Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The Floyd Jamboree is rich in history. The 1975 performers included, from left, Junior Daughtery, T. J. Floyd, Kim Miller, Sandy Owens, Teresa Owens, Kerry Victor and Linda Miller.
Entering its 69th year this weekend, the Floyd Jamboree shows there’s little need to mess with a good thing.
The primary fundraiser for the Floyd’s Lions Club, the event has run since 1950 and draws performers and attendees from across the region and out of state.
“It’s a traditional old country show,” said Paul Benoit. “The music is good — not just good, it’s great.”
The “regular jamboree band” consisting of longtime performers will return. Among its number are Ronny Fouts on the keyboard, Chek Rippee on the fiddle, former Clovis Magistrate Judge Duane Castleberry on drums, Clovis’ Linda Brown on bass guitar, Nate Luna on the rhythm guitar, Levi Miller on mandolin, and Tatum’s Wayne Buchanan on lead guitar.
“We have a few new performers,” Benoit said of some additional singers. “We have a lot of the old standards back as well.”
Benoit said it’s not uncommon to see crowds of 300 to 500 attendees each night, ranging from their 20s to their 80s. There will be a small dance floor in the corner of the gym.
New to the Jamboree this year will be a silent auction of flags flown over Floyd in the past several years, encased in homemade boxes. On Saturday night, per tradition, the club will announce its “citizen of the year.”
The event runs about 2 1/2 hours starting from 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights at the Floyd High School gym, 1569 New Mexico 267.
The school’s booster club will host a concession booth starting an hour in advance, so you can get dinner there too. Regular admission is $7, active duty military $5.
Proceeds go to the Floyd Lions Club’s community services year-round, including scholarships and vision services for students in Floyd, Dora, Elida and Melrose schools.
“You know, it’s an honor to be part of (the Jamboree) because of the longevity,” said Benoit, the Floyd Lions Club president. “It started, as its purpose, to help the Floyd schools athletic programs buy uniforms. Not only has the show been running, but the basic mission, to help the schools, has never changed.”
