Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Caleb Berquist of LaCrosse prepares to throw his loop at the Freedom Rodeo.
BASIN CITY - What do you call it when more than 3,000 rural residents get together for the Fourth of July to rodeo, parade, dance and shoot off fireworks?
Well, rodeo clown turned Freedom Rodeo announcer J.J. Harrison calls it a "cowboy protest," a protest in which ruralites build up America instead of tearing it down. Harrison, of Walla Walla, emceed the inaugural Freedom Rodeo on July 3 and 4 in this city of 1,100 people in Franklin County.
The mask-optional "protest" rodeo took place in defiance of Gov. Jay Inslee's coronavirus-related shutdown of the county, and the state. Indeed, Basin City and rural Franklin County residents volunteered their time, effort and money over the last several weeks to rebuild the arena that had not been used in more than 15 years.
Franklin County is one of only three of Washington's 39 counties stuck in a so-called "modified Phase 1.5." And until July 7, it is one of only a handful of counties in which the governor ordered all residents, workers and visitors to wear face masks.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office personnel were also on-scene, sans masks.
Volunteer effort
At the start of the July 4 performance, Harrison called on volunteers who helped organize the event, rebuild the arena and provided supplies to join him to the applause of those in attendance.
He credited Scott English of Basin City with organizing the event.
English, however, said it was a "committee" effort and quickly directed the program back to the cowboys and cowgirls who traveled from throughout Oregon and Washington, as well as from out-of-the-region, to compete.
In an interview prior to the start of the rodeo, English said he organized the event to demonstrate that inalienable rights are not the governor's to take away through the coronavirus scare and the subsequent Black Lives Matter riots.
"They took crises and turned them into something unjustified," he said. "We had to create something to push back. Our rights were endowed by our creator, not Gov. Inslee, or whoever is in government.
"I'm tired of Jay Inslee telling me I can't do what God has given me to do."
English also fired back at incumbent Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck, who is facing a primary challenge from Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton.
Last week, Peck chastised Basin City residents and rural volunteers for moving ahead with a rodeo even as the county remains virtually locked down.
"I haven't talked to anyone yet who doesn't think this rodeo is a good idea," he said.
The results
When the results of the July 3 and 4 performances were tallied, only one bullrider had a successful ride.
Austin Covington of Omak scored an 84 on the first bull ride of the two-day event; 12 other cowboys would fail to stay upright for a full 8 seconds.
For his ride, Covington took home $1,396.
LaCrosse's Sydney Berquist also put in a stellar performance in breakaway roping by breaking the 3-second mark.
Berquist posted 2.92 seconds en route to a first-place finish and a $1,871 purse.
The top cowboys and girls in the inaugural Freedom Rodeo included:
Breakaway \ 1. Sydney Berquist, 2.92, $1,871; 2. Bailey Van Kohl, 3.09, $1,248; 3. Quincy Downey, 3.40, $623.80.
Steer Wrestling \ 1. Sam Shelton, 7.28, $1,079.
Saddle Bronc - Jesse Kirby, 73, $959.
Bullriding \ Austin Convington, 84, $1,396.
Calf Roping \ 1. Pacen Marez, 9.01, $1,943; 2. Brad Goodrich, 9.12, $971.70; 3. Jason Minor, 9.26, $647.80.
Barrel Racing \ 1. Jolene Hoburg, 17.62, $1,629.60, 2. Paige Gartner, 17.85, $1,222.20, 3. Corynn Kayser, 17.88, $814.80; 4. Calli Kaufman, 17.90, $407.40.
Team Roping \ 1. Jack Graham/ Calgary Smith, 5.10, $1,745, 2. Brandon Beers/Trevor McCoin, 5.24, $1,455, 3. Brayden Schmidt/Andy Carlson, 5.60, $1,164, 4. T.C. Naccartto/Evan Olinger, 5.63, $873, 5. Jhett Hale/Casey Hale, 6.00, $582.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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