Cops & Rodders Car Show on Saturday

BOSQUE FARMS — If you’re a fan of cars of all kinds and want to support a good cause, this weekend is your chance.

The third annual Cops & Rodders Car Show is happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Bosque Farms Little League fields, 1040 Arena Road. All makes and models are welcome — if it has wheels, bring it, organizers said.

“This is a benefit to raise money specifically for the Belen/Los Lunas Cobras (the Valencia County Special Olympics team),” said Bosque Farms Police Chief Andrew Owen. “Last year, we raised just over $8,000, and half went to the Cobras and the other half went to the state Special Olympics organization. It helps them with training costs, equipment and travel expenses for families and athletes.”

When the event started, there were 12 athletes involved in the local team, Owen said, and now they are up to 30 participants. The first year featured one athlete on the promotional flier but this year, the photographer needed a 15-foot tall step ladder to get all the athletes in the picture, the chief said.

Initially coordinated by former BFPD Cpl. Brad Killough, an avid supporter of the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run and the Keller family, who host the Bosque Farms Car Show during the annual community fair, the show will be hosted and coordinated by the Lokahi Car Club this year.

“There’s a lot we couldn’t do without his team,” Owen said.

Oscar Solis, the director of operations for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run, said he and the organization were very happy the club was stepping and taking over where the Kellers left off.

“The Special Olympics program has grown tremendously in Valencia County. It’s unprecedented to double in size. It makes me think about all the athletes waiting in the shadows, waiting to participate,” Solis said. “Not only have the number of athletes grown, but so have the number of sports. They are having multi-sport experiences. The three main things Special Olympics brings is a sense of dignity, development of physical fitness and growing friendships ...”

In Hawaiian, the word “lokahi” means unity, said club president Kainoa Ayze.

“This brings unity to the car community. We were looking for something we could do to help our community,” Ayze said. “We did really well last year and we’re trying to break $10,000 this year and get larger.”

In 2023, the event featured close to 80 cars and raised $8,254, surpassing the event’s goal of $6,000.

This year, the show will have more awards and activities, Ayze said, including, hopefully, a village choice award from the council.

“We want to have the village represented. The unity of everybody coming together to help Special Olympics,” he said. “Personally, I’ve seen in the first year, some athletes were very shy and reserved. This year, they are some of the first who want to be there. I see the support of the community and it makes such a huge difference in their lives. We are fortunate to be able to come out here and help.”

Roll-in for the show is from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday. There will be food trucks, raffles and music during the event.