Sisters Rodeo folks make NFR pilgrimage

Taylie and Taitem Jensen sweep through the doors of Southpoint Resort in Las Vegas like seasoned travelers, on their arrival for Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

"It's like coming home," they say.

For the last two years, the 15-year-old and 8-year-old have attended the finals, where they spend two weeks as caretakers of barrel racer Brenda Mays' horse and babysit children of rodeo competitors like world champion bareback rider Bobby Mote.

The girls are the granddaughters of Yvette Moore, Sisters Rodeo member and bookkeeper. The fourth-generation rodeo girls can't imagine being anyplace else the first of December. They traveled this year with their grandmother, who participated in the convention with nine members of the Sisters Rodeo Board of Directors.

As many rodeo fans and families would attest, this is the pattern in rodeo families. Moore's aunt and uncle were Martha and Mert Hunking, who owned Sombrero Stock Company in Sisters in the 1970s and '80s. Her son won a buckle at Sisters in saddlebronc. Her daughter still barrel races, and was also at the Vegas event.

Rodeo fans from across the nation also make NFR an annual trek. Bertha and Jack Watson happily show off the PRCA buckles they were given last year to honor their 52 consecutive years of attending the National Finals. They are, simply, fans who drive from Ruidoso, New Mexico, every year.

The Watsons were honored on opening night of the rodeo in 2009.

"We like rodeo and the nice people who come," Jack Watson explained, a statement that was repeatedly heard.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is held the first two weekends in December with 10 days of rodeo following three days of convention meetings and banquets for rodeos who are members of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

The top 15 money-winners in each event of the sport and the top rodeo animals in the sport compete each night to determine the high-point World Champions in each event and overall World Champion. The rodeo is held at the UNLV stadium.

Ron Collins returned for the second time to NFR. Several years ago, he was present when the One-Arm Bandit contracted to perform in Sisters for the first time.

As Collins tells the story, "The One-Arm Bandit wanted more money than Sisters Rodeo budgeted, so President Glenn Miller suggested a coin flip (it was, after all, Vegas). Sisters won."

Collins likes seeing the best in rodeo and enjoys the convention, but didn't hesitate to say seeing the big cats at the MGM is one of his favorite things to do there.

Cathy Williams, board manager of Sisters Rodeo ticket office, has been to the finals for the past seven years.

"I drive to Vegas," she explained, "and this gives me an opportunity to distribute our rodeo brochures in Southern Oregon and Nevada."

Williams' favorite NFR story is of the year she met two Oklahoma ropers who couldn't get rodeo tickets. She sold them hers for one night. The following spring, the cowboys' grandmother called from Oklahoma and bought five tickets to attend Sisters Rodeo.

"It's all about meeting people," Williams confirmed.

Gary Linton, president of Canby Rodeo, said what brings him back year after year is hearing new ideas and being refreshed and regenerated with new plans.

"It's like a reunion," Linton said. "When we are at each others' rodeos, the local committee is too busy to visit. Here, we can do that."

Linton added, "Everybody at National Finals knows Cathy Williams," giving Williams a hug as he spoke.

As with most rodeo boards, the Sisters board of directors wore their official shirts each day. That, in itself, promoted conversations from praise about the beauty of Sisters and its rodeo to questions such as, "Is this a rodeo run by women?"

Networking seemed to be the major theme of appreciation for the convention. Sisters president, Glenn Miller, said this is the place "to talk with board members from all over the country about stock, ideas, the rodeo trade, and do public relations."

He recalled talking with a Texas saddlebronc rider over a blackjack game a few years ago who said, "You guys in Sisters put on the best rodeo in the nation."

"You don't get to hear a statement like that anyplace else," Miller stated.

"There are a few people that I only get to see once a year, right here," said Sisters Rodeo vice president, Curt Kallberg. He has been attending for 20 years.

Kallberg enjoys shopping at the legendary "Cowboy Christmas" bazaar and other specialty shops, and doesn't mind a bit that NASCAR takes over the Strip the afternoon rodeo begins.

"A little gambling makes it more fun, too," he admitted. "It's a good time here."