Mesalands hosting rodeo

Mesalands Community College's rodeo team is preparing to host their 5th annual Grand Canyon Region redo on Friday and Saturday at the Quay County Rodeo Arena.

QCS staff photo: Thomas Garcia

Wilson Pike, left, and Cahse Massengill practice Tuesday evening in preparation for Mesalands Community College's Fifth annual Intercollegiate Rodeo.

There are 366 entries total, how many of those entries will actually compete will depend on the status of their eligibility, said C.J. Aragon, Mesalands Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach.

Aragon said there are 9 teams with entrants from 13 colleges and universities from New Mexico and Arizona expected to compete at the rodeo.

"Our plans for the Mesalands Rodeo each year is to make it bigger and better and we want to thank our sponsors for making that possible," Mildred Lovato, president of Mesalands said. "This event allows us to not only showcase our outstanding rodeo team, but also the City of Tucumcari."

Aragon said he is proud of the team's success and they have worked hard to earn every achievement they have earned to this point.

National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Commissioner, Roger Walters, will be attending The Mesalands Rodeo for the first time this year.

"We are really excited to be hosting our 5th Annual Rodeo and to have the National Commissioner attending our rodeo this year," Aragon said.

This year attendants and competitors will notice the new announcer stand built by Bill Menges, former Mesalands Building Trades Instructor and his students.

Aragon said the original announcer stand was built in 1963 at the Quay County Rodeo Arena.

"I want to thank Bill and his students for their hard work on our new announcer stand," Aragon said. "We just really want the community to come out and support the Mesalands Rodeo Team this weekend."

On Friday the rodeo performance begins at 6 p.m. The rodeo dance is 9 p.m. - midinght at the Quay County Fair Barn and is open to the entire community this year.

On Saturday slack begins at 9 am and the championship performance is at 6 p.m.

Admission to the Rodeo Dance is $1 with a paid rodeo ticket stub, or $5 for a couple and $3 for singles (without a paid ticket stub). Free admission for Mesalands students with I.D. and other rodeo participants with a NIRA card.

Tickets to the rodeo are $5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors 55 and older. Tickets are available at Mesalands Community College, Mesalands Dinosaur Museum, Bob's Budget Pharmacy, Dickinson Implement Co., and Tucumcari Ranch Supply.