Page 9 - Canby Rodeo Program 2021

August 17-21, 2019, 63rd Annual
9 – CANBY RODEO
the cowhide hopefully grabbing the rope to hold onto. If they lost their hold behind the horse at a full gallop, well they plowed into the dirt to put it lightly. What a crowd pleaser.
After the curtains closed in 1978 Ken Marts was done calling for the carpenter to make need repairs. The old Rodeo chutes, announcers stand, seating, etc., were all torn down and moved to its present location and replaced with all steel equipment and panels. Ken worked till after dark night after night with some help to have things ready come rodeo time. That first performance with all the changes to the arena was quite a sight and Ken got a long standing ovation for all his hard work. Currently all but the bucking chutes have been replaced due to wear and tear.
Following Ken was Ted Atkins as Rodeo Director in 1980. Sombrero Stock Company of Terrabonne, Oregon was hired to provide rodeo livestock at about this time. Sombrero was owned by Mert and Martha Hunking. Originally started in 1971, Richard Rollins and Jerry Kosh were partners as well.
Mert, who ran a real tight ship insisted on certain things. One of which was anyone working for him during the performance must wear matching Kelly green shirts. Of course they also thought anything green in color belonged to them. I had to keep a close eye on garden hoses used to fill stock water tanks. If they were green they were fair game. Pickup man duties still belonged to Norm Durfee and Buster Bain. Norm’s border collie dog Skunk and Andy were a real hit with the crowd. The dogs could get timed event cattle out of the arena faster than a man or woman on horseback. When it came time to get the bulls out of the arena is when they really went to work. Norm just sat on this horse and whistled to the dogs with directions; usually one on the head and one on the heels. Between rides they often ran under the arena fence to take a quick dip in a water trough, then shake off and back to work waiting for their signal to help.
During the 1980’s Ted worked hard, going from the NRA (Northwest Rodeo Association) ORA (Oregon Rodeo Association), and the PCRA (Pacific Coast Rodeo Association) to always ensure we had the best contestants performing in Canby. In 1987 the Rodeo entered the professional ranks with the IPRA (International Professional Rodeo Association).
This will wrap up Part II of our history. Come back next year and find out how and when we joined the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) and how we became one of the top 10% rodeos in the United States.
Written by Dan Mickelsen
THE CANBY RODEO
The Beginning Part Two:
The Part I history ended with Glen Shedeck, a former rodeo contestant and Salem Fire Fighter taking on the Rodeo Director position in 1969.
During the mid-sixties Hazel Gardner had asked about helping with 6/12 chute. She began her duties as secretary and timer. Then before she knew it was appointed to take over the whole thing. Hazel continued the 6 1⁄2 chute until the early 2000’s when finding kids to ride became difficult and liability issues became a major concern. Hazel Gardner was also one of the founding members of the Canby Rodeo Board of Directors until her passing. We as a Board and many contestants past and present miss her beyond words. Ben Swanson was Hazel’s right had man helping in the chute area until his retirement in the mid 80’s. After Glen Shedecks’ time as Rodeo Director ended, Bob McKay took the reins as Rodeo Manager.
Bob was a pretty energetic guy. The one thing I remember was that Bob couldn’t wear cowboy boots so he wore the next best thing, tennis shoes. Mind you this was long before Nike had made tennies fashionable.
Howard Johnson and his wife Juanita, along with the help of their daughter Delane and her husband Norm Durfee and Buster Bain, son of Sonny Bain, were still providing the livestock for the Rodeo.
Following Bob McKay was Ken Marts as Rodeo Director. Ken was a go getter, to say the least. Ken was a long time employee of the old Canby Farm Store when it was on 99# between Grand and Ivy Streets.
By this time the old bucking chutes’ alley ways and holding pens were getting pretty old. Everything was made of wood which just doesn’t last in the Willamette Valley. Numerous times during a performance it was announced “carpenter needed to the Rodeo grounds, carpenter needed to the Rodeo grounds.” I never did know who the carpenter was but he was definitely a busy guy during the Rodeo.
All of the traditional rodeo events were still in place during the 70’s and the area service clubs added the Hide Race to the mix along with their Wild Cow Riding.
The Hide Race consisted of five riders on horseback lined up at one end of the arena with a rope tied to the saddle horn dragging a dried out cow hide. At the other end of the arena were their teammates on foot. The whistle sounded and riders raced to the other end of the arena to pick up the teammate who jumped on