Thursday, March 12, 2009 - Rockhound State Park, Deming NM

Rockhound Roundup kicks off today
By Kevin Buey/Headlight Staff
Posted: 03/12/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

Rockhounders were arranging their booths and display areas Wednesday at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

They expect a crowd of people today through Sunday for the 44th annual Rockhound Roundup.

A short line was at a booth in front of Building 1, Wednesday, as folks registered for field trips that are part of the roundup.

Richard Jones, from Lajoya, Texas, is here with his wife, Donna. They are first-time visitors to the roundup. "Love the area," he said of Deming. "We're thinking of moving here.

"We bought a claim the other side of Hachita. I didn't realize there was this event. I'm interested in learning. I'll be new at rockhounding."

The first field trips are at 8:30 a.m., today, to Big Diggins, with John Ewert leading people looking for good Agate samples, and Joe Morone talking a group to Hatch to find Rhyolite and Fossils. Other field trips are Friday and Saturday, to Big Diggins, to Kilborne Hole, east of Columbus off Highway 9, and Black Dam, to the southwest in the Coronado National Forest. The registration line will be longer today.