This Saturday August 5, 2023 is the day for the 79th Gardner Chuckwagon Supper. We look forward to seeing you all and enjoying catching up with family, friends and neighbors. We can always use more volunteers to husk corn and prepare potatoes Saturday morning or serve from 12-4. Extra hands to help clean up after 4pm would be most appreciated!!

July – HUERFANO HONORS IT’S OWN

Payton Salas Honored Younger & Mickey De Ambrosia Honored Elder ~ Photo courtesy of Heather Curtis

Gardner is home to both our Elder Honoree and our Younger Honoree that were presented to the County Commissioners at their meeting on July 25th. Mickey De Ambrosia was our Honored Elder and Payton Salas our Honored Younger.
Mickey has worked tirelessly for the people of Huerfano County for many, many years. Her deep familial roots have brought her back to focus on her hometown in Gardner in recent years. She is passionate about services ranging from over 30 years of EMT involvement to the amazing food bank that she now coordinates. This important grass roots project serves 80-90 families per month: a significant percentage of the population of the Gardner area. Mickey is truly an unsung hero helping her neighbors to a better life.
One of the most interesting contrasts (or maybe similarities?) of our July Honorees is that Mickey, as an elder is so young at heart in both energy and passion. Our Youth Honoree of the month, Payton Salas, is only 14, but embraces the wisdom, passion and work ethic of someone much older. Payton contributes so much to her family and community and is already a seasoned businesswoman with her cheese enterprise. Everyone was so positive about this young woman and the future she has ahead. With youngsters like Payton serving Huerfano County, the future does appear bright.

COAL CAMPS AND COW CAMPS

Another exciting project to highlight the rich legacy of Huerfano County—COAL CAMPS AND COW CAMPS—How the Miners and Cowboys shaped the legacy of Huerfano County. The BIG event will be on -November 4th……but it will only be the event it deserves to be if those that know the history, stories and/or have the pictures will come forth to share. Ron, Sylvia, and Sandy will be at the Chuckwagon lunch in Gardner on Saturday with the pictorial archive of 25 of the Founding Hispano Families of Huerfano County. We still are interested in adding to that as well as collecting pictures and stories for our important new project. Come talk to us!!!

Sandy will also be at the Walsenburg Library on Friday August 11th from 1-3 to scan photos and collect stories. There will be many other opportunities to share in the next couple of months. Please keep the legacy of those who came before alive! (And Sandy is willing to come to you if you are willing to share. Call or text 719-251-1271 for more information.)