The future of the Four Corners Rally is in question after the owner of the event, Johnny Valdez, has dropped off the grid and is not returning calls and emails from local business owners or officials with the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce and Southern Ute tribal council.
Both the rally’s website and Facebook pages have dates only for the 2016 event, with no reference to any activities for 2017.
Valdez bought the labor Day Weekend rally and its debt from the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce in 2015 to keep it alive. The chamber took it on in 2006 for the same reason when a private for-profit operator pulled out.
Rumors were circulating in January, as discussed by the Ignacio Town Board on Jan. 18. At that point, Valdez owed the town $2,500 that was due in September as part of Valdez’s memorandum of agreement (MOU) with the town.
“A week ago today, I sent Johnny a certified letter,” Development Director Dan Naiman reported in January. “As of today, he hasn’t picked it up. ... The MOU references Johnny Valdez as the owner, Four Corners Rally LLC.” The payment was due at the end of the 2016 rally, he said.