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Contributing Writers
Susan J.P. O’Hara, Alex Service, Meg Wall-Wild
Production Manager
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Graphic Design/Production
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Advertising
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Photo by Phil Doyle
2024 Rodeo Committee
Fortuna Rodeo Association, Inc. (a nonprofit organization) is sponsored jointly by the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce and the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department.
Not pictured: Pat Whitchurch, Treasurer; Mike Johnson, Arena and Grounds; Chad Lake, Saturday Night Activities; Gannon Chapman, Parade.
Dave Jackson Secretary/Treasurer, Carnival Concessions
Dave Victorine Vice-President, Police & Parking
Jim Hinrichs Parade
Robb Foley BBQ
Javier Luna BBQ
Todd Fulton Merchant Contributions
Hec Wood Street Activities
Ricky Ruud Street Activities
Bob Natt Arena & Grounds
Ben McWhorter Sponsorships
Cody Waddell Beverages
Wayne Tomasini Beverages
Casey Day Street Activities
Jesse Renner Friday Night Activities
Russ Renner Friday Night Activities
2024 Fortuna Rodeo
President’s Message 103 – Celebrating America, the Land of the Free
Greetings Rodeo fans!! This year marks the 103rd annual Fortuna Rodeo. What began as an annual picnic held by the Stockman’s Association, a group formed to help, protect and promote local cattlemen back in 1916, turned into what is now the annual Fortuna Rodeo. The Rodeo had its first inaugural event in 1921. This event has deep history in Fortuna and the county of Humboldt which is thoroughly described in the 100th Anniversary Fortuna Rodeo book, In and Around the Arena, authored by Susan J. P. O’Hara and Alex Service. Pick up your copy to learn more about the Rodeo!
The Rodeo Board of Directors dedicated this year’s rodeo theme to American patriotism deeming it as “103 Celebrating America, the Land of the Free,” to remind people of what this country was founded upon. No matter the challenges we face, we cannot forget how we began and the reason why we are the land of the free. To celebrate the meaning of this theme, the 103rd Rodeo will consist of 9 days of fun and laughter to forget about what is happening in the world while making great memories with friends and family. As in the past, there are events for everyone from the family friendly carnival, the annual Chamber Chili Cooko , Rodeo events, to BFO, and everything in between!
This year, the Rodeo Board selected Doug and Marilyn Strehl as its Grand Marshalls because the Strehls have always been in the forefront of promoting Fortuna and volunteering in many, many ways. Doug served on the Planning Commission, City Council and Marilyn has sat on the Rohnerville School Board for decades. They were both instrumental in starting up the Fortuna Downtown Business Association and are still involved today. They own and operate Strehl’s Family Shoes in Downtown Fortuna. Fortuna runs in their blood so is fitting that they are the Grand Marshalls this year! They unequivocally deserved to be selected for this.
To showcase the theme Celebrating America, the Land of the Free, talented oil painter Erica Brooks painted a cowgirl tipping her hat to the American flag. Working with her was a wonderful experience and we couldn’t be more thrilled with this beautiful piece of art. Read more about Erica on page 17. As usual, the painting will be auctioned o to the highest bidder during the Saturday afternoon rodeo performance, so come on down and bid on this one-of-a-kind tribute to the Land of the Free!
We would like to remind attendees that we will be enforcing the clear bag policy (see page 11), so be sure to adhere to this requirement. Tickets to the events can be purchased online at fortunarodeo.com, and you can find the schedule of events and learn what to expect at this year’s Rodeo on page 11. Additionally, due to safety issues, there will be no BFO VIP tickets sold this year.
The Rodeo Board would like to extend a sincere thank you to all our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers who help put on this event, both past and present. If you would like to be a sponsor, reach out to Ben at Sequoia/Blue Star Gas and any volunteers interested in supporting this year can reach out to Kristin at the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce. All our sponsors and volunteers make the Rodeo the great and fun event that it is!
Hats can be purchased at Sport & Cycle, Fortuna ACE Hardware, Sequoia/Blue Star Gas, The Fortuna Farmhouse, Green’s Pharmacy and at the rodeo grounds during the Rodeo. Rodeo sweatshirts are being sold at Wild Cactus Clothing.
In closing, I hope to see you and your family during rodeo week, Fortuna Rodeo 103, Celebrating America, the Land of the Free!
Happy trials, Shannon McWhorter
President, Fortuna Rodeo Association
JACK HURST TRUCKING
MICHELLE BUSHNELL Humboldt County 2nd Dist. Supervisor
Anniversary Sponsors!
Centurion
• American Ag Credit
• Bear River Casino and Resort
• Eel River Brewing Company
• Eureka Chrysler Dodge
• Fortuna Grocery Outlet
• Mercer-Fraser Company
• North Coast Mercantile
• Pacific Pastures Beef
• Pendleton Whisky
• Redwood Capital Bank
• Sequoia Gas Company
All Around Champion
• DCI Construction
• Harbers Insurance Agency
• J&G Lawn and Garden
• Jack Hurst Trucking
• MCI Construction & Engineering
• Providence St. Joseph Hospital
• Ray’s Food Place
• Whitchurch Engineering
• Xotic Flavorz
Gold Buckle
• Big Valley Mortgage
• Cal Poly Humboldt
• Edward Jones
• Freedom Fuel
• Rays Quality Cars
• Umpqua Bank
• US Bank
Silver Spur
• Boot Barn
• Bugenig Fencing
• Coast Central Credit Union
• Fortuna ACE Hardware
• Fortuna Iron
• Greg Seiler Advisor Edward Jones
• Humboldt County Farm Bureau
• Humboldt Redwood
• Johnny’s Flooring
• Les Schwab Tire
• Magnolia Esthetics
• Mountain Mike’s
• Northcoast Horticulture Supply
• Pace Supply
• Powerhouse Garage
• Quality Body Works
• Redwood Empire Roofing
• Reynolds RV
• Rocha Automotive
• Scotia Lodge
• Sport & Cycle
• Strehl’s Shoe Repair
• Wyatt, Whitchurch & Anderson, Inc.
