The Nara Visa Cowboy Gathering 2009

The Nara Visa Cowboy gathering was held in Nara Visa, NM the weekend of September 25-27. Proceeds from the event are used to help with the upkeep of the historical school house gym and auditorium where it is held. Friday night things kicked off with an ice cream social and the first performance.

On Saturday the public was treated to jam sessions throughout the day by performers while they browsed through local vendors items in the school gymnasium. Also, there were highly competitive events like the bubble gum spitting contest for the children and adults. Along with a roping dummy contest for 12 and under. Winners this year were John David Chatfield of Mosquero and Walker Adkins of Vega, TX.

There was packed house for the free afternoon performance this year. There were songs by The Burson Family, Alan Chapman, and local girls Jaiden Nixon, of Amistad, and Hannah Johnson, of Clayton,. There were several poets in attendance this year including Mattisen Nixon and Beka Johnson, of Amistad and Clayton respectively, who performed a Caterpillar poem. Talent from both the young and more experienced received the same amount of stage time and appreciation. Both performers and audience members alike say that is why they love to come to this Gathering.

That evening there was a delicious chuck wagon steak dinner prepared by Jack and Jill Chatfield assisted by Allen and Diane Thompson. The dinner fed close to 160 people, selling out of steaks.

After that there was the evening performance, which was when the annual winner of the Buck Ramsey Heritage award was announced. This year taking home the award were Clifford and Barbara Copeland of Nara Visa, NM. The Copeland family own and operate Copeland and Sons Ranch, established in 1943 by Jack and Mary Alice Copeland. They have been very active in the showing, raising, and judging of commercial and registered Herford cattle for five generations. Clifford has been a pioneer in the area of pregnancy testing cattle, embryo transfer, and artificial insemination. To go along with this Barbara is an accomplished artist and very active in Amistad community projects. One of her many projects was the relocation, to Amistad, of the 1903 Montgomery Ward house. It is now used as a museum for the preservation and display of area homesteader’s way of life. The family are also active members in the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and the New Mexico Hereford Association.

Sunday ended the very successful and fun filled weekend with a biscuit and gravy breakfast followed by a Cowboy church service.