Cody Jacobs was awarded the Top Hand Award by Pendleton Round-Up President Dennis Hunt Friday night during a celebration at Rodeo Lanes in Pendleton, to honor minor age volunteers.

The Top Hand Award is a new honor in 2011 given to a volunteer under the age of 18 that best demonstrates the spirit of Round-Up with a dependable work ethic and positive attitude. Cody was presented with an exquisite hand-carved Montana Silversmith sterling silver belt buckle with gold bucking horse design and ornate lettering stating “Pendleton Round-Up Top Hand.”

14 year old Cody has worked on both the Livestock Crew and with Hay and Barns for four years. However, prior to that he helped his father, Bob Jacobs, on the Parade Crew by sweeping out the barns. “Cody has been helping out with Round-Up since we moved here.” said Bob.

Early each morning during Round-Up week, Cody helps feed the livestock, which is a job that repeats each afternoon. Soon after the morning feeding Cody assists in sorting the calves and steers for morning slack early in the week, as well as for the rodeo performances Wednesday through Saturday. “He is always ready to work because when he is working, he is where the action is,” stated Round-Up Livestock Director David O’Neill, “he wouldn’t miss that for anything. Cody truly loves the Pendleton Round-Up and takes great pride in being a volunteer”

“My favorite part is running the cows through the alley,” said Cody with a smile, “Now there’s something you don’t get to do every day.” It is widely acknowledged among the Round-Up directors that Cody is always willing to help anyone anytime, doing anything he is requested to do and often gets started even before he is asked. 

Competitive Events Director Bill Quesenberry said, “Cody and his dad are definitely jacks of all trades. Anywhere anyone needs help, these two will get it done.” Cody plans to wear his new buckle proudly.

Category: Features, News & Updates, People & Volunteers

PENDLETON — Alex Featherstone of Pendleton will be the queen of the Pendleton Round-Up for 2012. Her princesses will be Kymee Braseth of La Grande, Brittany Doherty of Pilot Rock, Katie Harris of Pendleton and Jessica Hughes of Heppner. 

The court was announced at an annual breakfast today (Dec. 17) at the home of Heather and Doug Corey in Adams. The breakfast was also hosted by Steve and Susan Corey, Tom and Ellyn Weeks, Joan Corey, Kipp and Cydney Curtis, Michael and Jenny Corey and Tyson and Megan Furstenberg.

“Every year I am amazed at the caliber of the young women who donate a year of their lives to promote the Round-Up,” President Dennis Hunt said. “This group of ladies is outstanding and I know they will make us proud.”

Court director Heather Corey agreed.

“The poise these five young women possess is truly remarkable,” she said. “I am looking forward to a busy and rewarding year with not only these girls, but with their families as well.”

Corey also said it is obvious that being a queen or princess for the Pendleton Round-Up is still as important as it was when royalty first graced the rodeo.

“We had so many great applicants,” she said “It’s exciting to see the caliber of young women who are willing to put their personal plans aside to make Round-Up the center of their existence for a year.”

Alex Featherstone, 21, is the daughter of Barry and Maryl Featherstone of Pendleton. She was a princess in 2010. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2008, where she was awarded the Lantern Cup and the Citizenship Cup.  She is now majoring in political science at Willamette University in Salem. At Willamette, she is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

She has been a pennant bearer for Round-Up and has volunteered with Tough Enough to Wear Pink, the souvenir booth, and at the work party. She’s been riding for 10 years. Her grandmother, Betty Holt Graybeal, was a princess the first year the royalty jumped over the wooden fence. Her great uncle Walter Holt was a Round-Up director and her family members are long-time volunteers for the rodeo. She is the first in her family to be queen of the Round-Up.

Kymee Braseth, 21, is the daughter of Craig and Kay Braseth of La Grande. She graduated from Imbler High School in 2008 and is majoring in dental hygiene at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.  In high school she was yearbook editor, played varsity basketball and was active in FFA, receiving her state and American degree.

Her parents have been Round-Up volunteers in Room 17 for the last three years. Braseth has been riding horses for more than 18 years. She served as the queen of the 2008 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show. Being with her parents during their volunteer work, she has met and been impressed by the young women on the court as well as the rodeo itself.

