17th annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering this weekend

Nara Visa residents worked feverishly Tuesday morning to prepare for the largest fundraiser vital to their community center’s survival.

This weekend locals and travelers alike will meet at the Nara Visa Community Center for the 17th annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering.

Events include a chuck wagon dinner, cowboy church, vendors and morning and evening musical and poetry performances.

“This is our main fundraiser,” said Renee Rinestine, event coordinator. “This helps us to pay the bills and keep the doors open.”

A converted school and gym, built in 1937, the building is the community’s sole events hall, meetings hall and senior citizens center.

“If this event does not happen our town dies,” said Ivy Ward, Nara Visa resident. “The community all comes together to make sure that everything is ready to go. You get a wonderful and rewarding feeling by helping to keep the community alive.”

Nara Visa is located on U.S. Highway 54 four miles from the Texas border. It is the only community in New Mexico located in the Central time zone.

Like most local communities, it has seen multiple changes in recent decades with the building of Interstate 40.

Long time establishments like the Red-X, Nara Visa Truck Terminal and Ralph’s Dinner are gone. The closest gas station and grocery store is now 24 miles away in Logan.

“There is a strong link between this community and its community center,” said Nita Bailey, Nara Visa resident. “This is our home, and we want to keep it full of life.”

Bailey said the entire community will pull together to see the three-day event through.

The gathering kicks off at 5:30 p.m. CDT. Friday with an ice cream social followed by a poetry and music performance.

“There is no star performer,” Rinestine said. “The national recognized musician or poet gets the same amount of time as our local performers.”

Rinestine said this is a tried-and-tested format that has kept the event a success. She said it creates a laid back and casual environment the performers enjoy.

“We want everyone to come and have a good time,” Rinestine said.

For information call 633-2960 or 633-2272.

Friday

All times CDT

• 5:30 p.m.: Ice cream social

• 7 p.m.: Performance $5

 Saturday

• 7:30 a.m.: Breakfast $5

• 9 a.m.: Advisory board meeting

• 2 p.m.: Matinee performance

• 4 p.m.: Kids dummy roping competition and bubble gum spitting contest

• 5:30 p.m.: Chuck wagon dinner $10 adults (children 10 and under $5)

• 7 p.m.: Evening performance $5

 Sunday

• 8:30 a.m.: Concession breakfast

• 9:30 a.m.: Cowboy church