News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The Sisters Rodeo Board of Directors and Queen Destiny Wecks celebrated the unveiling of Dyrk Godby's 2024 Sisters Rodeo poster at an event at Dixie's on Saturday evening.
Dixie's in Sisters was packed on Saturday evening as the Sisters Rodeo community gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the 2024 event poster. The event, along with the annual kickoff party set for Saturday, April 20, at Sisters Saloon, marks the start of rodeo season in Sisters.
Rodeo Queen Destiny Wecks and Rodeo board member Hank Moss pulled down the black shroud to reveal Dyrk Godby's 2024 image, which depicts a cowboy spurring out as the bronc he's forked bucks in front of the Three Sisters. The room burst into applause, and Godby got busy with a Sharpie, autographing posters.
This particular poster has a backstory that is close to Godby's heart. He uses photo references for his paintings, and the reference photo of the bronc rider was his own father.
Bud Godby was a 17-year-old cowboy back in 1951 or '52, when he attended the National Junior Rodeo Finals in Hallettsville, Texas. The young cowboy accepted a challenge to ride a bronc that had been held out of the competition because he was considered too rank for the young cowboys to take on. The producer wanted to show the bronc off, and asked for volunteers. Bud raised his hand.
Young and cocky, as his son described him, Godby offered to ride the bronc with no chaps, which sacrificed a bit of grip. Didn't matter. He stayed on the whole eight seconds, surprising everyone but himself.
Now, more than 70 years later, the moment has been immortalized in the emblem of the Biggest Little Show in the World.
Dyrk Godby is a renowned Western artist and musician. His work can be seen at Dyrk Godby Art Gallery, 123 E. Hood Ave. in Sisters.
The Sisters Rodeo Kickoff Party will come out of the chutes at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, featuring music from Dry Canyon Stampede. The event at Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill is open to the public.
Sisters Rodeo starts with Xtreme Bulls on Wednesday, June 5, and continues June 7-9. For more information, visit https://sistersrodeo.com.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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