Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1981)
1981 Grand Marshal 'rode against the best' r 1 a L C, ' I i I-' f v -Vo 1981 Grand Marshal Vic Lovgren Vic Lovgre n has been chosen grand marshal for this year's Morrow County Fair and Rodeo. Vic. 73, lives with his daughter and son in law on the Gabhtrt Ranch south of lone. He is a retired rancher and wheat farmer, who was born and raised here and is the third generation to live in this area I call the area from John Day to the Columbia my country." says Vic. who took over running the family ranch on Eightmile Canyon when he was thirty years old. "My father was a pretty god hand with horses, and I picked up on it and broke and trained horses up until four or five years ago when I finally had to quit. Vic says he has attended every rodeo held In Heppner and used to ride in some when he was young. "I rode against the best." he says, mentioning such names as Turk Greenough, Eddie Woods, Frand Studneck and George Fletcher. H was the bronc rider of the family," Vic says as he recalls one of the more memorable b rones. "The worst horse I ever rode was one they called Super Six. He was a rough one, but I successfully rode him. I went to the finish and all the big boys shook my hand and congratulated me on the fine ride I'd had. That was the one best ride I ever made in my life," he laughs. In another rodeo experience he remembers the time he broke his back after being thrown. "Didn't go to a doctor though, just went to bed for a month. In those days it wasn't too easy to get to a doctor." he recalls. Vic didn't ride the rodeo circuit however, "too busy on the ranch," he says. Breaking and riding horses was his real love. There were a few differences between breaking horses back then and now. he says. "We used to run into a wild horse, catch him, put him in a corral, ride him for 15 minutes and then turn him loose and ride him 'till he calmed down." Now he says the young riders use more by-the-book methods, which he says he respects, they (books) know what they're talking about. He says in the old days he wouldn't even break a horse until it was at least three years old and under eight. "Now they start at two years. "The old guy that taught me to ride said 'stick your spurs in the manure and leave them there," Vic says. He recalls what his friends would do upon coming across a horse a little tougher than the average. "When I was a kid everybody broke their own horses. And when they got a rough one they called old Vic, and I've been called old Vic all my life," he says with a grin. Vic says he is honored to be named the grand marshal for this year's Fair and Rodeo. "When they asked me, I proudly accepted the job." In addition to his daughter, Donna Peterson, Vic also has a son. Larry, of Louis Creek, British Columbia, and another son, Arthur, who lives in the Milwaukee area of Portland. Special Fair k Rode Section - Page 7 Tole painters back again - and more By BIRDINE TTLLI8 The Lexington Tole Paint ers, under the guidance of Eileen Padberg, Phyllis Pip er, and Linda Padberg, will be back again at fair, and this year the club has grown to even greater numbers! There will be beginners showing their painting skills, along with the members who have been winning all the big awards at state fair for a number of years. The Lexington group is famous for its tole painting; it is an exceptional exhibit, whether at the Morrow County Fair, or the State Fair. Dedication is demanded by the three instructors, mem bers seldom miss a meeting. The project teaches members a lifetime skill they can use in t home beautification, recrea ' lion, or as a money-making project. . The 1981 Morrow bounty Fair & Rodeo promises to he one you icon Y want to miss. See ya all there! irw FOR KVIC YOU CAN ID) IE IT f x. .mm' J f . 1L UJL N U-y, ON I j . .i .... 1 We Are The Team You Can Depend On For All Your Farm & Chemical Needs! IS11-3 Aquu -fa Liquid & Dry Fertilizers Farni Chemicals Variety Of Application Systems Chmkd Division 422-7289 Elfflirirtri7 (&wm$f nnn MohOffkt 9J94221
