6 JULY 15, 2003
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Tribal rodeos have gotten bigger, better every year and will showcase a full summer of events this year.
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By Peta Tinda
The Spirit Mountain Northwest
Professional Rodeo Association
(NPRA) event was bigger and bet
ter this year, with lots of action for
rodeo fans that came to see the bull
riding, steer wrestling, team roping
and barrel racing at the Spirit
Mountain Rodeo arena.
"It's a great venue," said Jan
Fults, of the
Northwest
Youth Rodeo As
sociation. "It's a
really nice rodeo
and the setting is
just beautiful.
We always have
a good time
when we come
here."
The NPRA is
the Western
United State's
largest profes
sional rodeo or
ganization, with
a membership of
over 1,000. It
annually sanc
tions over 80 rodeos throughout Or
egon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada
and California.
About 500 fans turned out to
watch the 200 cowboys from all
over Oregon and Washington com
pete for cash prizes on some of the
toughest live stock around. Stock
contractor P9 Rodeo Company pro
vided the bucking horses and bulls
for this year's show, including the
notorious Shoot-Out bull "Rip City."
The rodeo was held in the
evening, starting at 7 p.m. The
late start took advantage of the
NWYRA:
July 26 & 27 10 a.m.,
both shows.
NPRA Rodeo:
August 2 7 p.m.
August 3 1 p.m.
Oregon Junior Bull Riding
Association:
August 9 & 10
Time TBA
Rodeo Board Chairman
Marvin Kimsey
cooler temperatures and gave rid
ers who participated in the
Tillamook rodeo, held earlier in the
day, a chance to get to Grand
Ronde.
Michaelle Kimsey, longtime rodeo
volunteer and wife of Spirit Moun
tain Rodeo Board Chairman
Marvin Kimsey, said that the
evening show was
such a success that
they would repeat
the formula next
year.
"It's growing every
year," said Kimsey.
"We really have to
hustle to keep up, but
we're doing."
Many other Tribal
members helped out
by volunteering to
ensure a first-rate ro
deo. Tribal member Bud
White, Vice Chair of
the Spirit Mountain
Rodeo Board, said
they began work on
the arena, "As soon as the rain
stopped," in preparation for this
year's rodeo season.
New for this year were two more
sets of covered bleachers, as well as
a new roof for the Elders' seating
area.
The Shoot-Out bull "Rip City," re
mained unridden after cowboy Joe
Melling stayed on " For about three
seconds," said Kimsey. Rip City,
and the $1,000 bounty on his head
for an eight second ride, will return
for the August 2 NPRA rodeo, also
held at Spirit Mountain Arena.
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Precision and Pride The Rodeo Bandits, a drill team from Mollala, Oregon, excited the crowd with their precision horseback
riding on both days of the rodeo. Tribal member Cheri Hodgson, of McMinnville, is on the team.
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Tribal member
True Rimmer
watches the
rodeo with his
stickhorse ready.
There were many
child and youth
events at the
rodeo, including
stickhorse
racing, junior
ring toss, and
junior calf roping.
Photos by Peta Tinda
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Red Sky The Spirit Mountain NPRA rodeo was the first Grand Ronde Rodeo at night, thanks to the new stadium lights at the Spirit Mountain Arena.
Jumpin'
Professional
cowboys from all
over Washington
and Oregon put
on an exciting
show for the
rodeo fans who
came to Grand
Ronde.
T In Sequence One of the over 200 cowboys who came to Grand Ronde for the
Spirit Mountain NPRA rodeo is bucked off during the rodeo's opening act, "The Stam
pede," where cowboys attempt to stay on a bucking horse. The event kicked off the
rodeo, which ran for two days.
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