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Kathy Kolt takes self-defense for protection 

Michael Smith
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Kathy Kolt takes self-defense for protection 

JT Keith 

Artesia Daily Press 

jtkeith@elritomedia.com 

Kathy Kolt has no problem being flipped on the mat at Varsity Academy mixed martial arts club. Kolt said she could not do mixed martial arts without practicing yoga five days a week. 

“The deal with yoga is that somebody (older adults) will come to do yoga,” Kolt said. “But they can’t because your body cannot stretch that way. With my age, I must do yoga five days a week. Because I can do yoga, I can do this (mixed martial arts).” 

Kolt, 78, a retired flight attendant for Northwest Airlines, began studying mixed martial arts when Varsity Academy offered free lessons at the library every third Saturday of the month.  

“She came to us,” Varsity Academy mixed martial arts club owner Manuel Guillen said. “Kolt thought she needed some help for self-defense.” 

Kolt said she used to hunt foxes and ride horses in Seattle, Washington. When she brushed her horse, by the time she saddled the horse, it would rain, and she would have to ride in the muddy weather. 

Kolt said that a friend moved to Artesia and invited her to visit. Kolt was here for a week, and it did not rain the entire time.  

“I went back home, threw my stuff in boxes and got out,” Kolt said. “I said if I felt one more drop of rain in Seattle ….” 

Kolt said that she could move because she did not have a husband or kids. That was 2015. Since then, Kolt has made Artesia her home.  

“I have done mixed martial arts for the last year,” Kolt said. “We live so close to the border, and when I leave yoga (class) at night, I want to be able to protect myself.” 

Kolt is involved in the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. 

“I love this town,” Kolt said. “I love the weather, and I love the people.” 

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKEITH1.

Smokin’ Hot Bull Riding is a success 

Todd Fuqua
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Smokin’ Hot Bull Riding is a success 

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

The grandstands were packed at the 80th annual Eddy County Fair as rodeo fans watched bull rider Noah Lee ride bull Bobby Bones to win the Smokin’ Hot Bull Riding event at the Horse Council Open Arena on July 25. 

Lee, 17, was the first rider of the evening and held on for eight seconds, achieving the highest score with 87.50. 

“I had fun tonight,” Lee said. “I got on a black bull named Bobby Bones, and it is the third time I have ridden him this year. This win is nice because I just moved into a new house in Weatherford, Texas, and the money is good.” 

Lee said the stands were packed this year, more than they were last year, and it was nice to see. Lee’s win was his 10th of the season, earning him $7,000 in prize money.  

His future goal is to become a world champion in the Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division. 

Out of the 18 competitors, five of the riders managed to stay on their bulls for eight seconds. All five of those riders scored over 85 points on their rides. 

Trampas Spence, a member of the Eddy County Fair Board and an Artesia High School alum of 1981, has been putting the bull riding event together at the fair for the last 10 years.  

He said the 2025 rodeo was a huge success, and the fans were into the event.  

Spence said the fair has evolved over the past 10 years since he started hosting the rodeo. In the beginning, the event was a full-blown rodeo (a complete rodeo experience). 

Over the years, the rodeo event did not have enough contestants, so in 2018, Spence made the change to focus solely on bull riding. 

“The last three years, I changed the bull riding format again,” Spence said. “It is still bull riders, but it is where stock contractors bring a team of bulls, and they have a contest among the bulls they bring to the rodeo.” 

The stock contractors who bring the bulls to ride are charged a $3,000 entry fee for each team. 

“I think our event is getting bigger and better,” Spence said. “Other rodeo events were going on in the country last night (Friday), so I did not have as many teams as I have had in the past. But the teams last night were outstanding quality teams.” 

Spence said that he has been riding bulls since he was a young man and that Booger Bryant of Hagerman allowed him to take bulls to New Mexico State when he was in college. Spence rode those bulls and practiced as a member of the Aggies’ rodeo team. 

Spence is a stock contractor, owns TDS Bucking Bulls and has traveled to South Carolina, West Virginia, Florida and Kentucky this year.  

“The fair has been phenomenal,” Spence said. “We’ve had good interest, and the kids are always great. Our fair is a platform to keep our youth on the right path. Our goal is to build leaders for tomorrow.” 

jtkeith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X@JTKEITH1.

Standefer, Sepulveda named to Hall of Honor

Michael Smith
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Standefer, Sepulveda named to Hall of Honor

Todd Fuqua
Alamogordo News
tfuqua@elritomedia.com

Two individuals whose names are synonymous with high school sports in Alamogordo and across the state were honored last week with induction into the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) Hall of Honor.

Alamogordo High School golf coach Tommy Standefer and the late Marylin Sepulveda, a pioneer in advancing girls’ athletics in New Mexico, were inducted during the NMHSCA’s annual convention and coaches clinic held July 18-19 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

“Being inducted means the world to me,” Standefer said. “I’m honored to be considered in the same breath as those that are in there.”

