Pioneer Days celebrates settlers, tradition

Not all of them may be around any longer, but every June, residents of the Clovis area spend a week honoring those who gave them a Clovis in the first place.

File photo

Emory Mann of the Maulsby Angus Wagon of Clovis preps chicken fried steaks during the 2011 "Duke of the Dutch Ovens" Chuck Wagon Cook-Off

"It's to honor our Western tradition, way of life," Wilma Fulgham said of the 42nd annual Pioneer Days, which runs throughout the week. "It was traditionally started to honor the pioneers who settled in this area."

Numerous events are scheduled throughout the week, including a parade, a chuckwagon lunch and competitions for royalty for the Pioneer Days and Miss Rodeo New Mexico — never mind nights of rodeo action at the Curry County Events Center.

Rodeos used to take place at the Norman Vohs Football Field behind Marshall Middle School, and Pioneer Day Celebrations took place on the 200 block of Main Street, Fulgham said.

"We just came to town from the farm. It was a great time of celebration. Before we had the arena and the fairgrounds, we had the (county) fair where Bell Park is now."

Here's some of what to expect for the upcoming week:

Pioneer Days Queen

An all-Curry County contest started up Saturday, with the Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen Pageant.

• Stephanie Bailey, a 2006 Texico High School graduate, is the lone contestant for Pioneer Days Rodeo Queen. Bailey, 24, is an assistant bookkeeper or the family farm and ranch.
• The two competitors for Pioneer Days Rodeo Princess (ages 13-16) are Catherine Hisel, 13, of Clovis; and Kyli Myers, 15, of Texico.

Catherine, the daughter of Glen and Carol Hisel, enjoys riding horses, church, reading, spending time at the family ranch, drawing, basketball, volleyball and track.

Myers, the daughter of Kevin and Lexie Myers, is part of Future Farmers of America, National honors Society and enjoys basketball, track, horse showing and spending time with family and friends.

• The Little Buckaroo Rodeo Princess competitors are MaKayla Drake and Tylie Garrison, both of Clovis.

Makayla, 7, is the daughter of Hank and Hailie Drake, and enjoys riding horses, swimming and riding bikes and scooters.

Tylie, 7, the daughter of Julie Garrison, enjoys riding horses, taking care of the family pets, arts and crafts, time with family and friend and coach-pitch baseball.

Miss Rodeo New Mexico

There are several competitions throughout the week, including the Miss Rodeo New Mexico Pageant.

Registration begins 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Days Inn and Suites, and the competition begins 9 a.m. Thursday with a horsemanship competition.

Friday at 1 p.m, the contestants engage in a fashion show, speech competition and coronation ceremony at Clovis Community College Town Hall. Admission is $10.

Royalty will be announced 6:30 p.m. Friday at the events center.

• Ashlee Mills of Eagle Nest is the lone contestant for the Miss Rodeo New Mexico competition (ages 19-25).
• Miss Rodeo Teen (ages 15-18) has six competitors — Kiana Elder of Rio Rancho, Janna Mills of Eagle Nest, Katie Creager of Hobbs, Elizabeth Elliott of Hobbs, Madison Baggett of Ponderosa and Larissa Padilla of Santa Fe.
• The lone Miss Rodeo New Mexico Princess (ages 12-14) contestant is Taylor Harty-Moffatt of Radium Springs, and Krysta Barajas of Grants is the only contestant for Little Miss Rodeo New Mexico.

Fulgham insists that girls alone in their category do not win by acclimation, but have to go through the process and score well just like girls in contested categories.

They call the thing rodeo ...

If rodeo's what you look forward to during the event, there's plenty of action to go around. All listed events will take place at the Curry County Events Center.

• The Little Buckaroo Rodeo, for competitors 13 and younger, runs 5 p.m. Monday.
• A 6 p.m. Tuesday Curry County Mounted Patrol team roping event is also scheduled.
• Friday and Saturday feature 7:30 p.m. PRCA rodeos, with barrel racing slack following on Friday and timed events slack following on Saturday.
• A 2 p.m. Sunday PRCA matinee will also be held.
• Tickets at the door are $10 general admission, $15 reserved and $20 premium. Tickets are also sold for a $2 per-ticket discount in advance at the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, One Stop Feed and Bar G Western Wear in Portales. Premium and reserved seating will only be available in advance at Joe's Boot Shop.

Going Dutch

The "Duke of the Dutch Ovens" Chuck Wagon Cook-Off enters its fifth year, though this is the first time the noon Saturday event will be part of the Pioneer Days schedule.

Fulgham said the event was previously associated with Joe's Boot Shop roping events. The tickets, $15 each, will still be available at the clothing store, and at the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds benefit the Miss Rodeo New Mexico pageant and scholarships.

The event pits 10 teams against each other, which have to cook a meal of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, beans and peach cobbler using only the tools and techniques of a covered wagon crew.

Other events

Here are some other scheduled events that are Pioneer Days staples:

• A gala and silent/live auction and dinner with the Miss Rodeo New Mexico contestants are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the bridge room of Central Baptist Church.
• The annual Pioneer Women Breakfast and Quilt Show is set for 7 a.m. Friday at the Clovis Civic Center. All pioneer women are welcome to attend, with vintage outfits encouraged.
• Steer roping slack is scheduled for 8 a.m. Friday at the events center.
• The Pioneer Day Parade runs through Main Street 10 a.m. Saturday. Photo