Gary Edgmon Memorial
All Around Saddle
• American Ag Credit
• Edgmon Family
• Sequoia Gas Company
All-Around Saddle and Award Buckle Sponsors
• TOM MCWHORTER ALL AROUND COWBOY: MCI Construction
• FRED BARRY MEMORIAL TOP HAND:
Law Offices of Patrick Barry
• ALL AROUND COWGIRL: Jack Hurst Trucking
Event Sponsors
• FORTUNA RODEO WEEK: Fortuna Rodeo Association
• THE RODONI ROUNDUP: Humboldt Del Norte Cattlemen and Cattlewomen
• FORTUNA RODEO RUN:
• Harland Law Firm
• Hennessy Funds
• Hohman and Associates
• Michelle Bushnell Humboldt County 2nd Dist. Supervisor
• Papé Machinery
• Redwood Glass and Windows
• Sunbelt Rentals
• Tri Counties Bank
• Vern’s Furniture
• Valley Pacific Petroleum
Top Hand
• 3B Farms Beef & Hay
• AM Baird Engineering & Surveying
• Beverage Plus
• Burgess Electric
• Cindy’s Styling Center
• Cornerstone Realty
• Demello, McCauley, McReynolds & Holland
• Double D Steakhouse
• Eel River Tansportation & Salvage
• EJH Construction
• Elloway and Wonenburg DDS
• Express Employment Professionals
• Fat Ann’s
• GHD Engineering
• Green’s Fortuna Pharmacy
• Grundman’s Sporting Goods
• Heidi Olsen Insurance
• Hensel’s Ace Hardware
• Hensell Materials
• Humboldt Auction Yard
• Humboldt Beer Distributors
• Humboldt County Fair
Six Rivers Running Club
• CHILI COOK-OFF: Fortuna Chamber of Commerce
• CARNIVAL: Fortuna Rodeo Association
• FAMILY ACTIVITIES - REDWOOD VILLAGE: Fortuna Business Improvement District
• JUNIOR RODEO: Fortuna Junior Rodeo
• STREET GAMES: Fortuna Rodeo Association
• FIREMAN’S GAMES: Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department
• BULLFIGHTERS ONLY: Bear River Casino and Resort
• QUADIATORS: J&G Lawn and Garden
• PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Fortuna Kiwanis
• PARADE: Fortuna Rodeo Association
• RODEO SATURDAY: Eureka Chrysler Dodge
• BULLS, BRONCS, BANDS, & BREWS: Whitchurch Engineering and Fortuna and Grocery Outlet
• BARBECUE:
Pacific Pastures Organic Grass Fed Beef
• RODEO SUNDAY: North Coast Mercantile
Bucking Chute Sponsors
• American Ag Credit
• Edward Jones
• Eel River Brewing Co.
• Fortuna Grocery Outlet
• Vern’s Furniture
• Windy Point Fencing
Media Sponsors
• North Coast Journal
• Redwood News
• Big Red Country
Sav a taste of Italy Bella Italia at
Step into Bella Italia and let every bite take you on a trip to Italy. Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine prepared with passion and served with exceptional service. From classic pasta dishes to delectable desserts, our menu is designed to delight your taste buds. Perfect for a romantic dinner or a family gathering, Bella Italia brings the essence of Italy to your table.
Schedule of Events
Saturday • July 13
THE RODONI ROUNDUP
11:30 a.m., Rodeo Grounds, Rohner Park. Fortuna Rodeo Week extends to nine days as the Humboldt/Del Norte Cattlemen and CattleWomen present the annual Jim Rodoni Memorial Roundup. Local ranching families compete in team branding, barrel racing and other equestrian events.
Sunday • July 14
FORTUNA 5K RODEO RUN
9 a.m., 12th and Main streets in Fortuna. Sponsored by Six Rivers Running Club. Details at 6rrc.com/2024.html
Monday • July 15
CHILI COOK-OFF
5 p.m., Main Street, Fortuna. Presented
Please Note TICKETS for all Fortuna Rodeo events are available online CASH ONLY will be accepted at the gate PRE-SALE TICKETS and Packages are available! ATMs will be on site. NOPETS: Fortuna Rodeo Week events are pet-free. Please leave your pets at home. All children’s events are FREE
by the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce. Free admission and chili tasting. Live music. Details and entry forms at fortunarodeo.com.
Tuesday • July 16
CARNIVAL
Noon. Rohner Park. Wrist bands $40
Wednesday • July 17
JUNIOR RODEO
9 a.m. til end. Rodeo Grounds. Young cowboys and cowgirls compete for saddles, buckles, and cash awards. All admissions are free. Visit the Fortuna Junior Rodeo on Facebook.
CARNIVAL
Noon. Rohner Park. Wrist bands $40
STREET GAMES
6:30 to 8 p.m., Main Street, Fortuna. ALL children’s events are FREE! Stick Horse Race, Egg
CLEAR BAG POLICY
CLEAR BAG POLICY The following are not allowed in the fairgrounds: NO Weapons, Laser Pointers, Artificial Noisemakers, Professional Cameras w/Detachable Lenses, Video Cameras (Including GoPro), Banners and Signs, Outside Food and Drinks, Cans or Glass Bottles & Personal Coolers, Umbrellas, Pets. ALL BAGS, JACKETS, AND BLANKETS WILL BE SEARCHED.
Toss, Kid’s Bounce House, Tony Johnston Penny Scramble (ages 3 and under with parents, 4 & 5 Years, 6 & 7 years & more). Refreshments: hamburgers and hotdogs provided by Eel River Valley Technical Rescue Team.
Thursday • July 18
CARNIVAL
Noon. Rohner Park. Wrist bands $40 FIREMAN’S GAMES
6:30 to 8 p.m. on Main Street. Volunteer firefighters take over Main Street. NOT to be missed!
Friday • July 19
CARNIVAL
Noon. Rohner Park. Wrist bands $40 BULLFIGHTERS ONLY NIGHT
Sponsored by Bear River Casino and Resort
5 p.m. Rodeo Grounds. The world’s top Freestyle American Bullfighting returns for the Annual Sequoia Cup Championship. Music! Quadiators! Bullfighters Only! Tickets $30 adults, $15 under 12. QUADIATORS!
Sponsored by J&G Lawn and Garden
9 to 10 p.m. after the Bullfighters Only show. Get details, tickets and entry forms at fortunarodeo.com.
Saturday • July 20
FORTUNA KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST
7 a.m. Rohner Park Cook Shack CARNIVAL
Noon. Rohner Park. Wrist bands $40
PARADE
11 a.m. Main Street. Theme: “103: Celebrating America, Land of the Free!” Grand Marshalls Doug and Marilyn Strehl. Parade entry forms are at fortunarodeo.com
RODEO
Sponsor: Eureka Chrysler Dodge 1:30 p.m. Rodeo Grounds Tickets: $15 adults, $5 under 12. Signups and tickets at fortunarodeo.com
BULLS, BRONCS, BANDS, & BREWS: Sponsored by Whitchurch Engineering and Fortuna Grocery Outlet
6 p.m. gates open and music starts. Rodeo Grounds. Mutton Bustin’ and Steer Riding at 7 p.m. Rescue Race and Hyde Race – $500 added ($50 entry fee per team), call Chad (707) 498-1411 to enter. Bull and Bronc riding at 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 adults, $5 under 12. Get tickets at fortunarodeo.com.
