On Saturday and Sunday September 10th and 11th Wildlands Network sponsored the third Heritage Days weekend at the Rodeo Conference Center in Rodeo, New Mexico. The event is set up to show how our heritage from the past is merged with the present. The event was kicked off on Friday night at the Chiricahua Desert Museum with a talk on Wildfire Ecology and social gathering.
Saturday started off the two days of talks. This year the focus seemed to be on the recent fires in the Chiricahua Mountains Coronado National Forest. Talks covered the fire and how both nature and the U.S. Forest Service are working to rebuild the areas burned. Saturdays talks were well attended by many local people as well many presenters. Some of the presenters and representatives came from as far away as Southern and San Francisco, California.
Both days of the event included a Farmers Market so visitors could purchase local goods and freshly grown produce. There was also an event in a separate room for children to learn about the heritage of the area as well as a talk by local Landscape Architect Greg Magee on native plants. The children during their time created a large mural drawing giving their impressions of what they learned.
During the days there were several breaks for people to socialize and enjoy cookies and and drinks provided by the organizer. There was also a nice lunch that could be purchased in advance both days. Everyone seemed to enjoy the breaks and lunches as they could visit with the presenters for more information as well as socialize with others.
Sundays talks were more towards the cultural aspects of our heritage. The Forest Service talked about the trails and natural springs in the mountains used by hikers, ranchers, and of course the wildlife of the area.
A talk were also given by long time rancher and businessman Edward Elbrock on the history of his ranch and the development of Conservation Easements that protect the large ranches from being sold off for development thus protecting the vast ranch lands as open space for future generations.
Former Arizona Fish & Game Warden and local Portal resident talked about the history of the Chiricahua Mountains and Portal.
Howard Topoff a local retired professor gave a light hearted semi-historical presentation on the American Museum of Natural History's Southwest Research Station. As usual everyone was very entertained by Howard's presentation!!
There was also a presentation by the newly newly formed local conservation organization, Friends Of Cave Creek Canyon (FOCCC) Someone said they should use the acronym to create the slogan "Meet the FOCCC"!! They were selling very nice T-shirts for their organization as well as memberships. If you are interested you can find out more about them at www.friendsofcavecreekcanyon.org.
The final two presenters were myself talking about "Our Artistic Heritage" and Rick Beno talking about Astronomy and its heritage to this area and the southwest. My talk was about how our artistic heritage started back in prehistoric times by Native Americans doing art on the rock bluffs and caves in the area. In historic times our artistic heritage started with local hobby artist. Following them were the first professional artists and then the growth of galleries to what we have here today a very diverse and constantly growing group of very talented artists that consist of simple crafts people, fine art painters and bronze sculptors like myself, not to be left out the large number of professional writers and musician that make up our artistic heritage. Howard Topoff in his presentation pointed out too that all the artistic heritage here is also enter connected with the sciences that are taught and studied here. Art and Science he said always go hand and hand together.
The 2011 Heritage Days was a big success and everyone is looking forward to the one in 2012. Couldn't ask for better weather for this years Heritage Days and the location was perfect. - Roger
It was a great event for everyone!
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