WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015
HERMISTON HERALD/EAST OREGONIAN • PAGE 3
Rodeo has evolved from
simple beginnings to
make a mark on entire sport
By SAM BARBEE
Staff Writer
David Bothum didn’t think anyone was coming.
It was 6:30 p.m. in August of 1988 on the night of
the ¿Ust )aUm&ity 3Uo 5odeo and the stands weUe
empty. 7heUe was Must an houU EefoUe the event Ee
gan and Bothum was woUUied.
³I thought µwow’´ he said. ³But then aEout :30
I Oooked up in the stands and they weUe pUetty fuOO.
And it was Must the Ued EOeacheUs at that time.´
6ince that scaUe )aUm&ity 3Uo 5odeo has evoOved
into a gamechanging event that is at the centeU of
+eUmiston’s yeaUOy caOendaU. 7op cowEoys and stock
fUom aUound the spoUt of Uodeo descend on +eUm
iston foU a few days giving the smaOO EOuecoOOaU
community one of the Eest shows on diUt.
Inception
HERALD FILE PHOTO
Dave Bothum, left, and Butch Knowles, two former full-time professional cowboys, their spouses, friends and area
businesses turned their idea for a professional rodeo in Hermiston into the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in 1988.
Affordable
Specialty Care
For Your Children,
Right Here At
Home!
In the Oate 1980s a coupOe of cowEoys fUom
+eUmiston thought it wouOd Ee fun and Eene¿ciaO to
Agriculture & Youth Night
Calf Dressing Event *
Thurs., Aug. 13, 2015 • 7:30pm
*Teams consisting of two FFA members from throughout the
county compete in the "calf dressing" competition for
bragging rights amongst FFA Chapters.
Winning chapter will receive $1000, courtesy of
Elmer's Irrigation, Inc.!
Back Row (left to right): Oscar Fuentes, Janet Jones,
Dr. Deep Dhillon, Denisse Sanchez, Mellissa Renner
Front Row (left to right): Deserea Verwey, Perla Mejia,
Ashlynd Kincaid, Merlyn Madrigal, and Ester Delapaz
¬
Support
FFA & 4-H
Animal Sale
Saturday,
Aug. 15, 2015
&DOO7RGD\
541-289-5433
1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR
DFURVVIURP*RRG6KHSKHUG0HGLFDO&HQWHU
www.hermistonkidsdentist.com
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
THE
BIG AUTHORITY ON LITTLE TEETH
Continues on page 4
FARM-CITY PRO RODEO
From humble beginnings, Farm-City changed the sport
ELMER’S
IRRIGATION, INC.
“The Best Little Irrigation Company in the Northwest”
Sponsored By
80527 Hwy 395 N. • Hermiston • 541-567-5572