Sunday • July 21
BARBECUE
Sponsored by Pacific Pastures Grass-fed Beef
11 a.m. Rohner Park. Legendary barbecue and live music. Tickets: $25 at fortunarodeo.com. CARNIVAL
Noon. Rohner Park. Wrist bands $40 RODEO
Sponsored by North Coast Mercantile Co. 1:30 p.m. Rodeo Grounds Tickets: $15 adults, $5 under 12. Signups and tickets at fortunarodeo.com. ✪
CAFE
2023 Fortuna Rodeo Champions
GARY EDGMON MEMORIAL All Around Saddle – Jennifer Renner
Humboldt County Top Hand –Jennifer Renner
Team Roping – Payden Prior and Kyle Stewart
Tie Down Roping – Ben McWhorter
Barrel Racing – Tessa Huston
Barrel Racing – Nina Moore
Saddle Bronc – Roman Rayes
Bullfighters Only – Layton Woodbury of Carson, North Dakota
Breakaway Roping – Jennifer Renner
2024 Fortuna Rodeo Grand Marshals Marilyn and Doug Strehl
Submitted
Grand Marshals Motor Down Main Street
By Meg Wall-Wild
Congratulations to 2024 Fortuna Rodeo Grand Marshals Doug and Marilyn Strehl! Fortuna Rodeo 103: Celebrating America, Land of the Free splashes Main Street with red, white and blue as the Strehls follow the Stars and Stripes to start the parade. The Strehl family has been tireless community boosters, their lives stitched into the soles of Fortuna. Help honor them at the Fortuna Rodeo Parade on Saturday, July 20, starting at 11 a.m.
Strehl’s Family Shoes and Repair has been a fixture on the corner of 12th and Main streets since it first opened. In 1980, Redwood Bootery opened a second store, a Thom McAn, and Doug was hired on as manager. By 1983, it was Strehl’s keeping
comfortable shoes on Fortuna’s feet. From the start, this was not just a place of trade, but of service. “If your feet aren’t happy, neither are you!” said cheerful Marilyn, a certified pedorthic (that’s like a farrier for humans). She makes sure shoes are balanced and fit properly for those who have gait issues. Doug, the cobbler, helps Fortuna with the best kind of green-cycling. Remember how you loved your grandpa’s old cowboy boots? Pull them out so Doug can repair them to serve another generation of your family. You really didn’t want those vintage Tony Lamas cooling their heels in the stable, did you?
As if running an excellent business was not enough work, both Doug and Marilyn
Continued on next page
threw themselves into Fortuna’s public life. Their service is an example of the dedication it takes to keep America’s small towns vital. A strong Main Street is crucial to Fortuna’s future and the Strehls worked hard on its underpinnings. Doug served on Fortuna’s planning commission for 12 years, and the city council for 12 years, four of those as mayor. Marilyn served on Rohnerville and then Fortuna’s school boards for 34 years (less one during consolidation). Their dedication to keeping Fortuna bustling includes service to the Chamber of Commerce and Fortuna Downtown Merchants Association, and family-friendly events like the Fortuna Apple Harvest. Their decades-long record of community support is hard to top.
The busy business owners also found time to raise two daughters, Jila and Staci. The Strehl family helped build parade floats with the Jaycees, and the girls played in rodeo bands. The family has more grease under its fingernails than saddle soap. You may remember Doug’s stalwart 1957 Willys Jeep rolling down Main Street in past parades. His beloved 1932 Nash Ambassador with a flathead straight-eight took over to grace many more. Both daughters were inspired to rebuild classic cars when in high school. Jila rebuilt a timeless 1957 Chevy while Traci went more mod with a stylish 1964 Corvair convertible.
Showing that community service can also help you indulge your favorite hobby, the Strehls support the Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo. Marilyn is treasurer and Doug provides the horsepower. Money raised by the AutoXpo was donated to purchase computer equipment for the digital archives of the defunct Fortuna Beacon, keeping precious local history records accessible. Check it out at the Fortuna Depot Museum. Sometimes you find your own family history in old newspapers. Direct your happy feet to Main Street and thank the Strehls for their service to Fortuna. A modest Doug said they were honored but surprised to be named grand marshals. Although the Strehls are not a particularly horsey family (unless you count horsepower) they have been involved in the Fortuna Rodeo Parade from the start. The first year Doug was hired they built two huge cowboy boots from chicken wire and tissue, one to represent Redwood Bootery and one for ThomMcAn. The big boots sauntered up Main Street, each one moving independently, powered not by horses or horsepower, but teen power! (Doug and Marilyn have no pictures of the boots so search your photobooks, Fortuna.) Let the Strehls know you appreciate the contributions they made to Fortuna and give them a great big Rodeo cheer! ✪
Doug and Marilyn Strehl Submitted
Artist Profile: Erica Brooks
By Meg Wall-Wild
When Humboldt artist Erica Brooks was contacted about the commission for the 103rd Fortuna Rodeo artwork, she knew immediately that she wanted her creation to be a bit di erent from those of the last few years. The theme of Celebrating America, Land of the Free spurred her in the right direction.
Brooks knew exactly what to paint. “As a female artist it was really important for me to depict a female for the piece,” she says. The quintessential All-American cowgirl holds her lasso as she tips her wide brimmed hat, backed by Old Glory.
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brooks earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts that eventually led her to an instructor position at Cal Poly Humboldt. The trained painter has an impressive array of works
on display at fineartsbyerica.com. Her portraitures show a fine hand and a keen eye for her subject. She captures the spirit of the sitter, whether it is a pensive man or an impish kitten. Seeing her landscapes may make you want to pick up the brush yourself. Brooks also teaches classes through the Redwood Art Association, so keep your eyes open for her next o ering (@fineartbyerica).
On the evening of Saturday, July 20, Brooks’ impressive portrait will be auctioned o to benefit the 104th Fortuna Rodeo. Grab those sawbucks and bid away! The cowgirl will grace the wall that you just realized you’ve been saving just for her. And make sure to say hello to the talented Erica Brooks who will be on hand for the auction. ✪
Erica Brooks in the studio. Courtesy of the artist
2024 Fortuna Rodeo poster art by Erica Brooks.
BFO 2024 Sequoia Cup Battle Heats Up
By Meg Wall-Wild
The kids have been buzzing all week long. Will Layton Woodbury be able to defend his 2023 Sequoia Cup win from Tyler Mansell, the man who’s been dominating the 2024 BFO leader board? Find out on Friday, July 19 from 5 to 11 p.m., when horn and hoof (and quads!) rule the ring. The dangerous acrobatics of Bullfighters Only will get your adrenaline pumping, even though you are safe in your seat holding on to your Hooey hat! Hit fortunarodeo. com to buy your tickets in advance ($30, $15 under 12).
