Harley Tucker Rodeo Series Award 

    This award is named in honor of the late Harley Tucker, a past northwest rodeo producer and stock contractor from Joseph who helped found Chief Joseph Days in 1946.  At the time of his death in 1960, he was one of the nation's largest stock contractors, providing stock and producing over 25 rodeos in the Northwest each year.  Harley Tucker was inducted into the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame in 1980, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1997, and the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1999.

    The Harley Tucker Rodeo Series Award, formally known as the Harley Tucker Memorial Award, was first started in 1970.  Recognized at the Saturday performance with a plaque and $1500, this award goes to the cowboy scoring the most points in a combination of the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, The St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, The Elgin Stampede in Elgin and Chief Joseph Days in Joseph.  If the award is earned three times, the contestant receives an accumulating purse.  In 1982, Butch Knowles of Heppner became the first three-time winner and earned $5100.  In 1990, Rocky Steagall of Irrigon became the second three-time winner and received $3100.  Cowgirls became eligible to win the Harley Tucker Rodeo Series Award in 2002.  This was due to women's barrel racing, as well as team roping, being added to the list of qualifying events.

    Each year since its inception the award fund has received $350 from each of the four rodeos, totaling $1400 per year.  An extra $1500 will go into the award fund compliments of sponsor, Mountain West Moving and Storage.  The fund for the next three time winner will continue to build with $1000 contributed yearly and is currently up to almost $9000.

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