Cowboys and Smokin' Guns at rodeo dinner

The grand finale for the Sisters Rodeo Association's season played out on Saturday evening. The tables were groaning with prime rib and other pure American delicacies. And as is only appropriate for a cowboy event there was whiskey, wine and women.

The event was a thank-you to all the volunteers who make the Sisters Rodeo possible. The spirit of cooperation that is the trademark of the Sisters Rodeo Association has made the event the most successfully run all-volunteer rodeo in the United States, putting Sisters at the top of the chart.

Volunteers can look forward to a lighter work load this next year after several years of projects that have brought some major changes to the rodeo grounds.

"We are looking forward to another great year. We are only going to do maintenance this year. I promised everybody that we wouldn't wipe them out this year, and we're not going to have any big projects this year. We have worked hard over the last few years, and it is time for a break," said Glenn Miller, president of the Sisters Rodeo Association.

The thank-you dinner and dance is a tradition with the rodeo and is always the last event of the season.

"Our annual appreciation dinner is to thank sponsors, workers and people that help out in the rodeo. Sisters is a totally volunteer rodeo, and this is our thank-you for coming out and helping," said Curt Kallberg, Sisters Rodeo Association Vice President.

The rodeo is an integral part of Sisters history and has proved to be a magnet for the area both in growth and economics.

"I know that we moved to Sisters as a result of the rodeo," said Kallberg. "It wasn't that we moved here because of the rodeo, but when we came to the rodeo we saw the area and thought what a great area to live in. Even the Chardonnay and quiche crowd enjoy dressing up and being a cowboy for a day or two. It has been really great for Sisters businesses."

Prime rib is another tradition for the appreciation dinner, and it has been catered by a number of different businesses over the years, including Tumalo Feed Company. This year a new caterer based in Sisters, who is quietly going about landing some great catering contracts, was used.

"Our catering business is fairly new," said Dennis Titchener, from the Hitchin' Post General Store.

"We are not advertising, just doing it by word of mouth. We do the folk festival and the jazz festival, and as more people find out about us we are getting some other catering opportunities."

The after dinner dance featured the Smokin' Guns, a Pacific Northwest band that traces its roots back to Paul Revere and the Raiders. Guitarist Scott Leach was connected to the group before putting together the Smokin' Guns band.

"I think this is the 12th time we have played for the Sisters Rodeo Association. It is a gig that we really look forward to. Actually there are two things we really look forward to, guitars and hot cars," said Leach.

The band has members scattered throughout Central Oregon from Burns to Crooked River Ranch. Smokin' Guns played a blend of classic rock and country that packed the dance floor and left many a cowboy and cowgirl overheated and out of breath, requiring a short stint outside to cool off.