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Photo of the Week
“Sunset brings out the magic of Red Mountain.” —Linda Jade Fong, Patagonia
News
Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo brings out the big crowds
By Dave Lumia
If this year’s event is a sign of things to come, the “Best Little Rodeo in Arizona” might need to come up with a new catchphrase.
“Little” doesn’t quite capture the magnitude of the 110th annual Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo that wrapped up on Monday at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. This was a big deal—bigger than in years past.
Bigger as in 6,322 paid attendance for the three-day event, 318 Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association contestants (plus another 279 teams competing in jackpot roping), 250 junior rodeo contestants, 50 vendors and last, but not least, 108 volunteers that made for “an absolutely amazing weekend,” according to Lacy Beyer, manager of the Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association.
Attendance was up nearly 800 from 2024’s total of 5,533.
“I think it’s because we’re putting on a fabulous event and everybody wants to come to it,” Beyer said. “Word is getting around. I’ve never seen that many people here. We’re very, very happy with the turnout and the whole weekend. It helps the whole community, our businesses benefit, and it’s a great event for the whole town.”
Beyer said that unlike years past, Saturday’s attendance exceeded that of Sunday’s, which she attributed to opening ceremonies that commemorated first responders and included a Black Hawk helicopter flyover.
“We stuck with our traditions, and it’s gotten bigger and bigger every year,” she said.
Mother Nature did her part as well, with pleasant temperatures and clear skies—save for a late Sunday afternoon dust storm that merely skirted the fairgrounds.
“There was some wind and a bit of dust that blew through, but not enough to stop the roping,” Beyer said.
Beyer gave credit to the association’s rodeo committee and the volunteer engagement that made for a successful show.
“We’re able to pull it off so smoothly because of the committee that we’ve got,” she said. “We have an incredible team. And don’t forget to mention the 108 volunteers. We couldn’t do it without those 108 people.”
Click here to see the list of event winners.
Sonoita Ranch Rodeo this Saturday at the Fairgrounds
Road work on Harshaw to run Sept. 8-Oct. 30
From Santa Cruz County:
Santa Cruz County will be removing and replacing a cattle guard located approximately five miles southeast of the Town of Patagonia along Harshaw Road. A temporary detour will be required during the construction period. Construction is scheduled to begin on September 8 and is expected to be completed by October 30. Motorists are advised to use caution through this area of Harshaw Road.
On September 10, the County will extend the current 25 mph zone [on Harshaw Road] from the Town of Patagonia an additional 1,182 feet east and south from the intersection of Harshaw Road, Redrock Drive and Red Cloud Lane.
Supervisor Fanning sets ‘community check-in’ for Oct. 7 in Elgin
From Santa Cruz County:
District 3 Supervisor John Fanning is hosting monthly community check-ins in Sonoita and Elgin. Beginning in October, he will alternate between the two communities, starting in Elgin on the first Tuesday of the month.
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, October 7 at the Elgin Community ClubThese meetings are an opportunity to discuss issues, share your thoughts, and ask questions directly with Supervisor Fanning.
Surprising Lobos notch five early-season victories
By Dave Lumia
The high school volleyball season is barely a week old, but the Patagonia Lobos have already shown that they can punch above their weight class.
The Lobos opened the season with back-to-back 3-0 victories over Class 2A opponents. They dominated Bisbee 25-6, 25-17, 25-15 in their home opener last Wednesday, then went on the road and defeated Tombstone 25-11, 25-16, 25-23 on Thursday.
The Lobos carried that momentum with them to Willcox on Saturday, where they won three of four matches and finished as runners-up in the eight-team Cochise County Roundup. They won their pool play with victories over Fort Thomas and 1A South Region rivals San Simon and The Gregory School before falling to Morenci, another Class 2A school, in the championship match.
Three Patagonia players—senior Brianna Majalca, junior Amaya Somoza and sophomore Monique Snell—were voted onto the all-tournament team by the eight coaches.
“We almost had them [Morenci],” first-year head coach Brenda Somoza said. “They were a very quick team, and they caught us a little off-guard. If we has been ready to play a very fast team, I think we would have been able to take them.”
These early season victories could be critical for Patagonia in its bid to return to the 1A state tournament with a favorable seed. Patagonia qualified for state last year for the first time since 2016 but was seeded 13th and was eliminated in the first round.
