MARFA — The second annual Armed and Generous Community Arm Wrestling Championship is back by popular demand at Planet Marfa this Sunday, May 4. The event kicks off at 1 p.m. and goes round for round until two winners prove themselves the strongest arms in town. Marfa local Christy Miller is the lead organizer of the event, which is raising funds for Marfa Education Foundation’s scholarship program.
“We’ve got 65 participants signed up to battle it out in the Octagon at Planet Marfa,” Miller said. “We’re bringing back what people loved: Mia Valentini will kick off the event with the National Anthem, Christopher Dyer will bring his radio voice as emcee, and Kaki Aufdengarten will be wearing the stripes as the referee. We’ll be featuring an official arm wrestling table this year, to keep it legit. Trophies, prizes, and a year’s worth of bragging rights await the winners.”
Last year, onlookers donated close to $6,500 toward educational programs at Marfa ISD. This year, Marfa Education Foundation is leaning into the competitive nature of the event, challenging the community to beat last year’s total. Funds raised at this Sunday’s event will go towards scholarships for Marfa ISD graduates who are enrolled at the sophomore or higher level in a college or trade school.
“Marfa is sending more kids to college than ever,” said Abby Boyd, MEF executive director. “Graduates heading off to college often have a lot of gifts and scholarships that help them through that first year. MEF’s scholarships are for students who are further along and need help completing their degree. Our scholarships help with one of the hardships of getting through college, the financial burden. It goes a long way in getting Marfa grads to the finish line; to getting their degree or certifications.”
Miller conceived of the event as a way of honoring friend Jeffrey Hester, who loved bringing people together for a good time and passed away in 2021.
“We are so excited to get the community together again so Jeffrey Hester can see all his friends in one place and cheer us on from the great beyond,” Miller said. “A hundred percent of the proceeds will go to supporting scholarships for Marfa ISD students. Bring your cash to make it interesting. We’ll have QR codes to donate through Venmo and PayPal.”
The Marfa Education Foundation supports and enhances the work of the Marfa Independent School District and is committed to facilitating enrichment projects and to augmenting the education of the district’s students, as well as supporting the education of MISD graduates who are attending an institution of higher education or a trade school. Scholarship applications open in the winter and will be awarded in early 2026.
For more information or to donate, visit marfaeducationfoundation.org.