After the bullfighters have relinquished the arena, the Quadiators take over! Nothing makes an adolescent happier than watching teams of two (one driver, one batter, all with helmets) whacking each other silly with foam bats as they
whiz around the arena on roaring quads. Don’t just spectate. Gird your loins for battle! Sign up for $40 to get a chance to grab that $500 prize. Text (707) 496-1055 or (707) 496-6038 so organizers will know how many teams will participate. The legalese requirements are online, with release forms waiting for your autograph. You can also sign up from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the night of battle. Why did the rock band cross the road? To play kick-ass country music! Whether you got “Friends in Low Places” or you like your “Chicken Fried,” Monument Road will get you dancing. The faces in Monument Road may look familiar to fans of rock band Under the Influence. Seems like good country music can convert even the hardest rockers. ✪
Above and right: The athletes of Bullfighters Only take to the ring on Friday night. Avid Visual Imagery Rodeo Photography/Facebook
The gastronomic needs of the unrepentant carnivore are met with a smile and a full plate at the 103rd Fortuna Rodeo! From hoof to bun, the bounty of a cattle rancher’s hard work is guaranteed to make you drool. It’s all to benefit Fortuna and our community organizations.
Starting Monday, July 15, you can dine your way through Rodeo Week. The crowd-pleasing Fortuna Chamber of Commerce Chili Cookoff is a great place to start. In 2023, 21 teams competed in five categories for the best chili in town with Lost Coast Land Co. claiming Fortuna’s Best Chili. Can your taste buds guess who will win Best Professional, Best Beef, Hottest, People’s Choice or Fortuna’s Best chili awards? It’s so much delicious fun to try, beginning at 5 p.m. Enjoy live music as your family is tantalized by the spicy aroma drifting along Main Street. New this year, the People’s Choice Award will be chosen by a panel of representatives from the chamber’s 2023 Business Award nominees. Also new, the best chilis will receive a prize with their trophy. And as always, the Chili Cookoff is the spiciest family fun on Main Street!
Your favorite way to help local nonprof-
its is back! Their chuckwagons are open from Friday July 19 to Sunday July 21. What better way to fund giving children bicycles and school supplies than to satisfy your taste buds and desire to support community organizations at the same time?
Those hunger pangs have been waiting all year to be tamed by a Humboldt County Cattlewomen’s tri tip sandwich, the stuff of legends. The Native Sons of the Golden West wrangle up tasty bratwursts and hot dogs. They also have oysters, if you’d rather surf than graze on turf. The Fortuna High School Husky Boosters offer up pulled pork burritos and nachos for hungry vaqueros. And no offering is complete without the mainstay of the allAmerican menu, the humble hamburger, courtesy of the Fortuna Fire Ladies Auxiliary who will also sling chili your way. After those broncs kick up a dust storm, the kids will love ice cream treats from Hydesville Elementary School’s Eighth Grade class to soothe their throats, likely raw from cheering. Grown ups might prefer a cold beer because we know Eel River Brewing Co. is so good at what they do.
The dawn breaks and you realize today is Saturday, July 20, day of the Kiwanis
The Fortuna Chamber of Commerce Chili Cookoff heats up Main Street on Monday, July 15.
Carol Niles Photography
Celebrating the Land of Plenty
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Club Pancake Breakfast! Your little cowpokes are up and in need of nourishment before the Rodeo Parade. Nothing makes them happier than a stack of pancakes drowning in golden syrup. It can be our secret that nothing makes you happier, too. Let the Kiwanis step up to the griddle to feed your family — not quite breakfast in bed, but pretty darned close! The Rohner Park Cook Shed is the place to find pancakes, sausage, hot coffee, cold milk, mimosas and juice, all served up at your pleasure from 7 to 10 a.m. (suggested donation of $9, $6 children under 8).
The Rodeo Deep Pit BBQ will be ready to serve on Sunday, July 21, at 11 a.m. in Rohner Park. The day before, 4,000 pounds of Pacific Pastures grass-fed beef began the transformation at the Fortuna Fire Hall where the Seasoning Crew’s expert hands imparted enticing flavors that
will keep you awake in anticipation. The pit will have hit the perfect temperature, carefully tended by the Fire Crew who fed the flames hourly from 4 p.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. Sunday, when the beef finally rests on its bed of coals for the night. The air of anticipation surrounds the pit when it is opened just before your hungry family arrives with appetites waiting to be whetted. The Serving Crew is on hand to dish up mouthwatering barbecue with beans so tasty the recipe is a closely guarded secret. Don’t forget the creamy potato salad and a soft roll to sop up the goodness. Get your tickets early because it will be a hard wait for the 2025 Rodeo Deep Pit BBQ if you get shut out! Sunday is also North Coast Mercantile Day at the rodeo, so chilled brews are within easy sauntering distance, chaps and spurs not required, but proof of age is. ✪
Celebrating the Freedom to Be a Fortuna Rodeo Kid
By Meg Wall-Wild
very kid in Fortuna looks forward to Rodeo Week when they rule Main Street!
If hearing “free children’s event” is music to your parental ears, then Street Games on Wednesday, July 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. is playing your tune. The stick
horse race is so darned tootin’ cute it should be illegal. The egg toss is yolk-ing good fun and the Tony Johnston Penny Scramble will get the kids squealing (ages 4 to 7, 3 and under with parents). The Eel River Technical Rescue Team is on hand to fill up those small bellies with hamburgers
Kids take over Main Street during the Street Games on Wednesday, July 17.
Photo by Carol Niles Photography
and hot dogs. You might want to feed the kiddos after the bounce house.
Your smallest has already declared that when they get big, they will be a firefighter. You smile. You wanted to be a firefighter, too, and it’s easy to see why. Not only do they save us from deadly peril, but the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department also contributes so much to our community! Like when the kids get to see these first responders let off some really big firehoses during Fireman’s Games on July 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. You can also strap on the family feed bag as the super cool firefighters put flames to good use grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.
Kids of all ages will be happy to see the Fortuna Rodeo Carnival in Rohner Park again this year, bringing thrills and games as it has every summer for decades. The rides whir and the midway bustles Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 16-18, from noon to 11 p.m., and Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, July 19-21, from noon to midnight. All-day wrist bands are $40 (restrictions apply).
