Each year, as the Ceremonial time rolls around, young ladies apply to be the next Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. This year is the first year for organizer Virginia Ballenger.

The first queen was crowned in 1978, and that was Teri Frazier.

While the contest is open to all unmarried young women ages 18 to 25, with no children and at least half Indian heritage, according to Ballenger, the contest only has two candidates at this time. Ballenger hopes that there will be at least five competing by the time the Ceremonial begins.

“I’ve got several phone calls from potential young women who are still trying,” Ballenger said.

The crowning will be held on Aug. 8 at 7:30 pm...

The toughest ride for this champion bull rider did not have four legs and horns, but involved moving on from alcohol.

Tibbs Bob Pino grew up on a small family ranch south of the Zuni Mountains by Pinehill, New Mexico.  It was a pleasant place to grow up: “the ranch had cows, horses, sheep, everything,” he said.  His father was a champion calf roper and “taught me to ride bulls and to rope” he added.  He himself later began to win rodeos as a bull rider.  However, perhaps his biggest achievement involved his eventually successful fight with alcohol.

Pino went to Pinehill High School and while there joined the rodeo club. He started on the junior rodeo level.

“My dad...

Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial would not be complete without the historical rodeo that accompanies the Native dancing and artistry. Event coordinator Dudley Byerley has organized a rip-roaring event that is sure to entertain the masses.

The rodeo was nearly cancelled last year. Byerley said he received a call from McKinley County Commissioner Carol Bowman-Muskett and New Mexico State Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup.

They asked him if he could take charge and make a rodeo happen. And he did. With only about six weeks to organize it, Byerley put together a decent rodeo that made money.

The rodeo budget was increased this year and Byerley reports that with support from the community...

When Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial was born it took on much of the excitement and fun that was found at fairs and Fourth of July celebrations all over the Southwest.  Many of these activities were open to everybody.

In the late 1800s some cowboys in either Arizona or West Texas, or both, decided to hold a contest to see which cattle outfit had the best group of hands.  It is said that the events were patterned after actual cowboy activities, but what ranch actually made their men ride bucking steers?  Every small town in the West soon had its own rodeo.

The contestants in these contests were not professionals who did nothing but rodeo, but working men who got together once...