Dates for Navajo events told

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

FORT DEFIANCE — The Navajo Nation Fair Office has announced the official dates for two of Window Rock's most favorite rodeo events: The 59th Annual Navajo Nation Fair and All-Indian Rodeo will be held Sept. 7-11 at the fairgrounds in Window Rock, while the July Fourth PRCA Rodeo and Youth Celebration is set for July 1-4.

In making the announcement Monday, the fair office also announced that the 18th Annual Navajo Nation Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo and Youth Celebration was awarded second place in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association (PRCA) Turquoise Classic circuit for putting forth extra effort "to ensure that their rodeo has the safest, most consistent, best ground conditions possible."

The award was announced Dec. 3 at the annual PRCA convention in Las Vegas by the Justin Best Footing Committee. Created in 1995, the award is an incentive program that targets the person most responsible for rodeo ground conditions in this case, the Navajo Nation Fair Office and PRCA Rodeo committee. The fair office received a check for $300 for their PRCA recognition.

Lynda French, last year's fair manager, said, "Just goes to show how professional the people we hired are." She particularly noted Dave James of the rodeo committee for his knowledge and expertise of how the sport of rodeo should be produced.

The first Event Coordinator's Meeting is set for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department conference room in Window Rock.

The July Fourth PRCA Rodeo will be offering winnings amounting to more than $140,000, and will feature bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping and WPRA barrel racing.

Last year's entries exceeded 240, and the 2005 entries are expected to increase. Sammy Andrew Rodeo Co., of Bagwell, Texas will provide stock for the event.

A tentative schedule for this year's 59th Annual Navajo Nation Fair shows the Midway and Frazier Carnival opening at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7; Ashkii Happy Kid's Day! set for Thursday, Sept. 8; Miss Navajo Nation coronation at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, followed by the Long Neck and Red Neck Tour at 9:30 p.m., featuring Brian McComas, Wade Hayes and Jeff Carson.

The Official 59th Annual Navajo Nation Fair Parade will get under way at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 on Highway 264 in Window Rock.

Other high-profile events include the Miss Navajo Nation Farewell Address at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, and the Rockin Roadhouse Tour featuring Joe Diffie and Mark Chestnutt at 9 p.m. at Jackson Arena.

A Hip-Hop/Mash-up Show featuring Jana and Rey Cantil also begins at 9 p.m. in the Window Rock Sports Center, followed by the ever-popular fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

Beginning at noon Sunday, Sept. 11, the All-Indian Pro Rodeo, Xtreme Tour Final Four Showdown and Wild Horse Race Competition will kick off in the Dean C. Jackson Arena. The Powwow Grand Entry is also set for noon.