Parade winners announced

By Donnie A. Lucas

Despite fewer out-of-town participants this year, the 2022 version of the Fandangle parade rolled down Main Street last Saturday with a number of the entries awarded cash prizes.

The number of entries may have been down, but the number of spectators seemed to be higher.

“We were able to give all the winners something this year because we picked up a number of sponsors in the week before the parade,” co-chair Ragan Riley said. “We also had several more entries in the last few days, so even through our numbers were down, we were happy with the way people stepped up.”

Riley said that she felt the current price of gas hurt the number of entries from outside of Albany.

“Several of the people or groups who normally enter from out of town said that it just cost too much to come this year,” she said. “I think the hot weather we have been having may have played a part too.”

Originally, only four cash prizes were planned, but the influx of sponsors gave the organizers the chance to reward all of the categories with either cash or gift certificates and Albany Bucks.

This was the second year for the duo of Riley and Shannon Leech to co-chair the event.

“We gave cash prizes for the first time ever last year, and we were thrilled to expand that this year thanks to our sponsors,” Riley said. “We are already making plans for next year for the 85th anniversary show.”

This year’s parade marshal was Connie Wood, who has been the female narrator of the show since 1977. She rode in a horse-drawn hack driven by Reanee LaBonte, who also brings the narrators on stage for each performance of the Fandangle. Wood was joined by several of her great grandchildren for the ride down Main Street around the courthouse square and back through the point where the parade started at Nancy Smith Elementary.

Winning Entries

There were a total of 12 categories, with one winner selected in each.

The panel of three judges picked the best entry for each category and also decided to issue a special award.

A new Fandangle Fortitude Award was given to Chad Whitley on horseback. He was led by his mother Morgan Whitley, who walked the entire route.

“The judges wanted to recognize the individual who best represented the commitment and heart it took to survive on the prairie, which is shown in the show,” Riley said. “So the judges gave a dinner for two at Fort Griffin General Merchandise Restaurant as the prize.”

Category winners included the following:

Best Fandangle Themed Float – The Beehive Saloon Float ($120 prize).

Best Horse Troupe with more than three riders – The boy and girl riders on horseback in the Young Riders segment of the show ($100 prize).

Best Classic Ride – ‘92 Mud Truck driven by Kevin Hendley and owned by Stuck at Buck’s in Lubbock ($50 prize).

Best Western Ride – Mail Hack driven by Hnery Musselman ($50 prize).

Most Authentic – Narrator’s Hack driven by Reanee LaBonte ($50).

Best Horseman – Susie Cormack ($100 prize).

Best Entry – Canyon Courtin’ and Tall Tale ($120 prize).

Judge’s Choice – Hearts of the Homestead Float ($120 prize).

Most Creative – Alpha Zeta Epsilon vehicle ($50).

Classic Ride We Would Love to Own – First National Bank ( Dinner for 2 at the Icehouse).

Loudest Entry (no car horns or sirens) Fandangle Grounds Crew ($50 Albany Bucks).

Single Person – Brock Bellah small Fandangle flag ($25 Albany Bucks).

Parade Sponsors

The following individual and businesses helped sponsor the parade:

Sassifrass, Susan and Steve Waller, The Albany News, Fort Griffin Fandangle Board, 2021 Flag Parade, Buds for You, Fort Griffin General Merchadise Restaurant, Icehouse Restaurant, ResourceCare Community Center Center and Care Fest, Vintage Vamilla and Erline’s Specialty Shop, and Stuck at Buck’s of Lubbock.

Riley expressed thanks to the judges, who were Mindy Wagman Ary, Amanda Tabor, and Timothy Miler.

She also thanked announcer Pam Davis, along with local law enforcement officers for rerouting traffic during the parade.