 Brittany Doherty, 20, is the daughter of Raymond and Teri Doherty of Pilot Rock. She graduated from Pilot Rock High School in 2009. While at PRHS, she played volleyball, basketball and softball, making all-league in all three sports. She was also a member of the National Honor Society. She is now majoring in early childhood development and education at Oregon State University in Corvallis where she is on the honor roll. She earned her associate’s transfer degree at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton.

She has served as a Round-Up pennant bearer and as a member of the Happy Canyon Quadrille. She’s been riding horses for 10 years. Doherty’s family has volunteered for Round-Up in many capacities including moving stock, helping in the arena and selling beer chips.  Her great grandfather also provided bucking stock for the rodeo.

Katie Harris, 20, is the daughter of Stuart and Deborah Harris of Pendleton. She graduated from Pendleton High School in 2009, where she earned high honors. She now attends Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton and wants to complete her computer science and business studies at Oregon State University after she gets her transfer degree. At BMCC she’s been on the Dean’s List and honors list multiple times and has been named Native American Student of the Month.

Harris and her family are active volunteers in the Round-Up and have been since 1910. She has served as a pennant bearer, danced in the arena, and helped work the cattle before slack. She’s been riding horses for about seven years. Her great aunt, Virginia Wilkinson was queen of the Round-Up in 1948. Her family has also been involved in both Chief Joseph Days and the Reno Rodeo. Harris was a Happy Canyon princess in 2010.

Jessica Hughes, 19, is the daughter of Kevin and Angie Hughes of Heppner. She graduated in 2010 from Heppner High School and now attends Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton where she’s majoring in elementary education. In high school she was all league in basketball and volleyball, and made the honor roll all four years. In college her name has appeared on both the President’s and the Dean’s lists.

Neither Hughes nor her family have a volunteer history with Round-Up. Her busy schedule in high school sports prevented them from being able to do so. She competed in high school rodeo for all four years of high school career. Attending the rodeo is one of her favorite family events, and she says she looks forward to watching the queen and princesses jump the fence each year in the grand entry. She’s been riding horses for 17 years.

The 2012 Round-Up court will be formally introduced to the Round-Up directors at a dinner in March. They will travel throughout the west promoting the rodeo at a variety of events and will reign over the 102nd Pendleton Round-Up the second full week of September.

Category: Features, People & Volunteers, Queen And Court

The Pendleton Round-Up Association Annual Stockholders Meeting was held Tuesday night November 22, 2011 in the Let ‘er Buck Room. The stockholders received an annual financial report from Mark Dickey of Pendleton CPA firm Dickey and Tremper LLP.  Financial report details demonstrate that rodeo ticket sales exceeded expectations in 2011, but expenses were also higher than budgeted. While the PBR had a better year than previous, the Concert lost a small amount. Because of strong attendance and merchandise sales the Round-Up was able to increase its community contributions in the form of student scholarships, donated promotional items and ticket packages provided to raise money for hundreds of charitable groups throughout the Northwest. The Round-Ups bills are paid and adequate cash carry-over is available to continue operations.

25 year Pin Award

Ten long-time volunteers were presented with Twenty-Five Year Awards including Front Row: Carolyn Hall, Sue Doherty, Verneda Wagner, Joe DeMarsh Royce Hack, Chris Grimes, Jack Remillard, Vernon Purcell, Jeff Kendrick, Ryan DeGroft

Bob Forth received the Fifty Year Award, joining a rare group of individuals with half a century of service.

