Floyd jamboree earns cash for community

The Floyd Lions’ Club members have tallied the final numbers of the 54th Annual Floyd Country Jamboree and they were able to raise $3,400 over the four-day event, according to Floyd Lions’ Club President Houston Lee.

Lee estimated an average of 400 people attended each night’s events.

“The figure (amount of people) was much higher on Thursday night than past Thursday nights,” Lee said, comparing opening nights of previous years. “There were lighter numbers on Friday and Saturday.”

Lee said the drop may have had something to do with schools being out for spring break and people on vacation. He said the Floyd Country Jamboree will likely not be rescheduled next year as a reaction.

“They come because they like the shows,” Lee said about the turnout. “We always have plenty of people come because they know it’s a good show.”

The Floyd Lions Club sponsors the New Mexico Lions Eye Foundation, which conducts free eye screening for school-age children and up. Lee also said the Floyd Lions Club helps with scholarship funds, money prizes for Floyd students that write drug awareness essays, Boys’ State and Girls’ State.

According to Lee, the Floyd Lions Club donates to families who have had houses damaged in fires or had medical bills, and helps pay the water bill for the Floyd Community Center.

“It’s a big money-making event for the Floyd Lions Club,” Floyd Country Jamboree Program Director Noel Rippee said.

Floyd Jamboree officials announced Dorsey Nash as the recipient of Floyd’s Outstanding Citizen Award.

Jackie Clark, who was born in Floyd and is a lifetime resident, said she enjoyed the musical acts at the Floyd Jamboree. Clark, former president of the Floyd Alumni Association, sold Floyd centennial books at the event. She said about 30 books were sold over three days, celebrating Floyd’s centennial, which was in 2002.

Clark said April 15 is the last day to order the blue hardcover book, which costs $50. For information on the book, call Clark at 356-4417 or 478-2357.