Standefer has coached golf at AHS since 1994, when he came to town after playing football and then serving as football offensive coordinator at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) under coach Don Carthel. Standefer was part of the coaching staff that led the Greyhounds to their first-ever Lone Star Conference championship. He also played for Carthel at the University of Texas-El Paso.

Standefer served as an offensive coach for Alamogordo as well, serving with head coach Bruce Scroggins from 1993-1998 and with Bruce Dollar, who led the team to a state runner-up finish in 2006. Standefer was later head coach for the Tigers from 2007-2012, leading them to the playoffs three times.

“My first year in Alamogordo, we broke a 16-game losing streak in our second game in 1993,” Standefer said. “Getting into the playoffs in 1994 was a good feeling, and being part of the 2006 team was a fantastic experience.”

While football may have been his first sport, golf is where he’s truly made a name for himself at AHS, serving as a Tiger coach for 36 years.

“I played golf my senior year (at Clovis) because we didn’t have enough players, and the coach convinced me to play,” Standefer said. “When I was at Eastern, I helped out with the golf team there. I parlayed that eventually into the coaching job at Alamogordo.”

Standefer has led Alamogordo to the podium in the state tournament 19 times, including four state championships. He’s also coached six individual state champions, and the Tigers were district champions 25 times. In 2024, he was named the NMHSCA golf coach of the year.

“All of those were fun,” Standefer said. “Each team was a different challenge and different level of excitement for me, which has kept me going. I’m getting excited about this upcoming season with the young players we have coming in.”

Standefer played high school football at Clovis under another legendary coach and NMHSCA Hall of Honor member, Eric Roanhaus. While a Wildcat, Standefer was on a team that won a state championship in 1981 after finishing second in 1980.

Marylin Sepulveda

Marylin Sepulveda’s name is well-known to track and field fans in New Mexico through an all-star high school track event named for her and held each spring in Albuquerque. But the Sepulveda name has particular significance in Alamogordo, where she became renowned for her role in advancing girls’ sports.

She began her career in 1965, teaching physical education at Alamogordo High and later teaching English and coaching. She was the first woman in New Mexico to coach boys and girls cross country, and also led the girls track and field program. Her 1982 cross country team finished third in the state, and her track and field team took second at the state meet in 1975, just the second year girls track existed at AHS. The Tigers won a state championship in 1982.

Sepulveda was a founding member of the New Mexico Track and Cross Country Coaches Association, serving as its first president from 1987 until her death in 1989.

Standefer never got the chance to know Marylin, but he worked with her husband Bob Sepulveda, who is a legend in his own right at Alamogordo and also a member of the NMHSCA Hall of Honor.

“I count myself lucky to have worked with some amazing coaches in my career,” Standefer said. “From ages 15-30, I had played or coached with Coach Roanhaus and Don Carthel. I spent an enormous amount of time around those two guys as a player and coach. You can’t help but learn things from them.”

Todd Fuqua is Assistant Editor for the Alamogordo News and can be reached on Instagram at @toadfox1.

Here are the animal show results from the Eddy County Fair

Michael Smith
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Here are the animal show results from the Eddy County Fair

Dairy Cattle

Class 1

Grand Champion Jase Starnes Artesia FFA, 2nd Kyle Bean Artesia FFA, 3rd Brooke Huddleston Artesia FFA, 4th Torrance Hughes Artesia 4-H, 5th Daleigh Bean Artesia FFA, 6th Adeline Swarengin Mountain Dudes.

Class 2

1st Adeline Swarengin Mountain Dudes, 2nd Kyle Bean Artesia FFA, 3rd Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy Co 4-H, 4th Kathryn Heath Kountry Klovers 4-H, 5th Daleigh Bean Artesia FFA, 6th Joleigh Guy Cottonwood 4-H.

Class 3

1st Kyle Bean Artesia FFA, 2nd Joleigh Guy Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Torrance Hughes Artesia 4-H, 4th Daleigh Bean Artesia FFA.

Class 4

Reserve Grand Champion Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy Co 4-H, 2nd Jase Starnes Artesia FFA, 3rd Colten Platt Artesia 4-H, 4th Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H.

Class 5

1st Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy Co 4-H, 2nd Kyle Bean Artesia FFA, 3rd Brooke Huddleston Artesia FFA, 4th Kathryn Heath.

Class 6

1st Atley Starnes Artesia FFA, 2nd Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H, 3rd Daleigh Bean Artesia FFA, 4th Brooke Huddleston Artesia FFA.

Meat Goat Results

Class 1

1st Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA, 2nd Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 3rd Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Jeslyn Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 5th Kesslyn Heady Artesia 4-H, 6th Kamryn Conklin Cottonwood 4-H.

