PURPOSE
Since 1950
Spread the Pendleton spirit of friendliness and goodwill!
Main Street Cowboys act as Goodwill Ambassadors to promote and publicize the City of Pendleton and surrounding area.
HISTORY
The Main Street Cowboys were organized by a group of civic-minded Pendletonians who felt that the many visitors to Pendleton for the Round-Up and Happy Canyon should be extended the hospitality for which the “Old West” is famous. It was recognized that entertainment should be provided for the people coming to town for the Round-Up, hence the creation of “The Greatest Free Show in the West!”
This tradition was established in 1950.
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Later, the Main Street Cowboys assumed the responsibility for the street decorations during the Round-Up. As the years rolled by and ideas were generated, the Mainstreeters have assumed the responsibility for the activities listed on the opposite page.
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Throughout the entire period the organization has been supported by businesses and individuals of the area. The membership is made up of farmers, ranchers, businessmen and civic volunteers interested in the promotion of Pendleton and the surrounding area.
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Today the men in the chartreuse and purple shirts, wearing western hats, are well known throughout the West as the good will ambassadors of Pendleton! Their equipment, including the calliope, is instantly recognized by hundreds of thousands of people and their deeds are legendary.
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One of the most colorful chapters in Pendleton history has been and is still being written by these dedicated men …
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​The Main Street Cowboys!
ACTIVITIES
The “helping hands” Mainstreeters are ready to assist, on request, in any public occasion for the betterment of Pendleton and surrounding area.
PUBLICISTS
The Mainstreeters travel to an average of 20 cities in the North West each year to publicize Pendleton, the Round-Up, and Happy Canyon.
DECORATORS
It’s the Mainstreeters who purchase, maintain, and display the city’s colorful decorations…Flags, Signs and Banners!
ENTERTAINERS
The Mainstreeters plan, finance and produce “The Greatest Free Show in The West” on main street Pendleton during the Round-Up.
DRESS-UP PARADE
When the time comes to get Pendleton area folks in the mood for the Round-Up season each year, the Mainstreeters sponsor the Dress-Up Parade. The parade which winds through the streets of Pendleton for over two hours features floats and participants from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and other states each year.
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The Dress-Up Parade is the Saturday before Round-Up.
SUPPORT
“The Greatest Free Show in The West” a.k.a. the “Main Street Show”, is supported through various fund raising events and the generous donations of the businesses and individuals sponsoring the unique Main Street Cowboys signature benches. These benches line the streets during the Dress-Up parade and are used extensively during the Main Street Show for all the visiting guests in attendance. These unique benches will also be seen throughout the year at different events and activities supported by the Main Street Cowboys.
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There is an annual active roster of about 50 Mainstreeters who pay all of their own personal expenses, buy their own costumes and are generous to a fault with their time and effort, without remuneration, in carrying out the year-round activities on behalf of the community of Pendleton and the surrounding area. While the Main Street Show, held on Main Street at Round-Up time, is the largest single “cost” item in the budget, it represents less than half of the total year-round program. It is still billed as
“The Greatest Free Show in The West”… and it plays to most of Pendleton’s 40,000 plus visitors each Round-Up.
THE TEAM
Ken Hegge
President, Office Manager, &
Co-Show Director
Michael Turner
Secretary
Alan Berck
Special Projects
Pat Pointer
Dress-Up Parade Director
Mark Jaeger
In & Out Town Activities Director
Shawn Boatwright
Past President
Shawn Boatwright
1st Vice President &
Main Street Show Director
Michael Swanson
Treasurer
David Ryan
Food Vendor Director
Anthony Bowman
Bench Director
James Rinehart
Merchandising Director
Big Tom
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Jonathan Farmer
2nd Vice President &
Image & Publicity
Scott McFarlane
Special Projects
Johnny Blagg
Craft/Commercial Vendor Director
Dean Groshong
Properties/Tent Director
Larry Koehne
Social Director
THE MAIN STREET COWBOYS WELCOME VOLUNTEERS:
The Main Street Cowboys are seeking motivated, community service oriented men.
Established in 1950 to promote and publicize the City of Pendleton and its surrounding communities this organization is a diverse group of men with a common goal; to provide service to their community. One advantage to our organization is there are no membership fees or dues to join. We do however ask that all the Cowboys to be considerate of each other and all the people we may meet as our words, deeds and attitudes have influence more far reaching than we may realize.
Our group has continued to change during the last 20 odd years. We have become more of a family oriented organization! For example we sponsor three major dinners for all of our families; in February we have a fish feed, in June a BBQ and in December we have a Christmas dinner with Santa, bringing gifts for our children and grandchildren in attendance. We stress to our members that the organization should not and will not come before our families or our professional lives. We do our best to provide flexibility in our events that will allow everyone to contribute in some way to the success of the Main Street Cowboys.
Throughout the year we take our shuttle bus and antique calliope to approximately 20 out of town parades to promote the Main Street Show, the Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon events. As Round-Up approaches we hang the flags and banners that can be found around the City of Pendleton. We also distribute greater than 300 of our unique benches to various activities, as requested. These signature benches can be found all around the city during the year, displaying personal and business’ support for our Dress-Up Parade and Main Street Show as well as the work we accomplish throughout the year. Our main work however is organizing the Main Street Show located downtown Pendleton during Round-Up. We also help prepare and serve during the Twilight Breakfast organized by Main Street Side Saddlers on the Thursday evening prior to Round-Up. Our organization has the long standing pleasure of kicking off the Round-Up festivities with a Dress-up Parade the Saturday prior to the Round-Up main events.
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We depend on all of our members being continually involved with all these events, volunteering their time to make the Main Street Show the event that it has grown to be; providing hundreds of hours of free entertainment for the visitors and locals of Pendleton and surrounding communities.
If interested in a little hard work and a whole lot of fun while serving your community please call 541-278-9332 for more information.