2011 Appreciations Awards were presented to volunteers who were honored for outstanding contribution to the Association which is exemplary or of extraordinary value.  Jack Remillard was acknowledged for the development and implementation of the new contestant parking plan. – Rick Daugherty received the award for his expertise and key supervision of volunteers leading to the overall success of Round-Up and PBR security.  Mike Schuening was noted for his ability to manage financial issues in the highly demanding Let ‘er Buck Room environment. Deloris Swearingen was praised for assisting fan’s understanding of the Centennial West Grandstand seating with a smile and great attitude, mitigating complications and miscues which helped many confused and sometimes cranky fans in their efforts to find their seats.  Chris and Jodi Bettineski were honored for creative use of technology in live posting of contestant results, using personal equipment and expertise for overall improvements in communications with announcing and rodeo secretary’s office.  Janet Herbes was singled out for her volunteer contributions to guarantee the success of ushering and seating.  Lonnie and Vickie Read, as well as Ron and Gloria Hughes, were jointly credited the shared oversight and success in hosting the Major Sponsors in the Roy Raley Room.  Tim Sweek was appreciated for his working knowledge of the Round-Up’s timing/barrier system, which is unique in the rodeo world, requiring operation of handmade equipment and coordination of many volunteers working in consort.  

The stockholders ratified the 2012 election of officers which include Dennis Hunt, President; Tim Hawkins, Vice President; Carl Culham, Treasurer; Troy LeGore, Secretary.  Also ratified were second term elections of Troy LeGore, John Trumbo and Tygh Campbell.                

Pendleton Round-Up president Dennis Hunt reported several achievements during 2011. These included the completion of the loan for the West End Grandstand Project, improvements to the Pavilion, re-working the West grandstand track fence for improved spectator visibility, Indian Village sprinkler system, and painting of the North Grandstand seating. In addition, several new support events were initiated including Pendleton Round-Up University at the Slick Fork Saloon, The Battle of the Bars Hall of Fame fundraiser, and a new bottle recycling program.  President Hunt also noted that the last limited edition small bucking horse bronze was sold in September. This sale of 100 miniature bronzes is somewhat unprecedented and was accomplished in much less time than expected. The sale proceeds paid for the spectacular monument size bronze which will greet Pendleton visitors at the new Centennial Plaza, on Court Street, for generations to come.

Category: News & Updates, People & Volunteers

Category: Events, News & Updates, People & Volunteers, Queen And Court, Results

Entries for the 2011 PENDLETON ROUND-UP WESTWARD HO! Parade are NOW CLOSED.  We have all of the entries that we are able to accommodate  for this year’s parade.  

Thank you for your entries and for those who wish to be in the parade, PLEASE CONTACT US NEXT YEAR!  Let’er Buck

Category: Events, Features, People & Volunteers

Local enterices for Cow Milking will be taken Monday, August 22nd at the Round-Up office beginning at 8:30 a.m.   A Social Security number and medical insurance is required on all contestants.  Entry fees must be paid at the time you enter.

COW MILKING

1. First 30 paid teams

2. Main and phone orders accepted

3. $200 per team

4. Proof of medical insurance on all team members

The Round-Up Association reserves the right to refuse entry to any team.

For more information call 541-276-2553 or stop by the Round-Up & Happy Canyon Office in the Hall of Fame building, 1114 SW Court, Pendleton OR

Category: Events, People & Volunteers

Ash Crash Cooper

The Pendleton Round-Up Association proudly announces Ash “CrAsh” Cooper of Senlac, Saskatchewan as our 2011 rodeo clown. When CrAsh steps into the grass arena September 14 – 17, rodeo fans know they could be in for anything! Cooper is known for his athleticism and for involving rodeo cowboys in crowd-pleasing stunts. This unique style comedy has made CrAsh one of the most popular rodeo entertainers in North America. “Anybody can be funny just standing around talking with your friends,” he says. “But when you have to be funny now – on command – in front of thousands of people, it’s a whole different scenario.”  He‘s a four time winner of Canada’s Entertainer of the Year, as well as being selected for numerous rodeo finals in the USA. He also hosted seven seasons on his award winning television show, Cowboy Country, creating over 450 different features.

Ash grew up in western Canada around rodeo and the cowboy lifestyle. As a natural athlete he played elite-level hockey in both Canada and the United States. In 1990 while watching the Canadian Finals Rodeo he decided to take up bullfighting. “My mom was not a big fan of it” he recalls. “She always told me to wear clean underwear in case I got run over by a bull and had to go to the hospital.” He would respond, “If I get run over by a bull, do you think my underwear is really going to be clean?” Moving from the chutes to the barrel he has continued incorporating his athleticism into his routines.