Class 2

1st Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Jeslyn Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H, 4th Ezekiel Guell Artesia 4-H, 5th Izabella Guell Artesia 4-H

Class 3

Division I Champion 1st Colten Platt Artesia 4-H, Division II Reserve Champion 2nd Augustus Conklin Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 4th Baylee Denison Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Kabrea Heady Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Kamryn Conklin Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Caylee Shockey Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H

Class 4

Division II Reserve Champion 1st Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Lillian Necaise Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Kelly Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Augustus Conklin Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Jacee Smith Kountry Klovers 4-H, 7th Izabella Guell Artesia 4-H, 8th Sawyer Schonlau Blue Jeans & Boots.

Class 5

1st Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Chloe Platt Artesia 4-H, 3rd Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Lillian Necaise Cottonwood 4-H, 5th Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H, 6th Jacee Smith Kountry Klovers 4-H, 7th Ezekiel Guell Artesia 4-H.

Class 6

Division II Champion Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Aiden Cox Brushpoppers 4-H, 3rd Caylee Shockey Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 4th Baylee Denison Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Jacee Smith Kountry Klovers 4-H, 6th Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H, 7th Kaden Bishop Loving 4-H.

Class 7

 Reserve Grand Champion Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA, 2nd Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA, 4th Aiden Cox Brushpoppers 4-H, 5th Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 6th Payton Putman Loving FFA, 7th Payton Putman Loving FFA.

Class 8

1st Lillian Necaise Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H, 3rd Lillian Necaise Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Kelly Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Kabrea Heady Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Kaden Bishop Loving 4-H.

Class 9

Grand Champion 1st Swazyee Folmar Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H. 2nd Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 3rd Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4H, 4th Kaden Bishop Loving 4-H, 5th Payton Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Maci Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Payton Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H.

Breeding Goat Results

Doe-under 1 year

1st Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 3rd Aiden Cox Brushpoppers 4-H, 4th Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 5th Maci Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Payton Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H.

Baker Rabbit Results

Grand Champion Torrance Hughes Artesia 4-H, Reserve Grand Champion Jonah Pope Loving FFA, 3rd Ezekiel Guell Artesia 4-H, 4th Izabella Guell Artesia 4-H, 5th Ezekiel Guell Artesia 4-H, 6th Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H, 7th Tegan Frost Brushpoppers 4-H, 8th Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots

Breeding Rabbit Results

Californian Buck Best of Opposite of Show Johannah  Miller Blue Jeans & Boots, Californian Doe Best of Show Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots, New Zealand Doe Noah Mireles Kountry Klovers 4-H, Other Purebreeds Buck Kimber Maley Kountry Klovers 4-H.

Fryer Rabbit Results

Class 1

1st Trevor J Pope Loving FFA, 2nd Tegan Frost Brushpoppers 4-H, 3rd Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA, 4th Johannah Miller Blue Jeans & Boots, 5th Ansley Troublefield Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Albert Calderon Loving 4-H, 7th Bristol Denison Cottonwood 4-H

Class 2

Reserve Grand Champion Bristol Denison Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Payton Norman Loving 4-H, 3rd Coby Norman Loving 4-H, 4th Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA, 5th Meagan McKibben Loving 4-H, 6th Payton Norman Loving 4-H, 7th Meagan McKibben Loving 4-H

Class 3

Grand Champion Torrance Hughes Artesia 4-H, 2nd Trayton Wells Blue Jeans & Boots, 3rd Torrance Hughes Artesia 4-H, 4th Anabelle Wells Blue Jeans & Boots, 5th Cohen Brown Loving 4-H, 6th Calissa Norman Loving 4-H, 7th Coby Norman Loving 4-H 8th Calissa Norman Loving 4-H

Swine Results

Class 1 Black OPB

Reserve Champion Black Noah Mireles Kountry Klovers 4-H, 2nd Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd John King Kountry Klovers 4-H, 4th Mason McCullough Loving 4-H, 5th Mia Duran Cottonwood 4-H

Class 2 Black OPB

Champion Black OPB Swazyee Folmar Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Noah Mireles Kountry Klovers 4-H, 3rd Klancee Folmar Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Jasen Hunt Loving 4-H, 5th Trynli McCullough Loving 4-H, 6th Kendi Burnett Mountain Dudes, 7th Luke Jurva Kountry Klovers 4-H

Class 1 White OPB

Champion White OPB Grace Vannatta Kountry Klovers 4-H, Reserve Champion White OPB Mason Golden Artesia FFA, 3rd Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Ashtyn Tarvin Loving FFA, 5th Mya Wilbanks Artesia FFA, 6th Gracen Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Adisyn Tarvin Loving FFA, 8th Mya Wilbanks Artesia FFA, 9th Mia Duran Cottonwood 4-H

Class 1 Duroc

Reserve Champion Duroc Daegan Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Jlee England Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Owen Golden Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Trey Tarvin Loving FFA, 5th Hymylie Hernandez Loving 4-H, 6th Mason Golden Artesia FFA, 7th Chanlyie Hernandez Loving 4-H  

