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Countdown to the 75th Chief Joseph Days Rodeo with The Tuckerettes

The Tuckerettes during the 73rd Annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. Photography ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich
The Tuckerettes during the 73rd Annual Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. Photography ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich

The Chief Joseph Days flag carriers are known as the Tuckerettes. The name first originated after the honorable Harley Tucker, who helped found Chief Joseph Days in 1946.

The Tuckerettes have been opening each rodeo performance for the past 25 years with a bang of speed and energy.

The 2019 Tuckerettes included past Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Court members Kylie Shaffer, Sarah (Butterfield) Schaffeld, Julie Justesen. Also riding for the Tuckerettes are Emma Hite, Brianna Micka, and Claire Ely. 

“The future of Rodeo” will have the honor of carrying the American Flag, while Destiny Wecks holds the position of carefully leading the visiting royalty through the traditional serpentine. 

Sit back and enjoy while these fine riders exhibit for your enjoyment, intense reining maneuvers at high speeds and precise synchronization.

Countdown to 75th Chief Joseph Days

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Tuckerett, Sarah (Butterfield) Schaffeld flying across the arena at high speed during the 2019 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Grand Entry ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich
Tuckerett, Sarah (Butterfield) Schaffeld flying across the arena at high speed during the 2019 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Grand Entry ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich

4 games, 3 wins for the Enterprise Outlaws vs. Weston McEwen, Jan 21

Four games, three wins, one loss. The Enterprise Outlaws’ JV and Varsity teams faced Weston McEwen in a league game, January 21, 2020, ending up winning three out of four games.

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2018 at CJD...In front: Matt Twitchell at work during the 2018 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. Mitch Coleman, who has been right by his side for many years was laid up that year due to an inury. Riding beside Matt in 2018 is David McMichael. Pickup riders play an important role in assisting rodeo riders and increasing the safety of competitors and horses alike. ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich

2018 at CJD...In front: Matt Twitchell at work during the 2018 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo. Mitch Coleman, who has been right by his side for many years was laid up that year due to an inury. Riding beside Matt in 2018 is David McMichael. Pickup riders play an important role in assisting rodeo riders and increasing the safety of competitors and horses alike. ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich

Countdown to the 75th Chief Joseph Days Rodeo with pickup men Matt Twitchell and Mitch Coleman

By Katy Nesbitt and Haley J. Bridwell
for Chief Joseph Days Rodeo
Photography by Angelika Ursula Dietrich

The 2019 Chief Joseph Days Rodeo pickup men Matt Twitchell and Mitch Coleman are familiar faces at the Harley Tucker Arena – two men skilled at handling livestock inside and outside the arena.

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At the Nez Perce Encampment Pavilion, ©Angelika Ursula Dietrich - All Rights Reserved

A reunion of tradition, pride, and friendship – The Nez Perce Encampment Pavilion

Every year in July, the Nez Perce Homeland becomes a place of reunion for descendants of the original inhabitants of Wal’waama, also known as Wallowa Country. At Tamkaliks, participants enjoy three days of dancing and drumming, culminating in a walasit service and Friendship feast when descendants, locals, and visitors attend together.

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Up Close & Personal with Chief Joseph Days Stage Coach (2018)

By Wild Horses and Katy Nesbitt

Built-in Concord, New Hampshire, Wallowa County founding father Frank McCully bought the stagecoach in 1886 and ran a stage line from Elgin to Joseph until 1908

Now in its 73rd year, the Chief Joseph Days Rodeo is an indelible northeast Oregon tradition. For most of those years, a red 19th century stagecoach with bright, yellow wheels has been a big part of that tradition.

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