Elgin Stampede! July 10-12

After the long weekend at St. Paul, it was great to have a week to recover (probably for the horses as well). Brinda had talked to us on the way home from St. Paul about the possibility of going to Elgin two nights: the Mark Nichols Memorial Bull Riding Night and the Sunday Performance.

Once Friday came along, we packed our bags, which were significantly smaller since we left the horses at home, and sat tight while the van winded through the canyon to Elgin. Once we got there, we met up with Diane Snyder (our family friend and my dad’s former boss) and her son Wyatt (Diane and our chaperone Brinda are sisters). As we walked through the vendor’s booths, we came across Craig Nichols, Liza Jane Nichols, and Adele Nash (family friends). Mark Nichols was Craig’s son, a talented bull rider who passed away in a tragic accident. Their family represented Mark, and Craig paid tribute to the night by singing the National Anthem. I worked with Adele at Terminal Gravity for a summer, and she gave me tips for court, as she was the Elgin Stampede Queen around five years ago. It was great to see them on this special night.

Once the bull riding started, we sat and watched for a while. Wyatt started to give us a hard time that we weren’t passing out stickers or rack cards. Soooooo, we did just that. We left the stands until the final round – plastering the children with stickers and promoting Chief Joseph Days. We returned to the stands to watch the final round before heading back to Enterprise. The rodeo clown shot tee shirts to the stands as the bull riders drew for their bulls. I had my eye on a shirt, but they never came within range. Bummer. But Brooke did get her elephant ear she had craved since St. Paul!

On Sunday, we returned to Elgin for the Parade, Queen’s Luncheon, and Grand Entry. While we waited for the parade to start, we recorded radio spots for Union County. After recording, we mounted our horses and mingled with the CJD directors who followed us in the parade. The parade route weaved through the streets of Elgin. There was a great contrast between this parade and the huge St. Paul parade. The Queen’s Luncheon followed there after.

The run-ins during the rodeo went really well! When the clown started shooting the tee shirt cannon, I was determined to claim one. Brooke and I stood on the fence and waved our arms, screaming at the clown to send one our way. The announcer made a comment, “Hey, you’ve even got some rodeo queens over there on the fence asking for a tee shirt!” He shot one towards the fence, but it didn’t make it over. The little kids and I strained to grab it through the bars on the fence, but it was just far enough that we couldn’t reach. I opted to hop the fence before anyone else could get my precious tee shirt. After the fact, Brinda said she didn’t think I could move that fast with the tight pants I was wearing. But like I said, I was determined! Turned out the shirt I got was an extra-large, red Pendleton Whiskey tee shirt. I must say I’m still proud of that shirt – it’s probably the first and last thing I’ll ever win in the stands of any event.

My first experience at the Elgin Stampede was very positive – it is a great little rodeo. Seeing people I knew in the stands was also a plus. I guess it gives a taste to what Chief Joseph Days will be like with so many familiar faces in the stands. So excited!