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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2013)
10 AUGUST 1,2013 AUGUST 1,201 3 Smoke Signals 1 1 Smoke Signals 2H 3 fini?ifliisa cr rzr n rv n u By Ron Karten Smoke SinnnU tlnff writer One of the cowboys at the 2013 Spirit Mountain Stampede told a Btory about another cowboy who had gone down with a horse the day before and was bruised all the way up his side "to the armpit." The cowboy used his hands to show just how big a bruise it was. "Hut he's back there riding today. He's still trying." Cheryl Kidwell of Willamina, who worked the VII' tent for the second time this year, said that what she likes best about the work is the stories the cowboys tell. "The cowboys, the contractors, the horse companies they tell in teresting stories," said this lifelong rodeo fan. Her father was a horse trainer and rodeo bull rider. "I tell them I slaved all day to get his food together," she joked. Actually, Tribal Food Services Coordinator Kristy DeLoe and cook Kevin Campbell prepared the fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes for the event, but Kidwell says that nobody believed her anyway. 'They do it because they love it. It's a way of life for many of them," said Khani Schultz of Grand Ronde, who works in the Tribe's Employ ment and Training Department. Watching from the side of the grand stands, Schultz de scribed how rodeos are knitted into rural life. She goes to all of the big ones, she said, naming St. Paul and Pendleton, and grew up with the excite ment. Her family had horses and she rode growing up. "You feel strong and free when you're on a horse," Schultz said. "A lot of these guys are ranchers, farm ers, but a fair num ber of them do this for a living," said Jim Holmes, secretary of the Rodeo Special Event Board that organizes the Spirit Mountain Stampede each year. "The added money is higher here than in most rodeos around the Northwest so it pulls in a lot more competitors because they truly are going for that big money. It is expensive to travel all over Oregon, Washington and Idaho to compete and most of them hit all four rodeos that were held last weekend. Our event is the biggest draw over that weekend not only because we put on a good show, but because of that added money ... plus more competitors means more entry money for them to try and win." But pain is always a part of the J V"- Darcy Lapier of Newberg rounds a barrel as she competes in tha barrel racing event during the 2013 Spirit Mountain Stampede held at Spirit Mountain Rodeo Grounds in Grand Ronde on Sunday, July 21 . i WT 'iff - r s w ' - - j "WMH ,,'-W" veiMw. Ak jjjr.. ' . ; - T, J - :- - ' - - - " thrill of rodeo events. "It sure isn't an easy way to make a buck," said Holmes. Many com petitors come back again and again anyway. Special Event Board Chair Harold Lyon, who has been riding since he was 3, had a hip replaced 17 years ago, the result of a horse falling on him at a rodeo, but he continues to lead the stampede year after year. Events started Friday, July 19, and continued Saturday and Sun day afternoons. Friday night, the "slack," or the overflow contes tants, competed to be part of the Lyle Painter of Roy, Wash., holds on as he rides a bull in the bull riding event during the 201 3 Spirit Mountain Stampede held at Spirit Mountain Rodeo Grounds in Grand Ronde on Sunday, July 21 . Painter placed second with a score of 66. weekend's contests. Friday was free to the public. Saturday, Lyon led a dedication ceremony for former Tribal Elder and Rodeo Special Event Board Vice Chair Dale Langley, who walked on this summer. He was the longest serving member of the board. He was honored for "hard work over the years," Lyon said. Jan Looking Wolf Reibach played "Amazing Grace" on Native flute, accompanied by singer Jolanda Catabay. On Sunday, the stands were almost full. Compared with big rodeos in the state, though, Spirit Mountain Stampede is a homey weekend, drawing riders from across the state. "I like it because it's not very big," said Susan Reed of Lincoln City. "It's small and local, not too far to travel." Kim Graffeo, on the other hand, came all the way from upstate New York and made the rodeo one of her must-see attractions. "I grew up on a farm," she said. "I was a country girl. Dad and I used to watch the rodeo on TV together." She also was in the neighbor hood because her sons are here. Chris just graduated from Oregon State University and David has two terms left. George Kinter of Toppenish, Wash., is a Yakama Tribe descen- Photos by Michelle Alaimo Vicif t lifTrTKf'c page to see more photos dant and 14 years a rodeo clown. Before that he competed at rodeos. For the stampede, during a break in the action, he brought his pet skunk, Vapors, into the