For those of you who do not know, the town of Rocky Ford, Colorado (my hometown), is located in rural, southeastern Colorado and has a population of around 4,000. Though I live 3 1/2 hours away from my hometown in the school year, some things never change when I return during breaks.
If you are from this watermelon, football lovin' town, here are 12 things you are probably quite familiar with.
1. Taking pride in being the “Sweet Melon Capital of the World” as well as the “Dove Hunting Capital
2. “So your school mascot is a watermelon? It looks like an angry pickle.”
3. Arkansas Valley Fair – “The oldest continuous Fair in the State of Colorado”
When the fair rolls around each year in mid-August, we would all spend our nights there making memories and of course, attending the Tractor Pull and Demolition Derby.
4. Sonic runs
5. Friday night football games
6. High school rivalries
We all knew the Melon Dome would be packed during home sporting events, especially when the game was against a rival (you all know I'm talking about Swink and Fowler).
7. Grand Theater
Where you could see a movie for $4 (even if it was showing a month after the movie came out) and where everyone had volunteered at during their free time.
8. Summertime produce stands
9. “The Hill” while taking a run at Babcock Park
10. What’s a snow day?
During school, we know that even if there was a foot of snow outside that there would be school no matter what.
11. Graduating with a class of 50 or less
We all grew up knowing all of our classmates, their families, and had class sizes ranging from 20-50 or so. My class was one of the biggest the school had seen in a while, with 54 graduates, but everyone still knew everyone and their families.
12. The weird weather transitions
Probably around April and May is when the weirdest weather occurs. It seems as if there is always a day where it snows in May and then the next day it is 80 degrees and there is a tornado warning, (this has happened more than once).
Though I may not live here for 9 months out of the year because of school, this town of watermelon and crazy weather will always hold a place in my heart.