On Saturday, July 20, at 11 a.m., the curbs along Main Street will be lined with eager children, all waiting for Old Glory and Grand Marshals Doug and Marilyn Strehl to start the Fortuna Rodeo Parade Show the Strehls that you appreciate their service to Fortuna by giving them a warm welcome. This year’s theme is Fortuna Rodeo 103: Celebrating America, Land of the Free! so it’s going to be the red, white and bluest parade Main Street has ever seen! Horses and riders all festooned ready to strut their stuff. The comical Shriners are guaranteed to make even sourpusses smile. Look for 2024 Dairy Princess Grace Scilacci of Fortuna as she and her court, Tayln Hodson (Crescent City, First Alternate), and Mariah Bravo (Fortuna, Second Alternate) give you a regal wave. Be sure to wave back! ✪
Saturday’s Rodeo Parade rolls through town on July 20 at 11 a.m. File photo
Bulls, Broncs, Bands and Brews Ready to Thrill
By Meg Wall-Wild
Bulls, Broncs, Bands and Brews kicks into gear on Saturday, July 20, at 6 p.m. with the foot stompin’ tunes of the Monument Road Band. Kick up your tooled Tecovas to hot country licks by the likes of Tyler Childers, Luke Combs, Dwight Yoakum and other killer artists. Head over for a cold beer because hearing “Beer Never Broke Your Heart” made you remember that Eel River Brewing Co. is patiently waiting to quench your thirst. Buy your tickets at the gate or in advance at fortunarodeo.com ($15, $5 under 10).
Be in your seats by 7 p.m. for family fun! Your outfit saw BFO last night and the tiny cowhands can’t stop talking about wanting to win the Sequoia Cup (fortunately they won’t be eligible for a while). Your little bullfighter in training may benefit from starting small. Sign them up for free Mutton Bustin’ (ages 6 to 9) or Steer Riding (ages 10 to 12). You can enter the Cowboy Rescue and Hide Races for $50 to get a crack at the $500 purse.
Registration information is waiting for you at fortunarodeo.org. Or you can sit back and enjoy the show with the fam. The kids are growing up too fast as it is.
It’s time for you to make your bid to take home the stunning artwork created by Erica Brooks. The all-American cowgirl represents the very spirit of the Fortuna Rodeo. Proceeds from the art auction help to fund the 2025 Fortuna Rodeo, so pry open that tooled leather wallet and bid high! You don’t want to see her leave with someone else, do you?
Bulls and broncs kick up their heels at 8 p.m. The crowd roars watching the swoop of horns as an unseated rider sails through the air. You hear gasps as you watch the hero of the night — the rodeo clown — distract 2,000 pounds of angry bull away from the cowboy who hit the dirt. He jumps up waving and you’re cheering before you realize! The kids start counting down as one rider sticks to a bronc like a burr. How many seconds was that again? ✪
•Wishing Well Planters
•Garden Benches
•Raised Bed Planters
9th St, Fortuna
Photo by Phil Doyle
Rodeo Events
Welcome to the 103rd annual Fortuna Rodeo, the centerpiece of the Friendly City’s weeklong summer celebration! Fortuna is proud to offer the largest rodeo in the region, giving cowboys up and down the state a chance to show off the skills that built the American West. In addition to competing in the individual events, which are described in the following pages, each cowboy’s individual scores are totaled together to make them eligible for three all-around cowboy prizes — the rodeo’s top honors. They are:
Tom McWhorter Memorial All-Around Cowboy
Award given to the cowboy who has won the most money overall across all events of the rodeo.
Sponsor: Mobley Construction (MCI)
The Fred Barry Memorial Top Hand
Award for the Humboldt County Top Hand. Given to the Humboldt County-based cowboy with the highest overall standings in all events of the rodeo.
Sponsor: Law Offices of Patrick J. Barry
All-Around Cowgirl
Awarded to the cowgirl who has won the most money.
Sponsor: Jack Hurst Trucking
Photo by Phil Doyle
Law Offices of Patrick J. Barry
JACK HURST TRUCKING
Bull Riding
Maybe the most popular event and probably the most dangerous, bull riding is a battle of wits and brute strength between a cowboy and the most dangerous of ranch animals. The cowboy attempts to ride for eight seconds, strapped to a bucking, whirling 1-ton bull, holding on with only one hand. This is a judged competition: Points are awarded for the cowboy’s form and for the difficulty of the ride. But if the rider is bucked off, or if he touches the bull with his free hand, he is disqualified.
Photo by Phil Doyle
Tie Down Roping
Tie-down roping — also called calf roping — introduces another element into the mix. Not only must the cowboy rope the animal, as in breakaway roping, he must also bring it to a full stop and immobilize it. After the animal is lassoed, the cowboy dismounts and runs to the calf carrying a small rope in his teeth. He then throws the calf to the ground and binds three of its legs, after which he signals to the judges and time is called. The event isn’t over, though — if the calf kicks off the rope on its legs within six seconds, the contestant is disqualified.
Photo by Phil Doyle
Saddle Bronc
Bronc riding comes from the essential cowboy skill of taming (or “breaking”) a horse for use. As in bull riding, a contestant must stay atop the wild animal for eight seconds using only one hand. But the bronc rider has additional considerations — he is also judged on how well he spurs the horse to action with his boots, and he must keep his feet in the stirrups at all times. Bronc riders come out of the chute with their legs over the horse’s shoulders in order to give the animal the initial advantage.
Photo by Phil Doyle
Steer Wrestling
Steer wrestling (or “bulldogging”) tests the cowboy’s strength as well as his skill at handling both horse and cattle. In this timed event, the steer leaves the chute at a run, tailed by one horseman (“the hazer”) who keeps the animal running in a straight line. After a head start, the barrier holding back the mounted contestant is tripped, and the steer wrestler races after his quarry. When he catches up, he dismounts his horse at a run and transfers his weight to the steer, which he then wrestles to the ground. Quickest time wins, but as with all timed events the contestant gets a 10-second penalty if he leaves the chute too early.
Photo by Phil Doyle
Ribbon Roping
In this two-person, timed rodeo event, the roper, who starts out in the box, and the runner, who starts from another location in the arena determined by the field judge, attempt to rope a steer and take a ribbon from its tail. Once the steer comes through the barrier, the roper can use any catch to rope it, then loop the rope around their saddle horn. The runner then snatches the ribbon from the steer’s tail and sprints to the box with the barrier as the finish line.
continued on next page »
Team Roping
The only team event in the rodeo, team roping features two different styles of lasso work. A steer leaves the chute running. After a short head start, two cowboys follow on horseback. The first must rope the animal’s head or horns to stop its forward progress, moving it into a turn. Then the second — the “heeler” — attempts to lasso the animal’s rear legs. A five-second penalty is assessed if he manages to rope only one leg. The clock is stopped when the steer is fully roped and the contestants’ two horses face one another.
