News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The Sisters Rodeo is set to open wide the gates on the 57th annual running of one of the region's top rodeos June 13-15.
The Sisters event traditionally brings together top cowboys and cowgirls and top rodeo stock, and this year's show is no exception. For three days the Sisters Rodeo Arena will provide a showcase for a host of world champions.
Ace calf roper Joe Beaver has become a fixture at the Sisters Rodeo over the years, and the 1996 All-Around Champ is back this year hunting for a winning time in the Sisters arena.
Last year's champion saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer and bare back champ Mark Garrett will pit themselves against the best horses in the Beard Rodeos' stables in their classic events.
Charmayne James, one of sports' most successful athletes with 10 world championships will race for the top spot in barrel racing.
Friday night's performance will feature a dramatic bull-riding challenge, with a $5,500 check riding on the ability of any cowboy to stay aboard the hurricane deck of "Dodge Magnum V-10."
The evening performance will also feature a Les Schwab tire giveaway, and Sunday's event offers a chance to win air tickets and accommodations for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas courtesy of Pepsi.
Some riders from the Sisters country will try to win before the hometown crowd. Mark Barkley will ride in the bareback event, Anson Begay will try his luck at team roping, Johnny Hammack will climb aboard the saddle broncs and Sam Willis is a double threat in steer wrestling and team roping.
A former Sisters Rodeo Queen returns this year as a contestant as Heather Buchanan enters the barrel racing event.
The commentary and the rousing music of rodeo will be easier to hear all over the arena this year as the rodeo association unveils the new suspended sound system that puts the speakers in the middle of the arena.
The days are counting down and the cowboys are keeping an eye on the weather in hopes that there will be sunny skies when the flag's unfurled and the riders let 'er buck.
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.
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