Monache Rodeo Part Two
Part Two
(Pages 5 through 13)
I guess I could write a book just about the Monache Rodeo. I've been to a lot of rodeos and the Monache Rodeo was run and organized as well as any I've ever seen. Everything went like clockwork. The fun and laughs we had while organizing and putting on the show will always be remembered.
I would like to add that there was one chute built for the wild cow riding. Leaky Olivas cut the poles at Bake Oven Meadows and hauled them to the rodeo grounds. The crew worked together to build the chute. Other than that I can't add anything.
The following appeared in the Inyo Register, August 25, 1977, Authored by Pat Roberts.
News Article
Throngs of people, cowboys and contestants, spectators, and performers, entertainers, men, women and children poured into Monache Meadow for the weekend of August 6 & 7 to relive the Old West in typical High Sierra style and to be there "when the band started playing"... it was the Old-Time Monache Rodeo.
The second such event ever staged in Monache, the first having been held in 1920 when the South Forkers from the Kern River area challenged the North Forkers (Owens Valley Ranchers) to the usual chain of events in a good old western rodeo! That 57-year-ago rodeo is still vivid in the minds of old timers who have a keen memory. And now the younger generation has put a feather in it's cap for the second western show that will also go down in history.
Unlike the July 1920 show more modern modes of travel were available for the 1977 spectacular as jeep roads now lead into the back country, in fact right to the spot where the rodeo took place, and air travel was also available to the locale where "the action was"... however, many took to the saddle and rode in from the two trail heads, Troy Meadows to the South and Sage Flat to the East. And they came 800 strong! Yesiree, it was buckaroo time in the high country, even stock was tuned to the occasion (we hear there were "mean old broncs kicking their heels!") Scores of campsites were visible in the fringes of the meadows and tucked away in the trees and everyone was "in the swing of things."
The big rodeos had nothing on this one. There was a queen chosen, a band on hand for opening events, the usual line-up of events, calf roping, bareback riders, saddle bronc, wild cow milking, wild cow riding, team roping, barrel racing, woman's calf roping and calf roping for the kids.
Rod Ayers, emcee of the day, did an excellent job over the speaker system announcing events, prizes and special bulletins (speakers had been hooked up to a generator for the two-day event). Judges were Henry Olivas and Bill Carrasco. Refreshments were served both days by a committee composed of Phyllis Abbott, Gail Abbott, Pat Farlander and Ernie Lasky. As there are no stores or restaurants in the area, everyone was on a "camp-out" basis therefore the "food tent" was a welcome and popular spot.
Mark Hall at the Wild Cow riding
Winding up the exciting day on Saturday was a dance staged in the meadow under the stars where dancers "kicked up their heels" (and a bit of meadow grass also) to the tunes of the band who both opened and closed the day's activities.
Contestants in the two-day event were from the Owens Valley and the other side of the mountains, Kernville-Onyx areas, a fine turn-out and great show seems to be the general opinion. Clowning for the events was performed by "Bobcat" of Little Lake.
Monies for some of the prizes were donated to Blaine Stevens of Kernville, injured in the saddle bronc riding who was air lifted by helicopter to So. Inyo Hospital for treatment, later taken to Bakersfield where he was reported doing nicely. Monies for second and third place in women's calf roping and calf riding for the kids was also donated to him.
Others assisting with the show were time keepers, Jean Fogarty, Tam Joseph, Dianna Maillet, Cheryl Lane and Charlotte Olson. Pickup men were Jug Perez and Melvin Joseph. Snubbers were Ronni Bills, Tip Tipton, Dave Rigoli, Both groups assisting each other. Norman Mull flanked horses and helped riders on.
Members of the Monache Rodeo Club who staged the event after months of planning are Cheryl and Jimmy Lane, Tom and Jean Fogarty, Charlotte and Mike Olson, Duane Rossi, Diane Maillet, Ronni and Frank Bills, Buck and Maxine Bills, Jerre and Bob Olin. An entry fee plus donations from spectators and monies from dances sponsored by the rodeo club in Lone Pine in past months, enabled participants to share in three place monies with an added first place award in each event of a beautiful silver belt buckle. The handsome hand made buckles were designed and made by the Lone Pine Indian Art Club and were hand crafted by Sandy Jefferson, Brad Younge, Robert and Suanne Hunter.
Cattle and horses used in the show were from the Spainhower Anchor Ranch and some horses were also furnished by Duane Rossi and Dave Rigoli. Some individuals also provides some horses.
Opening of the show was heralded by the popular Lone Pine band of Butch Berry, Clayton Anderson, Dinkie Knox playing and singing, The Star Spangled Banner, assisted in the singing by Paul Lauten, band cook. This exciting beginning was quickly followed by the surprise presentation of rodeo queen, Ethel Olivas, for many years a summer resident of Monache, highly thought of and loved by all. Mounted rider, Henry "Leaky" Olivas, husband of the queen, presented her with silver buckle in honor of the occasion.
