Behind The Chutes

A PEEK AT THE PAST, TODAY
[Apr. 19, 2010] I decided I would use this column like they did a hundred years ago and report some of the things that are happening in the world of rodeo and the West. Here goes . . . . . . . By Gail Woerner

PENDLETON ROUNDUP CELEBRATES 100 YEARS ATTENTION: ALL FORMER ROUNDUP EVENT WINNERS!!
[Mar. 18, 2010] If you won an event at Pendleton RoundUp you are being honored at the 2010 Centennial RoundUp on September 15 – 18th... By Gail Woerner

THE FINALS A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO 1959 – 2008
[Feb. 15, 2010] If you have not ordered or bought THE FINALS, A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE FIRST 50 YEARS OF THE WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO book from PRCA you are missing a good read and a wealth of information. By Gail Woerner

Obituary Of Jimmy Schumacher
[Feb. 1, 2010] Jimmy Schumacher died at a Las Vegas hospital January 24, 2010, at the age of 89. He was born June 21, 1920, in Prescott, AZ, and began his rodeo career as a roughstock competitor. By Gail hughbanks Woerner

LAUGHTER LEFT PENDLETON ON CHRISTMAS EVE
[Dec. 28, 2009] On December 24th A. O. “Monk” Carden, the oldest living rodeo clown, took his last breath and left this world from his hometown of Pendleton, Oregon. He was 100 years old and had kept friends and family, in the east Oregon town, laughing for most of those years. This centurion had the face of an Emmett Kelly clown but whether he was wearing greasepaint or not his clever dialogue and expressions could keep any audience in giggles and guffaws. By Gail Woerner

MORE ‘GOOD READING’ BOOKS TO ADD TO YOUR RODEO LIBRARY
[Nov. 13, 2009] Books Reviewed: The Duke Of The Chutes, Harry Vold's Sixty Years In Rodeodeo by Loren R. Whittemore; Pendleton Roundiup At 100, Oregon's Legendary Rodeo By Michael Bales & Ann Terry Hlll By Gail Woerner

COWGIRLS HONORED AT NATIONAL COWGIRL HALL OF FAME
[Oct. 20, 2009] If you’ve never attended an induction program for the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame you have missed a very important and fun-filled time. The 34th Annual Luncheon and Ceremony was held October 16th across the street from the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Museum at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. It was a perfect fall day and a huge crowd was expected. By Gail Woerner

FIRESIDE READING FOR A COLD WINTER
[Oct. 12, 2009] The weather hasn’t gotten to the ‘sit by the fire with a good book’ time yet, but with snow flurries in Colorado and points north all ready, but it is right around the corner. These books I have read and will recommend to pick up and enjoy. By Gail Woerner

NATIONAL COWBOY SYMPOSIUM REVIEW
[Sep. 18, 2009] Cowboys and cowgirls, musicians and singers, poets and writers, trick ropers, Quanah Parker family members, trade show vendors with everything from cowboy hats to custom-made knives, and National Championship Chuck Wagon cooking experts poured in to Lubbock from September 10th through the 13th for the 21st National Cowboy Symposium. By Rodeo Attitude

YESTERDAY’S ARENA RODEO CLOWNS AT THE REUNION
[Aug. 29, 2009] There is nothing I like better than to gather the senior rodeo clowns and see them entertain and please the fans at a Rodeo Clown Reunion. This summer we were at Deadwood Days of ’76 in beautiful South Dakota... By Gail Woerner

RODEO CLOWN REUNION DELIGHTS DEADWOOD
[Aug. 5, 2009] Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the town of Deadwood gets a little more western and wild for the week the Days of ’76 Rodeo is held. To add to the rip-roaring good time the Rodeo Clown Reunion came to town and gave even more laughs and excitement to the citizens and the fans.

2009 RODEO CLOWN REUNION TO BE HELD AT DEADWOOD
[Jul. 16, 2009] The 2009 Rodeo Clown Reunion will be held in Deadwood, South Dakota, during the 87th annual Days of ‘76, July 23rd through the 25th. This event has again been chosen as the PRCA Midsize Rodeo of 2008. This honor has been bestowed on this rodeo numerous times for their consistency in having a top flight rodeo. There will be four performances (two on the 25th) and the honorees of the Reunion will be present to sign autographs and talk with fans at each performance. They will also participate in two parades down the main street of Deadwood on Friday at 1:30 PM and Saturday morning at 10 AM. By Gail Woerner

WHOA, COWBOY, LET’S PONDER AWHILE
[Jul. 7, 2009] I received an inquiry the other day that made me stop and think. It said:
“Who decides which cowboys and cowgirls should be placed in the Hall of Fame? I often read the credentials and wonder why competitors are picked sometimes before they have finished competin? They may have won world titles and done great things but being placed in a Hall of Fame before they are retired sounds like ‘jumping the gun’? Who knows what else is in store for these exceptional professionals? Don’t you think the ‘powers that be’ might be rushing things a bit?”

LAUGHS GALORE AT THE RODEO CLOWN REUNION
[Jun. 5, 2009] The rodeo clown said to the announcer “My wife’s so fat. But she is in the audience.”

“I’ve seen your wife, she’s not so fat. Where is she sitting,” asks the inquisitive announcer?

“She’s in the bleachers, sitting in seats 12, 13, and 14,” the funnyman answers!

 

A rodeo clown’s humor never grows old. Some of the oldest jokes in the rodeo arena are still being told by today’s funnymen. The Rodeo Clown Reunion with gather at the Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo on July 23 through the 25th. By Gail Woerner