Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1999)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 11,1999 - THREE Heppner Rodeo celebrates 77 years of riding high award for third best grand conditions in the entire Columbia Circuit. This, too. happened in 1998 What is in store for 1999'' A new warm-up arena for contestants, full chain link fencing, ushers, improved parking, more food, beverages and community support. Over 4-H continues with strong programs 150 families support the OTPR every year and without their hard work, dedication and time the tradition could not continue. The biggest improvement in 1999 is the brand new indoor Wilkinson Arena. The building had over 100 individuals and companies donate toward the arena. The facility was named after another life-long resident and supporter of Morrow County Fair and Rodeo, Dick Wilkinson, and his wife, Virginia. They were a significant factor in getting the building A sheep patiently gets groomed at last year's fair project started. Morrow County 4-H has a Today the rodeo committee is Summer Days, 4-H Ambassador, total of 301 members and 74 run by 21 dedicated and or Know Your State leaders participating in the 4-H motivated individuals. The Government. youth development program. chairman of the OTPR is Mary During the 1998-1999 4-H There are 148 youth enrolled in Ann Munkers and the chairman year, 4-H member, Shelby Krebs home economics and expressive for the Morrow County Rodeo is lone attended 4-H arts projects; 60 in the 4-H horse of Ken Eckman. Gates admission Ambassador Weekend in program. The livestock program is run by Rebecca Ripple and Corvallis and had a great has a total of 210 youth enrolled arena crew consists of Ken in large animal projects and 64 experience. Bailey, Mike Proctor, Barry street clothes. Morrow County has five 4-H in small animal. Morrow Munkers and John Griffith. The Tom Wood was champion bull Ambassadors: Shelby Krebs, County also sent 39 participants awards are handled by Janet rider in the 1940 rodeo, when Keith Baker. Macy Rhea, Jessica to the Hispanic Youth McDowell and the children's the Warren-Depew Brahmas Krebs, and Kristi Worden Leadership Conference in events are managed by Sheree were featured. Pat Fisk won all- "As members challenge Pendleton. These hardworking Mahoney. The excellent food around honors. The newspaper themselves in other activities 4-Her's have consigned 1,256 and beverages are organized by commented that the race horses they develop life skills they can exhibits to the Morrow County John and Sonja McCabe. The of Baze, Swaggart, Turner and use the rest of their lives," said Fair. outstanding livestock is handled Hughes were "in fine fetter." Broderick. Many 4-H members are in by two competent mdividuals- A cowboy breakfast was begun more than one club. Some have Jerry Gentry and Kyle Robinson. that year by Lee Beckner and more than one animal or home Sue Gibbs handles the media for Jim Kistner. Amid cowboy economics project. Several the rodeo and parades and grand singing, head cook Earle Bryant members cross over in entry are managed by Tern dished up steaks, hotcakes and curriculum areas. "We Blue Mountain Community Gentry. Promotions Was all the trimmings to around 300 encourage 4-H members to try College will offer free Internet recently taken on by Jamie and people, at 50 cents a plate. new projects in different areas," classes at the Morrow County Ronda Helfrecht. Jason Hanna The 1941 show was the last for said Bill Broderick, OSU Fair on Wednesday, August 18, is in charge of sales, while a time. After the bombing of Extension agent. between the hours of 10 a m.-6 Darcy Robinson handles the Pearl Harbor, which finally p.m. Broderick added that is also ever-so-important sponsors for brought the United States into important for members to get These classes will be held in OTPR. Nicole Mahoney the war, rodeos were suspended. involved in other activities such two-hour sessions on the stage organizes and sells the VIP The Heppner Rodeo roared inside the pavilion. as presentations, pre-fair clinics, seating and Marlene Currin back to life in 1945, after a camp, camp counselor training, Everyone's invited to stop by balances everyone because she three-year shut-down, as food takes on that critical job of Teen Leadership Retreat, OSU and learn to surf the Internet. and gas rationing were relaxed. secretary. Top cowboys that year were Charlie Daly credits the present Vem Evans and Jerry Ambler — rodeo committee with upgrading the only ones to make qualifying the facilities with a smaller arena rides on horses from the Harley for better management of Tucker string. in . juii/U io.v ■ ’mug“ ! ilk 10 professional shows: He will be ijtti In 1949 Queen Shirley1 JUUf Jili