Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Hundreds of people toting coolers and lawn chairs lined U.S. 70/84 in Texico and Farwell for Saturday’s annual Border Town Days parade.
The parade kickoff the 39th annual event that celebrates the relationship between the twin cities that straddle the New Mexico-Texas state line. In addition, Farwell was celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Children covered their ears as the police department led off the event with sirens blaring. Firefighters bearing red plastic helmets for the children in the crowd followed.
The parade also included horseback riders, classic cars and children riding a float along with a three-tiered birthday cake. Former school officials and the mayor of Farwell were also in attendance.
Ryan and Nathaniel Leveling of Rio Rancho chose not to wear their new helmets. They preferred straw cowboy hats and sunglasses to stay cool. The brothers were attending the celebration with their grandmother, LouAnn Leveling of Amarillo.
“We came to see some old friends and watch the parade” Leveling said. Nathaniel, 6, said he liked the baby ponies. Ryan, 5, preferred the big horses.
Spectators showed their school spirit with hearty cheers as floats bearing loaded with Texico Wolverines and Farwell Steers passed by.
Junior high and high school cheerleaders from each schools threw candy, shook their pompons and shouted cheers.
“This is my first year participating. I liked everything about the parade, especially the screaming kids,” said Trisha Robertson, who will be varsity cheerleader this year at Farwell. “They were so cute,” she said.
Robertson said she loves living in Farwell because it is small and she knows everyone.
Former Farwell coach Vernon Scott and his wife Ometa said they came to enjoy the parade and spend the day. Vernon Scott coached at the school from 1963-1975.
Ometa Scott’s favorite part of the parade was seeing the former school superintendent, W.M. Roberts, who rode in a golf cart.
Graduates from the classes of 1965 and 1955 were featured in the parade. Members of the 1965 class waved from inside a boat, while the 1955 group sat in folding chairs on a trailer.
In addition to riding in the parade, the class of 1955 was also having their 50th class reunion.
Class member Barbara Clancy has lived in Clovis for the last 40 years.
“I have never missed a parade, at least not that I can remember,” she said.
Classmate, Don Geries of Farwell, said he looks forward to the annual celebration so he can get together with his old friends.
“I used to know everyone, now I only know about a third,” he said.
Janice Hardin of Portales watched the parade with her daughter Brittany and niece Shelby Martin. Her parents were Farwell residents and she said she had been bringing the girls since they were little.
“I’m looking forward to going to the park. I enjoy the talent shows and I remember the watermelon juice,” she said.
