Welcome To The Juniper Joust In Juniper Canyon!
The Juniper Joust Rodeo was formed in the 1940’s by two like-minded neighbors and friends, my Dad and Fred Hill…who invited their friends to come out to Juniper Canyon to the ranch for a fun rodeo play day….you can click on the photos and they will enlarge!
Horseback games, like the boot race and musical ropes, figure eight race, pole bending and barrel racing, along with lots of visiting, lots of good eating and lots of good times! Not only were they making memories out here in Juniper Canyon…they were making history and heritage to pass on.
And they did, as the Juniper Joust was born before I was born, and here I am all these years later, sharing the stories and memories of two great friends living the cowboy life in the mid 1940’s.
Can you believe a local rodeo began across from our house…in the middle of my horse pasture?
Yet, here is the proof, it’s rodeo day and people were showing up…some of them rode their horses out from Pendleton to the rodeo…about 20 miles away…while some trailered their horses to the ranch. Our house is on the very far right of the photo, you can see just a small corner of it…note the dirt/gravel road…no paved road in those days!
The Juniper Joust program above dated April 28, 1946, included the Mustanger’s (Saddle Club) as joint sponsors with the Joust…I’m not sure how many years the Juniper Joust continued…
I would love to go back in time to see the rodeo across from our house…right there where Buck is munching away…
The day before the rodeo, the cooking crew dug a b-q pit in the ground to cook a whole beef…they had 200-300 people show up for the rodeo and lunch…its amazing no one from the cooking crew fell into the pit, with the beef, from some stories I was told!
Old days and good times were had by all, eating mouth-watering b-q beef on a bun with barbecue sauce for lunch and visiting…the old way of relationship and connection that we have lost today, which makes me sad…I miss those old days!
My beautiful classy Mom, with her long hair up in braids, wearing her well known smile!
And my Dad roping on “Jingo” at the rodeo…
I’m not sure if they are doing the stake race or the bending race…
Old-time stories are still here, with the good times of community and family coming together. Above photo was taken in the early 60’s in Dad’s roping arena, my Dad is on the far left, my uncles and his brothers Tom, Jens, Ralph in the back row and brother Ron far left on the bottom, cousins Gerald and Steve, with Ron’s twin brother Rich. My two younger cousins, Steve and Gunder were with their Dad, Uncle Ralph.
The old roping arena is still here today…its gone through many stages from roping to barrel racing to working cattle to training young horses and adding a round corral a few years back…
Between cowboy stories…
Hot Rods with cool horsepower…
History and heritage with horses and cows…
How can you ever be bored out here in the North Country or as we call it Juniper Canyon!
Happy Thanksgiving From…
Hot Rod Cowgirl and Her Gang!
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Dec 18, 2017 @ 12:48:32
Happy Thanksgiving–belated–to a long lost blog friend of mine!
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Nov 27, 2017 @ 14:24:38
WOO HOO HRCG!!! guess what?? I found my Cousin Jonny alive & well about 3 1/2 hrs away. We spoke today for almost 2 hours on phone….best Chanukkah/Christmas gift EVER!! Isn’t Life good when it’s good??? 😉
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Nov 28, 2017 @ 20:07:44
Yes! GF Life Is Good! Best part is seeing God’s hand in it:) Love n Hugs! Happy for you!
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Nov 25, 2017 @ 10:17:40
Love your writing and pictures. A different world for me. Hope you and yours and your “furry posse” had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Aloha
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Nov 24, 2017 @ 17:34:05
Marcy,
What year was the B&W photo taken? Have you figured out who any of the people are in the photo? It is so cool to see this photo!
Warmest regards,
Kenny
From: Hot Rod Cowgirl Reply-To: Hot Rod Cowgirl Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 11:50 PM To: Paula & Ken Thompson Subject: [New post] Welcome To The Juniper Joust….
Hot Rod Cowgirl posted: ” Welcome To The Juniper Joust In Juniper Canyon! The Juniper Joust Rodeo was formed in the 1940’s by two like-minded neighbors and friends, my Dad and Fred Hill…who invited their friends to come out to Juniper Canyon to the ranch for a fun rod”
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Nov 24, 2017 @ 21:52:06
Hi there! I am guessing the B&W photos were taken between the early 40’s until? When I blew up the photos there were some faces that I could recognize…wish I knew more! I know they had the rodeo here for several years and then they moved it to town up around the airport and sort of combined with the Mustangers…they eventually bought the current land where they have been ever since I was little. Did you see the Hamley’s panel with a horse trailer behind it? Also note there was no creek running then…Dad told me Juniper Creek was born during a flash flood in the late 40’s and as you know still runs today. I will do more digging for programs and also pictures as I know there are more…just have to find them. When I was little dad had the B&W photos on the french doors in the basement as a way to block out light and to share the story. Sending you and your family holiday wishes…we miss you and Paula! If you come up call us and we would love to get together again with you:)
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 22:21:04
Wow what History you have there,nope could never be bored at your place that’s for sure.Happy Thanksgiving,xx Rachel and Speedy
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Nov 24, 2017 @ 12:22:31
Thank you! There is so much history here in this area…I wish I knew more! Sending you happy thoughts and warm bunny hugs:)
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 18:56:26
I so enjoyed the family history and photos. Thanks for sharing.
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 19:58:24
Am glad you enjoyed the history…did you notice in the old pictures that there was no creek then? I guess Juniper Creek was born during a flash flood…the old rodeo arena across the road then joined the field and the creek eventually eroded that! I don’t remember what year the big flood happened but once it did, we have always had water in the ditch that trickles to the Columbia River…hope your day was blessed! It was good to see you!
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 16:58:08
FAB post HRCG!! And the history is so wonderful to read….WOW!! A rodeo right on your property…your father was pretty darn cool. Love the photos of yesteryear….
Wishing you & WB a very Happy Thanksgiving!! And all the gang at Juniper Canyon…..those dogs are gorgeous!!!
Much love Sherri-Ellen & ***nose kissesss*** Siddhartha Henry xxxx
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 19:54:23
Thank you much Sherri-Ellen and of course nose kiss’s Purrince S-H! It was a fun post to do…being an only child, you listened more to your folks and took in their stories and their life before you…I am thankful I listened and that Dad had good pictures of the rodeo. I am the only one that carries their stories and their lives now, so I must write them:) I hope you are both well and snuggled in for the night! Its good to be back on the blog:)
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Nov 25, 2017 @ 17:08:27
I can relate as I am the only child of my Mother & Father. I tell my Father’s story all the time. He was a Holocaust survivor. When I die there are no more Theilheimer’s in Canada…..sad but true.
I’m trying to find my 2nd cousin (on Mother’ side)….I’ve been trying for 20 years to find Jonny….. *sighs*
I’m glad you are back blogging…I was worried about you!
(((hugs))) & Love, Sherri-Ellen & ~~~head rubsss~~~ Siddhartha Henry~~~
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Nov 25, 2017 @ 21:14:52
You are right on gf! Yes, we have been given so many memories to share and remember our folks lives…like you I write them over and over…as writing for me is a vacation from Holton Secret Lab LLC…grabbing my camera and hiking up the hill are my favorite habits!
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 14:28:14
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 15:42:14
Thank you Cindy! Wishing you a special happy thanksgiving too:)
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 08:14:44
Happy Thanksgiving. What wonderful memories.
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Nov 23, 2017 @ 09:48:25
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving too!
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