Can you believe the very first Mancos Days started back in 1958? I want to take a huge step back in history just to see what it was truly like to wear those magnificent dresses and stunning hats while riding beautiful horses down Grand Avenue in our annual parade... Maybe play cowboy polo in the park, or chase some greased pigs just to see if I could catch one.

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I know from talking to some of the “old timers” that ranch rodeos and family get togethers were more prominent back then and Maria Decker was our first Mancos Days Queen in 1961. Over the years, the Ladies Auxiliary has named a Mancos Days Queen each year, even picking twins one year. I knew some of these women and all of them deserved to be Queen! All of them are positively amazing!

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Little Miss Mancos is a young lady from the 3rd grade at Mancos Elementary School and is named by the teachers in the elementary school. Little Miss Mancos is recognized as being kind and helpful to not only the teachers, but to her fellow classmates and friends. She is a young lady that promotes happiness with a smile and a kind word or gesture; she is someone who helps others when they are feeling sad or down. 

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I want these young ladies to look up to the Mancos Days Queens to think that someday she may get the chance to be Queen. I love our little town; a lot has changed since 1958, and we have our little traditions. And we can still make more.

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--Ewa Bell

2024 Mancos Citizen of the Year

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Ewa Bell developed this new tradition for the younger generation, "Little Miss Mancos". Ewa started our partnership with the Mancos School in 2022.