Floyd Jamboree is time-honored tradition

You might have heard the harmony of string instruments, the humming of a town's dedicated citizens and the foot-tapping that matches the heartbeat of Floyd's community if you were driving on N.M. 267 Thursday night.

The Floyd Lions Club's 63rd Annual Country Jamboree's opening night proved to be an exciting one for veteran musicians and new talent alike.

The time-honored tradition brings Floyd and surrounding communities out for three nights of country and bluegrass music and fun.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Floyd schools Superintendent Paul Benoit sings "Running Bear" by Johnny Preston in costume Thursday at the opening night of the Floyd Lions Club 63rd Annual Country Jamboree.

Jamboree Director Fred Patterson put together a program filled with passionate performers who just want to deliver a great show. Theta Ainsworth is one of them.

Ainsworth, 20, of Portales has been performing in the jamboree since she was 8. Ainsworth is used to singing classics by artists such as The Judds and Patsy Cline but this year Ainsworth decided to toss some new flavor into the mix and sing a more contemporary country number by popular country music singer Miranda Lambert.

She hopes to make the trek that many aspiring country singers take to Nashville, Tenn. to live out her dream as a country singer and become a star.

"I go to school for music now," said Ainsworth, who attends South Plains College. "I'm going to Nashville in September 2014. I'm so excited."

Ainsworth feels she doesn't need to be on popular music competition shows such as "The Voice" or "American Idol" because she wants to make it on her own.

"I want people to know my name," Ainsworth said.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Nashville, Tenn. country star hopeful Theta Ainsworth, center, listens to her younger cousin Eli Terry, 9, of Floyd play guitar while his sister Ali May Terry, 7, dances along.

She feels her experience performing in the Floyd jamboree will keep her grounded as she furthers her music career.

Floyd schools Superintendent Paul Benoit let his students see a different side of him Thursday night when he sang "Running Bear" by Johnny Preston in full costume.

Benoit said he doesn't worry about his students teasing him about his many costume changes because it's all in good fun.

"We're a family here," Benoit said. "You get to see people have good clean fun."

Benoit said it is his eighth year performing in the jamboree and is always encouraging his students to participate.

He believes the roots of the show are 63 years strong because people of Floyd understand tradition.

"It's a part of Floyd," Benoit said.

Zoe Morrison,15, of Portales said she was more excited than nervous before going on stage. Thursday was her jamboree debut, but she knew what to expect as a former spectator.

"I love all the energy on stage and how everyone's so nice," Morrison said. "The music is great."

She said she felt lucky to be performing with such talented artists, which made a good match for her song choice, "I Feel Lucky," by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

"I used to watch this and get the feeling I want to be one of those people on stage," Morrison said. "Now I get to be one of those people."