Gem and Mineral Show on Saturday 090217

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

The annual Gem and Mineral Show takes place over Labor Day weekend each year. This year, 2017, a new venue housed the event. The recently renovated Grant County Veterans Memorial Conference and Business Center served as the site.

At the front door, visitors, which totaled more than 1,000 as of 2 p.m., came into the facility in a steady stream. Displays in the lobby, included the always popular New Mexico State University Zulh Museum display of stones from various geological formations and other educational displays. A new twist this year was a contest to choose the best display, with winners receiving something rock related.

Lunch was served by Lions Club International, raising money for its local efforts and took place in the kitchen portion of the center.

The large event room, the medium event room and a smaller room held various vendors and their wares, including rock specimens, jewelry to please any wearer, and books on geology and lapidary. Those manning the tables eagerly discussed their items with interested buyers.

Several expressed their pleasure with the show in the newly renovated centers. Others said they were not happy with their location. But visitors continued to enter and visit every room, so as not to miss anything.

At the front door, as people left and were thanked for coming, the comment: "Oh, I'll be back," was heard quite a few times.

So much to see, it's hard to do it in one go-round, one lady said.