4-H - The Durango Herald

Gratitude in action: The heart of 4-H

In 4-H, we spend a lot of time teaching young people important life skills like leadership, responsibility, resilience and service. One value that naturally grows alongside those lessons is ...

DATE: Jan 25, 2026 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

A new kind of New Year’s resolution

The start of a new year often comes with resolutions. We make promises to ourselves to do better, be better, or try something new. We resolve to eat healthier, slow down, learn a new skill ...

DATE: Dec 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

What the four ‘H’s really mean in 4-H

I often get asked what the four “H”s are in 4-H and what they mean. This question always leads into a longer explanation rather than just reciting: Head, Heart, Hands & Health. So, today, I ...

DATE: Nov 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

October marks a new beginning for 4-H in La Plata County

The month of October is always exciting for our 4-H community. Not only does it bring crisp air and changing leaves, but it also marks the start of our new 4-H year! Oct. 1 was the first day...

DATE: Oct 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

La Plata County 4-H gears up for an exciting year of travel and learning

La Plata County 4-H members are set for a year of extraordinary experiences, embarking on journeys that promise to shape their futures and broaden their horizons. From competing on the natio...

DATE: Mar 5, 2025 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Durango’s Shane Elworthy earns spot in National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition

Elworthy will be competing in Nebraska in June

DATE: Oct 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Sports

Photo: Kidding around at the La Plata County Fair

DATE: Aug 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Demolition derby nixed at 2024 La Plata County Fair

Rising liability concerns mean the event will not happen at the fairgrounds next year

DATE: Oct 12, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

La Plata County Fair celebrates 75 years

Fair will feature events and attractions for all ages

DATE: Aug 8, 2023 | CATEGORY: Local News

Dolores senior Braden Schmittel wins archery nationals, receives full scholarship

Schmittel wins shooting in the Olympic Recurve division

DATE: May 15, 2023 | CATEGORY: Sports

Livestock auction breaks La Plata County Fair sales record

Swine, goats, sheep and beef: Local companies pay top dollar to support good cause

DATE: Aug 22, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

‘Jamming’ out at the La Plata County Fair

Canning, baked goods and plenty of animals steal the show

DATE: Aug 12, 2022 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members wore costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho’s bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the Secret Circus Society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this year’s costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don’ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since its inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Gratitude in action: The heart of 4-H

A new kind of New Year’s resolution

What the four ‘H’s really mean in 4-H

October marks a new beginning for 4-H in La Plata County

La Plata County 4-H gears up for an exciting year of travel and learning

Durango’s Shane Elworthy earns spot in National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition

Photo: Kidding around at the La Plata County Fair

Demolition derby nixed at 2024 La Plata County Fair

La Plata County Fair celebrates 75 years

Dolores senior Braden Schmittel wins archery nationals, receives full scholarship

Livestock auction breaks La Plata County Fair sales record

‘Jamming’ out at the La Plata County Fair

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