HERMISTON — Singer-songwriter Cory Peterson will open the night and perform through dinner during the Stanfield Booster Bash. The Stanfield Booster Club fundraiser is Saturday, Feb. 8, 5:30 p.m. at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1705 E. Airport Road.

Matt Ellis, a 2008 Stanfield graduate and booster club president, is excited to have Peterson return for a third year. Although Peterson graduated from Ione High School in 2009, Ellis said they met while competing in middle school and high school sports.

“After high school, we became really good friends,” Ellis said. “I love his music and we’re very grateful for Cory.”

A dry-land wheat farmer, Peterson is plowing ahead with his musical talents. In the fall, he began getting airplay on Gorge Country Y102 FM and was recently featured as the radio station’s Northwest Country Spotlight Artist.

Also, he was nominated for best local acoustic act and male vocalist of the year at the Northwest Country Music Association’s seventh annual awards event. While he didn’t take home those prizes, Peterson was recognized with best live performance during the awards show on Nov. 3, 2024, at the Spokane Tribe Casino.

Peterson ended the year on a high note. His debut EP, “Where the West Winds Blow,” was released during Music on the Mountain, a New Year’s Eve gathering at Tollgate Crossing near Weston.

And now he’s strumming his way into the new year with performances across Eastern Oregon and Washington. With a distinct country drawl, Peterson readily expresses appreciation to his family, fans, fellow musicians and Two Wolves Media Group.

“It’s been a fun road this last year,” he said.

Booster Bash dinner, games, auctions

Cookin’ Spoo Style will prepare tri-tip beef and chicken for dinner during the Booster Bash. The 21 and older event also includes drinks, a heads/tails game, a card draw and live/silent auctions. Items up for bid include vacation rentals, tickets for sporting events, themed baskets and gift certificates for goods and services.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased from booster board members or at Stanfield City Hall, 160 S. Main St. For more information or to inquire about joining the club, search Facebook via bit.ly/4iUhyub or email stanfieldboosters@gmail.com.

Stanfield Booster Club

After re-booting in 2022, the Stanfield Booster Club supports school district and community youth programs. In addition to funding college and trade school scholarships, Ellis said they have assisted with library and summer reading programs, provided travel expenses for teams, purchased hoops for the youth basketball program and helped bring a traveling exhibit from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

With support from the booster club, a troupe from the Missoula Children’s Theatre is coming to Stanfield later this month. In addition to auditions and rehearsals, vice president Erica Ellis said the professional actors will present workshops to students. The program crescendos on March 1 with a pair of performances.

Other projects on the horizon, Matt Ellis said, include improvements at the Little League fields and replacing trophy cases at the high school.