The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sara Marcus was chosen as Miss Rodeo Oregon 2014 on Saturday, August 17, at the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo in Canby, Oregon. The 21-year-old Sisters High School graduate was the 2012 Sisters Rodeo Queen.

This year, she is on the rodeo circuit as Miss NPRA (Northwest Professional Rodeo Association) and previously served as Spray Rodeo Queen.

The dedicated, hard-working woman began her quest to become Sisters Rodeo Queen when she was a Pee Wee Rodeo princess in 2007. She competed for queen at five rodeos before she was selected to represent Spray in 2011. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association title in her own hometown of Sisters remained her major quest.

"She never gave up," said her mother, Jeri Buckmann. "She became a message for other girls to never quit, never stop trying. No matter how many times she failed, she never had a negative thought, but instead concentrated on where she needed to improve. She wanted Sisters, and she persevered. I'm so proud of her."

While serving as the Sisters queen, Marcus' goal was raised a big notch when she knew she could meet the challenge for the state title. After her selection, she said, "This means so much to me. I have worked so hard, because this is what I really wanted."

Members of Sisters Rodeo have watched the determination of Marcus as she strove to meet this mark of accomplishment. She and her parents, Bob and Jeri Buckmann, joined Sisters Rodeo Association soon after they moved to Sisters in 2000. Marcus fell in love with the rodeo lifestyle, doing any volunteer assignment asked of her, recruiting friends, competing in Pee Wee Rodeo and spending hours and hours riding and polishing the horses she rode.

Her proud stepfather, Bob Buckmann, a member of the Sisters Rodeo Board of Directors, said, "She never ceases to amaze us with her capabilities."

Marcus won four of the five categories of competition for Miss Rodeo Oregon. On a back-up horse, she won the horsemanship competition while her own gelding, Jigsaw, recovered from an injury he suffered during Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo.

Marcus scored the highest points in horsemanship, personality, speech and appearance. In her speech, she presented the creation of an Oregon-grown company, Nike, and how it has affected Oregon and the world. From all appearances, this story reflects Marcus' own passion for success.

Her father, Ron Marcus of Lake Tahoe, says Sara - even as a girl - was a power-packed wonder.

Horsemanship is a strong suit for a determined Sara Marcus. photo provided

"She has conquered another big stepping-stone," he said, not surprising to a family that has watched her never accept defeat. "It doesn't get any better than this," he said, "and we know she's not finished."

Marcus is the second woman raised in Sisters to become Miss Rodeo Oregon after representing Sisters Rodeo as its queen. Shelby Ross served as Miss Rodeo Oregon in 2012. Ross was thrilled to learn that Marcus will reign in 2014. "Sara has the spirit and energy to blaze her own trails, and she will represent Oregon well."

"She deserves this," said Sisters Rodeo board member John Leavitt. "She works really hard and will do a good job."

Marcus will represent Oregon in rodeos throughout the United States and Canada in 2014. She will then compete in the 2015 Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas. For now, she expects to wake one day soon and think, "Oh, my gosh, I'm Miss Rodeo Oregon!"