Somoza said the goal this year is to earn a top-10 seed, with hopes of advancing beyond the first round. Tombstone and Morenci both qualified for the Class 2A state tournament last season, and Gregory finished ahead of the Lobos in the 1A South region, so the early results are promising. Tombstone had defeated Patagonia 11 consecutive times, dating back through 2011.
“I’m very happy with the way they’re playing,” Somoza said. “It’s been nice to have so much game time early on. It’s given me some really good insight on what we need to work on. We need to get a little more consistent with our serving, and we need to take more risks when we’re hitting the ball. We have to learn to play more of a fast-paced game when we play teams that are going to be more challenging for us.”
On the flip side, she’s been especially pleased with the Lobos’ serve receiving, citing senior libero Lulu Donnelly.
“Lulu’s been great on defense,” Somoza said. “That’s something we struggled with last year.”
The Lobos have another busy week ahead, with a road match at San Manuel on Wednesday, a home match against ASDB on Thursday and another round of tournament competition at the Small School Invite on Saturday, hosted by Horizon Honors High School in Phoenix. The tournament will feature 40 teams from Class 1A, 2A and 3A.
“It’s nice that we can test ourselves against teams that we don’t normally see,” Somoza said.
Former supervisor Bracker named to State Transportation Board
Governor Katie Hobbs has appointed former Santa Cruz County District 3 Supervisor Bruce Bracker to the Arizona State Transportation Board to represent Santa Cruz, Cochise and Greenlee counties.
Bracker, who served two terms as District 3 County Supervisor from 2017 through 2024, began a six-year, unpaid term on the seven-member state board last month.
“I’m grateful to the governor,” Bracker said. “It’s a great opportunity to serve not only Santa Cruz, Cochise and Greenlee, but the whole state.”
The board meets once a month, going into communities throughout the state to learn what the local infrastructure needs are for roadways, bridges and airports, hearing from members of the public who are advocating for projects to be funded.
The board also works with state Transportation Dept. staff to create a five-year plan and to prioritize projects. For a project to be included in the five-year plan, it must be funded, much of which is dependent on federal dollars.
“The biggest challenge is funding,” Bracker said. “The state of Arizona has not addressed transportation funding for 33 years.”
Bracker says that his experience working on infrastructure projects as a county supervisor has prepared him for his new position. “This is stuff we worked on in Nogales,” he said. “I’m really excited to be on this board. It’s just a great opportunity.”
Now streaming: Sky Island Alliance’s Aug. 28 webinar on wildlife and new border wall construction
From Sky Island Alliance:
[In the archived video below] Sky Island Alliance Program Director Emily Burns and Wildlife Program Manager Eamon Harrity give a virtual tour of southeast Arizona and describe the current status of border wall construction projects underway at the Santa Cruz River and across the San Rafael Valley. They also share insights from SIA’s vast network of cameras that’s faithfully keeping watch on wildlife’s cross-border movement and tracking impacts. Areas featured in the update include Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Coronado National Forest, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, and San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge.
Meet dodder, the bizarre Sky Islands pirate plant with no lasting roots or leaves
By Vince Pinto
Recent monsoon rains have spawned a profusion of plant growth with both the number of species and sheer collective volume impressive to behold. Amidst this riot of vegetation lurks an unassuming yet bizarre plant. Cuscuta erosa, as it is known to science, is a member of the morning glory family. Many other vining morning glory species currently grace our various Sky Islands habitats—flaming red scarlet creepers, hot-pink bird’s-foot morning glory, and deep purple ivy-leaved morning glory among them. The flowers of these and other local members of the Convolvulaceae fairly jump out of the landscape in their quest to attract pollinators—mostly hummingbirds and butterflies.
Cuscuta has taken a decidedly different evolutionary route when it comes to securing energy, as well as reproducing. Nevertheless, it assumes a vining form like most of its local relatives in the morning glory family. In fact, the common name of Cuscuta—dodder—may refer to the way its vining stems quaver in the wind. Dodder is a Middle English word meaning to quake or tremble. To say that someone is “doddering” means that someone is weak and slow—unable to walk in a steady way. Similarly, dodder seemingly wanders aimlessly over various plants, trembling in the slightest breeze. Many other vines seem to do the same, yet no other local Sky Island plants truly resemble dodder.
