Los Alamos Old Days returned last weekend with its 79th annual celebration, “How the West Was One,” several thousand locals and visitors to Bell Street for three days of food, music and small-town pageantry.

Organized by the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club, the festivities opened Sept. 26 with the Buck Contest, a chile verde dinner and live country music; Sept. 27 packed Bell Street with a classic car show, artisan vendors, family games, a dog parade and a cook-your-own steak night with dancing to The Fossils; and Sept. 28 featured a community church service, the Old Days Stampede 5K, and the “Greatest Little Small Town Parade,” followed by tri-tip sandwiches, contests and live music in Ferrini Park and the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club clubhouse.

Admission was free, and the event continued its “Back on Bell” tradition thanks to volunteers, sponsors and an enthusiastic crowd.

The following list of contest and competition winners was provided by Kylin Bray, LAVMC vice president.

Friday Night Buck Contest

• Highest Scoring — Tiago Ribiero
• Public Land — Harpo Signorelli
• Youth — Ellie Guzzie
• Biggest Fork and Horn — Cody Chaves
• Ladies — Cynthia Signorelli
• Archery — Cade Kirkland

Saturday Cow Pie Bingo

• Esto Carrillo

Saturday Car Show

• Best in Show — Pete Gaalswtk, 1934 Plymouth Coupe
• Best Hot Rod — Paul Cetti, 1933 Ford 3 window custom
• Best Custom — Mario Angelo, 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer
• Best Classic Truck — Mike Tremper, 1972 Chevy C10 Truck
• Best Muscle Car — Rick Wahlberg, 1968 Chevrolet Camaro 
• Best Rat Rod — Cody Cartagena, 1935 Ford Truck 
• Best Classic Antique — Rob Rohrer, 1915 Ford Model T Depo
• Best Patina Rods, Customs & Trucks — Teddy Broussard, 1949 Chevy School Bus  
• Best Sports Car — John Shockley, 1954 Austin Healey 100
• Best Volkswagen — Russell Newell, 1966 VW 21 Window 
  Bus
• Best Classic 1927-1941 — All makes, Robert Mainor, 1937 Chevrolet two-door sedan 
• Best Tri Five — All Makes, Chris Chiaroni, 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air
• Best 1946-1959 — Jose Negrete, 1948 Chevy Fleetline
• Best Low Rider — Joe Hernandez, 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air

Sunday 5K

Male

• 12 and under — Calvin Kendrick
• 13-19 — Jasper George
• 20-29 — Matthew Scurria (first overall male at 16:45)
• 30-39 — Esteban De La Cruz
• 40-49 — Junior Espinoza
• 50-59 — Robert Cochran
• 60-69 — Adolfo Lopez
• 70 and over — David Bore

Female

• 12 and under — Charlotte Reynoso
• 13-19 — no entries
• 20-29 — Halle Hamilton (first overall female at 20:01)
• 30-39 — Tania Diaz
• 40-49 — Rachelle Colby
• 50-59 — no entries
• 60-69 — Jolinda Oliva
• 70 and over — Terri Werber

Sunday Parade

Best Antique Vehicle

• First Place — Coastal Vineyard Care Associates

Best Community Service Organization

• First Place — Sleep in Heavenly Peace
• Honorable Mention — JLD Boxing Academy

Best Equestrian Group

• First Place — Lienzo Charro Juan Juavez
• Honorable Mention — Santa Ynez Valley Hounds

Best Float

• First Place — Righetti FFA
• Honorable Mention — Lemos Feed & Pet Supply

Best Locals Entry

• First Place — Tie between Peppertree Farms Pumpkin Patch and Olga Reed School Broncos / Orcutt Academy K-8 Spartans

Best Performance Group (musical, marching)

• First Place — Orcutt Academy High School Marching Band
• Honorable Mention — Lompoc High Sapphire Dance

Best Restored Tractor

• First Place — Al Bennett
• Honorable Mention — 2 Farmall Tractors (Kelli and Charles Linquiti)

Best Use of Theme

• First Place — Bundle ADU
• Honorable Mention — St. Joseph High School

Best Military

• First Place — Lompoc Police Department / Armored Rescue Vehicle

Sunday BBQ Contest

• Overall — Priedite Barbecue
• Beef — Tie between Santa Maria Grill Masters and Rollin’ Oak BBQ
• Chicken — Priedite Barbecue
• Ribs — Priedite Barbecue