CJD Welcome to Chief Joseph Days

Published 3:52 pm Wednesday, July 10, 2019

With the prettiest mountain settings in the West, the community of Joseph is proud to host one of the best small town rodeo celebrations in the West for its 74th year.

This year Chief Joseph Days brings together volunteers from all corners of Wallowa County to put on the county’s oldest and largest event, centered around Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association performances Wednesday through Saturday nights, July 24-27, at Harley Tucker Memorial Arena in Joseph.

The big celebration also offers two parades, cowboy breakfasts every morning, teen and adult dances, a friendship feast and Native American encampment, downtown vendors, a benefit walk and a cowboy church service, all staged against the backdrop of the spectacular Wallowa Mountains. Every year over 200 cowboys — plus professional barrel-racing cowgirls — put on an exciting show that spotlights PRCA bareback riding, team riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding. The Family Night rodeo Wednesday also features mutton-busting by local peewee wranglers (who also compete Thursday), and wild cow milking by some of the county’s working cowboys, which may be the most exciting event of all. Mini-bullriding (with tiny bulls and riders ages 7 to 14) adds to the fun.

In addition to the 7 p.m. rodeo performances, the public is invited to watch slack rodeo action around 2 p.m. every afternoon, as some events have more competitors than time during the regular rodeo. Reigning over the celebration will be the 2019 CJD Court of Queen Rylee Wilcox and Princesses Bethany Anderson and Katelynn Diggins.

The unofficial kickoff of CJD is the increasingly popular bucking horses stampede Tuesday afternoon, when crowds gather to watch two dozen bucking horses herded up Main Street to the rodeo grounds.

The popular Junior Parade at 10 a.m. Friday morning lets costumed youngsters up to age 15 — including visitors — step into the spotlight for fun and cash prizes.

“Strolling thru the Mountain View” is the theme of the CJD Grand Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, which always packs the largest crowd of the weekend into Joseph. Enterprise native Bill Wells will be honored as grand marshal.

Immediately after the parade everyone is invited to the Chief Joseph Commemorative tepee encampment next to the rodeo arena for a friendship feast (with salmon and Indian fry bread) hosted by families that descend from the Joseph Nez Perce band, along with local residents. Potluck contributions are encouraged. Native dancing and drumming will follow the friendship feast.

There will be cowboy breakfasts every morning during CJD, with an all-night breakfast on the rodeo grounds starting at 11 p.m. Saturday and continuing through Sunday morning.

A cowboy church service at 9 a.m. on Sunday at the rodeo arena is the last event of Chief Joseph Days. All rodeo-goers are urged to also take the time to explore the shops and galleries of Joseph, hike into the wilderness or enjoy beautiful Wallowa Lake during their Chief Joseph Days visit.