Thursday, September 15 - After school, Brooke and I drove over to meet Brinda at Safeway for the last time this year. Not only was it the last rodeo of the year, but it was my first time at Pendleton Round-Up. We packed our bags for the weekend, settled into our cushy retro seats, and headed off for Pendleton. Kathy and Mike Warner, devoted directors of our rodeo, kindly loaned us the use of their house in Athena. Round-Up week correlates to no vacancy in all hotels/motels/bed&breakfasts in Pendleton, so having a house twenty minutes away from the bustle was great. After we got settled in, we departed for the Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and Wild West Show. Depicting both the life of the Native Americans and the settlers, this show was a great way to understand the history of the West in an entertaining fashion. The AFS chapter brought exchange students from the region including five from Enterprise High School. We were lucky enough to catch up with them, and I think the excitement was mutual as many of the students took their pictures with Brooke and I (some of them thought we were the Pendleton girls). After the show, we went out to get a bite to eat before heading down to Main Street to see what all the hubbub was about. Although we didn't dance, we got a taste of the "Let 'Er Buck" experience while watching the mechanical bull. Pendleton whisky, girls that are a little tipsy, 'nuff said. The night was still going strong when we left, but it was time to curl hair and rest up before the big day ahead.
Friday, September 16 - After a shorter than preferred night of sleep, I woke up transformed my slumberous appearance into that of a Rodeo Queen. Makeup? Check. Hair? Check. Hairspray? Check. More hairspray? Check. Suede outfits? Check. More hairspray? Check.
When we made it to the trailer, we mounted and rode our horses over the bridge and into downtown Pendleton. The directors and the stage coach were patiently waiting. And of course we were in a hurry to wait. After at least an hour, the parade finally started - signified by the burst of a cannon. The parade was the longest, most attended one yet: winding throughout Pendleton in front of huge crowds yelling "Let 'Er Buck!" For those of us on horses, we didn't exactly want to "Let 'Er Buck" at that exact moment, but we appreciated the enthusiasm and applause. Chief Joseph Days is really popular amongst the Pendleton fans - making it easy to jaunt through our last parade with zeal and swagger.
After the parade, we moseyed through the huge crowds to the Convention Center where the Queen's Luncheon was held. Unfortunately, the Round-Up Court left right after their introductions to get ready, but the food was great and it was nice to attend a luncheon that spared us from hearing each court's introductions for the 292840384 time.
A rodeo means huge crowds, huge crowds mean tons of vendors, tons of vendors mean lots of shopping (or at least window shopping). Brooke laughed about the fact that she has bought something at every rodeo this year. I can't say the same, but I have bought a couple of things throughout the year. Nonetheless, it is still fun to look. Especially when you have nothing better to do while you are waiting for the rodeo to start. Being at Pendleton for my last rodeo of the year prompted me to buy a tee-shirt: "101 Years and Still Buck'n."
The rodeo was a blast. Round-Up epitomizes the wild west: a perfect balance of chaotic, loosely-structured entertainment through Indian races, open-field broncs and bulls, and Native American ceremonies. The Grand Entry is a Rodeo Queen's dream. The court jumped the fence into the grassy field, hopped the second fence, galloped towards the track before bolting two enormous laps as the crowd roared in excitement. Pendleton's rodeo court traditions have deep roots; Round-Up was the first rodeo to have a Rodeo Queen, starting a trend that lives on today.
When all is said and done, this year has been unforgettable. I am thrilled to pass the reign over to next year's court, but there is not one day I will regret my choice to try-out on that wonderful September day that started everything last year. The experiences and adventures are once in a lifetime, and I can definitely say from the bottom of my heart that I will miss my year as the Chief Joseph Days Queen.
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