Square dancers will feed rodeo crowds

The hungry crowds at Sisters Rodeo have a square dancing club to thank for the curly fries, hot dogs and hamburgers they have come to expect at the three-day event.

For almost 20 years, the Swinging Mountaineers has volunteered to host two large concession booths so they can earn the funds needed to keep dancing.

The Swinging Mountaineers' concession at Sisters Rodeo - set for June 13-15 - is the club's only fund-raiser, so members rely on it to afford callers for their dances throughout the year. Callers, who shout out the sequence of steps to the square dancers, must often drive from Portland for events in Central Oregon.

Concession organizer Roger Davis hopes to raise up to $3,500 from their efforts. Davis said it takes around 100 club members to don aprons and keep the two kitchens going. There is a separate window for contestants so cowboys and cowgirls can fuel up fast and return to the ring.

"We have fun doing it - square dancing people are the best in the world," said Davis.

Sisters residents Russ and Nancy Williams have belonged to the Swinging Mountaineers for 20 years and enjoy working with their friends at the rodeo. They'll help get the booths organized so they can start serving up onion rings and other treats when Sisters Rodeo begins on Friday, June 13.

"We look forward to the first day - but by the third day we're tired!" said Nancy Williams.

The Swinging Mountaineers are part of a large team of volunteers who do all the jobs at the rodeo since there is no paid staff. Hundreds of volunteers come to the rodeo grounds several months in advance of the event to prepare the buildings, grounds and bleachers. During the event, the long list of jobs includes selling tickets, taking tickets at the gate, ushering, overseeing concessions, providing security, manning beer and soft drink booths, and helping sort stock (horses, steers, bulls) outside the arena. After the three-day event, volunteers handle the clean-up.

"The Swinging Mountaineers and all of our volunteers are hard-working people who contribute countless hours to bring our event to life," said Bonnie Malone, Sisters Rodeo Association Board Member.

The Sisters Rodeo began in 1940 and is held the second weekend of June. Sisters Rodeo is PRCA sanctioned and attracts some of the best rodeo champions from the rodeo circuit. For more information, visit http://www.sistersrodeo.com.