Hosted by the TAMIU Alumni Association, the 4th annual Ford Autmus Fest rocked the campus on Oct.11, allowing students, families, and friends to experience the ongoing tradition.”I like it because it’s a social gathering with good music and a different culture,” said junior Sociology major Ignacio Garcia. “It’s about many people being together, and [it] gets better every year.”Expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees, the festival offered live music, arts and crafts, food, contests, moon bounces for children and more. In addition, more than 15 cooking teams competed for the Brontosaurus Rib Cooking Contest.”We placed second in the rib contest,” said Miguel Lopez, a.k.a D.J. Wero from Digital 107.3. This is Lopez’s second year participating. He said he really enjoyed Autmus Fest this year, and he thinks it’s because of Kinky, a Monterrey-based Latin rock band.Graduate student and volunteer Nini Garcia left during the day but came back at night to watch the band’s performance, as did senior Mary Garza and her boyfriend.”A lot of people were here [earlier,] and now it is full,” Garcia said. “I came back to see Kinky.”Sophomore Ricardo Jaime, a Social Studies major, also anticipated seeing Kinky.”I don’t care about the other bands,” Jaime said. “I paid ten bucks for Kinky. They should come more often.”In a press release, president of the Ford Autmus Fest committee Orlando Navarro wrote, “We strive to feature diverse music genres so that our event attendees can enjoy all types of music.”Other genres included rock music from Ali Cat, Warryor, and Krystal Blue Affliction, classic rock from Night Ranger, eclectic from Nothing More, fusion from Superphat, country from JR Castillo, tejano from Little Joe y la Familia, and pop music from Kristen Mari.Originally from the outskirts of Austin, Kristen Mari heard about Laredo through her roommate, a native Laredoan.”My agent called me about Laredo, and I agreed to come,” Mari said. “I would like to come back and perform.”Criminal Justice major Salvador Gamboa and Robert Diaz said they would like to see bands that are more appealing to undergraduate students.”Who are they trying to [organize] this concert for?” said Diaz. “Most of these bands that are here, can be seen at Average Joe’s.”Third-time volunteer Juan Espinoza, a senior Social Studies major, thought the festival could have been better.”In order to get more people, we need more famous people to perform. Maybe more people could come,” said Espinoza. Key sponsors for this year’s event include title sponsor Ford, presenting sponsor Border Media Radio, Miller Lite Beer, R.C. Cola and Big Red Soda, Allstate Insurance – Marcos Moreno Insurance Agency, PocketCommunications, KGNS TV Channel 8 NBC, Telemundo and CW Laredo, La Posada Hotel, Hal’s Landing Restaurant and Bar, IBC Bank, CPL Retail Energy, H-E-B, Elmo Lopez Music Store, Gibson Guitar, Cricket Communications, UETA, Eleven Promotions and the Fernando Salinas Trust, according to the Autmus Fest website. The Miller Light Girls Elizabeth Morales and Monica Salazar passed around koozies and key chains.”It is very fun and cool,” Morales said. “It’s different, and it’s my first time.”Salazar added the event was for a good cause. According to the Autmus Fest website, the purpose of this family event was to raise scholarship funds for students to attend TAMIU.”I am having fun,” senior Hector Diaz said. “I got to enjoy hanging out with my friends, seeing different people, and listening to good music. The beer and food are great. I hope everybody enjoyed the night,” Diaz said.