Nothing Like An Old Timer’s Reunion

By John Larson

MAGDALENA – No matter what the weather – come rain or come shine- nothing puts a damper on the fun locals and visitors can have at this year’s Old Timers Reunion weekend.
The annual three day village party returns for its 39th year with rodeos, music, family fun, and, of course, the barbecue.
The complete overview of the Reunion can be found in the Mountain Mail Express as well as full schedule. Below are the final two activities that can be found during the weekend.
Arts and Crafts
The Magdalena Community Center on the rodeo grounds will once again offer an abundance of some of the finest arts and crafts to be found in New Mexico during Old Timers Reunion weekend.
Organizer Donna Dawson said many of last year’s participants will be returning.
“We get craftspersons and artists from all over Socorro and Catron counties and beyond,” she said. “You can expect a little bit of everything, and there will be lots to look over.”
Dawson expects the building to be bustling with visitors, both inside and out.
Inside the Arts & Crafts building: Smoake’s Honey from Lemitar, Desperados Silver, Earl Harvey, author of “What Happened To Charlie?”, Jean Ford – pencil drawings, Amy Stephens – braided rugs, Beverly Whitlow – Datil painter and photographer, Allen Aragon – jewelry, Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise (NACE), Nancy Coggeshall – author of Gila Country Legend, Donna Dawson – engraved glass, Fred Resler – woodwork.
Vendors outside include:
Little Mike’s, Navajo Tacos and Frybread, J.J.’s, Matt Montgomery, Justin’s Funnel Cakes, Eddie, David and Rose Rael, Duke City, JR’s Lemonade, Republican Party, High Country Propane Informational booth, and Socorro Electric Cooperative Informational booth
Also available in the Arts and Crafts building will be Old Timers Reunion t-shirts, cookbooks, and mugs.
Outside the building are additional vendors, selling everything from prickly pear jelly to novelties and toys.
“So far we a lot of the regular vendors signed up,” Dawson said. “Of course, we’ll have the usual food vendors, including roasted corn, fry bread, Navajo tacos, and much more.”
Raffle tickets for the Queen’s Quilt, donated by the Magdalena Quilters, can be purchased for $2.
Indian Village
The Indian Village, located south of the rodeo arena, will be providing the Old Timers crowd with a wide variety of Native American food and local music.
From fry bread to mutton to Navajo burgers and tacos, Old Timers visitors will be well fed with mouth-watering fare from popular Alamo vendors.
Organizer Wanda Mansell said the regular food vendors have signed on, and a band is coming from Monument Valley, Utah.
“They’re called The Renegade Boys and they will be playing two or three times Friday and again at eight o’clock Saturday night,” Mansell said.
There will also be horseshoe throwing pits next to Indian Village, set up by Gerald Ganadonegro.
He said horseshoe throwing had been a popular pastime at Old Timers in years past and he wanted to bring it back.
“There is a ten dollar entry fee, and prizes will be given to first,
second and third place,” Ganadonegro said. “Just be there at about one o’clock after the parade Saturday.”

Nothing Like An Old Timer’s Reunion