Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1992)
Special Fair and Rodeo edition August 12, 1992 - Seven Don Evans Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Grand Marshal Third generation rancher Don Evans has been selected grand marshal for the 1992 Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo. Evans grew up on the Willow Creek Ranch of his parents, Earl and Millie Evans and attended schools in Heppner. Don’s grand parents had lived on the Willow Creek ranch before that. Don and Margaret Ann Krebs were married in 1946. They liv ed in Heppner for several years and then moved to the Sand hollow ranch, where they still live. They bought the ranch from Edna Turner in 1956 and since then have added more acres. The Evans ranching legacy car ries over to Don’s sons, Wayne and Monte and their families who have taken over management of the ranch since Don’s retirement. Don’s retirement, however, still sees him putting in pretty full days at the ranch or at a moment's notice working with their cattle up in the Wallowas. Five grandchildren are also following in their grandfather's footsteps. Monte and his wife, Becky, have two children, Jossie, 14 and Casey 10. who are both year of 4-H. Megan is six. All the grandchildren will escort grand pa Don down Heppner’s Main Street on horses as he heads up this year’s Main Street parade. A love of good horses and rodeo performances lead to Don’s eight-year involvement on the rodeo board. Two of those years he was chairman of the board. He was arena director for four years and participated in roping events. He won the Morrow County Calf Roping Championship and the prize saddle in 1957. Don Evans Evans was surprised that he was chosen grand marshal, modestly commenting, “Everyone on the board worked at putting on those shows and we all donated time and equipment. There was always stock to be hauled, ground to work or things to build,’’ he said, commenting on the many hours spent building stock pens and fences for the rodeo events. Evans served on the rodeo committee at the time when Heppner hosted the Blue Moun tain Community College rodeos before they were moved to Pendleton. He also played a pan in putting on the junior rodeos that were held in Heppner for several years. A lifetime honorary member of the Wranglers Riding Club, Evans used his grader to level ground for the club after they ob tained land for their permanent arena and clubhouse below Heppner. Rodeo court has busy summer pennant bearers for the fair and rodeo. Jossie and Casey, who were pennant bearers last year, are both involved in riding and 4-H, as is Wayne and Sue's daughter. Kelsie. Kelsie, 15. has also been a pennant bearer and is involved in barrel racing. The youngest Evans descendants, Megan and Matt Bergstrom, the children of Don and Margaret’s daughter Michelle, and her hus band Mike Bergstrom, of Her miston, both have horses and ride. Matt is nine and in his first Enjoy country-style breakfast Come on out and enjoy a country-style breakfast with the Wrangler Riding Club on Sun day, August 23, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Morrow County Fairgrounds. Breakfast, including ham and eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, cof fee and milk, will be served at $3 for adults and $2 for children. L-R: Princesses Angie Partlow, Shelly Ashbeck and Stacie O’Brien, Queen Jenni Ashbeck - — j *IX ~AT ■* ** OREGON TRAIL PRO RODEO COMMITTEE wishes to thank these official sponsors: ’ ; GARDAERS- All Around Saddle Bull Riding LES SCHWAB- Steer Wrestling M. C. G.G.- Calf Roping ANDERSOA SEED Saddle Brone COCA COLA- Bareback TI DER ATE R- Barrel Racing COORS- WHEAT GROWERS- Team Roping Steer Roping DODGE TRUCKS- KINZUA- M.C. Amateur Calf Roping i <► ó The Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo Court have had a busy July and are busy making preparations for Fair week August 19-23. Nancy Ekstrom of Ione presented the court with magnetic trailer signs for their horse trailers prior to the rodeo in Sisters. The Fourth of July took the court to Boardman, where they rode in the annual parade. Many of the court members and their families then stayed in Boardman to take in the festivities at the marina. On July 12 the court helped with the Morrow County Open Horse Show. A fairly large crowd was present for the show with many local winners in each division. The court traveled to The Dalles on July 18 for the Fort Dalles festivities. They par ticipated in the parade down Main Street, then joined Queen Stephanie at the Northwest Aluminum Grounds for the queens luncheon. This was the sight of the Oregon Chili Cook off, and was complete with live entertainment. The courts were presented to the public and gave highlights of their fairs and rodeos live on the radio. The girls then had a break before they began preparation for the even ing grand entry and rodeo. The next weekend took the court and their families to Joseph for the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. A large parade down Main Street was followed by the queen's lun cheon at the Civic Center. The luncheon was attended by ap proximately 200 visiting royalty and families. The court attended the grand entry at the rodeo, then headed up to Wallowa Lake for the afternoon before attending the rodeo dance. ...»
