Wednesday, May 29, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Sisters rider headed to rodeo finals
By Jim Cornelius
Editor in Chief
Sisters Rodeo is rolling
into town, but for one rodeo
athlete, the big action next
month is in South Dakota,
where she9ll be among 1,000
contestants from all over the
U.S., Canada, Australia and
Mexico in the National Junior
High Finals Rodeo.
Twelve-year-old Gabby
Bartolotta, a sixth-grader at
Sisters Christian Academy,
will travel to Huron, South
Dakota at the end of June
to compete in pole bend-
ing. Pole bending is a timed
eo where a
event in youth rodeo
ing slalom
rider runs a weaving
between six poles set in
a line. It9s a lightning-
kes
quick, high-stakes
event.
As Bartolo tta
notes, <Messing up
ess
on one run can mess
up everything. It9s
tal
a really big mental
thing.=
eels
Bartolotta feels
well-prepared. She9s
eekly,
been competing weekly,
under the expert t tute-
lage of trainer Alicia
om she
Lettenmaier, whom
cing her
credits with introducing
ing a real
to rodeo and sparking
passion.
<I actually didn9t know
that I would do that good in
my first year of junior rodeo,=
she said.
Bartolotta says that, <it9s
probably the relationship with
the horse that keeps me doing
it. My horse has everything to
do with it.=
Jessie is a five-year-old
golden buckskin quarter
horse mare.
<She9s patterned on all
gaming events,= Bartolotta
said. <She is very mature for
her age. She9s an old soul
and I love her to death. She9s
drop-dead gorgeous. She9s an
awesome horse.=
<They take care of each
other, that9s for sure,= said
Gabby9s mother, Julie.
That9s an important thing
to know for a mom watching
her daughter blaze across an
arena, weaving among poles
at top speed.
The horse isn9t the only
one who9s mature for her age.
Rodeo and the responsibilities
of caring for a horse fosters a
culture of grace under pres-
sure, humility, and mutual
encouragement.
<Good run/bad run 4 (the
competitors) always cheer
each other on,= Julie said.
<They know how hard a sport
it is, so there9s that encour-
agement behind it.=
The Bartolottas know that
the long trip to South Dakota
is leading to competition that
can end in seconds. As always
in rodeo, contestants come a
long way for a short ride 4
and there are no quarters or
innings to make a late-game
comeback.
Gabby is ready for all that.
She9s focused, has faith in
her horse and her trainer and
herself. She9s ready to join
the best in her age group in
the sport to chase $80,000 in
prizes; $200,000 in scholar-
ships; and the chance to be a
National Junior High Finals
Rodeo winner.
It all lies just beyond those
six poles lined up in the arena.
Entertainment & Events
The Belfry Live Music with Keith Greeninger and
Dayan Kai with David Jacobs-Strain 7 p.m. For tickets
MAY
call 541-815-9122 or go to BelfryEvents.com.
30
THUR Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or
go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every
Thursday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
MAY
31
FRI
JUN
1
SAT
After Rodeo Parties!
Thurs.-Sat. June 6, 7, 8
JUN
2
SUN
Live music with #1 Country
band from Las Vegas!
Th d J June 6 at 8 8:30
Thursday,
Thursday
30 pm
Fri., June 7 & Sat. June 8
at 9:30 pm
175 N. Larch St.
17
1
t.
13
JUN
3
MON
541-549-6114
5
4
The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Live Music with The
Blank Tapes 6 to 8 p.m. Big Lawn Music series with food
& beverages for purchase. Free and open to all ages. For
additional info call 541-638-7001 or go to thesuttlelodge.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill DJK9 Rawkstar Karaoke Night!
9 p.m. Every Friday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Cork Cellars Live Music with Cuppa Jo 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
No cover! For information call 541-549-2675 or go online to
corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill DJK9 Rawkstar Karaoke Night!
9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information
call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Fir Street Park Sisters Farmers Market Opening Day
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh local produce. Live music with the
Appaloosa band. Now on Sundays! Call 503-997-0301 or go to
sistersfarmersmarket.com.
Paulina Springs Books Author Presentation with
Heather Anderson 4:30 p.m. The author will present her new
memoir,“Thirst: 2,600 Miles to Home.” For more info call 541-
549-0866 or go to paulinasprings.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m.
Every Monday, no cover! For information call 541-549-6114
or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Paulina Springs Books Music, Storytelling & Poetry
Open Mic 6 p.m. First Monday of every month. For
information call 541-549-0866.
hardtailsoregon.com
JUN
4
TUES
JUN
5
May 30 / Thurs. / 7 PM
Keith
Greeninger
& Dayan Kai
PHOTO PROVIDED
Gabby Bartolotta and her horse
Jessie will compete in Pole Bending
at the National Junior High Finals
Rodeo in South Dakota next month.
with special guest
David Jacobs-Strain
Both critically acclaimed solo
artists, together they create
a soulful sound that has
moved audiences nationwide.
June 12 / Wed. / 6:30 PM
Americana
Project CD
Release Show
BelfryEvents.com
541-815-9122
2019 Summer
Music Line-up!
Shows start at 7 p.m. $5 cover
Fri • June 21 Honey Don’t
Fri • June 28 Pete Kartsones
Mon • July 8 Abbey Road Live
AngelinesBakery.com
121 W. Main Ave. | 541-549-9122
WED
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is
at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For additional information
call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Sisters Rodeo Grounds Xtreme Bulls 6:30 p.m. $22.
Tickets at 541-549-0121 or 800-827-7522. For details go
online to sistersrodeo.com.
Sisters Saloon Live Music with Moon Mountain
Ramblers 8 to 11 p.m. Free concert after Xtreme bulls!. For
information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Hardtails Bar & Grill After Rodeo Party Live Music with
Thrillbilly Deluxe 8:30 p.m. For additional information call
JUN
541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
6
THUR Sisters Saloon Rodeo Party Locals’ Night with Joe
Slick Band and Dry Canyon Stampede 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
$10 cover, free for locals. For additional information call 541-
549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting
5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or
go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
JUN
7
FRI
Sisters Rodeo Grounds Sisters Rodeo 7 p.m. Tickets
at 541-549-0121 or 800-827-7522. For details go online to
sistersrodeo.com.
Sisters Saloon Rodeo After Party with Joe Slick
Band and Dry Canyon Stampede 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $10
cover. For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to
sisterssaloon.net.
Hardtails Bar & Grill After Rodeo Party Live Music with
Thrillbilly Deluxe 9:30 p.m. For additional information call
541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse Live Music with MAITA
6 to 8 p.m. Big Lawn Music series with food & beverages for
purchase. Free and open to all ages. For additional info call
541-638-7001 or go to thesuttlelodge.com.
Paulina Springs Books Author Presentation with John
Dodge 6:30 p.m. The author will present his non-fi ction
account,“A Deadly Wind: The 1962 Columbus Day Storm.” For
more info call 541-549-0866 or go to paulinasprings.com.
Events Calendar listings are free to advertisers.
Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays to lisa@nuggetnews.com
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