Rodeo veteran keeps on working

Homer Shaw worked the south steer gates all weekend at the 65th annual Sisters Rodeo.

He stood tirelessly waiting for the pickup cowboys to herd the steers after each competition down to the exit gate in his charge. Through the long weekend in the wind and dust and bright sun, he yanked his gate open, agilely stepped aside to allow each steer through the exit shoot, then quickly untangled lariats from the long horns of countless swift moving steer.

It’s work enough for a young man — but Homer Shaw is 91.

This was just one of the many jobs he has performed over the years at the Sisters Rodeo. Shaw, one of the original founders of the Sisters Rodeo Association and a lifetime member, has been volunteering his help, muscle, and expertise at the rodeo events since its advent in 1941.

He worked as the grounds foreman for many years.

“I sank and poured most every post here,” Shaw said, sweeping his arm over the rodeo grounds. “I’ve done every job imaginable here over the years, including serving as president of the board for eight years.”

Shaw recalls many memorable occasions during his tenure, and says he has been lucky to have met so many wonderful people that have come together to help shape what is the Sisters Rodeo today. He also recollects one year when tragedy struck the association… when the clubhouse burned down. But together the board and volunteers stuck it out, enduring the hardships and weathering the storms, which has forged the bond that makes them a success today.

Shaw is good natured and remarkably nimble, which thoroughly belies his age of 91. He is also one of the longest standing Sisters residents, having lived in Sisters for 81 years.

He was a logger in Sisters for 40 years, and then owned and operated a feed store in town after he retired from logging in 1962. Homer has spent his life in Sisters continually doing something for the betterment of the wonderful, peaceful place he calls home. Homer’s wife of 64 years, Norma Shaw, is also a lifetime member of the Sisters Rodeo Association and has spent countless hours volunteering her time and energy at the rodeos through the years.

“We have loved living here and being part of a such a tight-knit community since the town was in its infancy,” Shaw said.

The Shaws recently moved to Condon, Oregon to live near their son, but they still spend much time in their beloved home town, visiting old friends and of course keeping up their age-old tradition of pitching in with whatever they can do to help out at the Sisters Rodeo each year.