News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The girls, members of the 4-H "Rockin' Riders" team, competed in the Horse Fair July 27-29. The event, which preceded the opening of the county fair, tested their mettle in skills ranging from showmanship and trail riding to cow working and barrel racing.
Erin Deggendorfer continued her winning 4-H career, taking honors as Grand Champion Showman, Champion Senior in Western Equitation and Western Riding Champion. The 15-year-old Sisters High School Junior also rode her 11-year-old mare Texas to a "high-point" victory, combining her score in three separate events. Her performance qualified her for state fair competition in Salem August 14-20.
Lynna Elliott and Erin Tesconi, competing in the 7th-9th grade intermediate division, made the top-10 on the trail course. Elliott was a top 10 qualifier in the intermediate class and will also go to state fair competition.
Elliott also took honors as Ranchmanship Champion in the Ranch Horse and Gaming competition. Intermediate competitor Katie Morton rode through a challenging pole-bending course, maneuvering between poles lined up in the arena, to win the pole-bending championship. Morton also ranked as reserve champion in Barrel Racing. She will go on to Games competition in McMinnville in October.
Shira Spahn, competing as a junior (4th-6th grades), was reserve champion in Barrel Racing .
Stacey Patterson took top 10 honors in the Ranch Horse category and Deggendorfer qualified in the top-10 Ranch Horse and won the high point buckle.
Kathy Deggendorfer, Erin's mother and a 4-H "horse leader attributed the growing success of Sisters riders to strong 4-H leadership in Sisters in recent years and to the girls' dedication.
"They are very dedicated," she said. "These kids have spent a lot of time."
Erin Deggendorfer said this has been her best year in 4-H so far. She has two more years in the senior division before she moves on to college -- OSU is in her plans-- where she hopes to include a minor in equine medicine.
She also hopes to join the university's equestrian team.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)