compete In?
What Categories are Available to Compete In?
Grades 5-8 may compete in one of the six categories listed above.
Grades 9-12 compete as one division, registering for a specific type of project as listed below. Projects in the HS Division should fit into one the 22 categories defined by the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF)
What Awards are Available?
What Categories are Available to Compete In?
What Awards are Available?
The YES Fair presents over $30K in prizes and awards to local students and their teachers.
Regional awards are provided through our affiliation with ISEF.
Community Awards are provided by local businesses and community support.
YES Fair Awards are provided by the SSVEC Foundation.
