A place to hang your hat

Those straight-shootin,' git-'er-done Sisters Rodeo Association ladies were right: "Wear painting clothes!" they warned, like women who knew exactly what they were talking about.

Sure enough. By late morning, my hands were covered. It was under my nails and brushed along my jeans. Bright, American-flag-blue paint. Well, I had to laugh. Welcome to being a brand-new volunteer with the Sisters Rodeo Association.

There's been an early spring kick in the air as folks show up at the rodeo grounds these last few Saturday mornings. Somehow, someone always manages to get a pot of coffee going, and the pink boxes of man-sized donuts sure do empty fast. Handwritten sticky notes on the kitchen window outlining what needs to get done is about as formal as it gets.

Given that rodeo is less than a month away, those sticky notes are being gone after like the sage rats in the field nearby. All around the grounds, work parties loaded with tools and a cowboy sense of humor are replacing worn-out boards on the stands, upgrading electrical work, cooking for work parties, selling tickets, freshening landscape and, the major project, constructing a completely new front ticket-gate entry. Besides creating a new appearance to the rodeo itself, this entrance will provide cover for ticket-takers from the hot Oregon sun.

There, in the blue reserved-seating section under threatening skies with paint roller in my hand and the whisper of "Oh God, please don't let it rain," I could not help but think about the generations of Sisters volunteers who have done this volunteer work for 74 years now, dating back to 1940, the year before America got into World War II.

You see, Sisters Rodeo is an all-volunteer organization. Those who give their time and resources to enable the rodeo to happen year after year come from all walks and journeys in life. Some have deep roots in the community and in the rodeo association itself, even as second-generation offspring of the founders. Others, like me, are just yearlings, just starting to learn the ropes.

Spend a little time talking with them over dinner, rake pine cones and needles for a few hours with the current Sisters Rodeo Queen or see how these folks "pass the hat" for an elderly, gravely ill member and you can understand why Sisters Rodeo has the brand, "The Biggest Little Show in the World."

To this relatively new Sisters resident, that "big" is reflected in the heart of the people behind the scenes. They are classic Oregonians; down-to-earth people who value hard work; their own opinions; a strong, vibrant town; and don't care a lick about seeing their name in the newspaper. Year after year, they come together as a community within the community so that Central Oregon and its worldwide guests-young and old, families and individuals, cowboys and audiences alike, might experience this great, "little" Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association rodeo.

I have heard it often said to me, "People come to Sisters to experience the good life." Well, I suspect I have actually found a taste of it every Saturday morning at the rodeo grounds.

Make plans now to come to the 74th Sisters Rodeo, running June 11-15. You can count on me (and many others volunteers) being there; ushering, taking tickets, running ice to beverage stands or, if asked by a cowboy with a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes, learning how to square dance.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.sistersrodeo.com or call the Sisters Rodeo office at 541-549-0121 or 800-827-7522.