Steve Newvine Steve Newvine

Springtime is Stampede Time in Chowchilla

The opening lyrics to the theme song from the television western series Rawhide say all that needs to be said: “Rollin, rollin, rollin.

59th Annual Chowchilla Western Stampede cattle drive.  Picture by Steve Newvine

The herd was rolling.  It was rolling down Robertson Boulevard in Chowchilla, California.

The herd of cattle was the highlight for day one of the annual Chowchilla Western Stampede.  About one-hundred young steer were led down the city’s main thoroughfare in the heavy rain on the traditional second Friday in March.  

The cattle drive is the kick-off to a weekend of rodeo-related roping activities and a tip of the western hat to the cattle raising heritage of this northern Madera County city of about nineteen thousand people.

The Stampede cattle drive brings out the area’s most dedicated cattle people.  Picture by Steve Newvine

Rodeos and related roping events are nothing new to the Central Valley, and certainly not new to Chowchilla.  2016 marked the fifty-ninth annual event.  

The cattle drive kicks off the weekend as the animals are led from the Chowchilla Fairgrounds, turning east on Robertson Drive, moving down the street until turning right at the intersection just before Highway 99, and then completing their drive right back to the Fairgrounds.  

Led by area horsemen and women, alongside cattlemen and young people on horses, with local law enforcement providing the parade security, the drive passes by in a matter of minutes.  

It is tradition that keeps the cattle drive going year after year.  After all, there is no practical reason why the cattle need to be moved in what amounts to a giant circle in the town’s original business section.  It’s done for the community and those who want to get some idea of what a western cattle drive looks like up close.  

It’s one of the few opportunities many people will get to see an actual herd of cattle moving down a paved roadway.

Chowchilla Western Stampede.  Photo by Steve Newvine

The Chowchilla Western Stampede gets an early start in January with an annual fundraising dinner.  Money raised from that dinner is used to award scholarships for agriculture-based education at Chowchilla High, Mariposa High and Yosemite High schools.

The highlight of the dinner is the naming of the Stampede Grand Marshall.  This year, local cattleman, former rodeo star, and area business owner Bob Ragsdale was named Grand Marshall.

I tried unsuccessfully to reach Bob to talk about his Grand Marshall honor as well as his rodeo career.  But outgoing chairman of the Stampede, Tom Martin told the Merced Sun Star that Bob was the ideal candidate to be Grand Marshall, “He’s a superstar of the rodeo arena, but more importantly, he’s a superstar of a man.”

More than six-hundred people attended the fundraising dinner when Bob was named Grand Marshall.

Bob Ragsdale was born in Montana and began taking part in rodeos while in high school. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo every year from 1961 to 1975 for calf roping, steer wrestling and team roping.   

He was inducted into the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oregon, named to the Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, and was recently honored by the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall.

Steer from this year’s cattle drive make the turn to head back from where they started at the Chowchilla Fairgrounds.  Photo by Steve Newvine

The three-day Stampede event is usually held on the second weekend in March.

 It features such events as team roping barrel racing.  Top finishers are awarded cash and western oriented prizes.  

The cattle drive has been one of those things I’ve been meaning to do over the past few years.  Living in nearby Merced, it seemed like there was no reason to put it off any longer.  

So I made my way south to Chowchilla to take it all in.  I’m glad I did.

So rodeo season is off and galloping in the Central Valley.  

While the Chowchilla Western Stampede may not be the biggest event among the many communities who stage activities to celebrate their cattle raising heritage, it has a lot of heart with fifty-nine years of success.

In 2017 when the event reaches its’ sixtieth anniversary, we’ll once again hear the hooves clacking down Robertson Boulevard.

Rollin, rollin, rollin.

