Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 137

Fern Sawyer First Woman To Serve on State Fair Board By FRITZ THOMPSON No one who has ever met Fern Sawyer soon forgets her. Her personality spontaneous, unbridled and salty probably would have made Calamity Jane blush. People remember Fern Sawyer because she smokes pipe doctor told me a to, and besides, I enjoy or because she looks if she has a heavy dose as of Indian blood (she doesn't), or because she's 8 blunt-talking cattle rancher think and like a man because I talk grew up around cowboys'), or because she is Lincoln County Democratic chairman always voted Democrat and I haven't election since I missed an was She is a renowned canner I just kind of pickle recipe made 'em an my hands got complished piano player busted up cattle shrewd politician and a businesswoman who flowers and wrangles cattle on 28 sections grows near Nogal, N.M. HER YOUTH, she IN three years at abandoned Texas Tech University after being horribly miscast as a home economics maenter the professional rodeo circuit as jor-to a barrel racer, calf roper and bull rider, eventually winning (in 1947) the World title of All-Around Champion Cowgirl. is also the Fern Sawyer and only woman to first the State Fair serve on Board.

She was appointed to the post 10 years ago then Gov. Jack by Campbell. stopped, he did She hasn't missed a to help me." If State Fair since its in- made mistake in a everything ception in 1937. rodeo, we came home and I a gotten worked until we had SO much bigger," she says of the rected it." remember when they had Miss Sawyer (twice exposition. "I can out on the race divorced, she retains her the rodeo and it would rain maiden name) was born track and be the damndest on a ranch near Yeso, muddy mess you ever N.

M. saw." "Except for when I was SHE CALLS took going to school, I've always Finlay MacGillivray-who Fair lived on a ranch. Hell, I over as about the same wouldn't want to live anytime she became a where else. I worked on my manager member of the most father's ranch--that's why else I I finest, rodeo, there's nothing honest man we've ever could do. "WHEN I WENT AWAY to college, I majored in home economics just because grandmother had.

I spent four months sewing a dress and made an F. I should'a been in the college of agriculture. "When I was a junior I told my professor I was to a rodeo. I would have missed only one lab going class. The professor said I couldn't- -said 'anybody who's common enough to enter a rodeo doesn't belong in Rodeos Special! STEAK LUNCH A delicious K.

C. Club or Chopped Sirloin Steak, broiled to order plus garden fresh salad and stockade toast. MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 11 a.m. 'til 4 p.m. 99 We Serve USDA Choice Lunch FRESH BEEF Cut Fresh Daily MENAUL N.E.

268-8052 On Premises GIBSON S.E. 256-1893 of Nogal, N. M. had. We couldn't have a better one.

And Chloe Baker (the Fair's administrator) has been there 23 years; I don't know what we'd do without her." "Every year, I nearly work myself to death because I believe in the State Fair, And I think we still have a personal touch, even though it's become so big." Last year, she succeeded in arranging for turquoise-studded trophy belt buckles for rodeo winners, an accomplishment of which she is particularly proud "because they're the only ones of their kind in the nation--the cowboys really like them." HER INTEREST in rodeos and horses goes back to her earliest into saddle with her recollections; being lifted a father; entering rodeos when she was in high school; the two best cutand roping horses ting she ever had, dead many daddy didn't want years ago. to rodeo, but when he "My me I wasn't going to be saw Continued to Page 26 Spring Crest Draperies cA Masterpiece look at anyway you FREE LABOR WE FABRICATE AT NO CHARGE 'TIL purchase of Spring Crest SEPT. 25th with SPRING CREST hardware fabric in stock SPRING PLEATER! Spring Crest Draperies CORBINS with of the spring beauty pleating! magic SPRING CREST Unlike conventional pleating, DRAPERY that has a front and different back look side with a 3400 CONSTITUTION NE for each. The Spring Crest system creates the "ALBUQUERQUE" pleating 512 CORONADO same soft rolling fullness front and back so your "SANTA draperies are always beautifully pleated from any point of view!.