The Chase

Issue date: 10/19/09 Section: News

Ken Petree of shows his product during the festival Saturday to costumers. Petree is the ownder of Cowboy Candles and Leather Work located in Clovis.

Dessiree Simth, junior at ENMU with her 14 month old son David, sharing a snow cone. Families sharing time together is just one of the many things one saw at the Peanut Valley Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

If you missed the 36th Peanut Valley Festival, the cost you have to pay is to wait another whole year.

On Oct.17, in and outside the Campus Union Building, the 36th Annual Peanut Valley Festival brought activity and peanuts to the Eastern New Mexico University campus. Crafts, games and food for all ages were some of the things to be seen and done during the festival.

Students of ENMU, residents of New Mexico, and travelers from across the country participated in this year's festival and enjoyed the many things offered by the vendors present during the festival.

An open space outside the CUB hosted the selling of local style food. People lined up to taste the super big Turkey Legs, Indian Tacos, Kettle Corn, Cowboy taters, and other festive foods.

Inside the CUB, homemade and original design goods were sold to the diverse montage of people attending. Some of the goods sold included cowboy candies, hand crafted jewelry, clothes, pottery and more. The most popular goods sold being the handcrafted articles. Trying on special clothes, picking fine handicrafts, people were always wearing smiles on their faces.

It is not only a place for shopping, but also a good place for fun. What drew the most attention was the Magic Music. One entered the name of their child into a computer and it would interact with the name and "magically" played funny music that could be mixed with the name of the child. Then the music could be recorded and burned onto a CD with the different types of music.

Since it was in the weekend, the whole building was full of people and events of interest. Fusion Funk a belly dance troop of ENMU performed downstairs in an audience packed Ground Zero.

The festival was a family event, with multi-generation families visiting and partaking in fun.

"All my family are here and have great fun .This is a traditional event in our family and we come to the Peanut Festival every year. It is so nice and the crafts are beautiful," Debbie Reyes , a visitor from Clovis said.

This year's Peanut Valley Festival attracted 45 vendors from both New Mexico and neighboring states, some vendors having taken part in the event for several years.

"This is our second year to participate in the Peanut Valley Festival because we do have a lot of fun during the festival," Teecie Hilton, a vendor from Texas said. "The multiple cultures of Eastern is also a factor that attracts us to join in. What's more, the organization work is very good, and it will be better if more places are provided."

"I have participated in the Peanut Valley Festival for eight years. It is a good time for me to do business here. I can sell 240 to 250 pounds kettle corn every day," Allian Collier, a vendor from Artesia, said.

The Peanut Valley Festival is held by the Eastern New Mexico University every year. Tracy Henderson, the director of Student Activities and Organization of ENMU said that the entire preparation work goes on through out the year between festivals.

This year, there are 25 new vendors in addition to previously attended vendors. Henderson thought the homemade crafts were the most special attractions. This year, they also cooperated with local radio stations to help publicize this festival.

The 36th Peanut Valley Festival lasted two days, ending on Oct. 18.

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