Ethel Olivas and Henry "Leaky" Olivas
Fine cooperation with Sequoia National Park Service was given to the event and the rodeo committee wishes to thank them for their service as well as the many others who assisted in numerous ways.
Following is a list of the various events and winners. Buckles were given for 1 st place in each event as well as a buckle for the oldest (60 and over) which is now the proud possession of Leaky Olivas and the youngest to receive the same was 13-year-old Ronnie Crowder Jr., of Kernville.
In calf roping-branding style, first place went to Melvin Joseph; 2nd John App; 3rd Scott Kemp.
Bareback riding; Danny Torres, 1st; Tom Noland, 2nd; Chuck Worrell,3rd. Saddle bornc riding; Chester Helmy, 1st; Danny Torres, 2nd; Rob Pearce, 3rd. Wild cow milking (teams); Melvin Joseph and Red Alpers, 1st; Danny Torres and Duane Rossi 2nd; Rod Ayers and Bill Nichols, 3rd.
Wild cow riding; Danny Torres 1st; Steve Stewart, 2nd split with Chuck Worrell. Team roping; John McNalley and Lester Kohler, 1st; John Wilber and Gorden Larsen, 2nd; Rod O'Conner and Mike Hanson, 3rd. Barrel racing; Janet Lane, 1st; Winona Tipton, 2nd; Bod Hirschey, 3rd. Women's calf roping; Susan Jefferson, 1st. Calf riding (ages 5 thru 10); Lisa Perex, 1st.
Horse race, across the meadow, approximately 500 yards was won by Gracine Schilder. A spokesman for the rodeo committee informed us there were approximately 200 youngsters in the various events.
Danny Torres, John Duhart and Ronnie Bills
And so... "as the evening shadows slowly changed with the setting sun quiet once again settled over the Monache Meadow, the end of a perfect day" and a story to told over and over again throughout the years as the third generation relives the old west in the High Sierra and Old-Time Monache Rodeo of '77.
And the uniqueness of this was the fact it was completely outside... no arena... no corrals... no grandstands... horses were snubbed fr the various events and cows and calves were together for roping events, spectators and contestants held the stock in view of no corrals. The usual rules of the rodeo were replaced with rules formulated by the Monache Rodeo Club.
Tom Fogarty and his "Little White Colt"
MONACHE RODEO
Well it all took place on Monache Flats.
Ringin' spurs and lots of big hats.
The Boys were ridin' in from all over the maps.
Leadin' broncs with lots of sap.
Every outfit's got one that's too tough to ride.
And to watch him buck swells a man with pride.
Nobody knows why it's so funny,
To see a man thumped and lose his money.
Stagger around in a daze like he's fell out of a well.
But we'd all go tomorrow if they held a rodeo in hell.
Well a silence fell and something wasn't fight
Tom's leadin' in something little and white.
We gathered around and asked what's the deal.
He just looked at the ground and kicked dirt with his heel.
On the whole Anchor outfit there ain't nothing bad.
This little fellow is all that I had
The man that draws her is down on his luck.
I don't suppose she'll even buck.
Well a yeall went up it was time to go.
We were going to start the Monache Rodeo.
Now Dan drew a buckskin that sure did look prime.
Guaranteed to put a kink in old Dan's spine.
Ronnie drew a bronc off the R.S.
that some fool had named Old Caress
Duhart drew Star of the Double O Bar.
Well it was Tom's turn to draw.
He stepped up with a set in his jaw.
A gasp for air and look of despair.
We all knew he'd drawn his own little mare.
Well I'll ride her now he said with a shrug.
At least I'll get first crack at the jug.
He throwed on his riggin' that colt was sure dense.
Just like strappin' a saddle on a fence.
He climbed on her back, and pitched her some slack.
But the colt just stood there hangin' her head
If she wasn't standing up you'd swear she was dead.
Go to her belly you got top make her hump.
Your disqualified if she don't even jump.
He spurred her in the belly with all of his might.
And right there he started one helluva fight.
She went into a spin like a wooden top.
She swapped ends and wouldn't stop.
She was hittin' the ground every thirty feet.
She sucked her back at Soda Creek.
She bucked through the jack pines and hit the flats on a run.
The dust she was risin' was blocking out the sun.
She bucked she bawled she pitched and she moaned.
She had to be a colt out of the Strawberry roan.
She was a natural bucker regardless of breedin'.
His clothes were torn and his nose was bleedin.
The crowd was cheerin' there was a scream from Ethel.
That puncher was going to ride to the whistle.
There had been no daylight between man and beast.
He was makin' a ride to say the least.
Then a mighty lunge and a powerful kick.
That white colt showed one more trick.
Now, believe me boys I was standing there.
That colt turned a summersault right in mid air.
It left Tom stacked on the back of his neck.
No one had ever seen a worse wreck.
Well he'd lost the money, but the awful disgrace.
His little white colt was lickin' his face.