Pioneer women honored

Several generations of Clovis women connected and learned from each other over breakfast Friday at the 11th annual Pioneer Women's Breakfast and Quilt Show.

Curry County Chamber of Commerce: Nick Mondragon

Barbara Voges, left, and Jacque Wuest, center, greet Clovis and Curry County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Norma Patterson Friday at the Pioneer Women's Breakfast at the Clovis Civic Center.

The event at the Clovis Civic Center was held to honor pioneer women whose families help found Clovis more than 100 years ago and highlight the accomplishments of these women.

Approximately 125 women and men attended the event, according to Clovis and Curry County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ernie Kos. She said the turnout was the largest in three years.

Elderly women wearing bonnets and large 19th century style dresses sat alongside young rodeo queens wearing cowgirl attire, sharing life stories and treasured family recipes.

The congregation dined on scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and biscuits and gravy in front of a backdrop of large colorful quilts. The youngest woman to attend was 6 years old; the oldest was 96.

Kelsey McNaughton, 12, attended the breakfast with her grandmother Pat McCullough. McNaughton thought the stories the pioneer ladies shared about Clovis and Curry County were interesting and amusing.

"I liked the story when the woman was talking about how her dad went to school barefoot," McNaughton said. "He took his new boots off and left them at the railroad tracks and went to school barefoot."

Jacque Wuest, 81, owner of Grease Monkey automotive and lube center, said she enjoyed the camaraderie between the ladies and the interest they displayed for each other.

"It's impressive that these women stuck it out," said Wuest, "and chose to raise their families under those circumstances (of the early 20th century).

"We take so much for granted now. They talk about making soap and things like that."

Danika Jackson, 23, Miss Rodeo New Mexico 2012, represented Miss Rodeo New Mexico queens and contestants at the breakfast. Jackson said she was impressed by the women's integrity and spirit.

"The contestants got to see a new side," Jackson said. "Any time you meet a pioneer woman you're going to learn something. Everyone grows and experiences something new when you bring multiple generations together."

Jackson said to her being a pioneer woman means women of all generations stepping forward into uncharted territory to make new progress in the world.

She said she strives to be a pioneer woman in the rodeo industry by encouraging young women to be the best they can be and step up to compete in a man's world.