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Humboldt County Labor Day Fair and Rodeo...

Humboldt County Labor Day Fair and Rodeo

August 29, 30 and 31

As the fair was approaching I was looking forward to showing my 4-H steer just as I had for the past 3 years, unfortunately he died just one week before we were to leave for the fair. Can you believe my luck? We picked him this time last year and spent hundreds if not thousands of hours halter breaking, bathing and clipping him. My brothers steer weighed in at a whopping 1543 lbs. He was a monster!

After the show each evening I took off my muck boots and got all dolled up for the rodeo. This year my entire family stuck around to watch me do run-in's and wow, was that cool? There were so many of them and they made some serious noise when I rode into the arena. I was also asked by the clown (Val Byrom) to help out with his clown act both nights. His act was a hat cleaning scam where he threw dirt on my hat, poured a bottle of baby powder on top of that and then....blew it up. Yes, he BLEW it up! Relax it wasn't my good hat it was one he had given me just after my run-in. I sported it around the grandstands for a while with my crown so people would think he had blown up my good one. It was a real kick as the crowd was still asking the next day about it. He signed one of the blown up hats and gave it to me as a momento.

I had a chance to spend some time with my Grandpa Rackham's wife Marilyn and her best friend Bonnie. They drove down from Driggs Idaho to spend the weekend with us. It was wonderful and I know my Grandpa was there in spirit. I feel very blessed as I already have two of the most fantastic grandmothers on the planet and I now have two more!

See you in Sisters for the NPRA Finals, until then...

Happy Trails and Sweet Dreams!

Staheli Jo Wilkinson

2009 Miss Teen and Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Pageant

Thursday July 31, we were back in Sublimity for the the Santiam Canyon Stampede. I have a soft spot when it comes to this rodeo as it is the home of the Miss Teen and Junior Miss Pageant. It is almost like coming home. Thursday nights rodeo was a good time and afterwards Ashley and I stayed up until 2:30 a.m. working on gifts for the contestants and trying to get our scrapbooks caught up.

Friday Morning brought the start of the pageant and with it came the rain. Not just a mist either, it was an all out rain storm. Not a nice environment for horsemanship but all of the contestants made the best of a wet situation and only my hair and hat showed the effects of the tropical storm. We had just a short time to dry out and get ready for the interviews and written test. The girls all looked amazing and before we knew it we were horseback again for Santiam's tough enough to wear pink night. The rain began to fall again and before I knew it my hair looked like that stuff a cat coughs up. Yuck!

Saturday morning we attended the Fireman's Breakfast. The sun was shinning and I was happy to finally be dry. Later that morning was the speech and impromptu questions. We had the honor of having both the 2008 Miss Rodeo Oregon and 2009 Miss Rodeo Oregon on hand to help out. And lets not forget Oregon's High School Rodeo Queen and first ever Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Molly Stubblefield spent the weekend with us as well. After the speeches which by-the-way were great and the dresses were all so beautiful we hustled back over the Anthony Hall for a lunch provided by Reeser Foods and Safe Way. Thanks to all who helped pitch in to make it a success. That evening just before the rodeo I had a few minutes to reflect on my year as Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon and suddenly became overwhelmed by the thought of handing the crown off to next years title holder. I know it sounds silly but I was truly saddened by it all. I have loved every single minute of the past year and would not trade this experience for anything and I mean ANYTHING in the world. Congratulations to 2009 Miss Teen Rodeo Oregon Stephanie Esterly and 2009 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon Nicole Bishop. To the other contestants, you all did a fabulous job.

Finally I want to again extend a huge thank you to Diane Utberg, Charlene Morris, Jean McPhearson and Lynn Haynes I think you guys are the best. You always make me feel special when I am around you and I hope I have made you as proud of me as I am of being one of your girls.

Angie Vachter and Tanya Marie Utberg I love you and those three little words are meant for those closest to me. You are family now and always.

Ashley I read a quote the other day and it made me think of you...Chance made us friends, time made us sisters!

Staheli Jo Wilkinson
2008 Junior Miss Rodeo Oregon