Southern Ute tribal member, Cyrus Naranjo showcases his skateboarding chops during the Southern Ute Tribal Fair’s 2nd annual skate competition hosted by SunUte, Saturday, Sept. 9.
Katrina Baker competes in the Women’s Jalapeño Eating Contest with water and final jalapeños in hand. Baker went on to place 2nd in her category during the event held annually as part of the Southern Ute Tribal Fair contests.
Children flood the SunUte Park field for free snacks during the 101st Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair Youth Games, this event was hosted by the Cultural Preservation Department.
Kristean and Scarlett Velasquez share a smile following the free snack grab during the Youth Games event.
Ezra Watts flexes following his team's win during the Youth Games tug-of-war contest.
Tug-of-war contest was held during the 101st Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair Youth Games.
Teams gather outside of the Sky Ute Fairgrounds for the 3-Man Handgame Tournament on Friday, Sept. 8 as part of the many Southern Ute Tribal Fair contests. Teams of three play their best in hopes of winning a cash prize sponsored by the Southern Ute Cultural Preservation Department.
Teams throughout Indian Country traveled to compete in this year’s 3-Man Handgame Tournament, this tournament – open to all Native American teams – has teams play through double elimination for a chance to win.
Teams of two to five compete during the main handgame tournament at the 101st Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair. This double elimination tournament was open to all Native American teams with guaranteed first, second, and third place finalists.
Tanner Gray (far right) tries his best to eat five jalapeños as fast as possible during the Men’s Jalapeño Eating Contest on Saturday, Sept. 9 during the 101st Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair. Gray went on to take third place in his category.
Nickey Murray, Jarid Yazzie, Jackson Gray, and Juwan Lakota compete in the Men’s Jalapeño Eating Contest on Saturday, Sept. 9. Lakota was named the Grand Champion with a time of 1:33, his time was the fastest overall between men’s and women’s categories.
Paisley Frost won first place in the newborn traditional category for the event.
Teams work to tie their canvases to their tripods during the Tipi Raising Contest hosted by superintendents Byron and Etta Frost.
Southern Ute tribal elder, Raymond Baker ties rope around three tipi poles which will serve as his tripod stand for the remaining poles. Baker competed individually, working to erect the tipi as quickly as possible.
Three member teams race to erect a tipi as fast as they can, teams are judged on speed and technique.
Winners of the annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair Frybread Contest hold their prizes. (Pictured left to right) Leora Lucero, won the frybread contest, Sophia Box, last year’s winner took second, one of the only two males competing, Lee Litz placed third and Miali Colorow placed fourth.
Judges taste the contestants’ frybread, which they prepared in the annual frybread contest. Lisa Watts (center) and honorary judge/assistant help with the judging. Frybread was judged on color, texture and, of course, taste.
Leora Lucero of Ignacio walks to the judges table with her frybread entry. Contestants had to submit two of their best frybreads for judging.
Katrina Baker of Ignacio and Alfreda Wall of Towaoc, Colo. compete during the annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair Frybread Contest. With only three matches to start their fire, contestants selected their wood as well to build a fire within the pre-dug firepits.
Janae Lansing of Denver prepares to flip her frybread. Contestants have 20 minutes to build a fire, using only three matches, prepare their dough, cook their frybread and submit their two best frybreads for judging.
Sophia Box flaps her dough the old school way. Box placed second this year, won the frybread contest last year.
Mamie Burch rides “Doc,” led by owner Danielle Austin, and the winning horse from this year’s Sam Burch Memorial Horsemanship contest, which pits riders and their steeds against each other in a variety of horsemanship skills.
Tyderius Wilborn competes in a youth division for his age bracket, archers took aim at over 17 3D targets carefully placed along the Bear Trail by superintendent, Travis Naneato.
It’s a family affair — members of the Scott family enjoyed themselves on the 3d archery course set up along the Bear Trail, Saturday, Sept. 9.
Southern Ute elder and lifelong hunter — Ernest “Muz” Pinecoose keeps a watchful eye on the target as his competition sets up for a shot in the tall grasses along the Bear Trail.
Judah Le won the pee-wee division — reserved for the youngest of archers — of the archery challenge with a traditional bow. He went home with a small fox 3D target.
Youth gather around to see Jayceon Richards’ bass firsthand; young anglers out fished the adults in the youth category during the morning hours of the derby at Scott’s Pond.
Janae Lansing beams with pride after having caught a bass during the Wildlife Division’s annual fishing derby, Friday, Sept. 8.
Isaiah Valdez (far left) and brothers — Amarante, Arnulfo, and Cruz Pardo — ready themselves for a full morning at Hillcrest, where golfers played 18 holes in the Southern Ute Tribal Fair Golf Tournament in Durango, Colo. — Sunday, Sept. 10.
Southern Ute Water Resources Technician, Garrett Becker and teammate take off in a golf cart at the start of the Southern Ute Tribal Fair Golf Tournament in Durango, Colo. — Sunday, Sept. 10.
Walter Reynolds (far left) and Southern Ute tribal elder, Judy Lansing helps teach Walter Rynolds III and Savannah Lane scoring methods for the Sam Burch Memorial Horsemanship competition.
Robbie Archuleta stands proudly with his brand-new DK Aura BMX bike, which he won at the SunUte skate competition — categories were open to scooters, BMX bikes and traditional skateboards — multiple age divisions encouraged participation from all ages.
The end of summer was in the air during the weekend of the Southern Ute Tribal Fair, as teams filled the dugouts for men’s and women’s softball games at SunUte Park.
Sonny Flores sets up a serve during the 3-vs-3 volleyball tournament at SunUte Park on Saturday, Sept. 9.
Teams went head-to-head during the 3-vs-3 volleyball tournament at SunUte Park, where Cindy Valdez served as the events referee and scorekeeper.
Orion Watts and Preston Abeyta go against each other for first place in the arm-wrestling contest on Saturday, Sept. 9 during the Southern Ute Tribal Fair; Abeyta came out ahead and won the contest.
In the women’s division of arm wrestling, a handful of ladies faced off for the annual event.
Cash Rodriquez attempts his turn at the grease pole during the Southern Ute Tribal Fair on Sunday, Sept. 10.
Kataleya Pena won first place in the youth division of the grease pole for the fastest time.
Zach Yesslith climbs up the grease pole, while onlookers watch from below.
Mykel-Zaine Greany shows off his traditional regalia during the baby contest
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Divine Windy Boy | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Robert L. Ortiz | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum
Photo Credit: Krista Richards | SU Drum