Photo by Phil Doyle
Breakaway Roping
This fast-paced event is the purest test of a cowgirl’s lasso skills. As in steer wrestling, a calf leaves the chute at a run and after a head start trips the barrier holding back the cowgirl. The contestant then gives chase and attempts to lasso the calf’s head. She has the rope tied to her saddle horn with a string and halts her horse. Time is called when the calf, which is still running, breaks the string.
continued on next page »
fortunawheel@sbcglobal.net
Photo by Phil Doyle
CHAPMAN’S
•Parker Hoses & Fittings
•Filtration
•Hydraulics
•Pneumatics
•Seals
•Instrumentation
•AW 496 & Tractor Oil
• Cylinder Repair.
Barrel Racing
The premier women’s event in the rodeo, barrel racing is the ultimate test of speed and agility. Riders attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around the three barrels in the fastest time possible. The quickness of the clockwise and counterclockwise pivots around the barrels are crucial, as is the final sprint back to the starting line. Riders are penalized five seconds if they tip over a barrel. ✪
Just a few of the one hundred and seventy seven participants in the 2023 race. For all results and more photos, visit.6rrc.com.
Photos courtesy of Six Rivers Running Club
Rodeo Run/ Walk 5k
By Meg Wall-Wild
It’s time to get the family moving again! Get those running shoes out of the back of the closet and lace up for the 103rd Fortuna Rodeo Run/Walk! Head to the Redwood Café (12th and Main streets) on Sunday, July 14, before the 9 a.m. starter’s gun. Get there at least 30 to 40 minutes early to sign up your crew for 5k fun. Registration is free for Six Rivers Running Club members, $10 for nonmembers. Or just join the club and sign up the whole family. You and the teens need to run o some steam. Contact Thomas Nolan (thomasnolan22@gmail.com) if you have questions before race day. Whether you set a blistering pace to challenge last year’s winners (Je Guiteirrez - 18:27; Amelia Jackson - 20:03) or amble in at the very end like the proud mom and her little 6-year-old Estrella with a respectable 1:23:20. It is so easy to create some great family memories as you join Fortuna’s fleetest for a tour of Main Street. Walk with grandma (she needs exercise, too) and reminisce about the old days. Either way, you all win! ✪
Amelia Jackson was the first
49
One Hundred Years of Fortuna Rodeo Firsts
By Susan J.P. O’Hara and Alex Service
During the long history of the Fortuna Rodeo, many “firsts” have marked new ideas and new ways of building community involvement. Some of these firsts became treasured annual events; others lasted only a few years. Some became Fortuna Rodeo lore, preserving the memory of past rodeo heroes and setting standards for present competitors to achieve or surpass.
Chief among all “Fortuna Rodeo firsts” is the first Fortuna Rodeo itself, held at the newly created Rohner Park on August 27 and 28, 1921. It was sponsored by the Humboldt County Stockmen’s Association as entertainment for their annual picnic. Cowboys put on riding exhibitions to thrill the audience as well as some actual contests with local cowboys riding alongside Ty Stokes and Jesse Stahl, two well-known African American riders who were among the best rodeoers of the 1920s. Jesse Stahl was posthumously recognized for his abilities in 1979 when he was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and he was the first of the many future Hall of Famers who rode at the Fortuna Rodeo.
By 1925, the local businessmen became involved in the rodeo, ensuring its position as one of Fortuna’s summer festivities. In 1927, the businessmen created the first Fortuna Rodeo parade, described at the time as a “historical pageant.” The parade
featured an ox cart, a covered wagon and a stagecoach, with parade participants dressed as figures from California’s past such as padres and aristocrats from Spanish California, gold miners and pioneers. Members of the Hupa Tribe performed their White Deerskin Dance in what is believed to be the first time since 1879 that the dance was performed in public. Another first from 1927 was the first Fortuna Rodeo queen contest, won by Maxine Gould.
The first rodeo sponsored solely by the Fortuna Businessmen’s Association was held in 1930. The stockmen felt they could no longer support the rodeo financially, due to the stock market crash of 1929. The Fortuna Rodeo made it through the first years of the Great Depression, but ultimately was canceled due to the economic hard times in 1934 and 1935. However, the rodeo returned with renewed vigor in 1936. At this time the “penny scramble” became a feature of Rodeo Week. This event is now for children only, but when it began, it was open to everyone (thanks to the Depression, most people could use a bit of extra pocket money). Also in the late 1930s, the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department became involved with the rodeo, sponsoring the traditional Saturday night dance. The rodeo returned to its preeminence on the Professional Rodeo circuit, with riders
Photo courtesy of the Depot Museum
such as Hall of Famer and National Champion Johnnie Schneider riding and roping at the event. The year 1941 marked a Fortuna Rodeo high point when renowned rodeo photographer DeVere Helfrich attended and captured the action, his photographs chronicling national competitors as well as regional riders such as local favorite Clarence Bugenig.
In 1942, the Fortuna Businessmen decided to cancel the rodeo in order to focus on the war e ort. However, that year a one-day amateur rodeo was sponsored by the Fortuna unit of the Women’s Ambulance and Defense Corps. The women used the money raised at this rodeo for purchasing an ambulance for local use during World War II. In 1943, the Armed Forces requested that the rodeo not be held, since if an emergency caused the highway to be closed, rodeo attendees would be stranded. Also, many of the local businessmen, as well as the cowboys themselves, were serving in the Armed Forces. With the end of the war, the rodeo resumed in 1946. Many favorite events returned, such as the penny scramble (which had now become a kids-only event), a carnival, dances and a large parade.
A major first for the Fortuna Rodeo came in 1951, when the Fortuna Rodeo Association was formed, with a board made up of equal numbers from the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department and the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce. The by-laws developed by the Association, which are still followed today, state that once expenses are paid, all funds raised by the rodeo will be used to maintain and improve facilities at Rohner Park.
The 1953 rodeo was the o cial celebration of the City of Fortuna’s “Diamond Jubilee” 75th anniversary. This year may also have been the first to feature a grand marshal for the Fortuna Rodeo parade. In 1953 the parade’s marshal was Captain Leroy Gates, who served as an air force pilot in both WWII and the Korean War and was one of the founders of the Rohnerville Airport. A rodeo tradition begun in 1953 was a pancake breakfast during Rodeo Weekend. This event was first sponsored by the women’s service organization the Quota Club, then by the Business and Professional Women’s Association from 1959 onward, and then from 1997 by the Fortuna chapter of the Kiwanis Club.
