Rodeo finals set for Sisters

Sisters is famous for its rodeo held the second weekend in June.

As the community gears up for that big Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) extravaganza, a pair of local cowboys have put Sisters on the rodeo map for next fall.

The Northwest Pro Rodeo Association (NPRA) has named Sisters as the venue for its 2007 finals. The NPRA offers a special treat to Sisters rodeo fans without the burden of traveling over long distances to take in high-level competition.

The rodeo, slated for September 21-22, adds one more event to Sisters' busy September schedule. "We are expecting somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 people to attend each day. It will be a large event for the area," said Dan Wolfe, a co-owner of Outlaw Productions, the rodeo's organizer. Rodeos have a long history of not only providing wholesome entertainment to Sisters but also a very positive economic impact.

Outlaw Productions' other owner is Sisters custom boot maker Ryder Gauteraux. Wolfe and Gauteraux are both real deal rodeo cowboys. Wolfe competed in the national finals in bull riding. Gauteraux specialized in saddle broncs. Understanding rodeo from a competitor's standpoint, the pair felt they were ideally suited to bring the NPRA finals to a new level.

"These guys really know what they are talking about. ... I think that what they are doing for the rodeo is great, and we are really looking forward to the event in Sisters," said Randy Amis, NPRA's vice president.

"We have a good, solid program with 40 prime rodeos this year. All of them are in Washington and Oregon this year," said Amis.

The NPRA finals have not been held in Central Oregon as far back as anyone can remember.

"We have held them in Klamath Falls for the last few years and are really excited to have them in Sisters. Our only worry is the weather which can sometimes have some surprises during that time of the year," Amis said.

The Sisters Rodeo Grounds have been on the radar of the organization for some time.

"We are really happy that things have worked out so that we can have the event in Sisters. The Sisters Rodeo has such a great reputation, and it is a privilege to be able to use the facility for our finals," said Gauteraux.

The new venue of the rodeo grounds looks to be a long-term arrangement for Sisters and an asset that will provide interest for fans of the sport for many years.

"I see this being a regular function at the (Sisters) Rodeo Grounds for the next five years, at least. I think that it is good for the Sisters rodeo people and for us,"said Wolfe.

The rodeo's competitors are of high quality even though some are not professionals in the sense that rodeo is the only way they make their money.

"We have doctors and lawyers that can't really compete on a larger circuit but are able to take off and compete when they can remain fairly close to home. Some of them are really good and compete at the same level as the national rodeo circuit," said Amis.

The NPRA is proud of the opportunity it provides for rodeo athletes to compete at the professional level while remaining close to home, families and week day jobs.

"This is really what we are about, good wholesome fun for the whole family," said Amis.

The NPRA maintains an excellent relationship with the larger and better known Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Numerous contestants compete with both organizations.

"We really get along well with them and provide an opening for some of the people that would not have the ability to compete with the PRCA circuits because of the travel required," said Amis.

Today's professional rodeo cowboy has a different lifestyle than that of his 1800s predecessor, but the ideals, professionalism, showmanship and hard work of his 1800s counterpart are still valued by today's competitor, perhaps because many were raised with the values of the last century.

"I grew up in a log home with no electricity or telephone. My father was a guide, and we lived with horses and nature as an important part of our lives. I don't feel that I was at any disadvantage. I had a great life growing up," said Gauteraux.