Cooper, who studied fine arts at Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada, has not limited his creativity to his work in the entertainment industry. He’s also a rancher, running 100 head of half beef cattle and young bucking bulls. Additionally, he is an accomplished western artist, working from a studio on his ranch near the Saskatchewan/Alberta border. His artwork includes limited edition graphite drawings and watercolor paints. He uses both mediums to create poignant reflections of life in the west. On the lighter side, Ash is also a popular cartoonist. His cartoons are distributed by Leanin’ Tree and he is one of that companies top selling artists. “I’m not sure what I’d do if my life was simpler,” he says. “Everything I’m doing now complements everything else I’m doing.”

You can watch Ash Cooper crash the big grass arena at the 101st Pendleton Round-Up, September 14 – 17.

Category: Events, Features, News & Updates, People & Volunteers

Bill Dawson, Wagon Master

Down at the wagon shop, Bill Dawson led a group of Westward Ho Parade enthusiasts in a meeting. His good friend Jack Remillard interrupted the planning and announced that the shop needed ‘something.’ The sliding door was flung open to reveal a new sign. Jack had commissioned the sign to commemorate the completion of renovations at Pendleton’s only, honest to goodness, Wagon Shop. The sign read “Pendleton Round-Up Wagon shop” with accompanying plaque, which identifies “Bill Dawson, Wagon Master.”

In August, 1970 the old barns burned to the ground. That fire also damaged the small Shop and Harness Storage Building which was all of the buildings the parade organization had. Some tools, hitches, harnesses, and other irreplaceable historic equine treasures were lost or damaged. A new wagon and buggy shop was built around 1971 under the supervision of then Round-Up Grounds Director Roy Thurman. It provided a place for local craftsmen to repair and rebuild the Pendleton Round-Up collection of historic wagons, buggies and coaches. The shop was not insulated and was frequently unusable due to extreme heat or cold.

In 1998 Bill Dawson retired from a career with US West Communications and went to work as a volunteer in the wagon shop assisting Pat Gugin. Bill and Pat became more or less self-taught wheel wrights of old school ilk. Really old school. Pat passed away in 2003, but Bill carries on the craftsman’s  tradition using a forge and hammer along with shop made tools to fabricate and repair steel parts with methods employed during the same time period as the 100 to150 year old wagons he cares for. His title of Wagon Master is well deserved, as he is the conservator of the extensive collection of animal drawn vehicles displayed annually in the Pendleton Round-Up parades.

Immediately after the 2010 Pendleton Round-Up centennial celebration, last September, Bill gutted the wagon shop.  Insulation was installed and plywood sheathing now covers the walls. A bright coat of white paint, new lighting, shelving, and a cooling system along with a display of historical pictures, harness and hitch parts completes the interior make-over. Pendleton Round-Up Parade Director, Billy Lorenzen said, “Bill Dawson is one of the Pendleton Round-Up’s least known treasures. Now he can work throughout the year in comfort.” Lorenzen went on to say, “Bill often takes time to instruct curious tourists about the life of a teamster, and art of wagon building. This new sign will tell everyone just what we’ve got here and exactly where to find him.”

You can find the wagon shop in the back part of the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds just east of the indoor pavilion. Although Bill Dawson never hesitates to jump in on a good story, surprising him with the new sign did shut him up, for just a bit.

Randy Thomas – July 26, 2011

Category: News & Updates, People & Volunteers

If you are interested in trying out for the 2011 singing of the National Anthem during this year’s Pendleton Round-Up, please contact our office to give us your address and phone number.  We will be sending out a postcard with the dates and time for the try outs ~ Which have yet to be determined.   You may phone the office at 1-800-457-6336 or email your information to info@pendletonroundup.com

Category: Events, News & Updates, People & Volunteers

Our 2011 Hall Of Fame Board Of Directors

The Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame President, Virginia Roberts, introduced three new board members at the annual meeting.  The new board members are Corinne Long Swearingen, Greg Duchek and Tiah DeGrofft. 

*****

Category: Events, News & Updates, People & Volunteers