Courtesy photo
Lions BBQ winners
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
The class of 2025 wins first place in the Herring Bank parade
Enterprise Photo / Elaina Estlack
CC wins title in Australian contest
Courtesy Photo
A dominant display by Clarendon College saw the 2024 ICMJ National Championship go to the team from Texas last week with the University of Queensland coming in second place.
The winning team, made up of Libby Modisette, Scott Phillips, Lydia Sharp and Jace Hall finished 26 points ahead of UQ.
Clarendon’s Libby Modisette also took out the title of Champion Individual with a score of 1089, just four points ahead of UQ’s Jade Wilkinson.
CC took out four of the six competition categories including pork judging, beef judging, and commercial evaluation.
The Japan National team also took home some ribbons, winning the Overall Questions category, with Hokkaido University student Momo Sato achieving the highest individual score in the lamb judging competition.
ICMJ President Dr Peter McGilchrist said having such talented and dedicated international teams participating in the Australian ICMJ National Conference and Competition reflected how well-respected the event is internationally.
“We’re very honoured to welcome international teams like Clarendon College and the Japan National team and it’s very impressive to see how well they performed in the Australian environment,” Dr McGilchrist said.
“All of the competitors put in such an outstanding effort across the competition and it’s been a fantastic end to the ICMJ National Conference.”
The top 16 individuals in the competition were narrowed down to a team of 11 who will go on to another ICMJ event later this year where they’ll take part in further professional development opportunities and industry tours.
They’ll be joined by a second group of students selected for their leadership skills, dedication, and their potential to have a positive impact on the red meat industry.
From that larger group, five students will be chosen in the Australian ICMJ team to tour the United States in January next year and compete on the US meat judging circuit at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
The ICMJ National Conference is hosted annually by Charles Sturt University and Teys Australia in Wagga Wagga.
Celebration draws big attendance
Enterprise Photo / Elaina Estlack
It was a busy time in Clarendon last weekend with a good turnout for the 147th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration July 4-6, starting with the Lions Club’s bingo and barbecue cookoff on Thursday and running through the parade, rodeo, and other big events on Saturday.
The Lions’ bingo packed about 96 people in the Lions Hall the morning of the Fourth to play for 27 fabulous bags – coolers, tool bags, designer purses, etc. – that ranged in value from about $50 to more than $500. Afterwards, the Lions’ barbecue cookoff drew five teams that prepared chicken, pork, and beef entries. The winners of the people’s choice voting were Best Beef – Taylor Shelton, Best Pork – Lauren Graves, and Best Chicken – Chris D’Costa.
The Junior Ranch Rodeo wrapped up activities for the Fourth, and the Depression Luncheon was held at the Crossties Ministry Center Friday followed by the first night of the COEA Ranch Rodeo, the results of which are printed separately.
The theme for celebration parades this year was “A Salute to Service,” honoring the men and women in uniform who serve America.
The Liberty Electric Kids Parade started things off Saturday morning with three age categories plus a motorized division.
Winners were as follows: Motorized – first place Ransom Wylee Renee and second place Oakleigh Douglass; Ages 0-3 – first place Astrid Jaramillo, second place Rodey Henson, and third place Natalie Dillman; Ages 4-8: first place Kendall Danner, second place Kinze Zongker, and third place Lennyn Gaines; and Ages 9 and Up: first place Elizabeth Newton, second place McKinley Wilhelm, and third place Kennedy Wilhelm.
In the Herring Bank Parade, the Clarendon High School Class of 2025 won the first place Float, Summer Towing had the best car/truck entry, best Animal entry was MR Cattle, Newhouse Farms had the best Tractor entry, and Country Bloomers Flowers & Gifts had the best Other entry.
The Chamber’s second annual REFZ Lawnmower Barrel Race drew nine contestants for the timed course event. Aaron Hanes finished the course in 56 seconds, and Emmalyne Roys was the runner up with a time of 59 seconds. Special recognition went to Michael Newhouse for being the only participant to finish the race with no penalties.
The Chamber also hosted its second annual Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Exhibition during the celebration, and those results are listed in a separate article.
The Al Morrah Shrine Club served about 500 plates of barbecue this year. A portion of the proceeds from the annual barbecue are used in to help pay for the transportation of kids to the Shriners’ burns and crippled children’s hospitals.
The Donley County Junior Livestock Association raffled off a gun, and Craig Snell won it. Roy Bertrand won the drawing for the First Baptist Church youth group, and Nikki Robinson and Judy Ward won the drawings for the Consuela bag and Cornell’s gift card respectively held by the CHS Cheerleaders.
