Howdy ERHOF Members! It’s Membership Renewal time for all annual sustaining members of the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum Association. Use the enclosed form, or you can renew online at www.erhof.org.As we begin the new year, ERHOF President Kent Lester, our board, and members can look back on much success. Our August 2021 Induction and Auction at the Spirit Therapeutic Riding Center raised enough funds to continue ERHOF’s work, and everyone enjoyed the Kittitas County Cattlewomen’s delicious beef dinner, the “Flags of Fame” art auction, and induction of Fritz Truran and Leo Moomaw’s bronc “Dynamite” into the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame. Indeed, the event was such a success that we have decided to do it again! Stay tuned for more information about our August 27, 2022, 5-9 pm Induction Dinner and Art Auction at the Spirit Therapeutic Riding Center!
New Museum Displays: ERHOF rotates exhibits every four months and we have some surprises for you. This winter we feature local ropers—the late Jerry Anderson and Dick Powers and the Kittitas County Roping Club. We have also rotated the steer wrestling and Anderson Trophy exhibits. Museum hours Tuesday-Friday, 11am-5pm & Saturday, 11am-3pm, 416 N. Pearl, Ellensburg. Meanwhile, our rodeo headquarters Driver House display now features 2021 inductees Fritz Truran and Leo Moomaw’s bronc “Dynamite,” and Megan Meeks and Megan Ray have created a display featuring the Ellensburg Rodeo’s 2021 induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
Museum Technology: Our main goal in the museum right now is to “kick it up a notch” and enhance our museum technology. This means adding a continual western music stream, bar codes for smartphone visual viewing, a security camera system, and more. Thanks to attendees’ generosity during the “Raise the Paddle” portion of our induction banquet, we have funds to proceed. Stay tuned for more tech at ERHOF!
New Board Member: our newest Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum board member is Nate Bradshaw. Nate is a fifth-generation Kittitas Valley resident who graduated from Washington State University with degrees in History and Social Studies and currently teaches history at Morgan Middle School. Growing up, Nate spent many weekends riding horses and participating in 4H, and he also found time to compete at the Posse Junior Rodeo every year on his pony, Ginger. Nate and his wife, Lianne are blessed with two children, Clayton and Hadlee.
ERHOF President Kent Lester is ending his first year in office after helping to coordinate our successful August induction banquet and auction. This winter Kent has been involved in museum duties, exhibit rotation, and technology upgrades. Before becoming President, Kent served for five years on ERHOF’s finance and fundraising committees. He works at Cashmere Valley Bank as a Loan Originator and his wife Lisa works in the Kittitas County Treasurer’s Office as the Administrative Supervisor. Lisa has logged in many hours expanding and managing the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum’s supporter database.
Coming Up: ERHOF aims to reprise our popular Whisky Tasting Event in April, pending state Virus guidelines. Members can also look forward to the announcement of our 2022 Inductees and Art Unveiling and Auction activities.
Wanted: 2014 Ellensburg Rodeo Programs! ERHOF has only one 2014 rodeo program and we could use some backup. And while you’re at it, remember ERHOF is always interested in programs from the 1923-1941 era. We have most of them, but there are a couple holes to fill, and we always need backups to display.
Don’t Forget Our Website: www.erhof.org provides historic photographs, biographical essays of ERHOF inductees, a virtual museum tour, ERHOF membership info, important links, and much, much more! Also, check out:
Facebook page: Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame – Home | Facebook
Instagram at www.instagram.com/ellensburgrodeohalloffame
E-mail: ERHOF97@gmail.com
Mail: Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame, 110 W 6th St, PMB 374, Ellensburg WA., 98926