97th Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair: Contests & Results

Friday - September 15, 2017 by Maria Rivera | The Southern Ute Drum

Helltown Hustlers from Ignacio, Colo. puts the pressure on as they pull with all their strength during the Tug-O-War compitition. Helltown Hustlers team placed first in the Tug-O-War open contest on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Florence Loretto and Mary Silvas hold their prize winning chili’s. Loretto placed second in Red Chili, and Silvas placed third for her Green Chili

Chicken Pull winner, Travis Nanaeto waves his hat in victory as he pulls toward the finish line with his horse, Big Red.

Fidel Velasquez tries to pull the gunnysack out of the dirt while barely hanging onto his horse. The name of the game was to be the first to finish with the gunnysack.

Avaleena Nanaeto, nearly off her horse, reaches for the gunnysack at the Chicken Pull Contest on Sunday, Sept. 10 held at the Sky Ute Fairgrounds.

Fidel Velasquez takes off as the Travis Nanaeto ensues him to try to get the gunnysack.

Travis Nanaeto tries to block Fidel Velasquez with his horse, Big Red, during the Chicken Pull contest.

Chicken Pull commentator and facilitator, Levi Vigil watches as the riders come racing toward the finish line.

Travis Nanaeto raises his hat in victory as he races to the finish line with the bag of sand (chicken) during the Chicken Pull.

Maria Archuleta won the Overall Grand Champion in the annual Chili Contest, for her red chili.

Tori Archuleta proudly displays her first place winning salsa.

Darlene Atencio won first place for her green chili. Stating her green can be used for many dishes.

Shailyn Olguin’s children know how good her chili is, Olguin place second for her green chili.

New comer, Raiden Herrera placed 2nd for his salsa in this year’s Salsa Contest.

: Candi Johnson beeming with pride, with her happy boys, won first place in Red Chili.

Sunshine Whyte with her boys are happy for her third place win in the Salsa Contest.

Avaleena Nanaeto, Rhiannon Velasquez, and Travis Nanaeto jockey for position before taking turns to pluck the “chicken” (actually a bag of sand) buried in the ground.

Teams came together on Saturday, Aug. 9, to compete in the Handgame tournament, as part of the 97th Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair.

The Women’s Jalapeno Contest participates race to see who can finish theirs first on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Sky Ute Fair Grounds.

Sara Cuch raises her hand in victory, as she finishes her five jalapenos at the Southern Ute Tribal Fair, Jalapeno Contest, Saturday, Sept. 9.

Robert Baker takes the heat as he tries to finish his five jalapenos.

Diamond Morgan races against his competitors to try and get the win.

The winners of the Jalapeno Contest pose with their winnings. L-R: Third place winner, Paul Redwine, second place, Alejandro Salazar, first place men’s, Alfred Hatch, Robert Ortiz, event organizer, Grand champion, Kerrie Phillips, second place, Alereta Whitebuffalo and third place winner, Tamera Reynolds. Not pictured is, first place winner, Sara Cuch.

Marissa Olguin makes her rounds with her horse, Flowers. Olguin won first place in this year’s Painted Horse Contest.

Hilda Burch (right) judges the painted horses as they go by during the Painted Horse Contest, Sunday, Sept. 10 as a part of the 97th Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair.

Avaleena Nanaeto is ready for judging as she takes her horse by the Painted Horse judges.

Tristian Benally rides through the gate as her and her horse, Gracie start the Sam Burch Memorial Horsemanship Contest. Benally ended up placing second in the contest.

Danielle Austin completes the side pass portion of the Sam Burch Memorial Horsemanship Contest held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Sky Ute Fair Grounds. Austin placed first and won a new saddle.

Esther Rima loops through the pole patterns on Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Sky Ute Fair Grounds for the 97th Annual Southern Ute Tribal Fair, Sam Burch Memorial Horsemanship Contest.

Focused on winning, Rylin Herrera takes the lead and pulls hard trying to get the win for his team.

Team 110% took home the championship trophy for the Southern Ute Fair Softball Tournament.

Cassidy Tahlo waves at the judges.

Celestino Maez participates in the western wear baby contest.

Maria Rivera climbs up her teammates, as Fidel Velasquez tries with all his might to hold up fellow teammate during the Grease Pole Climb, Sunday, Sept. 10. Alpha placed first in the team Grease Pole Climb.

Phillip Velasquez gives it his all during the Grease Pole Climb, Sunday, Sept. 10.

Alayra Jacket makes her way up the grease pole, winning first place in the youth division of the Grease Pole Climb, Sunday, Sept. 10.

Lorenzo “Woody” Pena took home first place for the second year in a row.

Fidel Velasquez pulls his weight taking second place in the Grease Pole Climb competition.

Amonnie Johnson flashes a smile during the traditional wear portion of the baby contest.

97th Annual Southern Ute Fair Softball Tournament was held Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Patrick Silva Memorial field where team DXII won the championship.

Kenneth Burch takes his turn in the baseball-throwing event at the youth games.

Tavian Box throws for first place.

Ezekial Howell gets ready to throw the baseball.

The 5-6 year old girls show their speed during the foot race.

The 7-8 year old girls race to the finish.

Zachariah Loudenburg stuffs his crackers in his mouth during the cracker-eating contest.

Kayanna Velasquez eats her crackers as fast as she can.

Nevaeh Baker does her best during the watermelon contest.

Candin Johnson chows down on his watermelon.

Phillip Velasquez and Max Watts race to finish their watermelon.

Angelo Frost rips through two slices of watermelon.

Lillian Valdez and Marissa Olguin race to the finish line in the three-legged race.

Clayson Smith, Aspen Pinnecoose, Mckean Walton, Sarah Hudson and Deion Hudson organized and operated the games at the SunUte Multipurpose Field in Ignacio, Colo.