The Clarendon Lions Club’s Cow Patty Bingo was won by Russell Estlack, Bob Weiss, Courtney D’Costa, and Jesus Hernandez.
Henson’s annual Turtle Race was also held Saturday afternoon in its traditional location at Third and Kearney. A total of 109 youth entries competed in three different age divisions. Winning turtle jockeys this year were: age 0-4, Chambray Askew; age 5-8, Kendall Danner; and age 9-16, Meredith Artho. Adults then competed in a 17 and up division, and Carey Wann and Aaron Mays both won in a turtle tie.
Circle M8 wins COEA annual ranch rodeo
Enterprise Photo
The Circle M8 team took top honors at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s annual Ranch Rodeo last Friday and Saturday during the 147th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration.
Circle M8’s scores beat out 19 other local and regional ranch rodeo teams as working cowboys put their skills to the test. The team was made up of Phillip Reynolds, Rye Reynolds, Chance Holcombe, and Jayde Smith.
The Bar R Horses team finished second with Phillip Reynolds, Rye Reynolds, Chance Holcombe, Wesley Gudgell, and Levi Molesworth; and the Crockett Cattle team was third with Ben Crockett, Wes McKee, Kater Tate, Cutter Hermesmeyer, and Cooper McClesky.
The Top Hand for the rodeo was awarded to Jake Baca, and the Top Horse award was won by Quincy Carlton.
This year’s attendance for the three-day junior rodeo and ranch rodeo was 1,390, up from a count of 1,225 people who attended in 2023.
CCC Remuda won the Junior Ranch Rodeo with a team comprised of Chance Anderson, Reece Myers, Kelby Brownlee, Colt Mason, and Rhyder Rosipal.
The second place team was Sand Creek Ranch with Rankin Proffitt, J.W. Coffee, Rhyder Rosipal, Coyt Patterson, and Tad Evans. Third place in the junior rodeo went to C3 Cattle and the team of Chance Anderson, Rankin Proffitt, Kelby Brownlee, Colt Mason, and Rhyder Rosipal.
Top Hand winner for the Junior Ranch Rodeo was Rankin Proffitt, and Colt Mason rode the Top Horse.
Junior Calf, Donkey, and Steer Riding and Mutton Bustin’ were held all three nights. Overall, Mutton Bustin’ champion for the three nights was Beckett Hill. Overall Calf Riding Champion was Stetson Duncan, the Overall Donkey Rider was Colton Henson, and Steer Riding champion was Christopher Cary.
Nightly winners of the junior events were as follows:
July 4 – Calf Scramble – Laney Shelton, Lane Hardin, and Piper Hopkine; Mutton Bustin’ – Bex Bischel; Calf Riding – Rance Peters, Donkey Riding – Colton Henson; and Steer Riding – Briggs Martin.
July 5 – Calf Scramble – Bennett Chesser, Jacob Mallerd, and Bo Davis; Mutton Bustin’ – Beckett Hill; Calf Riding – Rance Peters; Donkey Riding – Luke Hardin; and Steer Riding – Ian Weatherread.
July 6 – Calf Scramble – Teagan Chesser, Ainslie Lewis, Lilly King, and Alec Homer; Mutton Bustin’ – Brecken Coon and Payton Edwards; Calf Riding – Stetson Duncan; Donkey Riding – Briggs Martin, Colton Henson, and Luke Hardin; and Steer Riding – Christopher Cary.
Enterprise Photo
Chamber names best of Donley County last week
The Clarendon Chamber of Commerce held its second annual Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon Exhibition last week during the 147th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration to showcase outstanding cooks in three categories.
The exhibition had 32 entries in fields of Jellies, Jams, and Baked Goods. Winners were as follows:
Jellies: Class 2 Blackberry – first place Abby Lenz; Class 3 Blueberry – first place Charlene Brown; Class 7 Grape – first place Charlene Brown; Class 8 Hot Pepper – first place Charlene Brown; Class 9 Peach – first place Charlene Brown; Class 10 Plum – first place Abby Lenz and second place Charlene Brown; Class 13 Other – first place (Strawberry) Charlene Brown, second place (Apricot) Charlene Brown, and third place (NectaPeach) Charlene Brown. Brown’s strawberry was also the Best Overall Jelly.
Jams: Class 1 Apple Butter – first place Charlene Brown; Class 4 Grape – first place Cheryl Johnson; Class 5 Peach – first place Caylor Monroe, second place Abby Lenz, and third place Cheryl Johnson; Class 9 Other – first place (PlumCot) Charlene Brown, second place (Wild Plum) Cheryl Johnson, and third place (Apricot) Caylor Monroe. Best Overall Jam went to Brown’s PlumCot.
