PENDLETON — Pendleton’s annual celebration of its ranching roots is this weekend at the Pendleton Convention Center.

A fundraiser for scholarships, Pendleton Cattle Barons weekend was created to honor the legacy of cattlemen and ranchers in Eastern Oregon while also supporting the next generation.

“We raise scholarships for ag kids in Eastern Oregon. That’s a pretty big reason to come out and support us,” Andy Vanderplaat, Cattle Barons president, said.

All profits from the event and its various features go to agricultural scholarships. This year, they will give six $3,500 scholarships. Vanderplaat said unlike some scholarship programs that are open only to high school or current college students, anyone pursuing a career or training in agriculture may be eligible for the Cattle Barons scholarships.

“We’re supporting the whole Western heritage,” Vanderplaat. “(People applying) can go into a western artisan trade school like saddle making, those other things that support agriculture and ranching. People who are going into ranch management programs, ag mechanics. We want people who are going to come back to the ranch or come back to work with agriculture. That’s what supports our area.”

Although the event has become a Pendleton tradition, Vanderplaat said it is different every year.

“The stock dog and the ranch horse sale, of course that’s always new because we have a different set of dogs and horses. I think we have as good a set of horses and dogs as we’ve ever had — that keeps improving,” he said. “The contests are always different each year, and it’s always new and refreshed. There’s a lot of new stuff going on this year, and it’s going to be exciting.”

Schedule

This year begins with western artisan classes on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the opening of the trade show at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 3, at the Pendleton Convention Center. The animal demonstrations also begin at 9 a.m. Friday at the Round-Up Pavilion with the stock dog demonstration, followed by the preview of western select ranch horses and the ranch horse competition at 10 a.m. and stock dog championships at noon.

The western artistry live contests run from noon to 3 p.m. at the Convention Center, and round one of the ranch rodeo and stock saddle bronc competitions begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Round-Up Pavilion.

On Saturday, May 4, the Convention Center doors open at 8 a.m., and the trade show, animal demonstrations and championships will fill the morning.

The Cattle Barons BBQ Challenge will return on Saturday, and this year is sanctioned by the Pacific Northwest BBQ Association. Twenty-two teams will compete in the contest.

Vanderplaat said the barbecue challenge is always one of his favorite parts of the event.

“This year is bigger, better, and all you have to do is be somewhat close, and you can smell the competition,” he said.

The public can get a taste by purchasing a People’s Choice button starting at 12:30 p.m., and cast a vote for the favorite meat. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, inside the Convention Center, the western select ranch horse and working stock dog sale auction begins at 3 p.m.

The second round of the ranch rodeo and stock saddle bronc competition begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by live music at 9 p.m.

Vanderplaat said the whole event would not be possible without the support of sponsors.

“They’re great partners, and I think they believe in what we do. That’s really the main thing, that’s why they support us, because they believe what we do is supporting agriculture,” he said.

For more information about Pendleton Cattle Barons, visit www.cattlebarons.net.