Class 2 Duroc

Champion Duroc 1 Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Alyssia Calderon Loving 4-H, 3rd Gracen Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Mason McCullough Loving 4-H, 5th Trynli McCullough Loving 4-H, 6th Mia Duran Cottonwood 4-H, 7th  Chance Boans Artesia FFA

 Class 3 Duroc

1st Arianna Carrasco Loving FFA, 2nd Trynli McCullough Loving 4-H, 3rd Danny McIntire Loving 4-H, 5th Ryan Davis Loving 4-H, 6th Bryson Martinez Loving FFA, 7th Albert Calderon Loving 4-H, 8th Armani Montes Loving 4-H,

Class 1 Hamp

Reserve Champion Hamp Jules Cortese Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4H 97176 2 Trynli McCullough Loving 4-H 97156 3 Brooklynne Ivans Cottonwood 4-H 97177 4 Jules Cortese Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4H 91932 5 Adisyn Tarvin Loving FFA 97198 6 John King Kountry Klovers 4-H 97186 7 Alyssia Calderon Loving 4-H 97114

Class 2 Hamp

Grand Champion Rylee England Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd John King Kountry Klovers 4-H, 3rd Owen Golden Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Klancee Folmar Cottonwood 4-H, 5th Ryan Davis Loving 4-H, 6th Arianna Carrasco Loving FFA, 7th Danny McIntire Loving 4-H, 8th Karsyn Kruegel Kountry Klovers 4-H, 9th Shyann Quintanilla Loving 4-H,

 Class 1 Cross

1st Brooklynne Ivans Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Owen Golden Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Hymylie Hernandez Loving 4-H, 4th John King Kountry Klovers 4-H, 5th Rylee England Cottonwood 4-H, 6th James King Kountry Klovers 4-H, 7th Armani Montes Loving 4-H, 8th Daegan Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 9th Mya Wilbanks Artesia FFA,10th Albert Calderon Loving 4-H

Class 2 Cross

Reserve Grand Champion Jules Cortese Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Jlee England Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Shyann Quintanilla Loving 4-H, 4th Stetson Quintanilla Loving 4-H, 5th Brooklynne Ivans Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Jae Lopez Brushpoppers 4-H, 7th Armani Montes Loving 4-H, 8th Josh Nailon Artesia FFA, 9th Bryson Martinez Loving FFA, 10th Leo Lopez Zia Sharp Shooters

Class 3 Cross

Reserve Champion Cross Jlee England Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Mason Golden Artesia FFA, 3rd Adisyn Tarvin Loving FFA, 4th Gracen Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 5th Grace Vannatta Kountry Klovers 4-H, 6th Mason McCullough Loving 4-H, 7th Klancee Folmar Cottonwood 4-H, 8th Ashtyn Tarvin Loving FFA, 9th Trey Tarvin Loving FFA, 10th Josh Nailon Artesia FFA

Class 4 Cross

1st Rylee England Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Stetson Quintanilla Loving 4-H, 3rd Grace Vannatta Kountry Klovers 4-H, 4th Swazyee Folmar Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Karsyn Kruegel Kountry Klovers 4-H, 6th Kendi Burnett Mountain Dudes, 7th Luke Jurva Kountry Klovers 4-H 8th Luke Jurva Kountry Klovers 4-H, 9th Chance Boans Artesia FFA,

 Class 5 Cross

1st Jlee England Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Jasen Hunt Loving 4-H, 3rd Jasen Hunt Loving 4-H, 4th Danny McIntire Loving 4-H, 5th Ryan Davis Loving 4-H, 6th Swazyee Folmar Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 7th Klancee Folmar Cottonwood 4-H, 8th Presley Gaines Cottonwood 4-H, 9th Trevor J Pope Loving FFA, 10th Jonah Pope Loving FFA

Broiler Chicken Results

Class 1

1st Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Hymylie Hernandez Loving 4-H, 3rd Zaylynn Calderon Loving 4-H, 4th Alyssia Calderon Loving 4-H,5th Hymylie Hernandez Loving 4-H, 6th Zaylynn Calderon Loving 4-H, 7th Albert Calderon Loving 4-H

Class 2

 1st Arianna Carrasco Loving FFA, 2nd Ashton Craft Artesia 4-H, 3rd Ashton Craft Artesia 4-H, 4th Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Andres Olivas Loving 4-H, 6th Kaden Bishop Loving 4-H, 7th Kaden Bishop Loving 4-H

Class 3

Grand Champion Arianna Carrasco Loving FFA, Reserve Grand Champion Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA, 3rd Chance Boans Artesia FFA, 4th Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA, 5th Chance Boans Artesia FFA, 6th Andres Olivas Loving 4-H

Breeding Poultry Results

Commercial Pen (cock and 2 hens)

 1st Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots

 Commercial Hen

Reserve Commercial Poultry Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H,

Commercial Cock

Reserve Best of Barn Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots, 3rd Ashton Craft Artesia 4-H, 4th Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots

