Volunteers get rodeo grounds ready

Sisters Rodeo Association volunteers are feeling the squeeze of getting everything ready for the rodeo's opening day on June 8. Things were bustling at the rodeo grounds Saturday morning as workers labored to complete the club house addition and the inside bar remodel, as well as all necessary maintenance and clean up on the grounds.

"The next two weeks will be a lot more hard work, but we'll be ready. If we are not ready, we'll just quit and have a rodeo," said Glen Miller, who has been president of the rodeo association for the past nine years.

The vast majority of work at the rodeo grounds is being carried out by an all-volunteer work force, although Miller hired a crew to install the sheetrock and insulation in the new secretary's office. On Saturday, volunteers were laying the roof on the new addition.

A team of eight volunteers from AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) joined rodeo volunteers at Saturday's work party.

According to group leader Annie Harmel, the team is stationed in the area to help Caldera's facility at Blue Lake set up their camp for summer activities. The group is living at Caldera until July 7.

"Our base is in Sacramento, California, and Camp Caldera asked for a team and ... we could supply one," said Harmel.

The eight youth volunteers who are presently based at Caldera come from all over the country.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a federally funded, 10-month, full-time, team-based national service program for men and women ages 18-24. Members are stationed in one of three campuses located in Denver, Sacramento, and Perry Point, Maryland.

"On our time off we do independent service hours," said Harmel. "Sisters Rodeo needed some help, and we wanted to come out and see what we could do to help, because we heard it's a great rodeo."

The team started their year working in Houma, Louisiana doing finish work for Habitat for Humanity as part of disaster relief from Hurricane Katrina.

"We were in the Gulf for seven months," said Harmel.

The group then traveled to Covington, Louisiana, working for St. Tammany Parish public schools.

"We were split up between different teachers ... tutoring kids one-on-one or in small groups, doing a lot of reading and homework support," said team member Tyler Kollar. "It was mostly because St. Tammany Parish grew more in the last 15 months population wise than it has in the last 15 years, because of relocation from New Orleans (after Katrina) to St. Tammany."

In their spare time the AmeriCorps team spends time in Sisters shopping.

"We went up to the thrift store and went in and bought rodeo clothes. People are friendly. I love the community," said Norma Vorrilla.

Rodeo Association board member Bonnie Malone is delighted the group is planning on attending the rodeo. She hopes to put them to work ushering.

Slack, the first activity of the 67th Sisters Rodeo, is scheduled for Thursday, June 7, when team ropers, bull doggers and steer wrestlers try to qualify for rodeo participation.

"It's free rodeo day, really," said Malone. "There's just no rough stuff; there's no bucking stuff."

The rodeo's first performance is Friday night, June 8, followed by three other shows on Saturday afternoon and evening and on Sunday afternoon. The Rodeo Parade on the streets of Sisters will be held on Saturday morning commencing at 9:30 a.m. The annual pancake breakfast is slated for the rodeo grounds on Sunday morning from 7 to 11 a.m.