Official Site of the Nevada State Mining Championships - Memorial Day Weekend

Every year, over Memorial Day weekend as part of Jim Butler Days, the Tonopah Historic Mining Park hosts the Nevada State Mining Championships. This two day event features both professional and amateur competitions. This event has been held for more than 30 years and involves the many skills that miners needed to have to make a living at their profession. Events contested include double and single jack drilling, individual and team mucking, spike driving, timber toss, timber sawing and the newest event, blindfolded wheelbarrow obstacle course.

At left: Brock Boscovich competing in the single jack drilling competition. Brock is the reigning single jack and individual mucking champion

 On Saturday, the professional mining events start immediately after the Jim Butler parade, normally around High Noon. Both women and men are invited to participate in a wide variety of events. Large cash prizes are the incentive and the reward is being able to brag that you are the Nevada State champion! The actual prize money is all donated by supportive companies and individuals. The more money donated, the bigger the purse. Also, all entry fees are also added in and used to boost the final take even more. All comers are invited to participate. However, if you enter the professional events, you aren't eligible to compete in the amateur events on Sunday. A minimum of three participants must be entered for an event to be held.

 


Pictured right: Heidi Bertolino puts her back into the women's mucking event.

On Sunday, the amateurs take over. Young and old participate in single and team mucking, a mining relay race, and the popular wheelbarrow obstacle course. Age categories start at 7 years and under. Special sized ore cars are used for the younger divisions but all those older than 15 get to muck the same amount of dirt as the professionals.

While the championships are going on, there are a lot of other activities happening at the Tonopah Historic Mining Park. Free gold panning is offered all weekend along with free admission to the park's 110-acre walking tour. An arm wrestling tournament also takes place on Sunday. Numerous vendors ply their trades to the visitors. It is a wonderful weekend for the whole family and a unique experience you will never forget!

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