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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2016)
August 2016 East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald • Page 9 “Once in a while, even when it’s not rodeo time, we get called for different things,” Rossi said. Board member Jon Gill said the volunteers are a “pretty dedicated” group, and many of them have helped out with the rodeo for years, if not decades. As time goes on, he said, many have passed on the tradition of volunteering for the rodeo to children or grandchildren. Gill said volunteers tend to enjoy feeling part of something big and helping preserve Western culture. “This is a great event for the community, and so people want to support that,” he said. Board members work year- round to make sure everything is in place for the rodeo by the time it rolls around, but other volun- teers also work quietly behind the scenes. “Obviously, without volun- teers it couldn’t take place,” Gill said. Pat Napolitano has been volunteering at the evening work parties for about six years “The Smile of a Satisfied Customer!” Volunteers and Farm-City Pro Ro- deo board mem- bers look over a piece of equipment used to groom the rodeo arena during a work party at the arena. Pictured are Jon Gill, Pat Napolitano, David Bothum, Scott Tullis (bending) Franki Rossi, and Joe Faretta and Patrick McDonough. STAFF PHOTOS BY GARY L. WEST Volunteers and Farm-City Pro Rodeo board members look over a piece of equipment used to groom the rodeo arena during a work party at the arena. Pictured are Pat Napolitano, Jon Gill, David Bothum, Franki Rossi, Scott Tullis and Joe Faretta. now, and said he was brought in by Darrell Sallee. Sallee was an active member of the rodeo community and a Farm-City Pro Rodeo board member until his death in December 2014, and Napolitano said he is deeply missed. He said the rodeo could really use some more volunteers, and he would invite anyone with an interest to come down on Tuesday and Thursday nights about 6:30 to help. 0% percent financing available. FREE CONSULTATIONS Joseph C. Vize, DPD, LD, Member WDA, OSDA, NDA, ICOI Pasco 509-547-8661 • Pendleton 541-276-9277 www.firstchoicedentureservice.com “I don’t know anything about the front end or the back end of a horse, so you don’t have to be a cowboy,” he said. Both Rossi and Napolitano said they hoped to see a successful transition to a new rodeo arena at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in time for the 2017 rodeo, and hoped that the new location would spark some enthusiasm in a new generation of rodeo volunteers. “My hope is it moves up on the ¿eld and other volunteers come in and keep this thing going,” Napolitano said. Rossi said even though this year could be the ¿nal year with the original arena, they weren’t treating it any different as they worked to make the arena the best it can be. “It wouldn’t make any differ- ence if it was the ¿rst year or the last year,” he said. Come Support the Umatilla County Fair and Farm-City Pro Rodeo Youth & Ag. Day Thursday, Aug. 11th Night For Future Farmers Of America • Calf Dressing Show Down • Pre-Rodeo Event and Again on Saturday, Aug. 13th • FFA 4-H Animal Auction - 10:00 am Enjoy the Fair & Rodeo Remember to protect your ears from loud noise! *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.! Elmer’s Irrigation, Inc. 80527 Hwy 395 N. • Hermiston 541-567-5572 541-567-4063 "Proudly serving and investing in the "P future of our communities." 405 N. 1st St., Suite #107, Hermiston 541-215-1888 246 SW Dorion, Pendleton Ric Jones, BC-HIS Verna Taylor, HAS Forrest Cahill, HAS