ciU Jflyli Jill 1 Wilkensbri Rugg WiSvoted m a s . , apart of the rodeo once again 1 queen and Her coiirt' consisted of when he mounts his horse and four young women. These were heads up the parade and grand Dorothy Wigglesworth Graham, entry in the 1999 Oregon Trail Betty Walker Edwards, Fae Pro Rodeo. Cutsforth, and Ingrid Herman Seventy-seven years have Crawford. These young ladies passed since 1922. Within this were talented riders. The time, events, people, equipment community and rodeo life was and talents have changed, but and still is very important to some things still hold true. them. Each woman is still active Jasper Crawford, a newspaper and riding. The entire court will editor in 1944 w rote,"... we see be riding horseback in the 1999 the suntanned cowpoke atop the Heppner Fair and Rodeo parade rearin’ mustang as one of the * Does your loved one need skilled care after a hospital stay? We offer an on August 21, at 10 a.m. to outstanding examples of true extensive Medicare-approved skilled nursing swing bed program that may celebrate their 50th anniversary. Americanism." meet your needs through Pioneer Memorial Hospital. In 1950 a large fair exhibit Rodeo continues to exemplify * We pride ourselves on quality patient care and helping our residents building was built. The rodeo the heritage of Columbia Basin center field was seeded to grass. enjoy all that life has to offer. If you would like more information about Co-op country and Heppner, Cyclone fencing replaced Oregon. any of our services, such as long or short term care, please give us a call wooden rails. The Wrangler or stop by and we would be happy to give you a tour of our facilities. Riding Club began sponsoring a ' horse show and the Sunday (541) 676-9133 • (800) 559-9133 morning cowboy breakfast. P.O. Box 9 • 564 East Pioneer Drive • Heppner, O R. $ 1 . 0 0 lb . Times change and with time . comes improvements. As Heppner Gazette-Times professional athletes fine-tuned their skills, the idea of a Morrow County amateur show was bom. Morrow County ropers began competing for a coveted championship saddle in 1950. In 1951, the Morrow County amateur calf roping contest was created, which sparked renewed participation by local cowboys. Orville Smith, the manager then of the Heppner sawmill, donated the first championship saddle. The mill is today known as Kinzua and, even after its closure earlier this year, it continues to donate this trophy saddle. presents Please) In the 1990's the rodeo committee, headed by Jerry Help us celebrate by opening a new checkins account Gentry, brought the rodeo facilities up to standards for a and receive our birthday sifts to you: PRCA show. A professional- size arena was built, with PERSONAL Accounts • BUSINESS Accounts volunteers spending days excavating clay soil and H FREE first order of checks H U p to $ 100 credit on first order replacing it with sand. New lighting was installed through P 3 NO monthly fees for the first year* of checks community efforts. Rodeo H $50 Loan fee coupon H $50 Loan fee coupon sponsors enriched purses to attract contestants. Hurry on in as this sale ends 9-30-99! New aluminum bleachers replaced the old in '97 and seating has never been better. VIP seats allow front stage viewing and backed seats allow added comfort. The bleacher H eppner B ranch : seats supply ample room to seat 111 N. Main Street a great number of spectators 676-5407 Handicap facilities and a new announcer's box were added in W e'd be honored. 1998. The Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo * Account will r»v»rt lo oppropriota monthly mointGoonca f— o» «nd of oog yoor. Arena was awarded a special mm Amateur bronc riding, Heppner, 1946 By Merlyn Robinson and Sue Gibbs The legacy of the Old West lives on as Heppner celebrates 77 years of rodeo. The Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo will run August 20 through the 22 this year. It's a historical event that began back in September of 1922, when Heppner businessmen and ranchers organized the first four- diy event. Gentry, one of the fiwriders, donated a field at the of town that still continues aijjhe modem rodeo site. Many ijjfljlnteers built fences from netting wire and poles cut in the mountains. Around the fencing was a complete circle of Model A's. The October 3, 1922, issue of the Heppner Herald reported that "the track and arena were in splendid condition and the bucking and race stock were full of pep and action" for the benefit o f ' about 4,000 people in attendance. A band from The Dalles provided music. Dances were held each evening in the large, round pavilion that once stood at fhe lower end of Main Street. The livestock for the first rodeos came from local ranches. Potential bucking broncs were