Towns celebrate border connection

Devon Rose, 4, of Farwell, dressed as Uncle Sam, points to the start of the parade as and Emily Autrey, 4, of Texico, dressed as Betsy Ross, waves to the emergency personal during Saturday’s parade at the 37th annual celebration of Bordertown Days.

Stephanie Vega, 13, enjoyed everything about Saturday’s 37th annual celebration of Bordertown Days in Texico and Farwell.

“What do I like about it? What don’t I like about it? It’s all fun,” said the Texico teen, who played in the three-on-three basketball tournament.

For Holly Harrison, 12, there were two big reasons to drive from Clovis to the Farwell City Park for the daylong event.

“My grandfather, Walter Hughes, and his cooking crew are doing the barbecue,” Holly said. “It’s really good. And my Mom, Lisa Harrison, grew up in Farwell.”

Hughes said he and other members of the Texico-Farwell Rotary Club estimated they fed 900 to 1,000 people on Saturday.

Bordertown Days emcee Fred Chandler said there were probably at least double to triple that number of people in the park for all the day’s festivities.

The day began with a parade along U.S. Highway 60-84 from Texico to Farwell that included police, ambulance and volunteer fire department personnel from both towns and Pleasant Hill, as well as local civic groups, cheerleaders, senior citizens and even some Clovis groups.

One of the perennial favorites of the Bordertown Days Parade — the decorated bicycle contest — featured more than a dozen children of all ages riding bikes decorated in red, white and blue.

Jon Nicolas, 6, of Farwell, proudly showed off the handiwork on his bicycle just before the parade started.

“My Mom and my little baby sister helped me decorate my bike,” said Jon, as he pointed out the array of red, white and blue streamers, stars and lights on his bicycle.

Pam Autrey of Texico said her three grandchildren had fun dressing up like Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross and the Statue of Liberty to ride their bicycles in the parade.

On the other side of the road, 7-year-old Ethan Gallegos of Clovis caught candy thrown by people on parade floats and enjoyed donut holes that were distributed along the parade route.

“I like the police cars and the band, especially that big old trumpet,” the Mesa Elementary School student said.

His father, Richard Gallegos, said Bordertown Days appeals to people of all ages in the area.

“I come every year,” Richard Gallegos said. “It’s a family atmosphere. Everybody knows everybody.”

Kristin Langford, 9, and her sister Keegan Langford, 11, of Pleasant Hill were checking out the variety of games for kids set up at the park.

“It’s all fun,” Keegan said. “There’s lots of stuff to do.”

In addition to the parade, basketball, barbecue and games, Bordertown Days featured live music and entertainment by area performers, volleyball, a dunking booth, face painting and booths with food and arts and crafts.

“They always have a good barbecue and nice crafts,” said Shirley Smith of Clovis. “I like to look at the crafts and my husband Jim likes the baked goods. There are just real nice people over here.”

Clovis resident Peter Penney, who frequently comes to Texico to cheer on the school sports teams, said he always enjoys Bordertown Days.

“I like to come over because invariably I’ll run into people I know,” Penney said. “It’s very low-key and it’s fun. There are lots of activities for the kids or you can just sit in the shade and watch the activities and eat and have fun.”