Welcome to Glenwood. A project long in the planning and fundraising phase finally reached completion recently with the installation of three new “Welcome to Glenwood” signs, just in time for all the visitors to the rodeo. The sign replacement project was a goal set by the Mt. Adams Community 4-H Club several years ago. The old signs were once beautiful but the years and weather had taken a heavy toll on them.
Club leader Shayne Arnold Rickman said, “As you drive into Glenwood, pay attention to the new Glenwood signs! Huge thank you to Jim Mclean, the project manager, for helping facilitate the process, utilizing resources, and getting this long-awaited project to completion, Billy and Kaeston Gross with Gross Enterprise for donating your time, machinery and continued support for our community, Johnathon Rickman for his excavation skills and expertise, and all the Mt. Adams 4-H Members who helped along the way. The kids designed the signs, helped build/put them together, and put them in their final resting places to be admired. I hope the community will be proud of these for many years to come.”
Yes, we in this great little community are very proud of the new signs and of our Mt. Adams Community 4-H Club. With deepest appreciation and gratitude, we thank everyone involved in this very meaningful project.
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The 90th annual Glenwood Ketchum Kalf Rodeo was a great success again this year. Each day began with the solemn tradition of the Empty Saddle. The empty saddle, also known as the riderless horse, honors one of Glenwood Rodeo Association’s own members. Ben Langfield passed away in January of this year. As a tribute to Ben, a horse carrying an empty saddle with Ben’s boots reversed in the stirrups was led around the arena by a current Association member. This was a moving tribute to a man who devoted many years helping put on this rodeo, signifying that he will never ride again.
Ben was raised in Trout Lake by his grandparents, Lottie and K.C. Langfield. After graduating from college, Ben married a sweet Glenwood girl, Lea Brasmer, and worked in the logging industry here for 48 years. He also served in the Army National Guard for six years. He and Lea raised their three children, Karie, Kasey, and Brian here in Glenwood. Brian remembers that his dad loved hunting, fishing, and camping, anything in the outdoors.
Good friend Bob Seagle recruited Ben to join the rodeo association and he spent many years helping prepare everything on the weekends leading up to the rodeo. He and Bob worked the admission gate together for many years. Ben embraced Glenwood and its rodeo as if he was born and raised here. He truly made Glenwood his home town. He had many friends who miss him greatly but the Association honored him on Saturday and Sunday for his dedication to his family, the rodeo, and this community. We are thankful to Ben for his service to his country and to our great rodeo.
Another tradition of the Glenwood Rodeo is the presentation of the Hank Ladiges buckle on Sunday. The tradition of the Hank Ladiges buckle was begun after his passing in 1992. He was a very dedicated member of the Glenwood Rodeo Association for many decades and this memorial buckle is awarded each year to a deserving, hard-working rodeo association member who reflects that same dedication to the rodeo. This year’s Hank Ladiges award recipient, Dannet Wheelhouse, is a fourth-generation member of this community. The daughter of Kenny and Frieda Ladiges Sheridan, Dannet grew up in the rodeo.
Last year, Dannet organized and coordinated the refinishing of the picnic tables with the Glenwood High School shop class, hauling several loads to the school shop and back to the rodeo hall throughout the school year. Two years ago, she took on the role of entertainment coordinator and also helps with rental of the rodeo grounds and hall for other events throughout the year. Dannet shows up at every work day and her work ethic is something to be admired, for sure, so it’s fitting that the award this year be presented to Hank Ladiges’s niece. Thank you for all you do, Dannet.
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I’m very saddened to share the news of the passing of a much-loved Glenwood lady, Karen Bloom. Karen had many friends, loved horses and hearing about the local kids and her grandchildren’s successes in rodeo competition, attending her great-grandson Luka’s events and special occasions at school, and playing cards with the ladies on Thursday afternoons. A memorial service for Karen will be held at the Rodeo dance hall on June 28th from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Her family will prepare hot dogs. Please bring a side dish to share. She will be interred next to her husband Derwin at the Glenwood cemetery that afternoon.
I remember one of the many acts of kindness from Karen. She asked me to bring our cowgirls, Jocee and Jentry Hoctor, over to her house. When we got there, she had a huge box of horse books to give to the girls that her grandchildren had outgrown. There was the complete set of The Saddle Club, many of the Black Stallion series, Smokey the Cow Horse, and so many other classic children’s horse books. It was a wonderful gift these girls enjoyed and still are enjoying. She also brought out a large display board on which she had mounted the dozens of rodeo belt buckles her grandson Wyatt had won through his high school, college, and professional rodeo career. Seeing that great collection has inspired the Hoctor sisters to work to achieve their own great collections of rodeo buckles. Our deepest condolences go to her son Steven, his wife Mandy, Steven’s grandson Luka, and all the rest of Karen’s family. We will all miss her greatly.
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Mary Pierce writes about the community of Glenwood every other week in Columbia Gorge News. Please send any news items to gmpierce09@gmail.com.
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