brought to town prior to the rodeo, to be fried out by local cowhands. - Without bucking chutes, horses had to be snubbed and saddled in the arena, using a strong saddle horse to hold them. After-the blindfold was jerked off and the horse turned loose, the rider used his hat to "fan" the bronc with his free hand. Those early-day bronc nders were experienced at "biting ftie dirt," as pickup men weren't part of the action then. Gerald Swaggart (1996 OTPR grand marshal), a lifetime resident of Heppner, was 12 during the first rodeo and remembers when free-running mustangs were rounded up for . bucking horse "soirees" before the local event became a sanctioned rodeo. Newspaper reports of that first 1922 rodeo show tljat J.D. Bellingbrock bested Jack French in the bucking horse event. However, French proved to be the top hand on bucking mules. Eddie Sheriden placed over Frepch in the calf roping, and Ralph Reid bested both French and. Howard Lane in the steer roping. Frank' Swaggart, Gerald's father, was among the race winners. One of the promoters of that first’ rodeo was Charles Latburell, a local auto dealer. He Arranged to bring a touring Foiji exposition to town during the:- four-day rodeo. That cariyan consisted of 26 trucks and .tractors carrying or towing fanjl and construction equipment, as well as a Delco light plant, pumping systems and many small tools and conveniences. :: The entourage was accompanied by a five-piece jazji orchestra, plus nightly mo.yie shows and a modem scientific marvel—a radio broadcasting set. T f success of that first rodeo might have been a difficult act to follow, but the momentum of succeeding shows continued to builq. Large carnivals— conjjjlete with trapeze artists and high wire acts — came to town } with subsequent rodeos, while an enterprising pilot gave some citizens their first airplane rides . . . a thrill for those who preferred not to get airborne from the back of a mean horse. This year's grand marshal, Charles J. Daly, or Charlie as the locals call him, is also a lifetime cattle rancher with roots deep in Little Buttercreek soil. His father, James Daly, was an immigrant from Ireland and herded sheep for area ranchers. Charlie began to "cowboy up" while he was in high school in the 40's at local neighboring rodeos as well as back yard rodeos. Charlie remembers when wild horses were captured, tried out there and often sold to stock contractors. Local cowherds provided fresh, "waspy" calves, while their mothers were used for wild cow milking. The relay and pony express races were an exciting and entertaining attraction and were a good draw for the Heppner rodeo Both Gerald and Chartte remember these races. The fastest horses were donated by volunteers from surrounding towns willing to race their prize animals. Gerald rode in some of these horse races Roman-style, standing on the backs of two running horses. As time went on, the Heppner rodeo was moved ahead of the Pendleton Round-Up, from which show rules were obtained. Gradually the first professional cowboys' association, the Turtles, was formed. As rodeo circuits developed, the name was changed to the Rodeo Cowboys Association—the forerunner of today's Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The Heppner rodeo changed affiliations through the years. For a time it was sanctioned by the Northwest Rodeo Association. In 1939 the Morrow County Fair joined the rodeo and became part of the now festive week. Its or.gins began back in 1912. Rodeo royalty has played an important role from the early days. The rodeo committee first chose young women for court members according to their riding skills. Heppner's Eva Padberg Griffith was the 1923 queen. Eva, who was 14 at the time, says she chose Jane Allstott as her attendant. The two girls rode in the Heppner and Pendleton parades, behind rodeo committee members. In later years, the granges within the county selected court representatives. Dime-a-dance "jitney" dance tickets were a way of voting for the queen. By 1940 the war in Europe was casting dark shadows over America, as young men enlisted for national defense. The rodeo committee, under the leadership of its president, Henry Aiken, decided the show would go on. An enterprising rodeo promotion that year was a three- county junket by Heppner businessmen. The star performer of the show was "Rosie O'Grady," alias Frank Turner, dressed as a honky-tonk girl, in keeping with the Heppner Rodeo slogan, "She's Wild." Turner was forced to wear his outrageous costume to one Chamber of Commerce luncheon after someone hid his Free Internet classes at fair Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home Home Health Services SCRATCH PADS CHECKING It’s our 65th Birthday! (No Klamath at Federal % I
