09/28/06 Pendleton

Pendleton I just went to my first rodeo as a spectator in about 12 years and I picked a good one. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to tell you about it. I haven't been to a rodeo as a spectator since I went to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas several years ago. Well I was invited to go to the Pendleton Round-Up by some good friends and I just couldn't pass up the offer. As my wife and I drove into town, I started noticing signs on the freeway directing rodeo contestants to the right exit. Most cowboys know how to get to any rodeo grounds either from memory or directions from other contestants. I found out later the reason for the signs was a change in the place the cowboys could set up their living quarter horse trailers and where pens were erected for timed event contestant's horses. The trailers were lined up in a Wal Mart parking lot and the horses were stalled on the dirt beside the parking lot. This meant the cowboys rode several blocks to the rodeo arena. Now most horses don't go very far without leaving their calling cards everywhere so when I started dodging horse dropping, I felt right at home even in a city. Having the quirky little mind I have I started thinking about those horse apples right there on the sidewalk and I realized Pendleton really appreciate cowboys and that made me feel right at home again. Yep, Pendleton citizens haven't gotten so far from their roots that a little recycled hay bothers anyone. Tomorrow I will try to tell you what I think the Pendleton Round Up is all about. I'm Jeff Keane.