Tourism as an Economic Development Tool (Quay County)

The faces in the organizations that deal with tourism in Quay County have changed a lot this year. We have lost several members as they have gone on to different jobs. Agent recruited 5 new members to the Quay County Tourism Council. The council planned and worked on several projects including a business passport, hospitality training, and bus tour company packets. As money becomes tighter and people are stretched further, they have less time to put into organizing and promoting events or projects. These projects are still in the planning stages.


The council planned a business networking reception. Agent provided most of the organizational and promotion work. We had 32 people register. Several others walked in for a few minutes. The Extension Service put together displays for the tourism council and hospitality training with survey of business needs. No surveys were completed.

The 2008 Heritage Dayze served as a kick-off to the Centennial Celebration for Tucumcari. We the centennial celebration special speakers on life in Quay County were added to the events. Special events this year were the Indian dancers, Mariachis, Wild Bill, Cowboy poet, Trick roper, and Western music. The Extension Office provided booths on ice cream making, butter making, leather tooling, and braiding. Attendance was estimated to be about 1800. Participants shook 135 bags of ice cream, shook 20 jars of butter, tooled 52 book marks, and braided 20 key chains. There was approximately a 30% increase in the number of out-of-town visitors.

Quay County Hertiage Dayzes is organized by the Quay County Tourism Council with the Tucumcari Historical Museum director as the chair. Funds are raised and many entertainers are brought in to entertain the crowd such as trick ropers, pistoleros, Indian dancers, and mountain men. There were over 2200 people that attended the 2 day event in 2007 which was a 10% increase in attendance The Extension Office provided booths on campfire cooking and ice cream in a bag for the event. Due to a change in the time of year, none of the agents were able to attend the 2007 event, but organized volunteers to provide for our traditional booths. Over 200 bags of ice cream were shook. Participants learned about the heritage of New Mexico. Visitors from several states attended the event.

Four Customer Service/hospitality trainings were offered. Fourteen managers/owners attended a manager’s workshop and 30 employees attended one of two workshops taught by Allison Southworth. They learned the importance of offering good service and how to speak on the phone, give directions, and listen to customers. Managers expressed appreciation for this program and felt that they had learned some very useful information to train their employees.

A special teen workshop was designed and a committee including the home economist taught a half day workshop. Six youth attended. The workshop focused on what older people expect for service. Evaluations showed the all learned something that would make their workday easier. They all learned how to give directions from their business to the major tourist attractions in our area. They all felt that they had learned something that would help them improve their work habits.

Home Economist gathered support of all of Quay County Communities to submit a grant to bring in a specialist to do a Community Tourism Assessment. The grant application was completed and submitted, but was not selected to receive the award. The result of this endeavor however, brought representatives of the various communities to the tourism council meetings resulting in more collaboration on various grant possibilities.

Quay County Tourism Council grew this year with active members increasing from nine to 18. A business reception was held in February to start networking with businesses that serve tourists. Thirty-five business people attended. At very positive outcome of this reception was that 4 motels were represented. There were also four people new to the community that attended and were able to meet some fellow business people.