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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2018)
Heppner native has deep roots at Farm-City or Blake Knowles, rodeo runs in the hand at everything until you find where your family. Knowles was raised around the strengths lie and starting focusing in on that.” rodeo, and more specifically, Hermis- Knowles found that he excelled at steer wres- ton’s own Farm-City; his father Butch is one tling and began focusing his career on that. “It fit my talents. I’m a big guy, so I’m built of its co-founders. Most of Knowles’ earliest memories are of for it, and I love the adrenaline rush it gives you the rodeos his father worked. Butch was both every time,” he said. “It’s rough, fast-paced, and a broadcaster, and was also declared scary.” the 1987 National Finals Rodeo sad- Nowadays, Knowles is an accom- plished steer wrestler. This year alone, dle bronc champion. It was a no-brain- er when Blake made the decision to join. he’s won the Oakdale Saddle Club “It was something I was always inter- Rodeo, the La Fiesta de los Vaque- ros, the Central Point Wild Rogue Pro ested in,” said Knowles, 35. “I’ve always Rodeo, and the Crooked River Roundup enjoyed sports, and I have a very com- petitive personality. It was all I knew.” in Prineville. He was No. 3 in steer wres- Blake tling on the Wrangler Tour as of July 20. Thanks to his experience riding hors- Knowles es on his family’s Heppner ranch when he was Most of his summers are spent on the road, a kid, Knowles took quickly to every event the traveling from competition to competition. rodeo had to offer. Knowles competed in Hep- “I’m probably home a day or two out of the pner’s county rodeo until he was in eighth grade, week,” he said. “It gets pretty heavy.” when he traveled down to central Oregon to par- During the offseason, he still manages to stay ticipate in the Junior Rodeo. And as he grew, so busy, working on his ranch, training new horses did his ambitions. He competed in college rode- for the rodeo, and spending time with his wife os at the University of Montana, Montana State, Whitney and his three-year-old daughter Lydia. and Walla Walla Community College, where he Despite all of the different rodeos he’s per- qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo. formed at, big or small, nothing is quite like com- “The rodeo is kind of like high school track peting at Farm-City. and field,” he said. “You start out trying your “It’s home,” he said. “It’s an awesome expe- F rience. It has an amazing production and atmo- sphere. You always want to perform your best in front of the people who support you the most.” Knowles has performed at Farm-City over a dozen times so far, and every time is special. “Hermiston is a smaller town, so the rodeo week is one of the biggest events of the year,” he said. “I give it my all every time.” And after all these years, Knowles and his fa- ther still talk rodeo almost every day. “He gives me advice and new strategies,” he said. “Whenever I’m in a slump, it’s nice to have that kind of help and support from him.” Now, after everything he’s accomplished as a rodeo performer, Knowles is starting to set his sights on a new horizon — one that isn’t as high-energy as wrestling a steer. “I’m getting towards the end of my career,” he said. “I’d like to take a step back and look at where I am in my life.” One day, Knowles would like to slow things down and spend more time at home with his wife and daughter. But for now, with the Farm-City Pro Rodeo approaching, he hopes to deliver an- other top-notch performance for his home turf. “I’m focused on this season, and after that, who knows?” he said. “I’m looking forward to doing what I love in front of so many people.” Orchar d Terr ace 455 E. Main St., Hermiston • 541-567-8834 • www.wheatlandins.com We Speak Insurance! • New homes starting in the low $170,000’s • View Lots Available Call Linda Andreason for more information. Offi ce: 541-667-2000 • Cell: 541-571-2767 Linda Andreason Fax: 541-667-2007 • landreason@eotnet.net Principal Broker, GRI 541-667-2000 • 1-877-668-6541 Inc. 398 E. Ridgeway Ave. • Hermiston East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald | 17
