Page 16 - Special Edition • Morrow County Fair and Rodeo • Heppner Gazette-Times, Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Grand Marshal, Joe Yocom is a familiar face
Joe Yocom
This year’s Morrow Coun
ty Fair and Rodeo Grand Mar
shal, Joe Yocom, is a familiar
face around Eastern Oregon,
With Sugar and Spice, his two
powerful Belgians, pulling his
wagon, Joe has hauled court
royalty, Umatilla Indian Reser
vation elders, city politicians,
grand m arshals and many
other personalities, as part of
special events all over Eastern
Oregon.
Joe moved to M orrow
County in 1939, where he was
raised for a short time by his
grandparents. He later moved
back to Sherman County and
was raised on a cattle ranch.
He graduated from Wasco
High School. After graduation
he continued his education at
Oregon Technical Institute in
Klamath Falls. While there, he
met Hilda Stanley. “She was
my best friend,” Joe remem
bers. In February o f 1953 Joe
was drafted into the army. He
married Hilda in November of
that same year. Joe was a para
trooper in the 82nd Airborne,
based in North Carolina. After
his discharge from the military,
he returned to Eastern Oregon
where he and Hilda raised
four children. Debbie, Millie,
Jack and Marie were all active
in Wranglers, 4-H and high
school and college rodeo. They
even did their paper routes on
horseback. All four still reside
in Eastern Oregon.
Joe and Hilda both worked
very hard for their family. They
accom plished, and experi
enced, many wonderful things
over the years. Joe worked for
Morrow County Grain Grow
ers for 33 years before retiring
in 1998.
Jo e’s involvement with
the Morrow County Fair and
Rodeo began around 1960. He
enjoyed participating in cow
riding, pony express races, re
lay races, wild horse races and
chariot races. “My son Jack
has my fancy buckle, but I still
wear the one I won for cow rid
ing in 1970,” Joe grinned. As
time went on, Joe went from
competing to volunteering.
He served three terms (nine
years) on the rodeo board. He
took part in everything from
grounds keeping to being race
director and chairman. He was
also on the fair board for three
years and had a part in install-
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Only a greenhorn would underestimate the importance of good breeding. It affects the ride.
The spirit. The determination to go the distance. John Deere’s bloodline is second to none.
That’s why jobs like hauling hay, tending pastures and fixing fences seem like second nature.
No wonder you wouldn’t trust your land to anything else. Just don’t be surprised if those
horses smile a little every time you pass Your Land is Your World.
co
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ing the new pipeline and in the
development of the Wilkinson
Arena. Joe feels that the rodeo
is vital to our community and is
an excellent attraction. “I take
my hat off to the fair and rodeo
boards,” Joe commented.
Joe loves pushing the
limits and can’t say “no” to
anyone or anything. In 1993,
Jerry Schubert (wagon master),
asked Joe to participate in the
1,000 mile sesquicentennial
wagon train, which began in
Wyoming and ended in Or
egon. Joe, his children and his
friends refurbished an 1864
John Deere wagon. Sugar and
Spice made the trip with him.
Joe is proud of these accom
plishments and enjoyed the
“Welcome Home” signs greet
ing him in Cecil. Joe, Sugar
and Spice have traveled more
than 7,000 miles together.
Time has taken its toll on
Joe - he lost Hilda in 1992
- but, with the love and sup
port of family and friends, he
continued to do the things he
loves. You can still see him
every year at events such as
the “Festival o f Lights” in
Hermiston. He is involved in
the Pendleton Round-Up and
Happy Canyon wagon train,
which is celebrating its 27th
anniversary this year. He is on
the wagon train committee and
has been wagon master eight
times. He also participates in
the Pendleton Round-Up and
Happy Canyon festivities ev
ery year.
Joe met Dwyla Reynolds
about seven years ago and was
hooked on her after their first
wagon ride together. “The har
ness broke off the horses and
the wagon jackknifed. I told
her to jump for it! That didn’t
bother her much, so I knew I
liked this gal!” remembered
Joe.
Joe can’t imagine a better
place than Morrow County
to live and be a part of. He
and Dwyla raise paint horses
here. He delights in his nine
grandchildren and his new
great-grandchild. Sugar and
Spice are still a familiar fixture
in the pasture. Joe is proud to
have been selected to be Mor
row County Fair and Rodeo’s
Grand Marshal for 2008.