What Pershing Country tradition would have turned 52 years old this summer, if not for the coronavirus?
If you guessed Lovelock Frontier Days, you’re right.
Dozens of images leap to mind when people think of the annual three-day festival in the courthouse park.
Some think of the parades, led by a different grand marshal every year. Others remember dog shows, talent shows, scavenger hunts or live music.
However, some of liveliest crowds show up for arm wrestling and horseshoes.
The battle of the nine-year-olds
It was Aug. 2017. Makenna Garcia and Trenton Rhodes climbed onstage at Lovelock Frontier Day’s arm wrestling competition.
Their facial expressions showed the strain. Officials called a draw twice. “Rest a few minutes and come back,” said the referee.
Each time, Rhodes and Garcia bounced back, ready to settle the score.
The two nine-year-olds locked hands and mustered all their strength as they leaned into the battle.
The winner would get $5 in Lovelock Loot to spend anywhere in the park. An audience gathered around the stage and cheered for their favorite. It looked like it could go either way.
Frontier Days Chairperson Nicole Reitz and Misty Ruttenbur, from Winnemucca, coordinated the event.
“Those kids are amazing,” said Reitz.
Garcia finally pinned Rhodes’s arm to the table. The friends shook hands, each acknowledging the other as a fierce competitor.
Later, Makenna reminisced about her win. Today, she is almost 13 and beginning eighth grade in Winnemucca. Trenton is 12 and in the seventh grade at Pershing County Middle School.
“Arm wrestling is fun, but it’s hard,” said Garcia. “I was sore the next day. I loved beating the boys.”
In horseshoes, close counts
The Medeiros brothers’ houses may be far apart, but each has something in common. As kids growing up in Fremont, Calif., the five boys pitched horseshoes whenever they could. As adults, each has a horseshoe pit in their backyard.
Two of the brothers stayed in Fremont. Another two moved to Sacramento.
In 2006, Bruce came to Lovelock and got a job with Pershing County Building and Grounds. He and Barrie Craspay married on Sept 24, 2011. Many in Lovelock remember Barrie from her waitress days at La Casita or, later, as Pershing County’s deputy clerk treasurer.
“I enjoy watching Bruce play,” she says. “He loves the competition.” The couple has hosted the Frontier Days Horseshoe tournament for going on eight years. Some years the siblings reunite at the games.
Horseshoe accidents are rare to nonexistent. A quick Google search brings up only one instance.
In 2017, A Norwegian woman was hit by a horseshoe while watching the races at the Oxford County Fair. An ambulance took her to the hospital where she was treated for superficial injuries and released.
However, for safety, the Frontier Days horseshoe tournament takes place on the uncongested campgrounds of Candy Beach, formerly known as Lazy K.
Most years the wind blows smoke from the Calif. wildfires. It would have this year too.
The Frontier Days players compete for cash. In 2018, Coeur Rochester gave $90 to the top thrower. The runners-up pocketed $60. And third place took home $30.
The double-elimination blind draw contest came down to six players.
First place went to David Johnson and Matt Brewer with 21 points. Dave Skoglie and Bruce Medeiros came in second with 15. Mary Happy and David Mosier finished third.
Frontier Days hopes to back better than ever in 2021.
