Jodi Chastian, Sisters Rodeo Queen Photo: Charles Eaton, 1999
|
Sisters PRCA Rodeo
Every year on the second weekend in June, the small
town of Sisters in central Oregon, saddles up for one of the most
popular rodeos on the West Coast circuit. One of the most beautiful
venues for any rodeo in the United States, the rodeo arena is on
the edge of rolling pine-forested hills, which extend west to
scenic peaks of the Three Sisters mountains.
The Sisters Rodeo offers competitors the opportunity
for tallying points early in the rodeo season, along with big
purses and bonus winnings. Because of the big purses, cowboys long
ago dubbed Sisters "The Biggest Little Show in the World."
Every rodeo begins with the Wild Horse Race, with
four-man teams attempting to saddle and ride unbroken broncs in a
race to the end of the arena. Other rodeo events include team
roping, saddle and bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, calf
roping and bull riding.
Sisters also includes non-rodeo activities. The
Sisters Stampede, a 10 K foot race around the town of Sisters,
benefits the cross-country program at Sisters High School. There is
a parade and western dancing with a live country-and-western band.
A Buckaroo Breakfast is served outdoors at the rodeo grounds on
Sunday morning.
The 60th annual Sisters Rodeo, set for June 2000,
will be held on the Sisters rodeo grounds. Two special performances
are scheduled featuring Friesian horses, an ancient Dutch breed of
horses known for their high-stepping movement and luxurious
appearance.
Project documentation includes 12 color snapshots,
two videos, programs from the 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999
rodeo, a Sisters Visitors Guide, six posters, 1996 and 1997 rodeo
pins, a press release on the 2000 rodeo, information on the Sisters
Rodeo Board of Directors, and a specially issued beer chit for the
2000 rodeo.
Originally submitted by: Greg Walden, Representative (2nd District).
More Local Legacies... |
|
|
The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.
|