Although winter weather made a brief appearance at the San Juan Basin Technical School Four States Ag Expo last week, organizers feel that the show was a success.

"The snow, mud, and cold winds probably held attendance down a bit on Thursday and Friday, but Saturday’s beautiful weather allowed a lot of people came out to see the exhibits and attend all of the other activities," said Expo manager Bob Bragg. "The exhibitors were pleased with the show this year, even if Mother Nature threw us a curve."

"Even though the Technical School underwrites the Ag Expo, without the help of other Four Corners Region businesses and organizations, we couldn’t make the Ag Expo work," Bragg said. "The special events make the show more interesting, and we want to thank a number of businesses that made them possible. For example, Four Corners Welding and Gas Supply provided two mig welders and two torch outfits for winners of the Ag Mechanics Contest, and Mancos Redi-Mix provided funding for the Cattle Dog Event. Montezuma Veterinary Clinic, O’Neil Cattle Breeders, No Bull AI Services, and Basin Coop also sponsored the various contests at the Beef Cattle Show. Keesee Motor Company made it possible to have entertainment on the Expo Stage, while Meyer Equipment helped the Cortez FFA put on the Mini Tractor Pull."

In addition to special events, the Technical School offered 20 free educational seminars to area residents. Sponsors of these seminars included Bureau of Reclamation, Dolores Soil Conservation District, Federal Land Bank Association of SW Colorado, Cortez, Dolores State Bank, Empire Electric, Fraley and Company, Dolores Water Conservancy District, Mancos Valley Bank, Meyer Equipment, Mercy Medical Center, Sky Ute Casino, San Juan Air Care, The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Its Enterprises, and Vectra Bank Colorado.

"We believe that the educational seminars are an important of the Ag Expo, and are very grateful to all of our educational sponsors," Bragg said.

The San Juan Regional Air Care Helicopter made a special appearance Saturday morning, landing in the Fairgrounds parking lot. The Air Care crew talked to participants in the Farm Medic Certification seminar and allowed people to look over their bird while it was on the ground.

The Beef Cattle Show brought young contestants from New Mexico and southern Colorado. Dustin Pratt, Monte Vista, won the Montezuma Veterinary Clinic Beef Showmanship Contest, and Caleb Valdez, Cortez, was Reserve Champion Showman. In the Basin Coop Prospect Steer Show Marissa Wooten, Bloomfield, N.M., took home the Grand Champion ribbon, and Niki Calderwood, Ignacio, received the Reserve Champion award. Cody Pratt, Monte Vista, won the blue ribbon in the O’Neil Cattle Breeders and No Bull AI Services Breeding Beef contest, and Corb Wilson, Gunnison, won the second place red ribbon.

"I’ve mentioned the sponsors, but there are a lot of other organizations and individuals that helped to make this Ag Expo successful," Bragg said. "Members of the Montelores Retired Teachers Association worked in the information booth. The Foundation Quarter Horse Registry, Four Corners Affiliate, put on ranch horse demonstrations. Staff and students at the Technical School and Ute Mountain Rodeo Club members helped us to distribute information about the Ag Expo. Rocky Mountain Rentals loaned us a fork lift, and when the weather turned cold, Fraley and Company staff brought out a couple of propane bottles, Navajo Butane loaned us a heater, as did Rocky Mountain Seamless Gutter."

"We also want to thank the area media for their support," Bragg said. "The Cortez Journal, the Dove Creek Press, Dolores Star, Durango Herald, Rico Sun Times and Pine River Times were all very generous in providing editorial space for the Ag Expo. Radio stations KRTZ, KVFC, KISZ and KRSJ covered the Ag Expo very well both before and during the show."