By CATHERINE ELLERTON
Moapa Valley Progress
They sang of “San Antonio Rose” and “Doin’ her wrong” and “Going Out Walking.” They sang of “”Not Paying the Rent” and “Going Home.” The air vibrated with the purity, musicality and the amazing instrumental virtuosity at the Logandale Fall Festival held at the Clark County Fairgrounds last weekend.
More than 3500 people came to Logandale for the event which was only in its third year. People came from all over the west. There were folks from Utah, both southern and northern; people from Arizona and California; and even as far away as Washington State!
“Everything went really well and we were pleased with the attendance,” said Festival organizer Rik Eide. “We figured we had more people there on Saturday alone this year than we have had in the two previous years combined. It ended up being a 45-50% increase in admissions.”
Thirteen Bluegrass Bands had the crowd singing and clapping and tappin’ their toes under the trees for three glorious days.
Jan Dyer of Mesquite and Carl Huffman of Dolan Springs, Arizona, accepted the band’s invitation and did a bit of dancing to the music.
I ran into Tim Tobias and Melissa Lincoln of the band “One Button Suit” and challenged them to write a song about the Valley of Fire.
Brian Burns, the current Treasurer and next year’s President of the So. Nevada Bluegrass Music Society (SNBMS) and member of the band “Out of the Desert,” took a moment to talk about the instrument giveaway. A donated banjo, mandolin and guitar by Violin Outlet, Sam Ash Music and musician Warner Sanlsman were awarded to three enterprising young wanna-be-musicians who had tried their hand at the instruments in the SNBMS Petting Zoo. They were each given a raffle ticket for each instrument they tried and the winners were then chosen. Burns advised that the organization was hoping to grow the interest of young musicians in Bluegrass Music.
The fairgrounds buzzed with activity. Everywhere one wandered the music continued to ring. First year participants in the East Clark County 4-H Clubs offered face painting, milking demonstrations, a showmanship clinic, Casino Style Chicken Bingo, Stick Horse Barrel Racing, a Petting Zoo and various contests of “Spotting The Difference.”
Carrie Cummins from “The Gathering Place” – a 4-H Club for Homeschooled Kids talked about their curriculum of studying foreign countries and learning their cooking practices. Noel Magoon, a livestock expert from Utah was in attendance to give advice on ‘tricks of the trade.’ Four year-old Karter Stapleton of Las Vegas got to try his hand at milking a (plastic) cow. He admitted he liked the horse the best.
On the way to the vendors, one could take advantage of a myriad of jump houses and slides in the Kids Zone. I caught Jonathan Johnson of Las Vegas taking a very fast ride down a water slide.
There were artisans along the sidewalks and in the Fine Arts Building. There were quilts, and clothing, jewelry, lamps, crotched and knitted items, metal sculpture, Jamberry items and so much more to intrigue the shopper.
In addition, one could obtain useful information from public service organizations such as the So. Nevada Coop Weed Management Area concerning noxious weeds; and see fossils from Madagascar, Morocco, So. Dakota, Utah and Wyoming; and receive more information concerning the Logandale Trails Recreation Area.
I took a moment to talk with some of the IBCA sanctioned BBQ Cookoff contestants – Swine Thyme USA, Butts and Racks BBQ, Boneyard BBQ and Catering and Bald Eagle BBQ. They all agreed that the most important ingredient of the event was the comradeship and support they received from one another. As they began putting the magic ingredients together there was much laughter and good natured ribbing.
When all the smoke had cleared, chef Phillip Dell of the Swine Thyme team had won the Grand Champion award. The Reserve Champion went to the local team of Righteous Outlaws who were short from the Championship by only one point!
Speaking of food, there was roasted sweet corn, pig tails, old fashioned soda, frozen yogurt, BBQ lunches, Mexican Food and Lemonade to keep the most discerning diner happy.
Eide took a moment from his busy schedule to discuss the future endeavors. He hopes to continue gradually growing the festival into a major regional family-friendly event.
“All in all it was a lot of fun and a big success for everyone,” Eide said. “We are growing steady and we will just keep it going that way.”
