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.
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“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