Rawhide Days honors ties to TV series

Staff Report

What started out as a simple question from a local radio personality about why there was no local celebration for the local filming of "Rawhide" has now developed into a planned two day event April 15-16 at Tucumcari.

“It all started when I made a comment on air about why we didn’t have a local 'Rawhide' celebration,” said Karen Alarcon, a KTNM radio personality and Tucumcari resident.

Alarcon said she had no idea that a year after her comment, she would be less than a month away from a now two-day event filled with events including country music, a longhorn cattle parade, Miss Rawhide Days Pageant and appearances by the children of "Rawhide" series stars Clint Eastwood and Sheb Wooley.

“I was blown away by how well received the idea of a 'Rawhide' celebration was by the local residents and people from across the country,” Alarcon said.

Alarcon said after some planning, the event was called Rawhide Days and originally started out as a single-day event to be held at the Tucumcari Historical Museum. She said as more planning meetings were held and word of mouth about the event began to spread more attractions and events were added to the event. There was such an increased interest in Rawhide Days that a second day and location (Tucumcari Convention Center) was needed to hold all of the events.

Alarcon said she reached out to Eastwood, whose career began as an actor in the TV series that aired from 1959 until 1965, to attend the event. She said that although Eastwood hasn't responded, he hasn't said "no."

Alarcon said she contacted Eastwood’s daughter, Kimber Eastwood, a noted producer and make-up artist, who will be attending the Rawhide Days event.

Alarcon said Kimber Eastwood has an impressive and successful career on her own, notwithstanding being the daughter of an acclaimed director and actor. She said having her attend the event is a tremendous honor.

Alarcon said Chrystie Wooley, daughter of Sheb Wooley an actor from the Rawhide series, will appear and perform at the Rawhide Days event. She said Wooley will be performing on Friday night as part of The Next Generation Band: Sons and Daughters of Country Legends. Other performers taking the stage include Robyn Young (Faron Young’s son) and Jet Williams (Hank Williams' daughter).

Alarcon said there are several other talented singers and performers that will be a part of the Rawhide Days event. She said this includes singer Luke Reed of Santa Fe, cowboy poet and singer Mike Moutoux, singers Gary Reynolds of Cimarron and Forest Mackey of Sedan as well as trick roper Brice Chapman and his daughter Grace Chapman.

Alarcon said along with the musical performances events have been scheduled for Rawhide Days that will entertain people of all ages. She said the events include stick horse races, a posse scavenger hunt, pie eating contest, Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, carriage rides and farrier demonstrations from world renowned and award winning farrier Jim Kieth. The Odeon Theater has offered to hold a showing of the Rawhide series from 1 to 5 p.m. on April 14-16, Alarcon added.

Alarcon said people will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with the Longhorn cattle Vegas and Casino provided by Russell Tiner of Bandera, Texas. She said the Rawhide Days parade on Saturday morning will feature a cattle drive with Longhorns provided by Wes Sanders of Woodward, Oklahoma.

Alarcon said there are several more events still to list and that have been recently added to the two day schedule. She said a complete schedule of events will be available in the next few days.

“It has been a wonderful experience meeting all the new people as I plan this event,” said Alarcon.

For more information about the Rawhide Days event, you can visit their website and Facebook at http://www.tucumcarirawhidedays.com, facebook.com/tucumcarirawhidedays, or email them at [email protected].