LOVINGTON, N.M. – As fairgoers are making plans for the annual Lea County Fair and Rodeo, the staffs at the Tate Branch Auto Group dealerships in Hobbs, Carlsbad and Artesia are making plans themselves.
In addition to being the presenting sponsor for the annual exposition, the Tate Branch team has numerous plans scheduled during the nine-day fair, scheduled for Friday, July 31-Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington.
“We are having our second annual ‘All RAM No Bull’ off-site sale in Lovington that week,” said Joby Houghtaling, chief managing officer for the auto group. “On the last day of the fair and rodeo, we will have a major blowout with lots of prizes to be given away, including a Sea Doo boat as the grand prize at our off-site sale.”
The many pieces have all come together to mark the 80th anniversary of the fair and rodeo, which has been recognized as one of the largest expos in the region. Fairgoers from all across New Mexico and Texas may their way to Lovington every August to take in all the events, including top-named concerts, carnival, livestock shows, daily entertainers and one of the top rodeos in the country.
A big part of the event’s success is because of the community support from a variety of local sponsors, and Tate Branch Auto Group is the largest.
“I feel like I’m very, very blessed,” said Tate Branch, the auto group’s owner. “I feel like I’m in a position that God has blessed me, and this is one way I could give back.”
It’s because of the relationship between the dealerships and the fair that there is such a wide variety of activities that take place in Lea County that week.
In addition, the Tate Branch Auto Group also sponsors several levels of rodeo, including seven top cowboys: tie-down roping brothers Clif and Clint Cooper and their legendary father, Roy Cooper; steer roper Marty Jones; and team roping twins Jake and Jim Ross Cooper; and two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy.
“We’re going to have one of the area’s top radio station doing a morning show on site at our sale Tuesday-Friday of fair week, and we are going to try to have all the ‘Riding for the Brand’ cowboys at the morning shows. We plan to have them be available for autographs and pictures with the public.”
Those appearances are one aspect of reaching out and giving back to consumers that sets the Tate Branch Auto Group apart from most dealerships. Houghtaling, Branch and the rest of the staff realize that there is something special happening at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo and want everyone to enjoy all the festivities.
“We have always believed with the three dealerships that there is an importance to being involved in the community and giving back to the community,” said Branch, who, like Houghtaling, grew up in southeastern New Mexico. “We are very family oriented and community oriented.”
It rings true every August.