 Fancy Pen (cock and 2 hens)

1st Johannah Miller Blue Jeans & Boots, 2nd Liam Tryon Artesia 4-H, 3rd Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots,

Fancy Hen

Reserve Fancy Poultry Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA

Fancy Cock

Best Fancy Poultry Chloe Platt Artesia 4-H, 2nd Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA, 3rd Johannah Miller Blue Jeans & Boots, 4th Olivia Jefferson Blue Jeans & Boots,

Pen of Ducks (Drake and 2 Ducks)

1 Liam Tryon Artesia 4-H

 Duck (Female Duck)

1st Liam Tryon Artesia 4-H, 2nd Liam Tryon Artesia 4-H, 3rd Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA

 Duck (Drake Duck)

Best of Barn Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, Reserve Duck Makayla Monk Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Liam Tryon Artesia 4-H, 4th Kaydence Klontz Artesia FFA, 5th Liam Tryon Artesia 4-H

Horse Show

2 Year Futurity

 Grand Champion Adisynn Carmichael Cottonwood 4-H, Reserve Grand Champion Samuel Fodge Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Payton Putman Loving FFA, 4th Isaac Huskey Cottonwood 4-H

Prospect Yearling

Grand Champion Jace Deans Artesia FFA, Reserve Grand Champion Tracelynn Alcorn Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Katie Dowell Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Jae Lopez Brushpoppers 4-H, 5th Samuel Fodge Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Samuel Fodge Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H ,7th Adisynn Carmichael Cottonwood 4-H, 8th Payton Putman Loving FFA, 9th Kelly Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 10th Emily Huskey Cottonwood 4-H, 11th Kambry Grantham Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 12th Johnathan Lopez Zia Sharp Shooters, 13th Allie Elkins Artesia FFA, 14th Noah Mobley Loving 4-H, 15th Ace Elkins Mountain Dudes, 16th Paisley Mobley Loving 4-H, 17th Abel Mobley Loving 4-H

Breeding Heifer

1st Chance Boans Artesia FFA

Steer Show

Class 1

1st Jack Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Kendi Burnett Mountain Dudes, 3rd Laityn Grantham Artesia 4-H, 4th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Mabel Valenzuela Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Alexa Melendez Cottonwood 4-H

Class 2

1st Jersee Smith Kountry Klovers 4-H, 2nd Katie Dowell Artesia FFA, 3rd Ryan Davis Loving 4-H, 4th Jack Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Kambry Grantham Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Ace Elkins Mountain Dudes

Class 3

Grand Champion Caliber Harvey Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Jason Malone Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Jacee Smith Kountry Klovers 4-H, 4th Allie Elkins Artesia FFA, 5th Jason Malone Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Mabel Valenzuela Cottonwood 4-H,

Class 4

Reserve Grand Champion Gracen Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Samuel Fodge Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Gracen Kuykendall Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Koy Burnett Mountain Dudes, 5th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Mason Troublefield Artesia FFA, 7th Alexa Melendez Cottonwood 4-H

Class 5

1st Stetson Quintanilla Loving 4-H, 2nd Caliber Harvey Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Koy Burnett Mountain Dudes,4th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Kendi Burnett Mountain Dudes, 6th Allie Elkins Artesia FFA

Breeding Sheep

Western White Face-Ewe under 1 year

Champion Ewe Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA

Hampshire-Ewe under 1 year

Reserve Champion Ewe Caige Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H

Other Mutton Breeds-Ewe under 1 year

1st Colton Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H

Market Lamb

Class 1 Dorset

Champion Dorset Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA, Reserve Champion Dorset Chloe Platt Artesia 4-H, 3rd Kabrea Heady Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 4th Swazyee Folmar Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Bristol Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Kamryn Conklin Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Jenna Marbach Artesia FFA, 8th Colton Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H

Class 1 Southdown

Champion Southdown Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, Reserve Champion Southdown Caylee Shockey Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H,3rd Payton Putman Loving FFA, 4th Rett Frost Brushpoppers 4-H, 5th Tegan Frost Brushpoppers 4-H, 6th Anabelle Wells Blue Jeans & Boots

Class 1 Speck

 Champion Speck Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, Reserve Champion Speck Caige Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Macy Ryan Loving FFA, 4th Colton Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H, 5th Payton Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H, 6th Bristol Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Johnathan Lopez Zia Sharp Shooters

Class 1 Blackface

Division I Champion Aiden Cox Brushpoppers 4-H, 2nd Linzie Coggin Carlsbad FFA, 3rd Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 4th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Taylor Salter Artesia FFA, 6th Tegan Frost Brushpoppers 4-H,7th Johnathan Lopez Zia Sharp Shooters

Class 2 Blackface

1st Jack Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Jeslyn Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Rylee England Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Kesslyn Heady Artesia 4-H, 5th Payton Putman Loving FFA, 6th Trayton Wells Blue Jeans & Boots, 7th Malee Phillips Kountry Klovers 4-H,8th Caige Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H

