Fair dedicated to longtime supporters

Rod Payne and Murry Jeffries were two men who dedicated their time and hearts to the Roosevelt County Fair for years.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Nikole Vigil, graphic designer with Signman Signs, uses a rag to shine the Murry Jeffries Stage sign Thursday at Signman Signs. The sign will be put up before the Roosevelt County Fair begins Tuesday.

That's why, this year, Roosevelt County Fair board members see it fit that the fair be dedicated to them to show their appreciation of how much they gave to the yearly event.

Starting Tuesday, entertainment from Roosevelt County and surrounding communities will grace the fair stage with bluegrass tunes and dancing music, a stage that was built by Jeffries over 10 years ago. The fair will be serving up live entertainment from Tuesday through Sunday.

Former fair board member Nancy Gentry said the fair was in dire need of a central location for the entertainment and bands to set up, years ago when she served on the board.

Although the fair board did not have the financial means at the time, Jeffries went ahead and built a stage from materials lying around fairgrounds, according to Gentry.

"He just never got any recognition for it," Gentry said. Recently, she and other community leaders contributed money to purchase a sign, naming the fair stage after Jeffries, to be put up this year. He had served on the fair board for 40 years until 1999. He died in 2008.

"I just don't think anybody ever knew he did that," Gentry said, adding that Jeffries and his wife Fay were the Pioneer Couple of the year in 2002. "He never wanted any recognition for what he did."

Payne was another man who gave selflessly to ensure the fair would be its best. He was elected to the fair board and served for about 10 years, according to current board members.

"He really worked with the horses but he loved the entertainment and the people and the children," said Jana Roberts, current fair board member. "It was just his passion."

A bench will be made in memorial of Payne, who died a little more than a year ago. According to Roberts, Roosevelt County Commissioner Bill Cathey wants to make Payne's bench out of horseshoes.

"People will remember who dedicated their time to the fair," Roberts said. "Many people have earned a dedication in the past, but this year is Rod's year."

She added that both men were important to the fair and its success.

"I would like to thank them for their years of service and their families for sharing them with us," she said.

Current fair board member Kent Best said this year they expect to have a great fair with the entertainment they have selected as well as the livestock shows.

"The local entertainment would make Murry and Rod proud," Best said, who began serving with Payne on the board in 1996. "We expect everything to be good."