Begun in 1986, the twoday festival takes place on the last weekend in September, the little agrarian community sharing its bounty with neighbors, including nearby Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
Gasteyer at high noon Sunday announced the winner of the village’s first pet election, which the mayor said was to honor Corrales being a premier “pet friendly community.” The election helped to raise money for charitable organizations.
Aspen, ridden by her owner, Nancy Freshour of Corrales, reacted with an excited high pitched neigh to the mayor’s announcement.
She bested some “tough competition,” as Freshour described her opponents. They included Sherman, a big blue roan horse who looked like the Allied Sherman tanks of World War II; Buddy, a cute Dalmatian; Emma, an industrious donkey; Hoover, a dapper gentleman dog; Paco Peco, a beautifully coiffed llama; Wally, an equally well-manicured poodle; and finally, Little Miss, an inquisitive chicken who was named secretary of Eggs-Ucation.
Pet Election Organizer Caryl Trotter said the campaign group set an overall goal of $5,000, but raised $7,879 for charitable organizations. A dollar counted for one vote, and residents began voting Aug. 14 online, or at ballot boxes at sponsoring businesses throughout the village.
“It was a win-win for the entire community,” Freshour said, as Aspen belted out another shrill victory whinny.
“She’s obviously going to be very vocal and outspoken,” Freshour added.
During the six-week campaign, Aspen tirelessly met voters at “meet and greet” events, and even gave free pony rides to children at local businesses.
Some of Aspen’s official duties will include appearances at public functions and visits to area schools for events like graduations.
“She’s absolutely delighted and very honored,” Freshour said of Aspen, who nodded her head.
Later, Gasteyer volunteered at a dunking tank to benefit the Corrales fire department. Long lines formed to pay $1 for three chances to dunk the mayor by hitting a target with a softball.
“Oh, oh, look at this, he’s roughing the ball up like a spitter,” Gasteyer said, as one pitcher rubbed the ball, but the pitcher missed the target three times.
“Look at this guy; he looks good,” Gasteyer said of the athletic-looking Scott Hand, who coolly twice dunked the mayor.
A parade of sharp shooting dunkers soon left Gasteyer looking water logged, but he gamely climbed back on the wet seat every time.
“I’m glad I had the good sense to wait until afternoon because this morning it was freezing,” Gasteyer said.
Fire Chief Anthony Martinez egged the mayor on to greater depths. “He’s a tough mayor,” Martinez said. Read here.
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