Class 3 Blackface

Division I Reserve Champion Coltan Necaise Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Klancee Folmar Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Klancee Folmar Cottonwood 4-H, 4th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Aislyn Abercrombie Brushpoppers 4-H, 6th Joslyn Frintz Kountry Klovers 4-H, 7th Taylor Salter Artesia FFA,8th Joslyn Frintz Kountry Klovers 4-H

Class 4 Blackface

1st Chloe Platt Artesia 4-H, 2nd Jlee England Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 4th Jae Lopez Brushpoppers 4-H, 5th Kabrea Heady Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Colten Platt Artesia 4-H, 7th Aislyn Abercrombie Brushpoppers 4-H, 8th Payton Kennedy Cottonwood 4-H, 9th Taylor Salter Artesia FFA

Class 5 Blackface

Division II Reserve Champion Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Caylee Shockey Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA,4th Caylee Shockey Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Jack Jurva Loving FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Jae Lopez Brushpoppers 4-H, 7th Linzie Coggin Carlsbad FFA, 8th Tegan Frost Brushpoppers 4-H

Class 6 Blackface

Grand Champion Bailey Trujillo Artesia FFA, 2nd Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Swazyee Folmar Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 4th Baylee Denison Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Anabelle Wells Blue Jeans & Boots,6th Taylor Kennedy Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 7th Aiden Cox Brushpoppers 4-H, 8th Augustus Conklin Cottonwood 4-H

Class 7 Blackface

1st Caylee Shockey Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 2nd Baylee Denison Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 3rd Colten Platt Artesia 4-H, 4th Malee Phillips Kountry Klovers 4-H, 5th Rylee England Cottonwood 4-H, 6th William Johnson Cottonwood 4-H, 7th Colton Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H, 8th Rett Frost Brushpoppers 4-H

Class 8 Blackface

Reserve Grand Champion Jaylee Joy Cottonwood 4-H, 2nd Augustus Conklin Cottonwood 4-H, 3rd Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H,4th Jenna Marbach Artesia FFA, 5th Rett Frost Brushpoppers 4-H,6th Tegan Frost Brushpoppers 4-H, 7th Caige Sandmann Cottonwood 4-H

Class 9 Blackface

Division III Champion Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA, 2nd Maddisun Mancha Artesia FFA  3rd Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 4th Klanclie Conklin Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 5th Baylee Denison Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 6th Baylee Denison Artesia FFA/Eddy County 4-H, 7th Kamryn Conklin Cottonwood 4-H

Riding of the bulls

Todd Fuqua
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Riding of the bulls

Photos by JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press

Daring cowboys and dangerous bulls took center stage July 25 during the Smokin’ Hot Bull Riding event at the 80th Eddy County Fair rodeo in Artesia.

Noah Lee was crowned the best on the night, displaying grace and power as he stayed atop the bull and pulled in a good score.
Not every cowboy had a good ride on the night.

A rodeo wrangler’s work is never done.

Around Town

Michael Smith
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Around Town

Baish Veteran’s Wall of Honor

Deadline Extended to August 15, 2025

Now is your chance to honor a veteran in your life. Have their name engraved on a permanent plaque at Baish Veterans Park.

Apply online: artesiamainstreet.com

Celebrate their service. Remember their legacy.

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Artesia Quarterback Club

Will meet each Tuesday night at 6:30 pm at the Field House. All men are welcome to come support out football program. 

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Hamburger Fry

Artesia Quarterback Club is selling tickets for the annual hamburger fry $5 each. The hamburger fry will be at Bulldog Bowl on Thursday Aug. 14 from 5-7pm. Tickets may be purchased from a quarterback club member or during the scrimmage at the Bowl. 

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Head Start Enrollment

Registrations for 25-26 school year Mon/Thurs 9am-4:30 pm. For More information call 575-748-1141 or visit us at 504 W. Gage St.

Bible Study

All ladies are invited to participate in a lunch hour Bible study covering the book of Genesis. Bible study begins August 7, 2025 and will continue on Thursdays through April 2026.  This Bible Study is from Noon until 1 pm at the First Baptist Church Total Life Center and is perfect for working or busy women. For more information, please call Rita Derrick at 575-513-1523.

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Artesia Special Hospital District

Board of Trustees will meet Monday July 28, 2025 at 5:15pm in the Green Chili meeting room for the purpose of conducting its regular business. 

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26th St. Construction

 26th St. will be closed both directions from W. Grand Ave. to W. Washington Ave. for Phase II of the 26th St. Reconstruction project. Phase II will take approximately 3 months to complete. For more information call 575-626-6013 or 575-626-5042. 

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Yard of the Week

Artesia Clean and Beautiful is sponsoring a yard of the week contest starting June 3 through Sept. To nominate a yard worthy of the title, contact Linda at 575-513-0143 or AC&B office at 575-748-3192. Colorful, attractive, well groomed lawns with curb appeal meet the qualifications. 

