August 2016
East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald • Page 11
about 20 people and 40 horses staying on of them carpool to an event or Ày out for
her property every year, but numbers have a few days, entrusting their rigs or their
dropped slightly in the past ¿ve years as animals to the Tullis’s care.
rodeos have rearranged their schedules to
She said there are many families
allow competitors to do slack and perfor- across Umatilla County who offer up
mance in the same day.
space on their rural properties for
Tullis runs Sharon Tullis
rodeo cowboys and cowgirls
Travel Services, and about
to camp for free and/or keep
80 percent of her business
their horses and trailers. As
comes from rodeo-related
a result, local businesses
travel these days. But
from feed stores to dry
those who stay on her
cleaners see a boost in
property for free during
customers during the
the summer experience
rodeo season.
her family’s hospitality out
Darrel Sallee, who
of friendship, not business.
was a ¿xture in the rodeo
She said she sees it as a
community and a Farm-City
good way to give back. She said
Pro Rodeo board member
Lindsay Sears
two-time national champion
until his death in December
barrel racer Lindsay Sears has become 2014, was also known for his hospitality
“like a second daughter” and there are toward rodeo cowboys. After Sallee
many more examples of people in the died, six-time PRCA champion tie-down
rodeo community who have become life- roper Cody Ohl purchased a belt buckle
long friends after staying several summers engraved in Sallee’s honor to award
with the Tullis family.
the winner of the 2015 Farm-City Pro
“So many have become extended Rodeo’s calf roping.
family,” she said. “We get so close.”
Ohl wrote in a statement that he
Tullis frequently barbecues for her created the memorial buckle because he
guests, she said, and they sometimes pitch had used the Sallees’ home as his home
in around the property, helping bring the base during rodeo season for 15 years,
family’s hay into the barn in an annual and that Sallee was “an unreal man” and
“hay day” tradition. Sometimes several a good friend.
Affordable
Specialty Care
For Your Children,
Right Here At
Home!
Back Row (left to right): Michelle Cardenas, Oscar
Fuentes, Dr. Deep Dhillon, Jessica Bruce, Denisse
Sanchez and Ester Delepaz
Front Row (left to right): Perla Mejia, Mellissa
Renner, Merlyn Madrigal, Daniela Campos and
Jessenia Gonzalez
Call Today!
541-289-5433
1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR
(across from Good Shepherd Medical Center)
www.hermistonkidsdentist.com
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
THE
BIG
AUTHORITY ON LITTLE TEETH
PHOTOGRAPH © DARREN CARROLL
Lindsay Sears makes a run in the ninth round in the barrel racing event at the 2010 Wran-
gler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Sears was a frequent guest in the Tullis home
while traveling to and from rodeos in the Pacific Northwest.
