Bosque Farms — The Bosque Farms Police Department’s second annual Cops and Rodders Car Show benefits the Special Olympics New Mexico’s local team, the Valencia County Cobras, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Bosque Farms Rodeo Arena grounds.
Half of the proceeds go directly to the local team to help buy equipment and help the families of the athletes with travel expenses, such as lodging. The other half goes to the state organization to help put on the state and regional games.
The first year was a smash hit.
“It was more successful than we had all thought,” said Bosque Farms Police Chief Andrew Owen. “The first year, we thought maybe we get 70-80 cars and we came out with 120.”
Last year, the car show raised $4,300 for the Cobras and, this year, they hope to raise closer to $6,000 and have 200 entries.
The car show was originally the idea of BFPD Cpl. Brad Killough, who is an avid supporter of the Special Olympics Torch Run.
Killough wanted to come up with something extra to raise money for the Special Olympics and with the help of the Keller family, who hosts the Bosque Farms Car Show, and they set up the first Cops and Rodders car show.
The opening ceremony will feature some of the local Special Olympics athletes along with Killough and BFPD officer Vania Gutierrez, who is bringing the Olympic torch to the car show.
The entry fee to get into the car show is free but participants who wish to enter their vehicles will be a cost $20.
The eight categories of vehicles in the car show are hot rods, muscle cars, customs, original four-by-fours, low rides, two-wheels and imports.
“The coolest thing is the athletes are the judges,” said Owen. “It’s so wonderful because athletes have a wonderful time. They get to go around and they pick the car that they like.”
There will be vendors selling food and drinks. The police department partnered with Cumulus radio station to play music during the car show.
The Arc of New Mexico and Valencia Shelter Services will have booths set up for anyone who needs information and resources and to let the community know there is help for them.
“Just the more the merrier, come out and support these athletes,” says Owen.
The Cops and Rodders car show will be Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Bosque Farms Rodeo Arena grounds, 1040 Arena Road, Bosque Farms.
Jesse Jones lives in Albuquerque with his wife and son. Jesse graduated from of the University of New Mexico twice. This spring, he graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism and, in 2006, he received a bachelor’s degree in university studies with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a current fellow of the New Mexico Local News Fund.
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