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GUIDED MEDITATIONS

Are held during the summer at First Christian Church at 11th and Bullock on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. It is free and all are welcome.

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Gas Line replacements

New Mexico Gas Company will be replacing a section of main gas line and service lines in Artesia on the south side of town. May 5 thru August 1, 2025. They will be removing/replacing bare main gas lines for NM Gas Co. Project will be located in between South 4th and South 6th from West Hermosa Dr to West Bullock Ave If you have any questions or concerns, call Victor Zulaica Jr. @ 830-513-1718, New Gas Company at 888-664-2726 or the City of Artesia Community Development Department at 575-748-8298.

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PHLEBOTOMIST PROGRAM

Applications are now open for Artesia General Hospital’s certified phlebotomist program. To learn how to apply and for more information on this career opportunity, call 575-736-8178 or email foundation@artesiageneral.com.

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GRIEF SUPPORT

A Grief Group meets at 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the Saint Damien Center at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 1111 N. Roselawn Ave. Free support is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information, contact Nora at 575-308-3248.

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P.A.L.S.

People about losing safely meets at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Senior Center. For more information, call the Center at 575-746-4113.

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ALZHEIMER’S/DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP

Every other Tuesday  from 6:30pm-7:30pm at Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center -1402 Gilchrist Ave. RSVP to Helen at 575-746-6006.

This Cup

Michael Smith
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This Cup

 

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

 

Is there a more profound prayer of Jesus than this one? And for us, what does it mean to ask God to take a “cup” from us?

It makes sense to me that if we know what our “cup” is in our daily walk with the Lord, we can ask God to take it from us. Maybe the cup is a difficult co-worker who makes everything about your job challenging. Maybe your cup is a health issue that doctors can’t resolve. Whatever your cup may be, I believe it’s okay to ask your Heavenly Father to remove it.

Of course, the second half of the prayer matters: “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” Sometimes we don’t know exactly how to pray for relief, but simply identifying what’s weighing us down and humbly asking God to take it away can be enough to expose our struggle and help us realign our hearts and minds.

Sometimes, just bringing it before God—honestly, and in accordance with His will—is a relief in itself. Jesus asked for a reprieve, but He also surrendered to His Father’s will. You and I can pray that way, too.

 

Never forget; “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, f Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Holloman personnel donate time to Ruidoso recovery

Michael Smith
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Holloman personnel donate time to Ruidoso recovery

Todd Fuqua
Alamogordo News
tfuqua@elritomedia.com

RUIDOSO – Volunteers from Holloman Air Force Base were out in force at the White Mountain Athletic Complex July 25, cleaning up mud and debris caused by the previous day’s flooding along White Mountain Drive.

The project was part of Casa’s Big Give, a month-long event sponsored by Casa Auto Group in Alamogordo to encourage Holloman personnel to contribute time and effort to improve the community.

The volunteers’ primary goal at the White Mountain sports complex was to clean up the area surrounding the football and soccer fields, parts of which were saturated and covered with mud.

Tech. Sgt. Bianca Otero, who organized the Holloman team and the cleanup, said this particular project meant a great deal to her.

“I’m a mom with a child in soccer and track, and it’s really important to keep these sports complexes clean, particularly with school about to start,” Otero said.

The Holloman team was made of active duty personnel as well as family and friends representing the 8th, 311th and 314th fighter squadrons.

Throughout July, Big Give teams worked to benefit Alamogordo, Tularosa, Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. The teams had until Monday to complete their projects and will present their results for judging on July 31.

“We chose Ruidoso, given all the flooding they’ve had and wanted to help,” Otero said. “The men helping here are students going through training in the squadrons, and they were gracious enough to help.”

Otero and her team got a firsthand look at the destruction wrought by the floods that have hit the village along the South Fork burn scar since monsoon season began. What she saw was devastating, she said.

“This was the first time I’d been here, and I saw how beautiful this town is,” Otero said. “I feel bad that this is how I see it. It’s an awful feeling, and we just want to help.”

Todd Fuqua is Assistant Editor for the Alamogordo News and can be reached on Instagram at @toadfox1.

Livestock Auction caps off Eddy County Fair

Michael Smith
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Livestock Auction caps off Eddy County Fair

Marshall Mecham

Artesia Daily Press

marshallmecham21@gmail.com

Swazyee Folmar, 15, claimed victory at the Market Goat Show Tuesday, July 22, earning the grand champion award before selling her goat at the auction that closed out the Eddy County Fair on Saturday for $12,000.

The 80th edition of the Eddy County Fair was capped off with the annual 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Auction Saturday, July 26, at the Eddy County Fairgrounds in Artesia.

Folmar, representing both Artesia FFA and Eddy County 4H, said it was an amazing feeling receiving the award and that she learned a lot from the experience.

