Wednesday, January 24, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
Bonnie Knox: The volunteer spirit of a horsewoman
By Eileen M. Chambers
Correspondent
“I really love Sisters
Rodeo,” Bonnie Knox said as
though the second weekend
in June could not come soon
enough. “All the painting we
do. Ushering in the gold sec-
tion. My peeps who come
out every year to watch the
show.”
She, along with a hand-
ful of the rodeo’s “painting
ladies crew,” had gathered for
a Taco Tuesday, Happy Hour
“meeting” at Takoda’s with
fine beverages, laughter and
abundant insider conversa-
tion about grandbabies, ticket
sales, rodeo schedule changes
and “What could possibly
need paint this year?” flow-
ing quite freely.
The letter from Sisters
Rodeo Association had
arrived in the mail a few
weeks ago, like clockwork.
Annual dues due (“a very
modest sum”). The don’t-
miss-it February meeting
with potluck (“we do eat so
well”). And that post-winter
promise: “Get ready to roll
up your sleeves for the 78th
The Biggest Little Show in
the World.”
This year would be the
rodeo’s 78th year. Mind-
boggling. How did this all-
volunteer organization exist
for generations?
Perhaps, it is because of
folks like Bonnie.
Come out for a Saturday
work party (Ray’s donuts and
hot coffee brewing) and you
will find Bonnie Knox, paint-
brush ready, dressed in jeans
splattered with years’ worth
of red, gold and blue grand-
stand paint. You will dis-
cover that she is chief among
those unassuming, behind-
the-scenes, hardworking “I
don’t know what you could
write about me” people who
make up the heart and soul,
not only of the Rodeo, but of
Sisters itself.
A summer job as a coun-
selor at Camp Tamarack first
brought her to Sisters decades
ago. It was a time when the
town, she said, “was more
reminiscent of the Old West.”
Although her mother
wanted Bonnie to have a
metropolitan life, her grand-
father’s cowboy heritage was
in her blood. In 1977, in the
midst of raising children,
being a 4-H leader for 24
years and breeding Arabian
horses, Bonnie moved to
ranch property on the out-
skirts of town.
“It was about 10 years ago
that I joined Sisters Rodeo,”
Bonnie said. “I wish I could
have volunteered sooner but
my life was too busy.”
A highly-skilled horse-
woman, Bonnie was work-
ing at the time with Richard
Patterson of Patterson Ranch
(now Cole Ranch).
“Richard had five excel-
lent stallions and I owned a
42-stall barn and arena which
the Pattersons used to house
the many visiting mares
from across the country,” she
recalled.
When the recession hit,
times changed and then
tragedy struck when a fire
destroyed her barn and arena,
killing a number of horses.
“Horses have always been
a big part of my life,” Bonnie
said, with no desire to recall
the painful event. “The fire is
really something I don’t talk
about.”
Fortunately, in Sisters,
Bonnie has found many simi-
larly tenderhearted friends
who understand her love for
animals, even a dog who was
completely deaf.
“It was about 15 years
ago,” Bonnie recounted.
“There was a hoarding situ-
ation where a large number
of horses needed to be evacu-
ated. Officials were look-
ing for experienced horse
people who had trailers. I
volunteered and with others,
PHOTO PROVIDED
Members of the Sisters Rodeo painting ladies crew: Sheryn Bagley, Eileen Chambers, Bonnie Knox and Sharon
Wong. They’re already planning this spring’s work.
including vets and deputies,
we entered the property.”
Bonnie described what
she encountered as “awful.”
Dead foals, chickens and
debris scattered everywhere.
Horses foundered and near
death. Feral cats running
wild. In a pile of tires, pup-
pies were nipping at white
ball of fur, which turned out
to be another puppy.
“I held that pup and went
right up to the trailer where
the hoarder lived. When
she opened the door, I said,
‘I would like to buy this
puppy.’ She reared back, say-
ing angrily, ‘How do I know
that you will take care of her
puppy shots?’
“Standing among those
dying animals, I barely con-
trolled my temper but man-
aged, ‘There are five vets
here. All of them will tell you
that I will give her the shots.’
The hoarder came back with,
‘I want $10.’ I couldn’t get
the money out of my pocket
fast enough. That little dog
was coming home with me!
Three days later, I discovered
that she was deaf but it didn’t
matter to me. I had Lacey for
15 wonderful years.”
When it comes to the
Sisters music scene, whether
it is Bill Keale, Dry Canyon
Stampede, or The Anvil
Blasters, you will find Bonnie
I’ve traveled widely and eaten many great
meals. I recently ate at Chops Bistro in down-
town Sisters and I was very impressed. We
were there on a Wednesday and 12 of us from
trients had a great dinner. We enjoyed the din-
is your Hometown
Pharmacy
And want to
SAVE you money!
we are going paint after all
we did last year…”
“You watch,” Bonnie, the
veteran volunteer answered.
“The red section is going to
need paint.”
No doubt she will be right.
For information on joining
Bonnie Knox in volunteer-
ing with Sisters Rodeo call
541-549-0121.
Metabolic Maintenance and Personalized Nu-
Sisters Drug
We care about you!
and her painting crew buddies
in the audience.
“I am a groupie,” she
laughed. “I love it when they
sing the ‘shoot straight’ song.
We all join in,” she said.
Happy Hour was over.
The Taco Tuesday meeting
was adjourning. One of the
painting crew still wondered
aloud, “I can’t imagine what
ner so much that we came back two nights lat-
er. There is not another place in the Sisters area
• Kn
o
• Ca wledgabl
ring
e
•Com
p
e
t
iti
•Clos
e to ve
Hom
e
• Competitive prices • Personalized service
• Most insurance accepted • Pet prescriptions.
Give us a call, we’ll give you a price quote.
“We want you to be happy with our
knowledge, experience, and service.”
– Amanda, Your Hometown Pharmacist
where you can sit down and have an elegant,
relaxing, fi reside dinner. I recommend the fi let
mignon and a nice bottle of wine – but every-
thing is delicious. I hope you will give your-
self a treat and enjoy Chops Bistro’s amazing
food, service and ambience, and they support
live music on the weekends!
-Ed Fitzjarrell, Metabolic Maintenance
Pharmacy Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
541-549-6221 • 211 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters
(Until we move to a new location in Sisters)
(paid for by Ed Fitzjarrell)