Wallowa.com
CHIEF JOSEPH DAYS
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Photos by Ellen Morris Bishop
A bareback bronc discovers that the time tested strategy of running into the fence to dislodge a rider doesn’t always work. This rider finished his 8 seconds, although his score
suffered for the encounter with the fence.
CHIEF JOSEPH DAYS
Chief Joseph Days: Volunteers help make the event ‘a lot easier’
Continued from Page A1
injuries serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospi-
tal. Rodeo veterinarian Dr. Randy Greenshields noted
that no livestock were seriously injured either, except
for one steer that suffered a dislocated shoulder but was
“walking around just fine” once the vet “popped it back
into place”, and one calf that had the wind knocked out
of him, but was up and doing fine once he was hauled
out of the arena and allowed to rest on some nice clean
straw.
The Nez Perce encampment and Friendship Feast
provided opportunities for Indians, especially the Nez
Perce Wallowa band, to return to their homeland. The
Nez Perce set up camp on the Encampment Pavilion
just east of the rodeo grounds. An important tradition
of the rodeo as well as the area itself, tribal presence is
an integral part of the rodeo parade. Beyond that, the
Nez Perce Friendship feast of salmon provided by the
Wallowa Band Nez Perce, and pot-luck dishes provided
by everyone else, is a highlight of Saturday afternoon.
The feast is followed by prayers, songs and a traditional
Indian dance contest. It’s one of the most highly antic-
ipated events of rodeo with hundreds witnessing the
competition.
Even the only downside of the six days had a happy
ending. Local favorite, Derek Kolbaba, a PRCA top-10
bullrider was disqualified. The good news: He recov-
ered shortly afterward and still made it to compete in
the next rodeo. Kolbaba rode his bull for more than the
required eight seconds, but was disqualified because
halfway through his ride his free hand brushed the spin-
ning bull’s side. Kolbaba’s dismount was equally unfor-
tunate. He landed on his feet, but in the process aggra-
vated a knee injury sustained last year in Little Rock,
Arkansas. He had to be helped from the arena, but later
recovered and headed for his next rodeo in Montana.
Caleb McMillan of Soap Lake Washington scored
Troy Lerwill’s Wild Child specialty act included flames
and jumping his motorcycle over a pickup.
an 83-point ride on Dirty Steve and owned the night.
McMillan also competed in steer wrestling and tie-
down roping. Heartbreak of the Thursday night bull
event was Colton Humphries’ re-ride. Interfered with
when the bull collided with the side of the chute, Hum-
phries was offered a re-ride on a bull known as Renewed
Spirit. In a spectacular performance, Humphries stayed
aboard the high-kicking animal for exactly 7.98 sec-
onds. Then as he tried to gather himself and get to his
feet, the bull turned on him, knocking the prone Hum-
phries around the arena for a few breathholding seconds
before the bull fighters distracted him from the fallen
rider. Helped from the arena, Humphries seemed to be
OK. However, eight seconds is 8.00 seconds, and Hum-
phries was awarded a No Time for his second effort.
CJD Rodeo president Terry Jones said it was a very
successful rodeo.
“We had a lot of good crowds; Wednesday night’s
crowd was probably the biggest we’ve ever had,” he
said. “Friday night’s crowd was right up there, and Sat-
urday was basically sold out.” He added that the rodeo
ran smoothly with few glitches and that everyone did a
marvelous job.
Jones said that a number of people gave him compli-
ments on how good the rodeo was in all its aspects and
said the weather helped make the rodeo more enjoyable.
One of Jone’s favorite parts of the rodeo was rodeo
clown Troy Lerwill, who kept the crowd in stitches.
Lerwill’s Wild Child included a motorcycle jump over
a Dodge pickup—accompanied by flames. It was an
audience favorite, despite the fact that it’s a rodeo act
with no sign of horses, cattle or even dogs anywhere.
Lerwill’s good-natured banter and considerable moto-
cross skills provided a family-friendly act with plenty
of laughs.
“Troy’s a great act,” Terry Jones said. “Even if I’ve
seen it before, it’s still funny.” Jones added that bull rid-
ing and wild cow milking also made for a great show.
While the purse was not a record, the $112,000 in
prize money doled out ensured plenty of competitors
for next year’s rodeo. The 83-point winning bull ride by
Caleb McMillan won the cowboy nearly $5,000 for his
efforts. Tucker Hill won $2,400 for his 86-point ride in
the saddle bronc: a record for the arena.
Jones also noted the efforts of volunteers, which he
said numbered more than 300. Angelika Dietrich was
recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for her work in
photographing the rodeo and also managing the web-
site, designing the program and other publications, and
other jobs too numerous to mention.
“You can’t say enough about the volunteers,” Jones
said. “For that many people to show up and do their
jobs so well makes putting on this rodeo a lot easier.”
Rodeo announcer Jody Carper holds the cow while his partner sprints to the finish line
with a bottle of fresh milk. Carper’s team won second place.
A bareback rider’s face shows the pain inflicted by his sport during his ride Thursday
night.
Mutton Busting is a good gateway sport
for bronc riding.
A steer wrestler gets a grip on a reluctant
steer Friday evening.
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