78th Annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo NamedTop 5 Medium Sized Rodeo in US

Joseph, Ore. – Chief Joseph Days, a 78-year tradition started by Harley Tucker in

1946, is celebrating two major awards going into this season. First, the Columbia

Circuit named Chief Joseph Days the Best Medium Sized Rodeo in the circuit for

the second year in a row. Even more impressive, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys

Association named Chief Joseph Days one of the Top 5 Medium sized rodeos in

the country.

“It was a great surprise to make it to the Top 5,” said president of Chief Joseph

Days Terry Jones. The award was given at last December’s National Finals Rodeo

in Las Vegas, and presented to a packed crowd.

Chief Joseph Days has gained a reputation among cowboys, cowgirls and

contractors as a great rodeo in an intimate, beautiful setting. They site the lake,

the hospitality suite, and the community as key reasons they love coming to Chief

Joseph Days. “We hear that this is the rodeo they bring their families to,” said

Jones. “We ty to treat them right, and hope they keep Joseph on their list, since

we’re a bit out of the way.”

Every year Chief Joseph Days kicks off six days of rodeo fun with the bucking

horse stampede down Main Street in Joseph. This year that will be July 23. This is

followed by four nights of PRCA rodeo with contestants competing for money and

the chance to make it to the NFR, the Super Bowl of rodeo. Internationally-

known specialty acts add to the entertainment value. This year, Magic in Motion

trick rider Maddison MacDonald, who has performed ten times at the National

Finals Rodeo. Live music at the Thunder Room after the rodeo brings Brady Goss

on Thursday night, and Whiskey Creek on Friday and Saturday nights. The Grand

Parade on Main Street and the Nez Perce Friendship Feast, as well as shopping

and food vendors, the cowboy pancake breakfast, and cowboy church round out

the festivities.

Over 300 local volunteers come together to make these events fun, exciting, and

safe for all human and animal participants, from the iconic Tuckerettes drill team

to the sheep handlers for audience favorite, mutton busting. Chief Joseph Days is

a qualifier for National Finals Rodeo so past rodeos have included top talent

including Trevor Brazile, Ty Erikson, and hometown hero Derek Kolbaba, great

grandson of the Chief Joseph Days founder Harley Tucker.

Chief Joseph Days is also a time to remember the history of the Wallowa Valley.

During Chief Joseph Days, members of the Nez Perce Tribe, or Nimiipuu in their

own language, return to their native land to have a pow wow and host the annual

Nez Perce Friendship Feast on the rodeo grounds, featuring salmon, buffalo and

native dancing.

The rodeo is named for young Chief Joseph, the last leader of the Wallowa band

to live in the valley, so Chief Joseph Days takes time every year to honor his

legacy. Nez Perce riders will take part in the parade on Saturday, and descendents

of Chief Joseph and other Nez Perce will take an honor circuit in the Saturday

night rodeo.

“There’s a lot of western heritage packed into these six days,” said Jones. For

more information, and to purchase rodeo tickets, visit chiefjosephdays.com