It is a parasitic plant, entirely lacking chlorophyll, hence the strange orange color of its stems. It has no need to photosynthesize, instead pirating energy from various plants, using structures called haustoria to extract water and nutrients from the host plants while traveling over non-host plants that merely serve as a living trellis. In the video above, Palmer amaranth is the host plant, hence its rather withered appearance as its energy is being sapped. Adding to its truly otherworldly look, dodder lacks any lasting roots. Once the plant attaches to its host, the vestigial roots that initiated the vine atrophy, leaving only the twining stems. Further, Cuscuta also is leafless. Thus, the totality of a mature Dodder seems to resemble nothing more than a mass of orange-dyed angel hair pasta carelessly strewn over its hapless host plants. A few other Cuscuta species become so large that they can thoroughly drape over even sizable trees, making them look as if they are taken over by some alien life form.
Despite its deviation from seemingly “normal” plant norms, Dodder does indeed produce flowers. Some of flowers of the approximately 200 species of Dodder found across the globe are pollinated by wasps—certainly a possibility for the tiny off-white blossoms of our local species, given the great diversity of our local hymenopterans.
So, if on your next nature ramble you find yourself arrested by a stringy, orange mass strewn across various plants, you’ll be excused if your gait suddenly becomes weak and unsteady—Cuscuta erosa having easily transformed you into a “doddering fool”!
Public Service Announcements
County issues urgent child sex trafficking alert to parents
From Santa Cruz County:
While child sex trafficking is always a concern due to our proximity to the border, the Santa Cruz County Prosecutor’s Office and the Nogales Police Department want to alert you to a serious and urgent situation. We have reason to believe that children in Santa Cruz County are actively wanted for sex trafficking victims.
These predators often use popular social media apps like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and even online video games to connect with kids. If your child’s accounts are set to “public” or they are accepting friend requests from strangers, even on “private” settings, they are at risk.
Click here to continue reading the alert.
County Justice Project seeks Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin youth for fall internship program
From Santa Cruz County Justice Project (SCCJP):
The Santa Cruz County Justice Project (SCCJP) is inviting high school juniors, seniors, and college students from Patagonia, Sonoita, and Elgin to apply for its Fall 2025 Internship Program.
SCCJP is a local nonprofit organization seeking to make the legal system easier to understand and more accessible for everyone in Santa Cruz County. This hands-on internship will empower youth to contribute to real-world justice initiatives and help develop resources addressing domestic violence, housing challenges, and civil disputes.
Recognizing that traveling to Nogales can be a challenge for eastern county residents, the program will offer flexible participation options, including remote work, carpool coordination, and adjusted meeting times.
For more information, including how to apply, visit sccjpaz.org/internships or email info@sccjpaz.org.
School News and Youth Events
Above: Bowman Stradling History Center (BSHC) volunteers provided students at the Elgin School ‘Ranch and Rodeo Day’ with a sneak peek of the new BSHC historic schools exhibit. Students were fascinated by the old-time equipment (manual typewriter) and games (marbles). The exhibit will open during the Santa Cruz County Fair, September 12-14, and will feature photos and stories of area schools, teachers and students. —Alison Bunting
Upcoming Events
To share information about an upcoming event in the PRT Weekly News Bulletin, please submit a poster/flyer in JPEG or PNG format. Email your submission to prtadast@gmail.com by Monday, 5pm. Remember to submit your event at least one week before the event date. Thank you!
Pennington Hours – A Summer Series Event
Sunday, Sept. 7 at 5pm at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House in Patagonia
Born on Pennington Street and shaped by Tucson’s vibrant jazz and classical scenes,
Pennington Hours is a genre-blurring collective. Led by composer-drummer Anteo Fabris and featuring players from the Tucson Symphony and Century Room scene, Pennington Hours fuses intoxicating jazz, ambient textures, and deep funk grooves into a hypnotic, high-energy experience—impossible to replicate.
Admission to the musical event is $15 if purchased online by 3pm on the day of the
event. Admission will be $20 at the gate.
Of bluebirds and Botteri’s Sparrows: Appleton-Whittell summer research fellows to discuss their work in free lunchtime webinars
From Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch:
This year’s Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch fellows are focusing on migratory birds, their response to a changing climate, and identifying key habitat features and environmental factors that affect these species on their breeding and wintering grounds.