Baked Goods: Class 1 Cakes – first (Rum Cake) Judy Burlin and second (Chocolate) Lori Mays; Class 3 Baked Pie – first place (Pecan) Shonda Martin, second place (Midway Taffy Pie) Mandy Smith, and third place (Apple Crumb); Class 8 Pudding/Trifle – first place (Chocolate Brownie Pudding) Suzanna Hallmark; and Class 10 Sweet Bread – first place (Olive Oil Zucchini Bread) Suzanna Hallmark and second place (Banana Nut) Shonda Martin. Best Overall Bread went to Suzanna Hallmark, and Best Overall Baked Good went to Judy Burlin.
Make a splash
Praising His Name
Clarendon’s Patron Saint
Saints’ Roost Celebration starts July 4
There will be no shortage of activities for the 147th annual Saints’ Roost Celebration happening in Clarendon July 4, 5, and 6.
For those planning to participate in the parades or the Chamber’s Blue Ribbon awards, deadlines are next Wednesday, July 3. All Herring Bank Parade and Liberty Electric Kids Parade entries are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3; and all Best of Donley County Blue Ribbon entries must be turned into the Visitor Center by 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Sign up at ClarendonTx.com/parade or ClarendonTx.com/blueribbon.
The complete line-up for next week’s events are as follows:
Thursday, July 4
The Clarendon Lions Club Smoke Rollin’ BBQ Cookoff & High Rollin’ Bingo will be held at the Lions Hall July 4. Bingo starts at 11 a.m. and is $40 per person. The bag bingo features several great prizes including designer purses, coolers, gift baskets, and more. Seating is limited so tickets should be purchased as early as possible at the Enterprise or by calling or texting 806-662-4689.
The BBQ cookoff will award a $150 prize in each of three categories – beef, chicken, or pork – based on a people’s choice vote. The cookoff team entry is $20 per category plus the team provides their own meat. The public can sample and vote at the cookoff for $5 per person, which includes samples, a side, a drink, and a dessert. Additional samples/votes can be purchased as well. Call or text 806-662-4689 to sign up for the cookoff.
The Clarendon Country Club July Fourth Golf Tournament will tee off at 1:00 p.m. Entree fee is $15, green fee is $12, and cart fee is $12. For details, call 806-874-2166.
The COEA Junior Rodeo will close out the first day of the celebration activities Thursday, July 4, at 7:30 p.m. with a dance to follow the rodeo.
Friday, July 5
The annual Depression Lunch will be held at 11 a.m. at the Downtown Ministry Center. The first night of the COEA Ranch Rodeo will follow that evening at 7:30 p.m. with a dance afterward.
Saturday, July 6
The big day will begin July 6 with the Arts & Craft Fair on the square at 9 a.m. sponsored by the Donley County 4H. Booths must be reserved through the Donley County 4H by calling 806-874-2141.
The theme for this year’s parades is “A Salute to Service” and honors America’s men and women in uniform. Entry forms are available at the Visitor Center and online at ClarendonTX.com/parade.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Liberty Electric Kids’ Bicycle & Tricycle Parade will also begin at 9 a.m. with some fabulous prizes provided by Stocking Ice Cream Parlor. The Kids’ Parade will line up and register at 8:30 at Third and Sully. Pre-registration by July 3 at 5:00 p.m. is required to win the kid parade prizes. Entry forms are available at the Visitor Center and are online.
Line up for the Herring Bank Parade begins at 9 a.m. at Prospect Park with the parade taking off at 10:00. The Herring Bank Parade features $850 in cash prizes with $250 available for the best float, $150 for the best car or truck entry, $150 for the best animal or riding unit, $150 for the best tractor or farm equipment entry, and $150 for the best “other” entry. Only entries registered by 5:00 p.m. on July 3 are eligible to win the prize money.
Following the parade, the Al Morrah Shine Club Barbecue will again be held on the square. Tickets are $20 per person and support the Shriners’ work to help crippled and burned children. Tickets will be available on the square or in advance at the Visitor Center and the Enterprise.
The REFZ Lawnmower Races will also be held July 6 on the square with sign-ups beginning after the parade, and the Chamber of Commerce will display the winners of its second annual Best of Donley County competition on the square, featuring blue ribbon winners in jellies, jams, and baked goods.
Also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Coffee Memorial’s Bloodmobile will be at the Lions Hall for a blood drive. The supply is short right now, and donations are needed badly.
The Henson’s Turtle Race will take place at 1:30 p.m., and the Ranch Rodeo will close out the celebration at the COEA Arena Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. with live music on the Slab afterwards by Seth Ward.
For more information, contact the Visitor Center at 806-874-2421.
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