In 1954, Clarence Bugenig won the local champion saddle. The year 1954 also saw the final professional rodeo held in Fortuna. In 1955, the Rodeo Association de-
cided the Fortuna Rodeo would become an amateurs-only event. They hired Dick Hemsted to provide the stock animals, which Hemsted Rodeos continued to do into the 1990s. The 1950s also saw the return of the deep-pit rodeo barbecue and the queen contest. The first Fortuna Rodeos back in the 1920s had featured free barbecues, with stockmen donating the animals, but now the Rodeo Association charged a small admission fee for the ever-popular meal created by a team of volunteers led by “Super-Chef” Nat Evans, inventor of a secret blend of meatseasoning spices. To this day, the beloved tradition of the Fortuna Rodeo barbecue continues, made possible by dedicated volunteers and featuring a closely-guarded secret recipe.
awards for entries like their “Five Little Ducks” in the 1974 “Disneyland of the West” kiddies’ parade. In 1975, a horseshoe-pitching competition became part of the Rodeo Week lineup, and around this same time, bicycle races were added to the week’s activities. Also for the first time in 1975, a volunteer Fortuna Rodeo Band was created to take part in the rodeo parade, composed of students from the local schools along with other community members. In 1976, the year of the United States’ Bicentennial celebrations, the Jaycees sponsored their first Fortuna Rodeo Tennis Tournament, which would be part of the annual events until the early 1990s.
In 1964, Al Cooper won the first of his four local champion saddles and in 1965, Charlie Rodriquez won the first of his five local championships. These two men would remain the competitors with the highest number of local champion wins at the Fortuna Rodeo until Casey Minton achieved an astounding nine local champion saddles in the early 2000s. Popular Rodeo Week events in downtown Fortuna in the 1960s included street dances, a greased pole climbing contest, greased pig contest and an orange crate race, first sponsored by the Fortuna Junior Chamber of Commerce (the Jaycees) in 1966.
In the late 1960s, the tradition began of the Volunteer Fire Department hosting a Firemen’s Games event on Main Street during Rodeo Week. For three years in the 1970s, Rodeo Week festivities included a children’s parade. Youngsters from the Strehl and Ryles families were among the frequent winners of children’s parade
The Rodeo Association declared that 1979’s event would be the 50th anniversary rodeo, although later re-calculation led to the conclusion that this milestone was actually a few years o . (Matters were complicated by the several years without a Fortuna Rodeo during the Great Depression and World War II, and by disagreement about which events had been o cial Fortuna Rodeos.) As part of the o cial celebrations of the rodeo’s first 50 years, a Friday night fireworks display became part of Rodeo Week, remaining a highlight of the festivities until 1986.
In 1980, for the first time, Outhouse Races were added to the Rodeo Week fun. This rip-roaring event continued until 1985 and later was re-introduced for several more years in the early 2000s. Early in the 1980s, the merchants of the new Redwood Village Mall began sponsoring Rodeo Week entertainments, and during this decade, Redwood Village would become the location for the kids’ activities on the Tuesday of Rodeo Week.
A major milestone took place in 1984:
for the first time, the winner of the local all-around champion saddle was a woman. Suzi Fusi captured the honor only one year after riding in her first rodeo (at the Fortuna Rodeo in 1983). Fusi also won the Pro Rodeo California Cowboys Association’s 1984 award for Rookie of the Year. In the first 100 years of the Fortuna Rodeo, two other competitors have joined Suzi Fusi in the ranks of women who have been Fortuna’s local all-around champions: Sherry Luman in 1988 and Jennifer Renner in 2019. Foot races through town had joined the Rodeo Week lineup in or around 1980, and by 1984, the annual Fortuna Rodeo Fun Run was sponsored by the Six Rivers Running Club. Two beloved Fortuna Rodeo traditions came into being in 1986: the “kidnapped tourists” trial and the chili cook-o . The first tourists to be “kidnapped” and treated to a free weekend of rodeo-themed hospitality were Al and Raylene Key, a honeymooning couple from Vermont. Tourists continued to be “kidnapped” as part of the Rodeo Week shindigs until the final abduction of a vacationing family during the rodeo celebrations in 2016. The first chili cook-o took place in the parking lot of Del’s Liquors and Deli on Fortuna Boulevard; in later years the event would move to its current downtown location on Main Street. A major di erence between the early chili cook-o s and the event we know today was a lack of beans: the “Fortuna Rodeo Chili Society” declared that “true chili” consists of “any kind of meat, or combinations of meats, cooked with chili peppers, various other spices and other ingredients, with the exception of items such as beans or spaghetti which are strictly forbidden.” Also in 1986, the Rodeo Association unveiled the first annual Country Music Showdown at the rodeo grounds. For several years, the showdown would be a highlight of Friday night’s events.
An “ugly dog contest” was introduced in Rodeo Week 1988, and took place for several years. Cyrus Comer’s Dalmatian/ English bulldog mix Jeremiah was the first pooch to be proclaimed Fortuna’s ugliest dog; in subsequent years Charlie Washburn’s scru y little canine Rambo would be Jeremiah’s biggest rival for the title. The biggest Fortuna Rodeo first of the 1990s was the creation in 1994 of a junior rodeo, the Fortuna Junior Round-Up. The event would grow to become one of the biggest and most popular junior rodeos in the northwest. In the late 1990s, Fortuna’s continued on next page »
Photo courtesy of the Depot Museum
plan, a Business Unlimited Data-Everyday 3.0 plan or
own West Coast Rodeo Co. inherited the mantle of the Hemsted Rodeo Company, becoming the stock contractor for the Fortuna Rodeo.
In the year 2000, the Rodeo Association decided to change the way past rodeos were counted. Things had gotten confusing over the years, with disagreements about the number of years in which no Fortuna Rodeo took place. From 2000 onward, the rodeos have been reckoned by the number of years since 1921’s first Fortuna Rodeo. This change created what might seem to be a case of time travel: 1999’s Fortuna Rodeo was advertised as the 70th annual rodeo, and 2000’s was the 79th. In 2002, the Association introduced “Family Night” at the rodeo grounds as a highlight of Rodeo Week’s Friday, with kid-focused activities such as piñatas and an “animal scramble.” Over the next few years, Friday’s activities morphed into the wild competition known as the Quadiators, and Friday became Motorsports Night at the Fortuna Rodeo.
The year 2006 brought another Fortuna first: the tradition of commissioning an original artwork each year to illustrate the rodeo’s posters and program. Don Brown, who was then the Rodeo Association member in charge of advertising, brought the idea to Fortuna. The first Fortuna Rodeo painting, by Arcata artist Forest Stearns, shows Ben McWhorter bullriding, with Roy Curless and Tom McWhorter among the spectators.
