Photo by Gary Ogilvie

PENDLETON — World-famous sculptor Austin Barton has been commissioned to create the bronze bucking horse made famous by the Pendleton Round-Up logo for the Centennial Plaza project. The artist is also creating a limited edition series of 100 28-inch replicas of the statue for sale to Western art collectors and fans of the Round-Up.

The sculptor was raised in the Snake River and Wallowa Valley of Eastern Oregon, giving him an intimate knowledge of the Western way of life. His pieces are sold in galleries across the United States and his bronzes are in many private and corporate collections.

“I’ve admired Austin’s work for years,” Round-Up Director Tim Hawkins, who is chairman of the centennial committee, said. “When I approached him for a potential commission he was both flattered and excited. I didn’t think we would be able to afford an artist of Austin’s reputation, but he told me ‘I don’t charge for being famous.’”

Hawkins said that as Barton began work on the bronze he confided it may be the most significant piece he’s ever created.

“I was pleased,” Barton said of Round-Up approaching him to immortalize the bucking Continue reading…

Category: Features, News & Updates

The 100^th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up will kick-off with a New Year’s eve celebration on December 31^st, 2009.  The “Let’er Buck Ball” is planned as the initial kick-off event for the 2010 rodeo, to be held September 15^th through the 18^th.

The 21-and-over event, taking place at the Hamley and Co. facility in downtown Pendleton, will feature celebrities, dignitaries, public officials, and cowboys and cowgirls from around the northwest, along with multiple entertainment options through the evening as well as a live and silent auction.

Tim Hawkins, Pendleton Round-Up arena director and chairman of the Round-Up centennial committee says the intent is to kick off the year in a style unique to the Pendleton Round-Up.

“When the concept came about, there was no doubt in my mind that it had to be a first class, once-in-a-lifetime western affair,” Hawkins said.  “We have the unique ability to make this happen and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Hawkins says guests are encouraged to wear their favorite rodeo regalia from the past hundred years.  The evening will include live entertainment, food by Hamley Continue reading…

Category: News & Updates

From left to right: Mike & Jill Thorne, Tim & Jennifer Hawkins, Randy Severe, Dave Croslin and Stacey Bowen.

The Safeway Foundation for District 71 donated $15,000 to Centennial Plaza now under construction along Southwest Court Avenue in front of the Round-Up Ground Thursday. The donation comes from employees of the 18 stores in the district.

“It’s from the employees of stores all the way from Enterprise to downtown Portland,” District 71 Manager Dave Croslin said. “Normally our donations are around $2,000 to $5,000, but Round-Up has been wonderful to us and we wanted to do something in return.”

Croslin said when he took his position three years ago all he knew about Round-Up Continue reading…

Category: News & Updates