Steve Newvine lives in Merced

 

 

 

 

To read and hear the Merced Sun Star’s report on the Stampede dinner,  http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/community/article54038230.html#storylink=cpy

 


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Steve Newvine Steve Newvine

Golden Valley Alumnus Serves State Future Farmers of America

There were two things that stood out for Danielle Diele in her senior year at Golden Valley High School in 2013-14: her busy schedule and the joy she got from her involvement with the Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Danielle Diele, California FFA Leadership State Board-Reporter moments after her name was called for the election results at the 87th State FFA Leadership Conference, Selland Arena, Fresno.  Picture courtesy of Danielle Diele

 

 In high school, Danielle enjoyed swimming and water polo, her AP (advanced placement) classes, and a competitive atmosphere.  

“I always felt challenged by a rather busy schedule,” she said.  “And that kept me striving for more.”

In spite of a hectic calendar, there was always time for FFA in high school.  She served as an officer in her chapter for three years. 

In her senior year, she served as Miss Merced County.  She and some school friends started Cinderella’s Closet providing over two-hundred prom dresses for other young ladies in the community.  The Closet was handed down to younger classmates and is now in a third year of operation.

Upon graduation from Golden Valley in 2014, Danielle headed to college at California Polytechnic Institute in San Luis Obispo.  She joined the local FFA chapter there.

Over 81,000 Californians are members of FFA, making it the largest concentration of future farmers anywhere in the United States.  We know them by those distinctive dark blue jackets they wear.  FFA is a big part of County fairs all over the state including the Merced County Fair. Having raised a market hog for three years at the Fair, Danielle knows this well.

In April 2015, she was elected to the post of State Reporter for the California Association, FFA.  The post involves more than three-hundred days of travel annually.  She has taken one year off from her studies at Cal Poly to devote herself fully to the FFA post.

California FFA Leadership Team members- Picture courtesy: Danielle Diele

 

 “We finish our spring semesters, and then move into the FFA Center in June,” she said. “From there, we go on countless industry tours and meet with industry leaders, represent FFA and Career Technical Education as we meet with many legislators, as well as the California Secretary of Agriculture, Karen Ross, and the United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary, Krysta Hardin.” 

Another big part of Danielle’s official duties center around Chapter visits throughout the state. “We meet with an FFA Chapter and stay one night with a Chapter Member,” she says.   “The next morning, we go to school with the member, and teach three leadership workshops.” Chapter visits generally run from September through January, averaging about four schools per week.

 

Danielle at MCOE, Caption:  Future Farmers of America State Reporter Danielle Diele speaks before three-hundred guests at the Merced County Office of Education Annual Education Report luncheon in Merced.  Photo by Steve Newvine

Danielle’s official role as State Reporter brought her back to Merced where she spoke before the annual Merced County Office of Education Report Luncheon held February 25th(a second luncheon for western Merced County was held a day later in Los Banos).  In Merced, Danielle spoke before a group of three hundred educators, legislative staff, elected officials, and business leaders.  Her message before the group attending at Yosemite Church in Merced focused on Career Technical Education (CTE).

 “Career Technical Education values critical thinking, problem-solving, and a Learn-By-Doing approach,” she told the group.   "Higher level high school courses are the knowledge, and Career Technical Education is the application of that knowledge."

She told the Merced group about the diversity of farming she’s seen from the vantage point of her statewide role within FFA.  She has toured large agriculture enterprises such as Foster Farms in Livingston, met farmers from around the world at the World Ag Expo in Tulare County, and has met many farm families all over the state.  She shared a story with her Merced audience about staying with a small farm family.  The mother of this family offered her the only bedroom in the house with a mattress.  

“My perspective has changed immensely this last year,” she said to me via email response to my questions. “I have seen the struggles that people of all kinds have, and I am grateful that each home welcomed me with open arms, no matter the situation.”

Danielle Diele, California FFA Leadership Board-State Reporter.Picture: www.calaged.org)

Danielle returns to her full-time student status after her term as State Reporter ends later in the spring.  She plans to attend graduate school after finishing the undergraduate degree. 

She wants to become an Agricultural Communicator. Her passion and desire is to advocate for the agricultural industry. 

She has had an incredible opportunity representing FFA throughout California. She says she has grown as a person.  

“There is no such thing as a 'typical' day serving as a State FFA Officer,” she said.

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