“It felt great winning the Market Goat Show,” Folmar said. “I hope to gain more knowledge from it.”

Jase Starnes, 17, Artesia High School cheer captain, captured Grand Champion Dairy Cattle honors with her heifer named Trump, which was sold at the auction for $14,000.

Starnes, representing Artesia FFA, said she was emotional about winning the competition, especially since it was her last year participating as the fair only allows kids to show until their senior year of high school.

Starnes said she hopes the experience benefits her for the future.

“I really hope this makes me a well-rounded individual,” Starnes said. “The more I go on in life and the more I try to achieve, it’ll bring me back to my roots and let me remember my work ethic and how hard I need to gain more opportunities and more experience later on in life.” 

 Jace Deans, 17, captured Grand Champion Prospect Yearling honors with his horse DC Foghorn Leghorn Wednesday, July 23. DC Foghorn Leghorn was sold for $19,500. Deans also won the award in 2024 with his yearling Verucca Salt.

Deans took part in the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Championship Show in June 2025 with DC Foghorn Leghorn. He took home the APHA Bronze World Champion Yearling Futurity Project and Reserve World Champion Yearling.

Because of this, Deans said he felt confident going into the fair, despite some struggles to control the animal.

“My horse would be really grouchy if I asked him to do too much,” Deans said. “The last few weeks, I really laid back on him and worked probably 10 minutes a day and he did great things. I persevered through this by knowing if I could make him happy by training him a little differently, we could be successful.”

Reaping the Epstein whirlwind

Michael Smith
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Reaping the Epstein whirlwind

Trip Jennings

There is a verse in the book of Hosea from the Bible that leapt to mind last week as I watched a drama in Washington unfold over the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and the records he kept around the sex crimes he committed.

“For they have sown the wind, they shall reap the whirlwind.”

It is an insight into human cause-and-effect that the Hebrew prophet Hosea observed 2,700 years ago.

I always have interpreted the verse to mean, those who engage in imprudent or foolish behavior will reap the consequences.

How do I connect that ancient, biblical observation to a political drama in Washington in 2025?

I’ll explain. But first let me catch you up. President Trump is trying to head off a potential mutiny from portions of his political base as supporters persist in their demands that his administration release details of a “list” Epstein purportedly kept before he died of suicide in 2019.

The calls for public disclosure should not come as a surprise. Over the years Trump and others have stoked a belief that Epstein was possibly killed — his death potentially involving former President Bill Clinton — to protect the sprawling network of sex offenders who participated in Epstein’s crimes involving under-age girls.

It is a theory that has found deep purchase among some Americans. After all, wealth and power often have shielded certain Americans from consequences while other Americans have paid the price for their crimes because they couldn’t afford high-priced attorneys or weren’t friends or acquaintances with powerful people.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration appeared open to disclosing the entirety of the Epstein record file.

“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a February press release announcing the release of the first batch of records.

Added Trump’s FBI director Kash Patel in the February statement:

“The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice. There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued.”

So earlier this month when Trump’s Department of Justice announced that it had found no evidence that Epstein was killed and no record of a “client list,” outrage exploded among Americans who had believed the conspiracies Trump and others had trafficked in.

The storyline became more complicated for Trump and his administration when the Wall Street Journal published a story describing a letter it reported Trump sent Epstein in 2003.

From the newspaper’s story:

The letter bearing Trump’s name, which was reviewed by the Journal, is bawdy—like others in the album. It contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. A pair of small arcs denotes the woman’s breasts, and the future president’s signature is a squiggly “Donald” below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.

The letter concludes: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

After reading the Journal’s story, my first thought was who would be shocked that Trump could send such a letter. Anyone who has followed him over the years could see him sending remarks like that to Epstein or any other guy who shared his locker room sensibilities. Before he ran for president, Trump openly talked about knowing and liking Epstein. He also has not shied away from describing his appeal to women because of his wealth and power.

My second thought was, if there is such a list, I am more than fine with exposing it to the sunlight of public scrutiny and letting all the politicians, regardless of partisan or ideological affiliations, pay for their indiscretions.

Releasing the Epstein files would be a fitting denouement to all the sordidness.

I first heard the name Jeffrey Epstein somewhere around 2008-2009 after his Florida conviction on charges of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. Epstein owned a 7,500-acre property in Santa Fe County, where he built a gargantuan ranch at the time. Several New Mexico reporters, including me, wrote stories about his campaign contributions to New Mexico state officials, including then-Gov. Bill Richardson.

Personally, I can’t wait to see the Epstein saga end. If it costs both political parties and the current president and former presidents dearly, so be it.

Since 2005, Trip has covered politics and state government for the Albuquerque Journal, The New Mexico Independent and the Santa Fe New Mexican. In 2012, he co-founded New Mexico In Depth, a nonpartisan, nonprofit media outlet that produces investigative, data-rich stories with an eye on solutions that can be a catalyst for change.

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