The Observer., August 30, 2019, Page 5, Image 5

THE OBSERVER, AUGUST 30, 2019
HELLS CANYON MULE DAYS PAGE 5
The Hells Canyon
Mule Days
Top Hand Award
“Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.”
Since 1981 this annual event has been
organized and implemented with all vol-
unteer help. Over the years many people
have given their personal time and extra
effort for the success of this annual Wal-
lowa County Tradition...
The Hells Canyon Mule Days com-
mittee, realizing that its volunteers and
show supporters are the life blood of
this event and are often unrecognized
for their valuable outstanding contri-
butions and commitment to carry out
many thankless tasks, established The
Top Hand Award in 2006 to recognize
one of its own and to extend a special
“thank you”.
This year’s recipient is long-time show
supporter Jay Connolly who has been
the guy behind the scenes to be sure the
sound equipment is installed and ready
for the show announcer to entertain the
crowd and keep the contestants lined
out for their scheduled classes.
Jay is back to the fairgrounds at the
end of Sunday’s events and removes the
sound system, cleans and double checks
all of it so the system is ready for the fol-
lowing year. He is also our IT guy and
saved us last year, when the day before
the opening show, the new computer,
that had been programed and event fi les
loaded along with contestant entries,
crashed. Jay put his daily scheduled ap-
pointments on hold and reprogrammed
the computer, loaded all the show fi les
and had the computer back to our show
secretary that afternoon to reload the
contestant entries before the opening of
the show offi ce the following morning.
Jay has a willingness to help, an easy
going manner, and no problem is too
big for him to take care of. It has been
such a pleasure to work with Jay over
the years and to know he is always there
for the success of our show.
Mule Days is paying tribute to the true
spirit of volunteering by presenting this
year’s Top Hand Award to Jay Connolly
and a big thank you to him for his time
and dedicated efforts he brings to this
event.
“We couldn’t do it without him!”
Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in
democracy...when you volunteer, you vote
every day about the kind of community
you want to live in.
Mule Days
Sponsor
Since 1997
Local Money Working
For Local People
www.communitybanknet.com
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Member FDIC
Banking & Lending
Hells Canyon Mule Days Top Hand Award
2006 - Larry and Juanita Waters
Joseph, OR
2007 - Warren and Zoe Matthews
Princeton, OR
2008 - Dick Walker ~ Union, OR
2009 - Kent and Chris Lozier
Enterprise, OR
2010 - Susan Hollenbeak
Riggens, ID
2011 - George Burnett
Aurora, OR
2012 - Alan & Cheri Miller
Wallowa, OR
2013 - John Hollenbeak
Joseph, OR
2014 - Clay Freels Enterprise, OR
2015 - Midge Kliewer, Diane
Knox Joseph, OR
2016 - Harold & Pam Stitzel
Wallowa, OR
2017 - Sondra Lozier
Enterprise, OR
2018 – Belinda Kuntz
Enterprise, OR
2019 – Jay Connolly ~
Enterprise, OR
September 6, 7, 8
Fri, Sat & Sun Breakfast: Biscuits & Sausage Gravy, 6 a.m.
Food booth proceeds help support our Ag Scholarship for
Wallowa County Kids.
Hamburger
Pulled Pork&
Turkey Salad