In 2013, a new event joined Saturday night’s lineup: Bands, Bulls and Brews (another b-word, Broncs, would later be added to the title). That first Bands,
Bulls and Brews also featured a game of “cowboy poker,” pitting card-players in the arena against a bull: the last player to leave the table, after the bull had chased all the other players away, was the winner. Among the most recent Fortuna Rodeo firsts, in 2017, the elite bullfighting cadre Bullfighters Only, based in San Antonio, Texas, became the central attraction during Friday night’s festivities.
Some Fortuna Rodeo firsts are far less welcome than others. In 2020, due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, what would have been the 99th anniversary Fortuna Rodeo instead became the first Fortuna Rodeo to be cancelled since the end of World War II.
Since almost the very beginnings of the Fortuna Rodeo, it has been traditional for rodeo organizers to declare that the next year’s rodeo will be “bigger and better” than the one before. In 2021, for the 100th anniversary rodeo, a bigger and better rodeo again takes its rightful place as one of the greatest annual celebrations of life in the Friendly City of Fortuna.
Historians Susan J.P. O’Hara and Alex Service are the authors of In and Around the Arena: The 100 Year History of the Fortuna Rodeo. The book, featuring over 800 photographs from the collections of local community members and museums, will be published later in 2021. Be sure to stop by the authors’ table at the rodeo this year, for more information on the book and to add your name to the preorder list for In and Around the Arena.
Photo courtesy of the Depot Museum
Saddle & Silver
There are plenty of reasons to mount up for rodeo competition, practice for countless hours and risk injury in the dusty arena. But long after the cheering has subsided and the purse is spent, the trophies taken home by champion cowboys shine on. Here are the the storied prizes riders are shooting for at the Fortuna Rodeo.
Gary Edgmon Memorial Saddle
The Gary Edgmon Memorial Saddle is awarded to the top local all-around cowboy. Competitors must reside in Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity or Mendocino counties to qualify for this award. Edgmon was the owner of Ferndale Meat Co. and a member of the Fortuna Rodeo Board for many years. He was in charge of the rodeo’s deep pit barbecue while on the board and he served up a great meal. Edgmon passed away in 1998 and a memorial saddle has been given in his name ever since. He was a lifetime Fortuna resident known for his lighthearted humor and giving personality. American AgCredit, the Edgmon Famly, and Sequoia Gas Co. are proud to sponsor this award.
Fred Barry Memorial Buckle
The Fred Barry Memorial Buckle, named after one of the larger figures in Fortuna Rodeo lore, is awarded yearly to the Humboldt County top hand. Born and raised in Humboldt County, Barry was a cowboy and rancher. He won the all-around cowboy award at the 1941 Fortuna Rodeo and would later go on to have a successful rodeo career on the national circuit, competing in many of the big rodeos, including the Cheyenne Frontier Days, Pendelton Roundup and the Calgary Stampede. After retiring from rodeo, Fred ran a successful cattle ranching operation in Loleta and continued to be a
big supporter of the Fortuna Rodeo. The Fred Barry Memorial Buckle carries on his spirit, sponsored by his son Patrick Barry
Tom McWhorter Memorial All-Around Buckle
This buckle is presented to the Fortuna Rodeo’s all-around cowboy. Mobley Construction proudly sponsors this award.
Rodeo has always been a McWhorter family tradition. For 54 years, Tom McWhorter served on the Fortuna Rodeo Board, enjoying the sport and camaraderie that are part of the cowboy way of life. From 2005 until 2012, Tom’s family granted the Tom McWhorter Rodeo Scholarship to local high school rodeo participants in the California High School Rodeo Association.
Tom grew up on a ranch in Yager Creek and always enjoyed going to the high school rodeos, watching the young people develop their skills and grow into world-class athletes. “District Two has had a number of state and college champions who started in the local high school rodeo circuit,” said McWhorter’s son Ted, who continues the family’s rodeo tradition working for West Coast Rodeo Co. “We have an excellent reputation for outstanding competitors from our district.”
OPENING DAY
YOUTH LIVESTOCK
WEDNESDAY August 21
Carnival - Opens at Noon
Karaoke - Friendship Sq 3:30-8:30
AOK Clown Show - Grandstand Stage 1:15pm, 2:45pm, 4:15pm
YOUTH LIVESTOCK
8am Pigmy Goat show/ Dairy Barn
9am Rabbit show/ rabbit barn
10am Swine Show/Market
4H-FFA/covered arena
5pm Youth Boer Goat Show /covered arena
THURSDAY August 22
Cattlemen & Farmers Day
Carnival - Opens at Noon
Karaoke - Friendship Sq 3:30-8:30
AOK Clown Show - Grandstand Stage 1:15pm, 2:45pm, 4:15pm Cook-Off Contest - $1000 Grand Prize
Midway Stage 10am - 5pm
6:30pm The Critics - Midway Stage
YOUTH LIVESTOCK
9am Dairy show/dairy barn
10am Sheep Show/market 4H-FFA / covered arena
3pm Beef cattle show/market
4H-FFA/covered arena
8pm Selection of Supremes
FRIDAY August 23
Carnival - Opens at Noon
Karaoke - Friendship Sq 3:30-6:15 pm
AOK Clown Show - Grandstand Stage 1:15pm, 2:45pm, 4:15pm
5pm Hot Dog Eating Contest
9am Poultry Show/ rabbit barn
9am Dairy Show / dairy barn
5pm Tractor Driving Contest
5:30pm Mandatory Veggie Aution / Dairy Barn
6pm Adult Show /covered arena
7pm Lead Contest for beef, swine, sheep and goat / covered arena DAY AT THE RACES
SATURDAY August 24
Carnival - Opens at Noon
Karaoke - Friendship Sq 3:30-6:15 pm
AOK Clown Show - Grandstand Stage 1:15pm, 2:45pm, 4:15pm
5PM Pie Eating Contest
- $500 Grand Prize
Midway Stage - Sponsored by Humboldt Slice of Pie
6:30pm Dr. Squid - Midway Stage
YOUTH LIVESTOCK
9am Mandatory Jr. Auction sellers meeting /covered arena
10am Quiz Bowl
11am Dairy auction /dairy barn
2pm Veggie auction / dairy barn
4pm Small animal round robin / covered arena
6pm Large animal round robin / covered arena 4H-FFA DAY AT THE RACES
SUNDAY August 25
Carnival - Opens at Noon
Karaoke - Friendship Sq 3:30-9:00 pm
AOK Clown Show - Grandstand Stage 1:15pm, 2:45pm, 4:15pm
