Tuesday, May 20, 2008

50th Annual Jordan Valley Big Loop Rodeo

















Jordan Valley is located in Southeast Oregon. It is a place settled my miners and cattlemen in the early 1860s and is now dotted with cattle ranches. Here buckaroos gather on the third weekend in May every year to celebrate our western way of life and compete in a rodeo rich in tradition. The Jordan Valley Big Loop rodeo gets its name because it features a unique event in which cowboys and cowgirls rope horses with a twenty foot loop. This year the rodeo celebrated it's 50th Anniversary and I can't even begin to explain how honored I was to call it my hometown rodeo!

Saturday and Sunday I participated in the parade which featured a 100 year old stage coach owned and driven by local rancher Mike Hanley. Mike also offered me a place to keep my horses for the weekend. Thanks Mike. I had to take two horses because Cody now suffers from serape and flowerpackitis. A condition he developed when we tried to put them on him for the first time. He bucked so hard the only thing that remained was my saddle. My old horse Vern is what my parents call "bomb proof" so we drug him out of retirement and took him along for the parade, nothing bothers him in fact he tried to eat the flowers!
I was also able to compete in my first barrel race of the year. My schedule has been so crazy that I really haven't had time but it was good to be chasing cans again. I had a beautiful run right up to the the third barrel where my horse ducked out and cost me the buckle. Oh well, there is always next year.

I want to give a shout out to the Hells Canyon Junior Rodeo Court and thanks so much for the invitation to your rodeo. I don't think I will make it however as I already have a rodeo scheduled for that weekend.

A GINORMOUS THANK YOU to the Jordan Valley Rodeo Board for making me feel so welcome and allowing me to be their first ever official rodeo queen. It will be a weekend I will always remember!
Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon
See you in Sisters June 13th and 14th!









7 comments:

Malia Rich said...

hey staheli this is Princess Malia Rich from the Hells canyon Rodeo.I am glad you got our invation. If you need anything give me a call at 541-446-3686 or my cell 541-212-6325 thanks staheli for a good time at Jordan Valley.

~~love Malia~~

Anonymous said...

Staheli-
I read a few of your blog entries and you look so great and it sounds like you are having a blast this year throughout your reign! You look so beautiful in all your pictures and your chaps are AMAZING! I recieved your sponsorship appreciation card back in August and really enjoy your kind words. Hopefully I will see you up in the valley soon, maybe at Molalla, St.Paul or Santiam?
Enjoy the rest of your reign, tell your mom hello.
-Mikala Staples
Miss Spurs 2007-2008
Previous JMRO contestant

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon said...

Malia,

It was nice to meet you in Jordan Valley, and I appreciate you taking the time to blog me. Hope to see you again down the trail ♥

Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon said...

Mikala- Congrats on your title. I didn't know you were still competing hopefully you will come back and compete in the Junior/Teen Pageant again someday! I will be in St. Paul, Molalla,and Santiam look for the hot pink chaps. My mom says I look like a pepto bismal bottle. ☺
She really enjoyed seeing you last summer and hopes to catch up with your mom again soon.
I am having the time of my life, words can not explain how much fun this year has already been and there is still so much to do.

Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

Jackie Gibson - MRO 2009 said...

Staheli !!

I'm missing you! I hope we get to meet up at a rodeo soon. You look awesome in all your pictures and it looks like you are having a lot of fun. Cute chaps!!

Tell the family hi and can't wait to see you!
Nichole
Miss Rodeo Oregon 2008

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon said...

Nichole!!!!
I am missing you too, it seems like forever since your coronation. I am looking forward to spending some much needed time with you during the St. Paul Rodeo and the Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant! I am scheduled to be in Sisters, and in Reno Nevada for the Reno Rodeo in June. In July I will be in St. Paul, Molalla, Eugene, and the Snake River Stampede where I am going to attend the Miss Rodeo Idaho Pageant.
I have tried several times to get on your blog site to blog you and many times have failed. There seems to be a problem with it. I did LOVE reading about your trip to Florida, particularly the part about showing cattle as I also show angus steers at our local fair. In fact I had the Grand Champion Steer last year.

I love my chaps as well!
My family says hello and wishes you luck and health as you travel the U.S representing my favorite place on earth...OREGON :)

See you in Sisters!

Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon

Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.