RGV Children’s Arts Festival Winner Enjoys Ride of His Life in the Rockies

“It was the best week of my life,” is how Colton Hughes, 12, described the vacation he won for his family at the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch in Parshall, Colorado. Since learning on May 3 that he had won the RGV Children’s Arts Festival, Hughes had been waiting all summer to ride in the Rockies August 18-24.

Even though the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch offered morning and afternoon rides, there were three that caught Hughes’ attention and all had something to do with food.

The candy ride featured a ride into the small town of Parshall for ice cream and other goodies. Hughes had to pack a lunch for the all-day ride, but on the breakfast ride, he packed nothing. He smelled eggs, biscuits, gravy and sausage cooking over an open fire as he and his faithful horse “Duke” approached.

The breakfast ride was yummy, but it didn’t feature the ranch’s famous, flying blueberry pancakes. Those were available on all other mornings back at the ranch kitchen.

“If you wanted one, you had to go open the kitchen door and yell, ‘Blueberry!’” said Hughes. “Then Cheri would come out and throw one in the air and you’d try to catch it with your plate. I caught two because my dad was too embarrassed to catch the second one.”

Hughes came to Colorado as a greenhorn with virtually no riding experience. But it didn’t take long for the Bar Lazy J kids’ riding program to have him loping the trails like an experienced cowboy.

“We learned even faster than the adults,” says Hughes. “I was riding on long rides when they were still doing their orientation. We went on our first ride over some hills and through the river. That was exciting!”

Colton Hughes is the son of Will and Nancy Hughes of Harlingen. “The week at Bar Lazy J was different from anything we’ve ever done,” said Nancy Hughes. “It was great. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We’re seriously thinking about going back.”

Another Valley child will have an opportunity to win a Bar Lazy J week-long vacation for his or her family during the 2013-14 RGV Children’s Arts Festival, according to festival organizers Carey & Lisa Kinsolving. Arts festival guidelines, entry form and questions to answer and illustrate can be found by clicking on the picture of Colton and his horse Duke at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. There is no entry fee, but parental consent is needed.

“In addition to winning the vacation for up to five immediate family members, the winner will receive $1000 to help with travel expenses,” said Carey Kinsolving. “All this is possible because of the generosity of our Valley sponsors and Jerry and Cheri Helmicki of the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch.”

Valley Gold Spur sponsors include El Pato Mexican Food, orthodontist Dr. Joel Martinez, Children’s Center at Renaissance, pediatrician Dr. Martin Garza, Lone Star National Bank and Melba’s Dance School.

When asked if she had any advice for kids thinking of entering the RGV Children’s Arts Festival, Nancy Hughes said: “People should not be afraid to enter. Just do it. Encourage your child to do their best and to put some effort into it. You never know what could happen. You don’t have to be a grand artist or anything. It’s well worthwhile to do, whether you win or not.”