PENDLETON — As people don pastels for Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day on Sept. 16 at the Round-Up, the history of rodeo women will be celebrated at the Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame, 1114 S.W. Court Ave. Author Jill Charlotte Stanford will sign copies of her book “Wild Women and Tricky Ladies” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“The book hasn’t been released yet, but the publisher has done an early printing to allow us to present this event,” Virginia Roberts of the Hall of Fame said.
The book, described as highly illustrated, celebrates the female trick riders and other performers who have played important roles in rodeos, Wild West shows and fairs since the 1800s. Stafford, of Sisters, takes a look into both the lives and philosophies of these women.
Stafford, who also authored “The Cowgirl’s Cookbook,” utilizes first-hand accounts of life on the rodeo circuit as well as archival photography in the book.
Riding tricks such as the fender drag and the suicide drag that are described in the book are still used today by modern trick riders. Among the cowgirls the author explores is Bertha Blancett, who excelled in Roman riding at the Pendleton Round-Up, winning the purse countless times. The author also explores the lives and attitudes of Hazel Walker and Babe Lee, trick riders in the 1920s on the fair and rodeo circuits.
Stanford’s appearance is especially fitting considering the current Hall of Fame exhibit. “Women of the Rodeo” offers a visitors a look at vintage photographs and descriptions of cowgirls including Blancett, Mabel Strickland, Florence Adams, Ollie Osborn and Ella and Rhoda Lazinka.
Roberts, who researched the exhibit, found an excerpt in an Ohio newspaper that illustrates the toughness of the wild women Stafford so admires. After a bronc threw
several professional cowboys, Adams rode “the untamed brute” for 15 minutes, bringing him to a complete standstill.
The Hall of Fame is located across the street from the Round-Up Grounds and will be open daily during Round-Up week, the second full week in September. Admission to tour the exhibit is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and $2 for children. There is no charge for visitors coming to have a book signed. For more information about the Hall of Fame call 541-278-0815. For information on other Round-Up and Happy Canyon events call 541-276-2553 or 800-457-6336.
Editor’s note: Please add the book signing to your calendar of Round-Up events.
Category: Features
