It may have been raining and snowing in the middle of calving and lambing season (yes, even the sheep folks are welcome, too), but nothing stops the members and friends of the La Plata-Archuleta Cattlemen’s Association from turning out for the annual banquet.
I’ve written a couple of stories recently about the challenges our friends and neighbors in the agricultural community are facing in this persistent drought, so it was no surprise to see the big smiles on people’s faces during their wet arrival at the Sky Ute Casino and Resort Events Center on Saturday night.
Ranchers and farmers attended from all over La Plata and Archuleta counties, to the tune of about 320 people. Beef was what was for dinner, of course, a succulent prime rib accompanied with all the fixin’s – salad, baked potato, a corn/zucchini medley and a sweet tooth’s delight, chocolate cake or cherry cobbler.
The event is equal parts a chance to catch up with friends not often seen, raise money for scholarships for area students and acknowledge accomplishments.
The money comes from two sources, starting with a gigantic silent auction. I can honestly say this is the only silent auction I attend – and I attend a lot – where items like hoof soak and gift certificates to Basin Co-op are among the items.
And since the mid-1950s, the La Plata County Cowbelles have made two quilts featuring area brands (an art form in themselves), one of which is raffled off while the other is sold in a spirited auction. Last year, Duane Cugnini and Sue Hess duked it out, driving the price to a record-breaking $4,000.
This year, Shawn Harper, whose Diamond Back Excavation Inc. was one of the evening’s Platinum Sponsors, was determined to go home with the quilt, and auctioneer Ken Beck helped him set a new record, $4,500. (It turns out that auctioning livestock and quilts use pretty much the same skill set.)
The highlight of the evening is the naming of the Cattleman of the Year. This year’s honoree, selected by a committee including Davin Montoya, Tom Compton and Wayne Buck, was Jerry McCaw, who was quick to note that his wife of 47 years, Lora, should have her name on the plaque, too.
McCaw’s family had written a wonderful piece about him and his life as a hardworking rancher. Three generations were there in force to cheer on the clan’s patriarch.
The cattlemen also took time to acknowledge two of their own who have become players on the national stage. Patti Buck is the president of the American National Cattlewomen, and Brice Lee is the president of the National Public Lands Council.
Buck said she got frustrated that almost all country music was about cowboys and cattlemen, but the cattlewomen are out there working hard, too. So she wrote some lyrics and Andy Janowsky wrote the music then sang lead on the recording. The song premiered at the banquet, and a lot of people went home with CDs or DVDs.
The banquet takes a large group of people to pull this off every year. This year’s committee included Mae Morley, Ned and Barbara Jefferies, Trish and Larry Corman, Sandy Young, Sharon Nossaman, Debbie Wilhelm, Jake Nossaman, Norma Conley, Mary Green, Melody Semler, Gary and Peggy Beebe, Wayne and Patti Buck, Gary Evert, Kyle Beebe, Tom Compton, Shirley Engler and Emma Shock.
HHH
Shielding their birthday candles from gusty winds (do you get your wish if the wind blows out the candles before you can?) are Kade Jackson, Bob Sexton, Eric Hjermstad, Richard Kippen, Collyn O’Brien, Greg Drover, Alex McLean, Virginia Pewterbaugh, Amelia Best, Katy Freiberger, Joe Wade Plunk, Rita Warfield, Cora Monday, Joe Nelson, Elaine Stumpo and Lucas Spaeder.
HHH
This journalism gig comes with a front row seat to all kinds of things – it’s one of the perks – and one of those is the activities of the La Plata County Search and Rescue. They received 48 calls in 2013 and mounted 37 full-scale rescues.
Listening to Butch Knowlton on the scanner as he directs diverse resources, such as the La Plata County Mounted Patrol, helicopters, hikers, spotting planes, rock and ice climbers and folks on all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, is akin to listening to Eisenhower and his staff mounting D-Day.
An all-volunteer organization, these folks leave work, leap up from the dinner table and slide out of their kids’ recitals and family reunions when someone is lost or injured in the back country. Not to mention the countless hours spent training so they can handle all the different terrain and weather conditions.
They may be volunteers, but the equipment they need to safely carry out their missions is anything but cheap. So they have the occasional fundraiser to keep their equipment in good shape and up-to-date. And now they’re in the middle of a fundraising campaign to buy their own building.
Search and Rescue President Ron Corkish said they need a place to hang their hat – and assorted equipment – and are hoping to join with three organizations they work with on a steady basis, Red Cross of Southwest Colorado, La Plata County Mounted Patrol and Southwest Medical Corps, in creating a campus of their own.
That approach has worked beautifully for Axis Health System and San Juan Basin Health Department in Bodo Park and the Durango Education Center and Southwest Colorado Community College (along with other assorted nonprofits) at the Commons Building on Camino del Rio.
On April 14, owner and chef Michael Lutfy of Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen hosted one of those fundraisers, the second annual event at the restaurant.
Guests enjoyed the Chimayo house salad: roasted asparagus; saffron rice; spice-rubbed baby back ribs with orange-chipotle sauce; a taco bar with achiote-marinated chicken, braised pork shoulder, local corn tortillas and all the trimmings; a selection of house pizzas; and chipotle-tomato meatballs.
Along with dinner, there was a select silent auction, helping La Plata County Search and Rescue raise about $6,000 toward its Capital Fundraising Account.
God willing, most of us won’t need to call on Search and Rescue to save our bacon (or friends’ and family’s bacon), but this is a gem of our community and deserves our support.
There are two ways to support their efforts. The first, which seems like a no-brainer to me, is to purchase a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card. They come in one- ($3) and five-year ($12) versions, and allow search and rescue teams to be reimbursed for expenses incurred during a rescue. You can visit www.coloradotrail.org/corsar to purchase online, or visit any outdoor recreation retailer.
The other way, of course is to donate directly to La Plata Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 1885, Durango, CO 81302. Visit www.laplatasar.org to learn more about the organization and how to donate or volunteer.
HHH
Celebrating their anniversaries as we start the craziness that is May are Bill and Tamara Volz, Roy and Janie McLaughlin, Randy and Molly Bandow and Ross and Pam Turpin.
HHH
Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk. Please include contact names and phone numbers for all items.
I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality, high-resolution photos.
This column has been corrected to reflect the fact that the composer of the Cattle Woman’s Song was Andy Janowsky.
