FARM-CITY PRO RODEO
PAGE 8 • HERMISTON HERALD/EAST OREGONIAN
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015
Rodeo prepares to move
By JADE McDOWELL
Staff Writer
In his heyday, David Bothum used to ride 100 ro-
deos a year, but his favorite arena has always been
the one at home.
“These are by far the prettiest grounds,” he said,
gesturing to the emerald green grass and carefully
trimmed shade trees creating a stark contrast to the
hoof-marked mud of the arena. “For the spectators,
behind the stands, there’s not a prettier place.”
There’s a lot to love about the arena in the center
of Hermiston that has been the home of the Farm-
City Pro Rodeo since its inception. But spectators and
cowboys alike will say their farewells to it this year
before the rodeo and Umatilla County Fair move to
the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in 2016.
Bothum, a founding member of the rodeo who rep-
resents it on the EOTEC board, has worked hard to
make sure the new arena will be a good fit for the
Farm-City Pro Rodeo. He said the new arena will
seat more people — close to 8,000 compared to about
5,500 currently — but it will preserve the overall lay-
STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST
Jeff Schwirse installs some lighting behind the Farm-City logo
sign on the rodeo grounds. Schwirse has been the electrician
for the Farm-City 3ro 5odeo for about ÀYe years.
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Front row L-R: Mike Fine, Becky Hayden-Madrigal, Richard Hayden, Tess Sabuco, Nikole Green, Joey¬Gut ierrez
Back Row L-R: Mike Atkins, Brayann Mendoza, Nick Gutierrez,¬Scott Bishop, Jeff Pedersen, Brian¬VanCl eave¬
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