Floyd jamboree showcases area talent

Kevin Spears revisited the Floyd Lions Club Country Jamboree for the first time in more than 10 years Saturday night to watch his son Hayden perform songs by country music stars.

"I'm always surprised at how much local talent we have," said Spears, 36, office administrator at the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's office in Clovis.

"It's a good opportunity to showcase the younger talent. I think the jamboree is still going strong. It's kind of a hidden gem to the area."

The Floyd Lions Club's 63rd Annual Country Jamboree's final night had a smaller turnout than the previous two nights but visitors said the show packed just as much punch.

The time-honored tradition brings Floyd and surrounding communities out for three nights of country and bluegrass music and fun. The jamboree is held each year to raise funds for the Floyd Lions Club to support the community and Floyd schools.

Wesley and Linda Brown were named the 2013 Floyd citizens of the year. The lights were low and all eyes were glued to the stage in the Floyd High School gym as performers young and old dressed in creased blue jeans, cowboy hats and cowboy boots delivered live country music familiar to many.

Performers got the crowd moving with laughter as they told jokes about marriage and rural life.

Rebecca Lawson, 55, said she has sung in the jamboree for about 40 years.

"I love this place," said Lawson, a self-employed artist from Portales.

"It's not big city entertainment, but that's what I like about it. This (the jamboree) benefits people. That's important to me. These people are like my family. All my relatives are dead an gone."

The event started in 1950 when a group of young people needed to raise money for new basketball uniforms, according to Jamboree Director Fred Patterson.

Patterson said the fundraising venture worked out well so the show continued. He said the Floyd Lions Club started to sponsor the show around 1955 as it was starting to fall apart due to a lack of organization.

Patterson said the jamboree is important to the area because it gets the whole community involved and helps keep traditional country music alive.

CMI correspondent: Joshua Lucero

Nine-time jamboree performer Sharon Dictson sings "Unchained Melody" at the 63rd annual Floyd Jamboree Saturday night at Floyd high school gym.

The lions club have used show proceeds to fund the girls and boys state sport events and little league community sports in the past.

Patterson said proceeds also go toward scholarships and are used to help citizens in the community who are experiencing tragedy or may be struggling financially.

According to officials, many of the performers are veterans of the Jamboree who have been appearing on and off in the show for years.

"Putting on a show like this you need to have a good band," Patterson said.

CMI correspondent: Joshua Lucero

Linda and Wesley Brown embrace after receiving the Floyd Lion's Club Citizens of the Year during Saturday's Floyd Jamboree at Floyd high school gym.

"We've been fortunate over the last few years to have a band that has hung together. But nothing lasts forever. Some of these people will move, some will feel like they're getting older and need to get off the show."

Patterson said officials will eventually have to find a new band which could be challenging because few accomplished musicians work for free.

He said officials strive to get more youngsters involved, playing their own music and learn to find entertainment without having to travel.