Kin wins CMI SalsaFest Challenge, Isabel’s and Leeloo both three-peat

SAFFORD — Apparently making salsa that is unlike your grandmother’s is a way to pocket $1,000.

Leiako Kin’s Not Your Nana’s Salsa was judged best overall in the CMI SalsaFest Challenge Saturday during the 2024 NatureSweet SalsaFest —Year of the Chimichanga.

“It was a challenge, you know, there was a lot of good salsa out there,” Kin said. “I just had no idea they liked mine.”

The $500 prize for best specialty salsa and $200 prize for best decorated booth both went to Sandra Ramirez for her Pico de Gallo, while Mondo Oporto’s Yo Mondo salsa won the $500 prize for best green salsa, and Kendra Nabor’s Naboring Salsa earned her $500 for best red.

In the Taste of the Trail competition for restaurants and professional salsa makers, Isabel’s South of the Border from Willcox received the $200 prize for best decorated booth and, for the third straight year, the $1,000 grand prize for best overall salsa.

The $500 prize for best specialty salsa went to Isa Bey’s Mediterranean Salsa out of Mesa; while for the second year in a row, Safford’s Mechy’s Mexican Food grabbed two $500 prizes for best red and best green salsas.

The Safford Lions Club had two competitions taking place during SalsaFest. In the Hot Cars on the Salsa Trail Show, cosponsored by Audio Visions, Frank Fox’s 1956 Ford Thunderbird was named Best of Show, while the Chihuahua Races proved to be a bit of bail-biter.

Both Berta, owned by Toni Jimenez, and Leeloo, owned by Matt and Adi Scott, were undefeated coming into the finals of the double-elimination tournament. Leeloo won the first race, but Berta won the second, forcing a third, winner-take-all showdown.

In the end, it was Leeloo that edged out Berta, giving Leeloo her third Chihuahua Race championship in a row.

“I was nervous, I’m nervous every year, but Leeloo keeps performing so we’re going to keep putting her in, I guess,” Matt Scott said.

Attendees were treated to a performance by Gila Cheer; plus live music from Mariachi Luz de Luna; Heart and Soul Band; and Gila Idol winners Kamae Nelson, Darryn Kamae, Brianna DeRusha and Zaylie Windsor. Friday’s headliner was Western New Mexico University Mariachi, while Saturday’s event was capped off by headliner the XS Band.

Over in the Mini Chimi Party Zone, on the Kempton Chevrolet lot, there were two days of kids’ activities, including an instrument petting zoo, water games, art, kids karaoke and bounce houses, as well as performances by DeRusha, Cade Lamb and the Kim Skinner Fiddle Kids.

“This is great,” said U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., who served as a salsa judge for the second year in a row. “You don’t find this in Pima County for sure. This sense of everybody, hopefully, coming together for an event like this. It’s very unique to this area, and the kids love it.”

Sponsors for the 2024 SalsaFest included NatureSweet, Kempton Chevrolet, Matheson Music Foundation, Double R Communications, Bampa’s Workshop, ReVive Innovations, III Counties Distributing, Keyhole Properties, United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Southern Arizona Sports Tourism and Film Authority, Valley Furniture and Appliance, Tierra Antigua Realty, Big Tex Bar-B-Que, Mann Mortgage, Safford Rotary, Isabel’s South of the Border, Seek Legacy Real Estate and Property Management, Bee’s Kitchen, OneAZ Credit Union, Valley Telecom Group, Frontier Steak and Spirits, Olson’s Greenhouse and Your Inner Glow Beauty Studio.

Comments

comments