Top cowboys come to Sisters Rodeo

Sisters rider Johnny Hammack in the chutes at the Calgary Stampede. The Sisters Rodeo remains the saddle bronc rider's favorite.

The last time The Nugget caught up with Sisters native Johnny Hammack, he was getting ready for the saddle bronc competition at the Calgary Stampede.

This weekend, however, rodeo fans will find him a little closer to home.

"Sisters is my favorite rodeo," said Hammack. "I grew up in Sisters. It's really great to compete in your hometown."

In fact, this will be the eighth time he's competed here, but that's only part of his history with the rodeo.

"I've been to every Sisters Rodeo since I was born. I haven't ever missed one," he said.

Hammack literally grew up at the rodeo. His dad, John, is a long-time rodeo man, competing in the bareback riding and steer wrestling.

"I don't know how many times he won the bareback event at Sisters, but it was quite a few," said Johnny.

"One year -- I forget which -- he won both his events and won the overall, too."

Some of Hammack's local buddies will also be in Sisters this weekend, including Bobby Mote of Redmond and Powell Butte cowboy Clint Corey. Both are bareback riders, so Hammack won't have to square off against his friends.

Speaking about Mote, Hammack said, "We're best friends; we went to high school together, and we started riding together at the same time. I think he's about fifth in the world (bareback rankings) right now.

"Clint Corey was world bareback champion in '91. I learn a lot from him," Hammack said. "The three of us all kind of run around together."

While Hammack keeps good company, he's been doing pretty well for himself, too.

At Calgary, last year, he was ranked No. 30 among saddle bronc riders; and, so far this year, he's riding at about No. 15.

This year, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) -- which keeps track of those rankings -- boosted the prestige of the Sisters Rodeo by putting it on their official tour.

"Those tour rodeos are a real good deal for the (rodeo) committees and good for the PRCA," said Hammack.

"It makes it rough for the cowboys in the stock events, though," Hammack says. "We'd really rather ride one day. It's gonna make it more expensive for the cowboys to go to Sisters, now, because you have to stay for Sunday.

"Of course, if I make the short go, I ain't gonna complain."

The "short go" refers to the true final format that the Sisters Rodeo is shifting to this year.

Sunday's final competition will pit the top scorers from the first round against each other in a separate round. Prize money will be awarded to winners of the first go, the short go, and the best averages of the two.

In order to appear Sunday, many of the cowboys will have to book expensive flights to commute from another rodeo or will have to give up the chance at another rodeo, altogether.

Hammack said he would have also planned for the Union Rodeo, but for the new format.

Regarding ESPN's decision to broadcast the Sunday final, Hammack said, "The television is gonna help the rodeo in Sisters, but I think there's gonna be less guys competing. Only the top cowboys in the world will be able to get into Sisters, now."

Hammack is one of those top cowboys and he will be joining others from all over the United States at the "Biggest Little Show in the World."