Chamber banquet 'a huge success'

More than 250 area residents enjoyed dinner and the musings of Cowboy comedians Chad Prather and Cooper Wade during the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet.

"It was a huge success," said Aaron Kennedy, chamber vice president, adding that this year's fundraiser attracted more than the previous year. He said while the total raised from the ticket sales and silent auction is still not known, he feels it will be close to the $5,000 raised last year.

The event was held Saturday night at the Tucumcari Convention Center, featuring a shrimp boil dinner and musical comedy of Prather of Fort Worth, Texas, and Wade of Houston, Texas.

Kennedy said this is the second year in a row Prather has performed at the banquet. He said the crowd enjoyed him last year, and this year the show was even better.

"The folks have always been so welcoming, it's like coming home when I come to Tucumcari," Prather said.

Prather said last year his performance was more of a standard speaking performance; this year they asked him to sing.

"I'm not sure they knew what they were getting themselves into asking me to sing," Prather joked. He said with a singing performance, he wanted to bring along Wade who he has worked with in the past.

"I wanted to give the people a great show, something they would enjoy," Prather said. "Performing in places like Tucumcari you get to know the people who come out to the shows. In a lot of ways, coming back is like a reunion."

"The people made me feel welcome; it's a great town, and I really enjoyed performing," Wade said.

Prather and Wade's performance centered around their unique views, mixing in their own comedic brand of interpretation on various topics, including life, country music and marriage.

Prather said their style of performing includes hanging out with the crowd after the show is over.

Prather and Wade met, socialized and took photos with residents after the performance. Wade said they intended to stick around as long as the people wanted them two, despite having two performances scheduled for Sunday in Amarillo, which were fundraisers to support the families who were affected by the recent wildfires.

"Meeting the people, hearing how they liked the show and getting to know them is great," Wade said.

He said this was his first time visiting Tucumcari, where he found the reception of the people to be overwhelmingly pleasant.

The banquet is the chamber's sole fundraising event of the year. The money raised is used toward the chamber's efforts to promote tourism and business in the region and chamber members.

"If asked back a third time, I would come back," Prather said.