By: Les Strojan, President
In October we manned the Farm Bureau table at the Clements Stampede. Our key message was No on Proposition 50. We talked to many who shared our view of fair representation, but most didn’t seem too interested in politics. In fact, we found ourselves in a vivid time warp. While the rodeo events rolled off at a good pace the crowd didn’t appear anxious in the slightest. The day was beautiful and there was no hurry. There were no fights, no obvious drunks (although beer was popular), no pickets, no protests. Law enforcement officers sat in their area eating cupcakes, not required to arrest ICE agents, who were not present. The event was attended by all ages from babies a few days old to old cowboys well into their 80s, women and men, boys and girls, several nationalities, some whose families had been in the area for a hundred years. We shared the table with a lady and her family who had just purchased property and was just moving in. The politically incorrect comments by the announcer and clowns were laughed off without repercussion.
This was the first stampede in Clements in 15 years; the organizers were obviously trying to make a success out of the event. The grounds were in excellent condition, the sandwiches were good and priced reasonably, and the bathrooms clean. The only lines were at the beer concession late in the afternoon but moved along fast. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers were the hardest workers working long hours to direct parking for the large crowd.
Moon needed to go back to our truck as we ran out of stands for our No on 50 signs. A nice girl on a Gator-type vehicle saw her climbing up the hill offered a ride. They found the pickup and returned to the table with the signs. Moon introduced her to me, adding the girl was Kenny Lane’s great granddaughter. I’m old enough to remember Kenny, a cattleman whose headquarters were just up the road across from the rodeo grounds, he was a coordinator of the event for many years. There was an old picture in the Lodi News-Sentinel of Kenny riding horseback in the event in 1966 with the Grand Marshall that year: Ronald Reagan.
This year’s event honored Bob Hessiltine. Bob was on the County Farm Bureau Board for many years. As past president of the Clements Buckaroos his lengthy support of the event is impressive.
The rodeo was the event, a timeless competition between the livestock and the contestants the same as it has always been. This year the stock won. Although I wasn’t keeping score it was obvious more riders were bucked off horses and bulls than rode them.
The day reminded me of going to the Oakdale Rodeo in the late 1950’s and 60’s. A day in the sun apart from most of today’s issues. It’s now one of the good ol’ days.