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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2016)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, September 28, 2016 A3 Monument comes together for Buckaroo Festival Event revives 60-year-old supper tradition By Rylan Boggs Blue Mountain Eagle The community came to- gether in and around the se- nior center in Monument to celebrate the Buckaroo Fes- tival and Harvest Auction on Saturday, Sept. 24. The festival is a revival of a local gathering called the Buckaroo Supper that took place annually roughly 60 years ago, according to event organizer and fundraiser chair for the senior center Judy Har- ris. Donated items, ranging from cords of wood to a pair of Nigerian dwarf goats, were auctioned off with the pro- ceeds going to help support the senior center. A number of prizes were also auctioned off via a silent auction as well as a rile that was rafled away. Local musicians enter- tained festival goers under the supervision of Darrin Dailey, a local teacher. A beer garden kept those of age content with a variety of cold beers, while horseshoes, cornhole and oth- er yard games were available. Bruce Hansen caught and donated over 90 pounds of salmon and over 100 ears of corn to the festival to ensure that everyone was fed. “I’m happy to help the community,” Hansen said. Harris described Hansen as a “real pillar of the communi- ty.” Harris, who was born in Monument and recently moved back, described the festival as a community effort. Eagle photos/Rylan Boggs Cody Hewgley plays horseshoes during the Buckaroo Festival in Monument on Saturday, Sept. 24. Darrin Dailey plays his guitar and sings during the Buckaroo Festival in Monument. Judy Cavender, left, and Cara Dailey prepare over 90 pounds of salmon donated by Bruce Hansen for the community dinner. “I have quite a troupe that helps,” Harris said. “I couldn’t do it without them.” Judy Harris, left, and Bruce Hansen pose for a photo during the Buckaroo Festival in Monument Saturday, Sept. 24. In charge of cooking din- ner were Jan Ensign, Cara Dailey and Judy and Sue Cav- ender, who cooked donated elk, salmon and corn. Though they didn’t know how many people would be coming for the festival, they planned to cook for 200. “We’ll feed ’em till the food runs out,” Cavender said. The event is a revival of the Buckaroo Supper, which had been a gathering of the community to come togeth- er and raise money for the old town hall, according to the women. Sixty years ago, a large group of local men would put on the “Buckaroo Supper.” Now there is only one remaining member, the 96-year-old Grand Marshal Jack Cavender. The supper had been a fundraising event for the Grange Hall, which was the town’s community center at the time. The senior center in Monument was erected in 1992, replacing the Grange Hall as a meeting place. Nelson appointed to state OYCC board By Rylan Boggs Katy Nelson is the newest appointee to the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps. Blue Mountain Eagle Long-time Grant Coun- ty resident Katy Nelson has been appointed to the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps ad- visory board. Nelson worked extensively with the OYCC when she was with the Grant County Center for Human Development. Nelson has worked as a family support specialist, community mental health counselor and instructor at the University of Maine, Augusta and Quinnipiac College. The OYCC provides high schoolers with job experi- ence, interviewing skills and employment that helps shape the communities they live in. As the 30th birthday of the OYCC approaches, they are looking for a new name, something that rolls off the tongue a little better, Nelson says. The program has shrunk due to lack of funding since Nelson last worked with it some seven years ago, some- thing she wants to remedy by inding more funding options. Nelson said kids in the pro- gram are usually 16, and this is typically their irst job. Part of the draw for kids is having a job to return to if they are good workers, Nelson said. The Eagle/Rylan Boggs She said she often runs into kids who had been in the program who say how they took pride in their work and have something to mark their passage through the community. Nelson cites statistics gathered from the program, stating over 90 percent of participants have an interest in furthering their education, spending more time outdoors, taking more responsibility for their actions and demonstrat- ing better work habits because of the program. “These are the things you want when you work with kids: to feel better about their future and further their edu- cation,” Nelson said. “It’s a beautiful symmetry. They’re getting ixed and ixing the environment.” Robbins Farm Equipment 3850 10th St. Baker City 10218 Wallowa Lake Hwy. La Grande 1160 S Egan Burns 86812 Christmas Valley Hwy. Christmas Valley 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-523-6377 Don’t let your gambling addiction play you for a fool. W E CAN HELP . Let our family of Pharmacists serve you! Give us a call today 541-676-9158 - Heppner 541-384-2801 - Condon We welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! 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