Vital to the production of the Chief Joseph Days rodeo sponsored each year by the Joseph Chamber of Commerce is support from the Wallowa County business community as well as sponsors from outside the county. Organizers say that these sponsors and supporters make it possible to put on the quality Chief Joseph Days rodeo celebration planned this weekend.

2003 sponsors include the following:

National sponsors: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Wildhorse Resort and Casino, Dodge Trucks and Wrangler.

Spurs and rodeo event sponsors: saddle bronc, Daggett and Associates GMAC Real Estate; bareback, Community Bank; team roping, Wallowa County Construction and Klamath First Bank; calf roping, Les Schwab Tires; steer wrestling, Jerry’s Main Street Market; barrel racing, Eagle Truck/Freightliner; steer roping, Indian Lodge Motel; bull riding, Kellermann Logging and Deb’s; all-around cowboy, Pallette Ranch.

Chute gate sponsors: Northwest Fence Company, Coca-Cola, Wallowa County Grain Growers, South Fork Ready-Mix, Valley Bronze of Oregon, Inc., Joseph Fly Shoppe, Community Bank, Wallowa Mountain Properties, Inc.

Other sponsors: Harley Tucker Memorial Award, Mountain West Moving and Storage; grand parade, Milligan Motors; Tuckerettes, the Sports Corral; wild cow milking, Jones Excavation; $100 fastest barrel time, Turner Excavation; Wildest Ride, the Shirly Bothum family; all-around, Navajo blanket, Lamb Trading Company; junior parade, Coca Cola and Mike Becker, general contractor; queen’s luncheon, Pioneer Bank; support equipment, Western States Cat Rental; beverage contract, Don and Larry’s Distributing; arena equipment, Wallowa County Grain Growers; mutton busting, Pacific Power; hospitality tent, Safeway.

Contestant dinner sponsors: Wallowa Mountain Properties, Inc., Anton’s Home and Hearth, LD Perry, Inc., Stubborn Mule, Alpine Insurance, Anton and Sons General Contractors, Gene H. Settergren, Inc., Strawberry Wilderness Bed and Breakfast, National Federation Quarter Horse Association, Robert Dawson Photograpy/R.D. Publishing, Chevron Aviation Fueling, Alpine Chiropractic and Rehabilitation.

Emergency support: Wallowa County’s Sheriff’s Office, Wallowa County EMTs, Oregon State Police, Wallowa Mountain Medical, Joseph Fire Department, Wallowa County Sheriff’s Posse, Double Arrow Veterinary Clinic, Bob Morse.

Royalty sponsors: scholarships, Joseph Chamber; wardrobe designer and parade flowers, Judy Bothum; spur straps, Jack Schefflebein; personalized leather scrapbooks, CJD court parents; leather tooling, Jim Anderson; garment bags, the Sports Corral; horse trailer, Vemco; hair and cosmetics, Salon Joseph, J & J Cutting Edge and Zel’s Beauty Bar; Pendleton coats, Terry Bates of Eastern Oregon Nursery; CJ logo jewelry – sterling silver broach, Dave and Darlene Turner, John and Cindy Bailey; sterling silver earrings, Doris Noland; handmade sterling bracelet, Don Mallory; sterling silver watches, Pioneer Bank.