ring. He let it run for fences before chasing it down and picking it up. In a spin so nobody could see what he was doing, he threw a skunk pillow into the crowd. Then the sheep escaped their fences and for a few moments ran free. Elders were scattered here and there in the stands. Gladys Hobbs and Violet Folden attended with family members. Gene LaBonte and Marion Mercier also enjoyed the event. The stampede requires hundreds of volunteer hours of preparation: tilling, grooming and doming the ground, as well as raking it away from the fences before the show. Saturday night, they wet down the grounds and Sunday morning they groomed it again. Preparations, under way since the beginning of the year, also in clude arrangements with food and merchandise vendors, and roping in this year's sponsors. "We had 15 this year, including the casino," said Holmes. "Of those, eight were new." The Long Bell Diner, managed by Opal Hale, was one of the spon sors and food vendors. Hale is also the newest member of the Special J (f.l cprl?. Hfe:: ,' I f J ; , ' ' i :. '( N C:; :-.- l . J V 1 ' . - - i?. ' .. .-Sj - - . ' . - A f . . - .... S " - . . J:- T ;. i" . -J.---.-.. -..v--' i1 - . i - ': .- "V. , - v : vrf, - -v Brock Warrener of Centerville, Wash., gets wrapped up in the rope as he struggles to take a calf down in the tie down roping event during the 201 3 Spirit Mountain Stampede held at Spirit Mountain Rodeo Grounds in Grand Ronde on Sunday, July 21 . Event Board. She took the op portunity to show the quality of food that Long Bell serves, and at bargain prices. Hebrew National hot dogs went for a $1. In addition, Holmes said, "She deserves a lot of the credit for helping obtain these new sponsors." Sponsors also contributed raffle prizes. The casino gave buffet passes and an overnight stay at Spirit Mountain Lodge. Blue Star Gas gave a crab cooker and propane tank. Frito Lay gave Hale and the convenience storerestaurant a Kindle reader that she offered to the stampede as another raffle prize. Winner purses were based on entry fees plus prize money added by Spirit Mountain Casino: $1,300 was earmarked for timed events and rough stock events were funded for $1,800. Holmes is son of the late Tribal Restoration pioneer and bull rid ing fan Merle Holmes. For four years now, he has made the award presentation that honors the bull riding champ - this year, Xavier Gilbert of Redmond. His name is now inscribed on the Merle Holmes Memorial Cup that stays at the Tribe, while a belt buckle and spur straps made by Montana Silver smiths was awarded to the winner in Merle Holmes' honor. "While it was nice to add a new name to this year's trophy," said Holmes, "we are sad to learn that the cowboy that won it the past two years will be retiring due to injury. Andy Crozier is the only two-time winner, but maybe next year Xavier Gilbert can etch his name in the record book as another two-time winner." This year's Holmes Memorial buckle was crafted in New Mexico by Maynard Buckles. Bareback Nick Gutzwiler-$619.20 Seth Shelton - $516 Orlan McGuffin - $412.80 Kirk St. Clair - $309.60 Kyle Bounds - $206.40 Saddle Bronc Charlie Barker - $682.08 Roy Johnson - $505.68 Justin Chappell - $505.68 Kade McLean - $270.48 Joe Scott Jr. - $270.48 Jacob Stacy - $117.60 Bull Riding Xavier Gilbert - $1,468.80 Lyle Painter - $979.20 Tie Down Roping Shane Erickson - $1,197.12 Kass Kayser - $990.72 Ricky Canton - $784.32 Jason Minor - $577.92 Chase Richter-$371.52 Sam Willis - $206.40 Buckles given out to winners of other contests were made by Tres Rios Silver in Texas. The stampede is sanctioned by Northwest Professional Rodeo As sociation of Molalla. Howell Rodeo Co. in Veneta provided the stock. Cody Hodge announced the show Steer Wrestling Travis Taruscio -$1,141 .44 Christian Radabaugh - $944.64 Taylor Gregg - $747.84 Jacob Stacy -$551.04 Jake Howell - $354.24 Trevor Maddox - $196.80 again this year. Sheep for the kids' Mutton Bus tin' contest came from Wool Busters in Lebanon. In addition to Lyon, Holmes and Hale, Special Event Board mem bers include Duke Kimsey, Ed Ash man and Joy Burcham. Barrel Racing Cindy Woods $1,197.12 Sammy Jo Cardoza - $990.72 Callahan Crossley - $784.32 Allison Vankoll - $577.92 Corenne Schultz - $371 .52 Sharon Woods - $206.40 Team Roping Chris Westbrooks and Thad Akins - $1 ,088.76 Anthony Calmelat and Cody Pearson - $1 ,088.76 Chris Hays and Trevor McCoin - $784.92 Jack Fischer and Andy Carlson - $784.92 John Hagler and Trevor McCoin - $557.04 Jason Minor and Spencer Rutherford - $405.12 Steen Schumacher and Paul Brashears - $253.20 Martin Rucker and Taylor White - $101.28 Breakaway Jennifer Frohman - $1,238.88 Jessie Legg - $918.48 Kayde Jo Akins - $918.48 Melody Hale -$491.28 Stevie Rae Willis - $491 .28 Britni Carlson - $213.60
