Board Members Needed
It’s not easy sitting in meetings, listening to ideas about fundraising, especially if you are not familiar with one or all of the following; Rodeos, Horse Racing, Horse Shows, or County Fairs.
But if you are interested in serving our community we have an opportunity for you. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz County Fair & Rodeo Assn., your role is critical to the health and vitality of our organization and the community as a whole.
Our organization is non-profit and the fairgrounds are not government owned. Therefore, our members are the heartbeat of our fairgrounds, with fundraising being an important part of our well-being.
Do you possess:
• An appreciation of the rich heritage of Santa Cruz county and role that Fairgrounds plays in the life of the county?
• The ability to question?
• The commitment to attend meetings?
• The time to actively participate?
• The ability to see the value in ALL of the events at the fairgrounds?
• An appreciation for the commitment of our volunteers?
Without excellent oversight, our mission will stagnate or flounder, but with your wise counsel and guidance it will flourish and the lives of those in our community, both merchants and citizens, will be improved.
If you are interested in joining us and running for a board position, please submit a bio and your reasons for wanting to join us. The election will be held during our Membership meeting on Dec. 7. Send all correspondence to info@sonoita-fairgrounds.com. Call 455-5553 for more information.
Thank you for your consideration in joining such an integral part of this great community resource!
QuailFest
Southern Arizona Quail Forever and Arizona Game and Fish Department will co-host QuailFest on Sunday, December 8, from 11a.m. to 2p.m. at Pioneer Hall at the Sonoita Fairgrounds.
The Southern Arizona German Shorthair Club will serve grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and beverages. The event is held in the afternoon to give hunters a chance to hunt in the morning, as this is opening weekend for Montezuma or Mearns quail season. Visitors will have the chance to see a wide selection of great hunting dog breeds, as well-behaved dogs are permitted inside the hall.
QuailFest is an outdoor education forum. It also demonstrates to the local community the significant economic impact that quail hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts bring into the local economy. Santa Cruz County, the heart of Mearns country in Arizona, draws hunters from nearly every western state and several Canadian provinces.
Chapter Meetings:
Here are the planned speakers for 2019-2020. Meetings will start at 7p.m. with a social period starting at 6:15. Everyone is welcome, feel free to bring guests!
Nov. 21: American Legion (next to Titan museum) Green Valley. Dr Keil: Desert first aid for your dog; Kirby Bristow: AZ G&F Quail Update; Jenny Macfarland: Audubon habitat plans.
Dec 12: Sonoita Fairgrounds. Rebecca Chester: BANWR Masked Bobwhite Update; Greg Munther: quail management update; Doug Burt: Retention, Recruitment & Reactivation (R3) initiative.
Jan 16: Sonoita Fairgrounds. Ugo Pennacchietti: Dog Training; Walt Keyes (CNF road manager): Meadow Valley plan; Daisy Kinsey (CNF District Ranger): Borderlands Plan.
Feb 20: Sonoita Fairgrounds. Larisa Harding: New AZ G&F Small Game Manager; Cherie Nelson: Gambels Quail Translocation Project; Chris Parish from Peregrine Fund: lead ammo.
Mar 19: American Legion (next to Titan museum) Green Valley: Officer election info
Our 2020 Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, February 1 at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. It is never too early to start looking for raffle or auction donations. The banquet is the primary financial engine that permits us to do our habitat, access and youth work. Tickets are at https://squareup.com/store/CH3163_Southern_Arizona_Quail_Forever. Tickets cancelled by Jan. 23 are refundable.
Ayla LaDage raised $200.68 for the Santa Cruz Humane Society in October by potting up agave seedlings (pups) around her house and selling them at the Fall Festival. Ayla, who is seven years old, is the daughter of Jeff and Jennie LaDage, of Patagonia.
Study Group Wants Input
Governor Ducey has approved a Study Group to investigate the pros and cons of moving the Cochise County line to include the Sonoita/Elgin area. At this stage, it is a Study Group only whose efforts will produce a report to the Senate and House leadership as well as the Governor on or before December 31, 2020.
The study group has prepared a survey to capture the opinions of the community. This will give the Study Group an idea of how the community feels about moving the county line and any concerns or issues they have. The online survey is short, but very important. Let your voice be heard! One survey per person please. Survey is for Sonoita/Elgin/Canelo residents only.
Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/sonoitasurveyround2
Christmas in Elgin Showcases Local Crafts
Elgin’s historic Community Club located at 475 Elgin Rd. will kick off the Holiday season on Dec. 7 with ‘Christmas in Elgin.’ This festive occasion will feature holiday music, raffles, homemade chili and cornbread, photos with Santa and vendors offering their many handmade items for sale. It is a good place to get one of a kind items for those on one’s Christmas list.
Hoping to entice the public to get their holiday shopping started, the Elgin Community Club invites everyone to stop by and enjoy the food, fun and craftsmanship from the local vendors. Admission is free. The festivities run from 10a.m. – 4p.m.
Volunteers Needed for Sonoita Produce on Wheels
In order to make Sonoita Produce on Wheels a success, we need a Community Volunteer Team. Being part of this team is a once/month commitment for approximately three hours at our Saturday markets.
Help reduce millions of pounds of fresh produce annually from the landfill and distribute fresh nutritious fruits and vegetables to our local communities.
Sonoita Produce on Wheels will take place the third Saturday Morning of the Month, beginning Dec. 21. It is hosted by Harvest Christian Fellowship, 3107 State Highway 83 Sonoita, AZ. Call/text Gardenia Moffett: 602-292-1616. Facebook: @SonoitaAZCommunity-Markets
SITA Reduces Member Fees
Sky Island Tourist Association (SITA) has reduced its member fees from $150 to $75 a year for all businesses. Members get their own page on the SITA website. There will be a special directory of pages for service businesses, such as housecleaning. Non-profit organizations can get a free listing with their contact information on the website. More info available at https://www.visitskyislands.com/become-a-member/
Errors and Omissions
In the September issue of the PRT, Shelby Scheer was incorrectly identified as the SAACA Event Coordinator for the Fall Festival. Scheer is the Director of Operations for SAACA.
Our apologies for this error.
Rotary Club Hands Out Books
