Off and running: New rodeo coordinator makes improvements to Northern Navajo Fair

WINDOW ROCK – Kim R. Jim has hit the ground running since taking over as the rodeo coordinator for the Northern Navajo Fair.

The annual event is entering its 110th year and so far, the rodeo committee is ahead of schedule compared to previous years.

This year the fair will run from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8 and will feature a lineup of rodeos including the Master’s, Open Junior, Beauty and the Beast and Open Rodeo.

“We’ve been at it since I became the rodeo coordinator five weeks ago,” Jim said of her family which includes husband Jeffrey and her five children. “The first thing on my agenda was I wanted to put a brand-new ground in the arena, meaning better dirt.”

At first, the fair board told Jim that having new dirt placed in the arena was not going to happen.

“They were kind of like, ‘That’s a nice plan young lady, but we don’t see it happening in five weeks,’” she said. “But, you know, they don’t know the Jim family. We make things happen and we do have rodeo producing background.”

Jim said the intent of having better ground dirt in the arena was to bring in some of the top barrel racers in the area. She said she wanted to make sure their horses were safe.

Plus, the new dirt will also benefit the riding event cowboys as the sand was donated by Rock Gap Engineering with NECA providing the machinery to grade the dirt. The fairgrounds also tapped Larry Nez Construction to manage the project.

“It all worked out,” Jim said, while adding that the rodeo arena will be accessible for all spectators.

“In the past there were no slots for wheelchairs,” she said. “We’re putting in a handicap accessible area for them to watch.”

In addition, her crew has been making improvements to the rodeo arena by mending the fences.

“We want to make sure it’s safe for the cattle,” she said. “We don’t want anything to happen to the cattle, cowboys or the fans. They did move the arena, but we still need to have those safety standards upheld.”

With all the upgrades, Jim wants the fair board to utilize the arena for other events.

“We’ve talked with the new fair manager, Elmer Yazzie, about opening up that arena to the community,” she said. “We would like them to have more rodeos and other events held there and we could generate funds to make more improvements to the fairgrounds.”

With the rodeo fast approaching, Jim said the fans and contestants alike will see a significant change.

“The arena ground is ready,” she said. “We’re trying to avoid last-minute stuff and since I was named the coordinator, we’ve been at it, and we just took off with it. My entire family is helping with my husband doing some welding and my sons are helping out.

“My brother runs a construction company, so there are a lot of people stepping up,” Jim added. “As the new rodeo coordinator, I went in with a big vision. I wanted to change the whole aspect of the Shiprock Fair because I’m coming in as a rodeo contestant and a rodeo producer, so I had to pull up my sleeves.”

For safety measures, the spectators will be placed at one end of the arena.

“We don’t want them crossing boundaries with the contestants,” Jim said.

On the other side of the arena, Jim said the rodeo committee will set up a hospitality tent for the rodeo sponsors, cowboys and cowgirls, something the Navajo Northern Fair hasn’t had.

“We got to take care of our sponsors because without them we’re not going to have the rodeo or awards,” she said. “They can grab a sandwich, Coke and water.”

Jim said all the rodeos will be run by Diné personnel and stock contractors.

The stock contractors being utilized include Willie’s Cattle Company from Twin Lakes, N.M., Joe Farland Bucking Bulls (AKS Bucking Bulls) and UJ Bucking Horses & B5 Rodeo Stock headed by Ulrich Benally of Rock Point, Arizona.

“They make a living in that, so why not bring them to our rodeo?” Jim asked.

The open rodeo will have $500 added money to the eight standard events with 100% payback.

“You know, last year I won one of the rounds and I barely got little pay,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it with it being the Northern Navajo Fair. I mean this is the oldest rodeo on the reservation and we just got paid the bare minimum so that was kind of sad.”

In addition, Jim said the event winners did not receive any awards last year for winning their respective events.

This year the event winners will receive custom-made buckles by Tres Rios Silver while the all-around cowboy and cowgirl will be awarded Yeti coolers.

“I’m really excited that we’re giving away awards,” Jim said.

The CES, Hannah Rae Yazzie, will take entries for the open rodeo on Oct. 2-3 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“You have to call in,” Jim said. “There is no setups. She’s going to open up her phone. We’re not doing mail-in entries or using any rodeo (apps).

“We’re going to do call-ins and they have to keep calling in,” Jim said. “She’s not going to take entries through text messages.”

Jim said the bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding is limited to 30 contestants in each event with 10 going out in each performance. There is also a limit for the open team roping and the No. 10 team roping as that will be capped at 70 teams.

The rest of the timed events – tie-down, steer wrestling, ladies breakaway and barrel racing – are unlimited.

The first performance for the open rodeo is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 followed by a 7 p.m. performance.

On Sunday, Oct. 8, there is a slack performance scheduled at 8 a.m. followed by the third and final performance at 1:30 p.m.

The fair rodeo will also feature a wild horse race, which will be held on Oct. 7 with a maximum of six teams. This added attraction will have $1,000 added money with Marshall Allen being the event coordinator.

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