Saturday at the 50th annual Fort Dalles Days Pro-Rodeo, there was an air of finality that followed four days of action at Milt Tumilson Arena in The Dalles.
On one hand, long-time board member Jake Grossmiller was proud of the effort put in by everyone involved with the rodeo.
On the other hand, he was unsure of what the future holds.
This is possibly the last year for the event to be held on the River Road property that has been its home since 1975.
“I can’t really tell you anything because we don’t know anything. These people who purchased the property are being very secretive,” said Grossmiller.
“They started a corporation in Delaware three months ago, we believe they are a front for some big corporation. There is speculation as to who it is, but there is no foundation because nobody knows. They have not come forth with anything.”
Grossmiller added that the rodeo association and The Dalles Mayor Stephen Lawrence have been in constant communication as to devising a course of action.
During the first 10 years, the rodeo was held at the Fort Dalles Riders Association Arena off Chenowith Road. Headquarters was a small camp trailer and officers met there late each day to count the money by hand.
When the rodeo began in 1965, the association needed to raise $6,300 each year to cover expenses.
The event has grown to the point that the annual investments is now $125,000-$150,000, said Grossmiller.
Moving may have an economic significance, as the rodeo feeds between $3.5-$4 million dollars back into the community each year.
“We have a couple of ideas of properties to move to, but that will transpire if and when they tell us, ‘you’re done, get your stuff out,’” Grossmiller said. “They told us in May that we had 45-60 days after the rodeo to get the place cleared out. We hope that we don’t have to do that.”
In May, Grossmiller said the rodeo plan was close to being shelved given the uncertainty of the sales plan.
The association scrambled to get acts and were able to secure Amanda Payne and the One-Armed Bandit along with Donnie Landis, the clown/bear man.
“I think that was a fantastic thing for us and people will remember that,” Grossmiller said of Payne’s showcase. “Donnie kept things moving the whole time and created a nice atmosphere for everyone. We had a very good, packed program.”
Having good stock from Gold Buckle Rodeo, out of Roosevelt, Wash., has provided challenges to the cowboys and cowgirls, but as the years have gone on and the rodeo has further established cache within the rodeo community, competitors choose to come to the gorge for top-flight action through a festive week.
“The Dalles is the best. I can’t imagine there not being a rodeo here,” said rodeo participant Clayton Hansen. “Some rodeos have that special vibe, you really can’t explain it, but it feels like home. And I’m not just saying that because I’ve won here for the past two years. It’s just a great rodeo. A place I want to come.”
Grossmiller said the rodeo came to life out of discussions by a group of individuals in the backroom of the former Westgate Market on Chenoweth Street. Grossmiller and his father Ken, were the first rodeo announcers.
In 1988, Fort Dalles became one of the rodeo on the national circuit, which attracted more cowboys.
From planning to execution, Grossmiller called it a collaborative effort that requires communication, organization and team work.
From rodeo president Damon Hulit, vice president Steve Hunt, rodeo director Fred Farhni, and everyone else, it is a tireless process that given The Dalles something to call its own for the past five decades.
“One of things that we have to work with, we have our rodeo announcer Chad Nicholson here with us, is consistency. I think that is what we have,” Grossmiller said. “We have a pattern, we have consistency and that is a good product. If you have one fantastic performance and then you have two or three bad ones, you get that reputation. You can’t afford to do that. You have to maintain a quality show all the time.”
As time moves on, Grossmiller and the rest of the rodeo board see continued success, no matter the location.
“We will be back and stronger than ever,” Grossmiller said. “We have worked too hard, for too long, to let it go now. We want these cowboys and cowgirls to put on a good show. We want to give these families great memories.”
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