SAFFORD — There were a few new faces receiving the big checks at the 19th annual NatureSweet SalsaFest Friday and Saturday, and one old favorite.
Isabel’s South of the Border restaurant won its fourth consecutive Best Overall in the Taste of the Trail competition, as well as Best Green Salsa and Best Presentation.
In the Amateur competition, Sharon Black took home two prizes — Best Red Salsa and Best Overall — while Best Green went to Julie Crosby and Best Presentation to Doreen Grove.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Black didn’t plan on participating in the competition, but her husband, Damien Aranda, get her registered.
“Everybody keeps telling me to try and try, and I was just nervous,” Black said. “I do it for our family, but not for a whole bunch of people or five-gallons worth.”
In a new competition this year for commercial salsa makers working out of their homes and Karen Fox’s Layton House Salsa won for Best Presentation, while Mondo Oporto’s Yo Monodo Salsa took home three wins.
“I brought three different salsas; I brought my green won that I won last year, I brought the new red one that I just made and my mango salsa as well. So I guess I won all three of them,” Oporto said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
There’s a new champion in the Safford Lions Club’s Chichuahua Races. Three-time winner Leeloo retired from competition, setting up a battle between Dude and Baby. In the double-elimination race, Baby won the first heat, forcing a final winner-take-all race that Dude won by a step.
It was Dude’s fifth time racing in the competition and first win, so owner Letitia Garcia said Dude’s getting rewarded with the prize money.
“He’s getting lots of treats,” Garcia said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Attendees not only enjoyed salsa and other foods, there was also traditional music from Mariachi Luz de Luna and Western New Mexico University’s Mariachi La Plata on Friday; and the Heart and Soul Band, Our Island Style and Raymond Gomez on Saturday, with headliner Karla Perez as Selena the Show finishing things off Saturday night.
SalsaFest is put on by the Graham County Chamber of Commerce, with support from numerous sponsors, including NatureSweet Tomatoes; City of Safford; Town of Thatcher; Graham County; Graham County Search and Rescue; the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties; Southern Arizona Sports, Tourism and Film Authority; Double R Communications; United Rentals; Alpha Builder Supply; Sunshine and Whiskey Entertainment; Kempton Chevrolet-Buick; CMI; DRG Technologies; Gila All-Star Cheer; Safford Lions Foundation; III Counties Distributing; Trophies N’ Tees; Brando’s Fun N’ Sun Travel and Cruise; Twisted B Services; and Razor Thin Media.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