To celebrate our fellows’ successful research seasons and to learn from their time in the field, we hope you’ll join us on September 9 and 10 from noon to 1pm for this year’s round of Appleton-Whittell Research Fellow Webinars. During each of these one-hour sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to learn a bit about our fellows’ time on the Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch, their research, and the conservation implications of their studies.
On September 9, Research Ranch Fellow Matt Jenkins presents “Bluebirds: Model species for evolution, development, and environmental resilience.”
On September 10, Research Ranch Fellow Heaven Perez Sanchez presents “Using Motus technology to understand local and seasonal movements of Botteri’s Sparrow.”
Don’t miss out on this rare chance to see behind the scenes of one of the Southwest’s premier field research stations – learn more about our Research Fellows and register for both sessions today!
From the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts (SCFPA):
The announcement for our upcoming season was designed by the talented Paula Schaper and inspired by Pat McNamara’s wonderful work of art. Please mark your calendars for the 2025-2026 season at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House. Tickets will go on sale September 15.
Recurring Events
Alcoholics Anonymous:
- Sonoita Bible Church – Tuesdays at 7pm, 3174 N. Doors open at 6:30. Highway 83, Sonoita. Zoom option: 601-758-3907.
- Patagonia Methodist Community Church – Thursdays at 6:30pm. 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia. Contact Dave at 207-249-8302.
Crossroads Quilters: Are you a textile artist (weaving, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting)? The Crossroads Quilters invites all interested textile artists to our meetings. Bring a project to work on and enjoy a morning of information sharing and camaraderie. We meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 9am at the Sonoita Bible Church, 3174 N. Highway 83. For more information email: alisbunting@gmail.com
Overeaters Anonymous: The OA Sky Islands Recovery group meets every Wednesday 11am-12noon at the East Santa Cruz County (ESCC) Food Bank at 772 Harshaw Ave in the meeting room at the end of the driveway. For additional meeting info, go to oasouthernaz.org. Contact Adrienne H. for more info 520-404-3490.
The Patagonia Senior Center has received a grant from Delta Dental of Phoenix to help seniors with dental expenses. Vouchers are provided for up to $350 to participating dentists. If interested, please call the Senior Center at (520) 394-2494.
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Employment Opportunities
To list an employment opportunity, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
From City of Nogales/Santa Cruz County Library:
Homework Tutor (Sonoita Library)
Responsibilities: Receives supervision and direction from the Library Director or designee. Greets students and assesses each one for subject area and grade level; groups students in areas by grade level. Works one-on-one with students that have difficulty with subject at hand or with expressing themselves. Group students, no more than three to a group, if they are compatible and are working on similar projects. Alerts the Children Services Coordinator if they have a problem or need advice. While waiting for students, shelves books so they can show students where the materials are. Must have basic secondary knowledge of Math, English, and general Science courses. Skills in defining problems, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
Education, Certification and Requirements: Must be attending high school (junior or senior) and have good grades (A’s and B’s) OR have graduated high school and currently attending local college. Valid AZ Driver’s License.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with children. Knowledge of how to use computers. Familiarity of the way materials are stored in the library and willingness to learn the library system. English and Spanish language fluency.
Salary/Classification: Part-time position; FLSA non-exempt; $15.79 per hour
Close Date: Interested and qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting a completed City of Nogales Employment Application and resume to the Human Resources Department. This position is Open Until Filled.
Farmers Markets
Patagonia Farmers and Crafts Market – Thursdays 10am-12pm by Red Mountain Foods.
Sonoita Farmers Market – Saturday Mornings 9am-12pm at the Sonoita Post Office parking lot (NW corner of Hwy 82/83)
Sierra Vista Farmers Market – Thursday 10am-2pm at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Nogales “Little” Mercado – Fridays 4-7pm 163 Morley Ave, Nogales.
Church Events and Schedules
St. Therese Parish in Patagonia
Patagonia United Methodist Church
Click here to consult the PRT’s ‘Community Calendar’ for additional events and meetings.
Our Advertisers
For information on advertising in the PRT’s print edition, Weekly News Bulletin, website or a custom package, please contact Nisa Talavera at prtads@gmail.com or 740-206-9594.
Private collector interested in buying good quality minerals from the Patagonia area and other Arizona locations. Please contact Bob Stewart, 315-440-2786 (Sahuarita)
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