Special Edition Morrow County Fair & Rodeo • Heppner Gazette-Times. Wednesday, August 8, 2001-Page 9
Fair premium book dedicated to Tim and Kathy Rankin
By Merlyn Robinson
lh is year's premium book
dedication honors Kathy and Tim
Rankin, loyal fair, rodeo and 4-11
supporters. Ihe Rankins didn't grow
up locally but. since 1978 when
they moved here from the Willamette
Valley, they have become involved
Morrow County residents.
In appreciation for the lifestyle
o f this area. Tim says. "It's like a
need to earn the right to live here."
Consequently they have whole
heartedly embraced and supported
community events.
Tim first tell in love with this area
as a youngster while hunting here
locally with his father and Carl
McDaniel. Ihe Rankins were mamed
in 1974 and they began searching
for a spot in Morrow County to put
down roots. Influenced by friends
and a love o f the mountains, they
obtained timbered property at the
edge of the Blue Mountains that once
belonged to Tom Huston.
There wasn't any development
on this property, so Kathy was
unaware o f the pioneering adventure
in which she would participate. For
living accommodations, they
acquired a modest single-wide mobile
trailer. With their first-bom daughter
in diapers, reality set in during their
first harsh winter in the mountains,
run was working at the Kmzua Mill
when the water and drain lines froze
at home. Warm fires heated the
center o f the rooms at 80 degrees.
Tim says, but ice formed on the
inside o f the single windows. Each
day. Tim brought home containers
o f water from town and they
struggled to survive even when their
private road became packed with
three feet o f snow. Kathy says she
felt terribly isolated since they had
no telephone and she longed to move
back to the valley.
Tim asked Kathy to stick it out
for one year and said if she still felt
that way then they would return to
Oregon's more moderate climate.
W ith the return o f sunny, warm
w eather, the mountain magic cast
a spell on Kathy and 23 years of hard
work have produced improvements
such as a large shop and outbuildings
to accommodate livestock. They
purchased a modem double-wide
mobile home in 1993 and placed
it over a full basement as a permanent
home. Tim cut the timbers and built
a front deck o ff o f the mam floor
that offers a panoramic view o f the
forest. That deck shelters a ground
floor entrance o f the daylight
basement.
It's there that they raised three
R a y m o n d F r e n c h .,
2001
grand marshal
Livestock grower. He was a member
o f the Heppner Soil and Water
Conservation District for 16 years
and served as chairman for 12 years.
In 1964 he served in this position
while he was also a director of the
National Cattlemen's Association.
His dedication and service to the
livestock industry earned him an
honored award o f "Distinguished,
Serv ice. Devotion and Loyalty" by
Oregon State University. In 1985
he was elected as a ctate
representative for District 59 and
served in this position until 1989.
The 90's brought Ray's experience
and skills back to his community.
He w as elected as Morrow County
C ommissioner for tw o terms, starting
in 1992. Over the years, Ray has
been a member o f the American
Legion. Heppner Coordinating
Council, the I leppner's Elk Lodge
and the board o f trustees. Heppner
school board, chairman o f the
Columbia Blue Mountain Resource
and Conservation Development
Association, director o f the Pendleton
Production Credit Bank, a member
of I leppner's (. 'harnber of Commerce
and a m ember o f the St. Patrick's
Church. His dedicated service to
our community was awarded in 1997
with the Lifetime Achievement
Award presented by the Heppner
Chamber o f Commerce. The 90s
concluded with Ray's retirement in
1999.
" I he Morrow County Fair and
Oregon Frail Pro Rodeo is honored
to have Ray French as this year's
grand marshal. His dedication,
sen ice and commitment to Morrow
County have had a huge impact on
our local economy and way o f life.
Ray’s involvement in our community
will have a lasting impact for those
who call Morrow County home."
Tim and kathv Rankin
daughters: Jennifer, 23. Bobbie. 20,
and Tracy, 18, who inherited their
parents' love o f horses. Kathy and
Tim both rode horses while growing
up. Tim participated in 4-H and
nding club events. They continue
to love rodeo and horse-related
events. Tim jests that their horse-
acquinng daughters are responsible
for adding to their small herd.
Starting when Jennifer was in
the fourth grade, all three girls have
been active in horse and sheep 4-H
projects. This major family focus
is something the whole family has
enjoyed, says Tim. So whenever
there was a workday, a 4-H event,
workers needed for the 4-H snack
shack or volunteer labor dunng the
construction of the Wilkinson Arena,
the Rankins have been there to help.
Tim also built sheep stands for fair
time use. Besides helping at horse
shows, they also have always been
willing workers at the Wrangler
cowboy breakfasts.
Tim has worked for the Morrow
County Road Department since 1980
and Kathy has been employed with
the Forest Service since 1989 The
Rankins have taken their vacation
days during fair and rodeo week;
living on the fairgrounds in order
to help their girls as well as assist
with many activities.
Beginning when Bobbie first
became a rodeo court pennant bearer
in 1994. the family has been involved
in prom oting the fair and rodeo.
Thousands o f miles were logged
on their pickups and horse trailers.
In addition to serving as permanent
pennant bearers, Bobbie was a
princess in 1998 and queen in 1999
Tracy was a princess in 1999 and
queen in 2000. Kathy served as court
chaperon in 2000
"Fair, Rodeo and 4-H have
provided an enjoyable family-
oriented experience," says Kathy.
"It's given us the opportunity to do
things with our girls." By
coordinating those activities with
other families, the Rankins say they
are pleased to have formed many
lasting friendships that they continue
to enjoy.
The Rankins emphasize that the
Morrow County Fair and Rodeo are
important community events. They
say these events provide character-
building opportunities for youngsters
that result in lasting memories, as
illustrated in the Rankin family
photos, scrapbooks and memorabilia.
Their daughters, who are now
attending college, have greatly
benefited from this type of
background, they say. Along with
successfully earning many ribbons
and awards, the girls learned to take
their lumps at an early age when it
came to mutton busting, calf nding
or uncooperative fair animals.
Tim and Kathy represent the many
people who continue to donate their
efforts to the continuance o f these
local events. This premium book
is dedicated to these two staunch
fair and rodeo supporters, who
proudly call Morrow County their
home.
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Welcome to the Fain & Rodeo
J & D ELECTRIC
Raymond French
Dedication, involvement and
service are words that desenbe this
year's grand marshall o f the 2001
Fair and Oregon Frail Pro Rodeo.
This honor is one more title
Raymond "Ray" French can add to
his many accomplishments in our
community.
Ray was bom and raised on the
family ranch on Big Butter Creek.
One of his first commitments started
with his marriage to his wife Norma
in 1946. The couple had three
daughters. Karen. Venna and Susan
Ray and Norma presently have nine
grandchildren who live in different
parts o f the country with their
parents. Karen Wood lives in Tigard;
Venna Schiller, the 1967 Heppner
rodeo queen, lives in Pflugerville.
Texas; and Susan Ward, the 1972
queen, lives in Heppner. Susan and
her husband. Jim Ward currently
run the family ranch.
Ray began his service and
dedication to Morrow County in the
1950s and 60s. He served as
chairman o f the Morrow County
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